Flea Market/Yard Sale/Garage Sale/Thift Store Finds

[CorduroyCalves]

Thought I'd start a thread for people like me to post their flea market/garage sale/thrift store finds. I don't go as often as I like, but when I do, I usually find something cool to add to my collection. Last Sunday, I was at the Mile High Flea Market in Denver and I found a Ted Williams Sears glove for $5 and a Tony Conigliaro USA-made glove for $6. I typically don't like to pay more than $5 for a glove (unless it happens to be from the 30s-40s), but I didn't have a Conigliaro glove in my collection and it's in decent shape.

Tuesday I was at a thrift store and I happened to look through the hardcover books and stumbled across Field of Hope by Brett Butler. I flipped through the first few pages and saw that it was autographed! Typically I like books signed in ballpoint and this was signed in black sharpie, but for $2 I couldn't pass it up. A few minutes before I noticed another book on the shelf called When You Can't Come Back by Dave Dravecky. For the heck of it, I took it off the shelf and flipped through the first few pages and IT WAS ALSO AUTOGRAPHED!!! I couldn't believe my good luck--two signed books at one thrift store in one day!

Anyway, this thread is for past/present finds, so whether you've previously found something cool to add to your collection or you find something cool down the road, post it here, I'd love to hear about it!

[shoreyart]

I also found several autographed books at the thrift store- Dave Dravecky's "Comeback", Jim Bouton's "Ball Four", Elden Auker's "Sleeper Cars and Flannel Uniforms" and Gabrielle Reece's "Big Girl in the Middle. Several years ago I found 4 signed team balls for $5 each and grabbed them quickly. They are Mexican League teams ranging from the 50's to the 70's and I have had a difficult time researching them...

Found a huge cardboard box full of cards at a yard sale recently and got an 82 Fleer Ripken rookie, 80 Henderson rookie, 80 Ryan, 83 Donruss Boggs rookie and 83 Fleer Sandberg rookie- paid $20 for the whole box of probably 2000-3000 cards

Also many store model bats and gloves from all over for like $5-10 each- couple good bats have Clemente, Yaz, Mantle, Aaron and 2 game used (I think) of Tony Oliva and John Mayberry---nice old Claude Passeau three finger model glove and Mickey Vernon first baseman glove, and Bill Freehan catchers mitt (which I got signed afterward)

Oddest item I'd say is a big poster (rigid, thick stock) of Mark McGwire promoting advocacy with the problem of bed wetting ($3) HAHAHAHA

[shoreyart]

ok- just today i stopped at the thrift store and picked up 2 bats- an Al Kaline and a Bobby Thomson model for 4.99 each- they also had a Ken Burns "Baseball" book which i passed on for 9.99

[CorduroyCalves]

Originally Posted by shoreyart

ok- just today i stopped at the thrift store and picked up 2 bats- an Al Kaline and a Bobby Thomson model for 4.99 each- they also had a Ken Burns "Baseball" book which i passed on for 9.99

Dang, that's a good deal on those bats!!! The bats I happen to find are either cracked/damaged/in poor condition, or they're aluminum. Good call on the Ken Burns book. $5 would be more reasonable.

[BSmile]

I've had some pretty good luck through the years...not to mention that I started collecting in 1979 (when I was 10)! So there's been some good days...some faves:

- 1967 All-Star Press Pin (for a buck!), in a box with random junk jewelry.
- A small collection of 1914 B18 Blankets (all mint, including Stengel...$20)
- 1967 Topps Test Wrapper - Red Sox Stickers (5 bucks!)

There's tons more from old card shows and newspaper ad's too...these are just off the top of my head.

[Captain Cold Nose]

I purchased a early 90's Baseball Abstract from a flea market. I figured it was worth the two or three bucks. Inside was a Hank Greenberg autographed HOF plaque postcard and anothe 3X5 autographed Greenberg card.

Yeah, it was worth the two or three bucks.

[Cubsfan97]

Have not really gone to thrift stores before, none close to my house, so about the only thing I ever got was Ryne Sandberg baseball card, and my girlfriend was the one that found it. Only other thing was Faithful by Stephan King and someone else, about the Red Sox.

[killebrewski]

The best baseball items I ever found were at a yard sale about 8 years ago - a shoebox of baseball cards that included a Rickey Henderson rookie (fair condition).

The woman also had a couple of baseball almanacs and a mini plastic Phillies helmet, the ones that ice cream sundaes would come in at the Vet.

I think I purchased all of these for a total of $10 or $15.

[newboy119]

The best deal i've ever had was at an old consignment shop over the summer. I found a 1952 topps Willie Mays rookie card and bought it for just $60!

[icee82]

I cannot believe this but I found a professionally matted picture of John Stark at Goodwill. It was not autographed but it had been professionally matted at Michael's.

[Zito75]

Originally Posted by newboy119

The best deal i've ever had was at an old consignment shop over the summer. I found a 1952 topps Willie Mays rookie card and bought it for just $60!

What kind of condition??? That's an amazing find.

[newboy119]

Very poor condition to be honest. It's badly wrinkled all over the place. Still, the card's legit and it was definitely worth the price. I'm going to post a scan in a few hours for you.