1871-1872 Boston Red Stockings Archive | Extraordinary Finds: Extras | ANTIQUES ROADSHOW | PBS

During ROADSHOW’s 2014 event in New York City, Sports Memorabilia appraiser Leila Dunbar met Gail, the owner of the earliest known baseball-fan collection in history. It consisted of an astounding archive of Boston Red Stockings baseball cards, originally given to Gail’s great-grandfather, who lived with the team for a short time. Re-watch the iconic one-million-dollar appraisal and see new footage of Dunbar expanding on why Gail’s archive was the greatest she has ever seen on ROADSHOW.

[@Jaydoggy531]

I loved the class in the letter. Can you imagine any baseball team today with penmanship like that, let alone the phrase of "Were that we were home again?"

[@jeffsmith2022]

Writing in cursive...

[@andrewptob]

*Would that we were..." Yeah, the idioms of that time were much more beautiful.

[@basehead617]

I mean you cannot possibly get a better sports collectible than this, there can't possibly be one worth more..

[@MM-Iconoclast]

Amazing that she still has it.

[@jcortese3300]

I'd think that belongs in a museum of some kind, or the Hall of Fame. That's amazing, and for it to have survived that long intact and in such good shape!

[@zanebloomnc]

What I love the most is Leila’s genuine emotion in giving the great news.

[@bennettfriesen6080]

Zane the only one better is when ted had his Ute first phase chief’s blanket.......Leila was emotional here......Ted was twice as emotional and twice as flabbergasted there

[@bonniekeough244]

Incredible

[@tradrlarryone1827]

Rick Harrison from pawn stars would say Best I can do is $100 bucks and I’m taking all the risk.

[@mermaidgirl9232]

fx green ...the crooks

[@Bargnani11]

never read this joke before, u must be a comedian!

[@johnjohnmcclane1818]

Yeah, what a fantastic amazingly original joke.

[@RonGee]

I hope she sold it off. I'm sure the insurance premium would be very high, and safe deposit boxes are not necessarily the safest places to store valuables, especially those of extremely high value. There are limits on liability by the banks, and mistakes have been made where they've cleared out boxes by accident. Do a Google search on "wells fargo safety deposit box lost". Banks are also trying to get out of the safe deposit box business because it doesn't generate enough income for them.

[@damiandelapp5490]

Ron Gee it’s gotta be a little safer then a sack up in a closet?

[@RonGee]

@@damiandelapp5490 There's a New York Times article where the president of a company that insures safe deposit boxes "estimates that around 33,000 boxes a year are harmed by accidents, natural disasters and thefts." So I don't know if it's necessarily that much safer than your closet. I guess if the bank reimburses you the $500 limit on their liability (like Wells Fargo does), it's better than nothing. www.nytimes.com/2019/07/19/business/safe-deposit-box-theft.html

[@realtalk6195]

Water damage and termites can affect it too.

[@greatpariscars]

Hope Gail didn't put it in a bank vault. Bank of America has been emptying their bank vaults and customers have lost family jewels and untold millions of dollars.

[@Gabebox]

I highly doubt this is happening. Any sources?

[@greatpariscars]

​@@Gabebox Do a Google search. Many article came out in 2018 about it. Safety deposit boxes are not regulated by the federal government and banks are not responsible for any missing items. Bank of America has been emptying customers boxes.

[@moncorp1]

@@greatpariscars ~ There have been issues with Wells Fargo boxes too.

[@noway57]

That whole setup is 3 mill. If a Wagner t206 a single card sells for that much. More like 5 or better. That's a major flex to bust that out. Two Wright bros and a Spalding. Right brother rookie cards

[@no89lan3]

It's the type of antiques that needs to be in a museum.

[@ninaappelt9001]

I love when these experts are so excited by their specialty.

[@AndySaenz]

The lady just about got a heart attack when she found out her 1871-72 baseball cards collection was worth $1 Million.

[@realtalk6195]

Letter with signatures included. Way more than $1 million now, given that 20th century cards are going for big prices for their collectablity, whereas these are more than collectors items they're museum pieces with historical significance.

[@patricaomas8750]

500000 the insurgence estimate is usually x2

[@cyborg266]

@@patricaomas8750 "insurance" stupid

[@bobcook599]

Holy Smokes...

[@frankdiscussion2069]

At auction with the right kind of collectors and if there a bidding war that collection would probably sell for 5 times it's worth. Either that or needs to be in the Baseball Hall Of Fame.

[@SchwarzeWitwe2]

It should be in Cooperstown or Fenway.

[@ernieneverscardinals461]

@@SchwarzeWitwe2 1871-1875 Boston Redstockings became the Atlanta Braves. Red Sox came later. So redsox would have no claim. Braves win world series tonight 7-0 over Houston. I'm just setting record straight .

[@Kevinrothwell1959]

What is the point of keeping them in a safe deposit box? They should be displayed at a sports museum (they would take care of the insurance). That would allow enthusiasts to see them, as they were meant to be seen, not hidden away.

[@69A12SuperBee]

My sentiments exactly! Gail's family would still be the rightful owners but at least these could be put on display for many others to enjoy. Put them up in Cooperstown!

[@MM-Iconoclast]

Good point.

[@Jude74]

Yes, they belong in Cooperstown.

[@realtalk6195]

"as they were meant to be seen" WTF does that mean?.. These were a private collection and a private letter, they were never "meant" to be seen other than the household/kid who got them. Now whether the family wants to keep it for themselves or lend them to a museum is up to them.

[@danward5204]

I took her words to mean that she realized she should keep them protected and safe compared to the cardboard box in the hallway closet that she was probably currently storing them in.

[@lancestoops975]

Curious what the Braves organization would offer for that for their museum. This team ended up being the now Atlanta Braves. Pretty cool stuff to be able to see in person.

[@ky-gp4sz]

My favorite find on all of road show!

[@zedz2360]

I miss baseball :(

[@Omrentonth999]

just dont take them to pawn stars he''ll offer you 25$ and a used trojan.

[@tomfurgas2844]

This reminds me of how Lark Mason choked up when he was presented with the Chinese marble lion.

[@cyborg266]

When her voice cracks telling the older lady "...it's the greatest archive I have ever had at the roadshow." I couldn't help but shed a tear.

[@SigmaWolf-in2mr]

Wow....never seen those obviously, before. very cool.

[@megalopolis2015]

Like, wowsers.

[@setaside2]

There's nothing else like it, still, in the annals of sports card collections. And not just its completion or provenance (which is of the highest order) but its condition! They're all in unbelievably good shape. She apologizes (hilariously) because her great grandfather trimmed them down for better storage 😅 and then otherwise kept them in perfect condition, on the east coast?!?, for another 100+ years!! Insane. It would auction for at least 5 million in today's money. There would be a bidding war Kobe and Michael have never seen.

[@DomP1989]

So it’s still a million bucks for that set.

[@sharjeelshahid512]

That spalding card alone is probably worth a million right now