Don’t you wish you had a crystal ball so you could know what sports item to save today that would be desired by collectors twenty years in the future? The greatest sports collectible story has to be the American Tobacco Company T206 Honus Wagner card that was distributed from 1909-1911. It was considered the world’s most expensive baseball card at $50 in 1933. Recently, it’s been playing value leapfrog with the 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle. A T206 Wagner card sold for $6.6 million in 2021. Mickey Mantle sold for $12.6 million in 2022. Mickey is the most expensive piece of sports memorabilia ever sold…for now. (Read about it here, it’s quite a story.)
This week’s fresh to market vintage has a piece of baseball history priced for the average collector. The tobacco felt from the early 1900s features George “Hooks” Wiltse, a pitcher for the NY Giants. Apparently, there are 90 other felts. It would be such a good vintage quest to try and snag a grouping of those. It wouldn’t cost you anywhere near $12.6 million and the sport of hunting for each one would be a lot more fun.
We wouldn’t be us if the entirety of fresh to market vintage was sports-related. We have other non-sporting lovelies for you to peruse.
1960s Floral Painted Tray
These 1950s-1960s floral painted metal trays are among my favorite vintage finds. They defy the “it’s so big it’s too expensive to ship” rule, because they never linger in my shop. I envy sellers who can resist buying things that are oversized or heavy, making them costly to ship or things that are so delicate they are complex to pack. I can’t stay away. Not sure if it’s because I’m not that smart or because I’m way too stubborn, but I am unnaturally attracted to those things like a rat to liverwurst.
1960s Hand Painted Floral Tray, $75
-Laurie, NextStage Vintage
Mid Century Molded Plastic Bunny Wall Lamp
Still not quite bunny weather yet. I did find this hard molded plastic wall lamp or nightlight to enjoy until then. It is wearing a blue straw hat and is ready to hop in the Easter Parade. There was a point in time that these novelty lights were very numerous and popular, but they are scarce now, and I felt lucky indeed to have found it.
1960s Molded Plastic Rabbit Lamp, $58.99
-Mary Ellen, Aunt Hatties Attic
Multi Strand Necklace w/Decorative Clasp
This one is a real showstopper! The light blue layers of beads with an iridescent coating along with that fabulously over the top side clasp make this piece a true standout. The colors remind me of Easter Eggs, which is apt since Easter is around the corner. Spring may not yet arrived everywhere, but the signs of blooming buds are popping up. If you’re so inclined this necklace would be a wonderful addition to a spring wardrobe.
Blue Multi Strand Necklace, $32.95
-Pam, Vintage Renude
Wiltse Tobacco Felt, NY Giants c1914
It’s baseball season, my favorite sport, and memorabilia like this illustrates that I am far from alone in my interest. This gold felt features George “Hooks” Wiltse, a pitcher for NY Giants from 1904 to 1915, and is one from a series of baseball-themed felts released in 1914 as a promotional giveaway to be attached to tobacco products. Also known as flannels or blankets, the entire set consisted of felt images of 90 players from ten major league teams.
Baseball Themed Tobacco Felt, $25
-Linda, Selective Salvage
Whether it’s a blue necklace, pink bunny or multicolor floral tray, we have what you need to make spring pop. It’s always nice to treat yourself to a little something something when the seasons change. We’ve always got ideas for you in fresh to market vintage because we are thinking about what’s in season.
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