1999 Upper Deck A Piece of History 500 Club Game-Used Bat and Autographed Card Collection (16)

Sold For:

$20,400

Year:

1999

Auction:

2014 Fall

Lot #:

659

Category:

Postwar Baseball - 1970s to Present Cards

Collection of sixteen Upper Deck "A Piece of History - 500 Club" cards, ten of which are also signed by the respective player in blue Sharpie on the front. In 1999 Upper Deck began the production of special 500 Home Run Club cards, each of which featured a small piece of a baseball bat used by the respective player. The number of cards produced for each player was approximately 350, with the exception of Babe Ruth (limited to 50). Players were then added to the set in subsequent years as they reached the 500 Home-Run plateau. Upper Deck issued the cards by randomly inserting them in standard card packs, normally at a rate of one card per every 15,000 packages. To date, the only 500 Home Run Club members not featured in the set are Barry Bonds, Alex Rodriguez, and Albert Pujols. Upper Deck also issued a limited number of autographed cards for each of the then-living 500 Home Run Club members, but it discontinued the practice in 2004 (as a result, there were no signed examples issued by Upper Deck for Frank Thomas, Jim Thome, Manny Ramirez, and Gary Sheffield). This collection is comprised of ten signed examples and six unsigned examples from Upper Deck's "A Piece of History - 500 Club" issue. Many of the signed cards are hand numbered in blue Sharpie along the base, with the limitation number normally matching the player's uniform number (limitation number duly noted in listing). Signed Cards (10): Ken Griffey Jr. (16/25), Willie Mays (15/24), Hank Aaron (2/44), Eddie Mathews (25/41), Sammy Sosa, Mark McGwire, Rafael Palmeiro, Reggie Jackson (22/44), Willie McCovey (12/44), and Frank Robinson (19/20). Unsigned Cards (6): Frank Robinson, Mike Schmidt, Harmon Killebrew, Eddie Murray, Mel Ott, and Ted Williams. Near Mint condition overall. Total: 16 cards. LOA from James Spence/JSA.

SOLD FOR $20,400