In a thrilling development for sports memorabilia enthusiasts, an astonishing collection of around 2,000 unopened 1963 Exhibit “stat back” baseball cards has recently been uncovered. These cards, still sealed within their original brown packaging, constitute a remarkable discovery in the hobby, particularly due to their pristine condition. The revelation came to light when a social media post showcased a vintage arcade machine that had once dispensed these cards.
Bill Mendel, a seasoned professional in the sports memorabilia industry, expressed his sheer amazement upon learning about the find from a contact based on the east coast. The contact had connections within the arcade business and had obtained the cards from Mike Munves, a renowned distributor and repairer of arcade machines during the 1950s and 60s. The authentication of these sealed packages, complete with Exhibit Supply’s Chicago address, only served to further confirm their historical significance and legitimacy.
Mendel, representing Memorabilia Experts—a well-established memorabilia store and auction house based in Las Vegas—promptly arranged for the consignment of these incredible treasures. The unopened bundles, which likely comprise multiple complete sets of the 64-card series, could potentially fetch thousands of dollars each, given their pristine condition and untouched state. To make this discovery even more extraordinary, the haul also included a partially opened fifth package and hundreds of loose cards, featuring ten Hank Aarons, ten Willie Mays, nine Mickey Mantles, and other legendary baseball players.
The 1963 “stat back” cards, widely recognized for their red-printed career statistics, are considered to be highly uncommon due to their size and quality. Although loose cards from this era and series are not rare, finding them in unopened vending packages is an exceptionally rare occurrence, and similar items have commanded high prices in the collector’s market.
This comprehensive collection, comprising both the unopened bundles and the loose cards, is scheduled to be auctioned, and it has already garnered substantial interest and bids. This auction offers collectors a truly unique opportunity to acquire these valuable items while also celebrating the nostalgia and historical significance of baseball card collecting. It harks back to a simpler time when acquiring a card was as straightforward as inserting a coin into a machine.
For Mendel and the team at Memorabilia Experts, successfully securing these items for auction represents a momentous achievement, shining a spotlight on the everlasting allure and excitement that surrounds the discovery of hidden sports memorabilia gems. Whether the winning bidders choose to open the sealed packs or preserve them in their original state will be a decision left in their hands. However, the mere existence of these cards in their unopened condition is a victory for collectors and historians alike, as it commemorates the legacy and rich history of baseball’s past.
