Unopened 1963 Exhibit Baseball Cards Unearthed, a Rare Discovery

In a thrilling development for sports memorabilia collectors, a remarkable discovery has been made: a collection of approximately 2,000 unopened 1963 Exhibit “stat back” baseball cards. These cards, still encased in their original brown packaging, provide a significant find within the hobby, particularly due to their untouched state. The news of this discovery was shared through a social media post featuring a vintage arcade machine, reminiscent of the machines that once dispensed these cards.

Upon learning of the find from an associate on the east coast with connections in the arcade business, Bill Mendel, an experienced professional in the sports memorabilia industry, expressed his astonishment. The associate had acquired the cards from Mike Munves in New York, a well-known distributor and repairer of arcade machines during the 1950s and 60s. The confirmation of their authenticity and historical value came with the revelation of these sealed packages, complete with Exhibit Supply’s Chicago address.

Representing Memorabilia Experts, a memorabilia store and auction house based in Las Vegas, Mendel quickly arranged for the consignment of these valuable cards. The unopened bricks, expected to contain multiple complete sets of the 64-card series, could be worth thousands each due to their pristine, uncirculated condition. In addition to the unopened packages, the haul included a partially opened fifth package and hundreds of loose cards, featuring ten Hank Aarons, ten Willie Mays, nine Mickey Mantles, and other baseball legends, making this find even more extraordinary.

The 1963 “stat back” cards, recognized for their career statistics printed in red, are considered rare due to their size and quality. While loose cards from this particular era and series are not uncommon, finding them in unopened vending packages is exceptionally rare, and similar items have commanded high prices in the collector’s market.

This collection, comprising both the unopened bricks and the loose cards, is now set to be auctioned, and it has already garnered significant interest and bids. The auction presents a unique opportunity for collectors, as it also allows for a celebration of the history and nostalgia surrounding baseball card collecting, evoking memories of a time when acquiring a card was as simple as inserting a coin into a machine.

For Mendel and Memorabilia Experts, securing these items for auction is a noteworthy achievement, highlighting the continuing allure and excitement of discovering sports memorabilia gems. Whether the winning bidders choose to open the packs or keep them sealed is still to be determined. However, the mere existence of these cards in their original state is a victory for collectors and historians alike, as it celebrates the enduring legacy of baseball’s past.

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