I don't know if anybody was tracking the '71 and '72 24 player team
sets on Ebay that closed last night. I had set my eye on several
teams I fondly remember from my youth that didn't attract much
attention early: the '72 Cubs, '71 Mets and a couple of others. Of
those available, I wanted the Mets the most: it was the only
original 2 sided version with Nolan Ryan as a Met, was personal
favorite Tommie Agee's last good season, as well as local son Gil
Hodges's last team.

Things were looking favorable in mid-afternoon. I was prepared to
spend 10 or 12 bucks for the Mets, and thought I might have a shot
when the auction closed at 9:00 local time. Boy was I wrong.

I believe a single buyer picked up all the available teams. My
beloved Mets, (83-79, a third place team) sold for $23.00. I
deliberately drove up the price a little for him, even after I
realized he had fat bids on everything. Some teams went for well
over $50-- the '72 Pirates and Mets, and surely a few others. If I
knew in 1973 what I know now: make sure to buy the extra players
(and look out for the IPO of Microsoft ten years later)!

I've learned that when one door closes, one usually opens. I saw
a '69 advanced full 24 team set opened last evening, so I can get my
mitts on the real prize for me, the '69 team. Hopefully, last
night's winner will feel a bit tapped after his coup, and he'll give
us poor people a break.