A set of old baseball cards was discovered glued inside a wooden trunk bought at an estate sale in Providence, Rhode Island. CNN
An antique collector from Rhode Island has turned a small purchase into a major discovery after finding a rare collection of early 1900s baseball cards glued inside a wooden chest.
Tom Conrad, who often hunts for antiques like signs and soda bottles, came across the chest while browsing Facebook Marketplace. For him, this wasn’t just another weekend find — it was a collector’s dream.
“I hate to say once in a lifetime find, but it really is right up there,” Conrad said with excitement.
He paid just US$75 for the box, which originally came from an estate sale in Providence, Rhode Island. When he opened it, he found 122 baseball cards from 1909 to 1911 featuring some of the sport’s greatest names, including Cy Young, Christy Mathewson, and John McGraw.
Hidden History Preserved
The cards were glued to the inside of the chest’s lid, a move that may have actually helped preserve them for more than a century. Many are still attached, but experts say they can be safely removed with care.
Conrad shared his find online, and soon collectors began to take notice. He listed the set on his antique Facebook page, and bids quickly poured in. The top offer so far has reached $6,700 — a huge leap from his $75 investment.
Among the cards, one in particular stands out: a 1909 Cy Young card, which experts say could be worth thousands on its own.
Expert Opinions
Matt Sharps, a trading card specialist at Card Vault, a store partly owned by Tom Brady, said the discovery is something every collector dreams of.
“In poor condition it’s still a couple grand,” Sharps explained. “A few years ago, a near mint graded Cy Young card sold for over $100,000.”
Sharps also noted how rare it is to find cards from that era still intact. “These cards used to come in boxes of cigarettes back in the day. You’d get one with your pack,” he said. “Most of them were thrown away or damaged. Finding them in this condition is unreal.”
More Than Just a Sale
For Conrad, the cards hold more than financial value. To him, they’re a glimpse into the past and a reminder of baseball’s golden age.
“It’s a true piece of history for baseball itself, but for Americana in general,” he said. “Just thinking that someone thought to put these in the trunk lid to conserve them like that — it’s amazing.”
Conrad plans to let the auction run its course and see where the final bid lands. Whether they sell for thousands or more, his small purchase has already become one of the most remarkable antique finds of his life.
