The most talked about bat barrel card of 2006 surfaces

By Kevin Haake

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Few collectors can claim that they've walked into a card store with the intention of busting a few packs and walked out with a card whose value is the equivalent to a down-payment on a house.

But that exact scenario played out for 58-year-old Milo Gibbs Jr. when he pulled the Topps Sterling Josh Gibson Game-Model Bat Barrel card from a pack at J&J Collectibles in Wilson, North Carolina. Gibbs, a 20-year hobby veteran and frequent customer, strolled into his favorite stomping grounds the Friday after Thanksgiving with the intention of busting a few packs.

"Being a lifelong fan of Roger Maris, I've been excited about the release of Topps Sterling since I first saw the sales sheet information at the shop," Gibbs said. "So on a whim, I stopped in on my lunch break and James Freeman, the owner, only had one box of Sterling left. So I bought it, and took it home.

"The card wasn't in the mystery pack like many collectors had been predicting. It was actually the fourth card down inside the box. I knew that I had something special after seeing so much press about the card in previous issues of Beckett, so I raced back to the store to show James and guys the amazing pull."

The card, which had been touted by Topps as being the greatest card ever produced, was made from a game model bat that was acquired from the Gibson estate. The bat was originally discovered in the Louisville Slugger archives and dates back to the early 1930s.

"There are only two known game model bats of Josh Gibson's available, and we bought one of them," said Topps' Clay Luraschi.

A card of this historic magnitude doesn't come without controversy. Some collectors have scoffed at this card's historic relevance citing the lack of evidence that the bat was ever used by Gibson in an official game. Topps to their credit has never advertised the card as such, only stating that there is a possibility that the bat was game-used.

To Milo Gibbs, none of the controversy matters.

"Right now, I am keeping the card. People have asked me, how much do I think it's worth, but to me, its monetary value isn't the important thing. The important thing is for the collecting community to know that this historic card has been pulled."

Packs of Topps Sterling may cost $250 plus, but with multi-piece game-used memorabilia cards of Mickey Mantle, Roger Maris, Ted Williams and George Brett going from premium prices, thrill-seeking pack rippers have found a product worthy of satisfying their risky needs.

"I wouldn't categorize myself as a high-risk guy," Gibbs said. "But every now and then, you've gotta take a chance."

And for Gibbs, that chance paid off.

"After I got home from the card shop, I showed the card to my wife and she didn't know who Josh Gibson was. She knows now."

"This couldn't have happened to a nicer guy," James Freeman, owner of J & J Collectibles said. "Milo is more than just one of our original customers, I consider him a life-long friend."

"I still can't believe I pulled the card of 2006. Things like this don't happen to people like me." Gibbs said. "I am still in shock, and right now, I can honestly say that the card is not for sale, but that doesn't mean I wouldn't be willing to listen to offers."