Received this really fragile Ray Dandridge in the mail today.

Here's the little system I invented for getting these fragile cards into card savers for grading.

Today's mission: removing the scrapbook glue from the back of this 1948-49 Toleteros Luke Easter, true pro rc. Puerto Rican winter league card.

Pop 6 card at SGC, soon to be 7.

Wish me luck! Stuff from this era is generally a really weak wheat paste mixture that dissolves easily in hot water.

Luis Tiant Jr. always claimed his dad was the better pitcher. Here's Sr. in 1945.

Cuban cards are just about the only true playing days cards available of most Negro League players. I still think it's pretty wild that you can find many of these cards under $100. Most are single digit graded pops at SGC, and few exist above 1 / poor.

Claro Duany was a very good player, a 3-time batting champion across Cuban and Mexican professional leagues and a Negro League World Series champ.

I'm holding on to the a-listers from this set, but I will be running a little sale in my vintage Facebook group of some guys of this caliber. Nothing listed yet, so if you are potentially interested in adding some Negro Leaguers to your collection, drop a comment.