Steve Tingwall opened his first pack of baseball cards at age 9.
In 39 years of collecting since, he’s never had a bigger thrill than what happened last week.
Tingwall opened a $425 Panini National Treasures box and found a Babe Ruth/Lou Gehrig dual cut autographed booklet card.
The card, which is the only one in existence, contains authentic autographs of both baseball legends.
Tingwall owns Columbia Hobby, a sports cards and comic book shop in Vancouver. He’s already received an offer of $20,000, but believes the card could be worth up to $25,000.
“This is a once-in-a-lifetime pull,” Tingwall said Monday. “This is the best card out there that everyone is chasing.”
Tingwall’s thrill was captured on Columbia Hobby’s YouTube channel. He occasionally broadcasts the opening of valuable sports card boxes, letting the audience share in the thrill of the treasure hunt.
When Tingwall opened the box, he saw immediately there was a Babe Ruth item. His hands shook as he picked up the card, which was the last in the stack.
He opened the booklet card, revealing the two prized autographs. He shut it immediately.
“Oh holy crap,” he exclaimed. “Oh my God, dude, this will be the best card I’ve ever broke in my whole life.”
Sports cards have evolved well beyond the 50-cent bubble gum packs of yesteryear. Higher-end boxes of cards, which sell for hundreds of dollars, usually contain authentic autographs or other mementos, such has pieces of a game-worn jersey.
Tingwall said the most valuable card he had ever pulled was a $1,500 Roger Staubach in 2011.
Tingwall said he will sell the card. His daughter is a high school junior who plans to attend college.
“A week ago, my wife and I were talking about colleges and how we were going to pay for it,” he said. “Now, I get to pay for her first year at least.”
But for now, Tingwall is still reveling in a once-in-a-lifetime find.
“I still don’t know if it has sunk in,” he said.
