A Graded Kaline

I have very few graded cards in my collection. I don't feel the need to know what some dude at PSA or Beckett thinks about the condition my card. I also like to hold the card in my hand. While looking for Kaline's last week, I came across a 1959 Kaline PSA 5 with a Buy It Now of $15 bucks. I bit. No bidding war, no wondering what the condition would be.

For some reason didn't have this card in my collection. I have probably told this story before, but it bears repeating. When I was in 9th grade, I had a class (I don't remember what one) where we were to bring in a prop that showed off our hobby. I brought in my binder of vintage Detroit Tigers cards. I think at the time, I had about 10 Kalines. My Mom and Dad would get me a Kaline and my Brother a Clemente for Christmas each year. They would be hidden in the tree somewhere. I had amassed a nice collection for a 14 year old. I showed off my collection during an oral report. Being a hurried, absent minded, freshman in high school, I threw the binder in my locker and left it there. I was one of those guys that left the combo of his locker set one tiny click away from unlocked. Someone knew it, and ganked my binder. All my Kaline's went bye bye. My Dad said, "you'll probably lock your locker from now on."

This one's for you Dad. I am re-building the Kaline collection.