Collectible of the Week: Mike Schmidt Hand Cast
Mike Schmidt Handcast
(via American Memorabilia)
Finding vintage Phillies memorabilia that I have never at least seen on eBay is a rare occurrence. But, that is the case with this week's feature collectible - the Mike Schmidt hand cast. I first saw it while browsing lots in the November online auction sponsored by Hunt Auctions and instantly tweeted out a picture, asking for help with pricing. One follower, @PhillyPhan2012, reported having it, pricing it around $50. I took my search to the internet and found some additional information to file away for another day.
The hand cast was created by Lancaster artist Clifton Sheely, and marketed by "All Star Hand Casts" in 1989 as "The Official Mike Schmidt Handcast."
I found showed some of the paperwork that was inserted into the packaging, including an advertisement with Schmidt holding one of them. The casting which captures the third-baseman from the wrist up is ivory, and mounted on a wood block featuring a gold plate with Schmidt's faux-autograph. The ball he is holding also displays a facsimile signature. Documentation in the listing states 10,000 were created at the time, but I wonder if the full run was completed.
By the way, the hand-casting was bundled with a signed mini-Gartlan figurine, and eventually ended at a high bid of $131. The buyer's premium will push the total to about $150 - which proves out @PhillyPhan2012's guess that it could fetch up-to $50.
Let me know if you have any additional information on this piece, I would like to know if 10,000 were ever cast and what a good value might be (in case I see one down the road).