Ep 1. Black Swamp Baseball Card Find

In the first episode of Strange Inheritance season 1, entitled Black Swamp Baseball Card Find, we are introduced to a fascinating story of an unexpected inheritance. When Ohio real estate developer Karl Kissner was tasked with cleaning out his grandfather's attic, he stumbled upon an incredible treasure trove of rare baseball cards. Tucked away in a box were nearly 700 pristine examples of early 20th century cards of legends such as Ty Cobb, Cy Young, and Honus Wagner.

The discovery of this collection, which has been dubbed the "Black Swamp Find," was nothing short of amazing. But what made it even more remarkable was the fact that these cards had been hidden away for over 70 years and were in near-perfect condition. Many of them were so rare and valuable that they were thought to be lost forever.

As the episode unfolds, we learn more about the history of baseball cards and why the "Black Swamp Find" was such a significant discovery. In the early years of the sport, cards were more commonly used as advertisements for tobacco and other products, rather than as collectibles. However, as the popularity of baseball grew, so did the demand for these cards. By the turn of the 20th century, card companies such as the American Tobacco Company and the Piedmont Cigarette Company were producing cards in larger quantities, and they became more widely collected.

The "Black Swamp Find" included cards from several major sets produced in the early 1900s, including the T206 and E98 series. These cards are highly sought after by collectors, with some of them fetching hundreds of thousands of dollars at auction. The quality of the cards in the "Black Swamp Find" was particularly impressive, with many of them being in near-mint condition. This led experts to speculate that they had been stored away shortly after they were printed and had never been circulated or handled by a collector.

As Karl and his family began to explore the collection, they quickly realized that they had stumbled upon something truly remarkable. However, they also knew that selling such a valuable collection would be no easy task. There were many legal obstacles to navigate, including proving that the cards were authentic and establishing legal ownership. Additionally, they needed to figure out how to store and protect the cards, which were now worth millions of dollars.

To help with these challenges, Karl sought the advice of several experts, including a lawyer who specialized in sports memorabilia and a professional appraiser. They also contacted several auction houses who expressed interest in selling the collection, although they cautioned that it would likely take years to sell the entire collection.

As the episode concludes, we see the Kissner family still grappling with what to do with their incredible find. Although they had initially hoped to sell the collection and split the proceeds, they quickly realized that this was a complex and emotionally charged decision. For Karl, the discovery of the "Black Swamp Find" had brought him closer to his grandfather, who had collected the cards as a young man. He ultimately decided to keep a portion of the collection for his family and to donate the rest to the local historical society, where it can be preserved and admired by future generations.

Overall, the "Black Swamp Baseball Card Find" is a truly fascinating story that highlights the power of unexpected inheritances. It shows how even the most ordinary objects can have incredible value and tells the story of a family who found themselves at the center of a once-in-a-lifetime discovery.