Ernest Borgnine RIP

For the second time in a week we have lost a acting legend when Ernest Borgnine passed away this morning due to kidney failure, he was 95 years-old.

Like the Andy Griffith Show, and many other 60s comedy television shows, McHale’s Navy always seemed to be playing reruns well in to the 80s. But Borgnine didn’t stick to just television, he was in many of the great action movies over the years; The Wild Bunch, Convoy, All Quiet on the Western Front and The Dirty Dozen and a hand full of cameos that have kept him relevant over the last few decades including working together with Tim Conway (They co-starred in McHale’s Navy) as Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy in SpongeBob.

In 1965 Fleer released a McHale’s Navy card set, the cards were black and white scenes from the show and most of the cards can be found for a few dollars each. He also made an appearance in the 1992 Starline Hollywood Icons set but it was not until the last few years that his cards have begun to show up regularly in Razor/Leaf Pop Century and Panini Americana sets. With his passing the eBay Toads have shown up en-mass and you can find every type of Borgnine card that you can imagine.

Not long ago base cards were a few dollars with his relics barely hitting $15 and most of his autographs may have topped $25 on occasion but now even his base cards are being posted up around $8 while his relics are set around $10 and autographs are closer to $20 starting price. There are a couple of each that were posted before he passed away so those prices are more in line but will most likely get bid up from there.

A couple of my personal favorites:

2012 Leaf Pop Century Autograph

2010 Leaf Ali Associates Autograph

2011 Leaf National Convention Sketch Card