A daring heist involving over $2.1 million worth of vintage baseball cards stolen from an Ohio hotel has met its match with a significant recovery operation. The stolen cache, belonging to Memory Lane, a collectibles firm from California, vanished from the Best Western Plus hotel in Strongsville, Ohio, where they were expected for display at the Strongsville Sports Collectors Convention.
The main suspect in this elaborate theft is Jacob Paxton, a 27-year-old from Brunswick, Ohio. Paxton was taken into custody on charges of first-degree felony theft. The saga began when the shipment of cards, sent via FedEx, failed to reach the Memory Lane employee who was set to showcase them at the convention after traveling from the East Coast. Initially, the hotel staff claimed the package had gone missing, but later security footage confirmed its delivery.
The stolen collection, stored in a sturdy cardboard box, featured a valuable array of baseball memorabilia. Among the treasured items were 14 rare Cracker Jack cards dating back to 1914, a selection of T206 tobacco cards, several Brunner’s Bread cards from the 1911-1914 era, and premium cards highlighting baseball legends like Mickey Mantle and Roberto Clemente, all meticulously preserved in standard grading holders.
With the strong support of the Strongsville Police, the investigation was promptly initiated on April 18. Following new leads indicating Paxton’s attempt to sell some of the stolen cards at a local card store shortly after the theft, law enforcement obtained a search warrant for a Cleveland property linked to one of Paxton’s associates. This search successfully yielded 52 out of the 54 stolen cards. Efforts are still ongoing to locate the remaining two missing cards, valued at approximately $90,000 combined. Notably, these include prized possessions such as a PSA 8 graded 1941 Play Ball Ted Williams card and a PSA 5 graded 1909 T204 Ramly Walter Johnson card.
Despite the setback caused by the theft, Memory Lane proceeded with their planned auction, optimistic for the eventual return of all cards before the auction’s closing on May 4. With a strategic decision to remain silent about the theft details initially to assist the investigation, the company ensured a swift and successful recovery of the stolen merchandise.
Memory Lane has confirmed that the recovered cards will soon be reunited with their rightful owners, allowing the winning bidders from the auction to finalize their purchases. This incident not only sheds light on the significant value at stake in the vintage collectibles market but also highlights the crucial role of law enforcement’s rapid and coordinated efforts in combating such thefts.
