King to Auction O.J. Simpson Card to Benefit Local Domestic Violence Agency
Well before he was a murderer, O.J. Simpson was a serial wife beater who used his fame to avoid being arrested for domestic violence. After Mr. Simpson passed away, Belle Harbor resident Paul King decided to put his O.J. Simpson rookie card to good use. He will auction the card and two other 1970 Topps football cards and donate the proceeds to a local agency that supports victims of domestic violence.
“I have had that O.J. card in my collection since I was seven years old,” said King. “After the murder trial in 1995, I thought about burning it, but just left it in my binder.” The combination of Simpson’s death and the fact that April is Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month inspired King to turn an old piece of cardboard into something positive.
Since Simpson is a controversial figure, King is sweetening the pot by throwing in cards for Hall of Famers Joe Namath and Dick Butkus. Namath is a New York Jets legend who led the team to victory in Super Bowl III as quarterback. Butkus, who passed away in 2023, is considered by many to be the greatest middle linebacker of all time.
“None of the cards are pristine. I hope that people will bid with the good cause in mind.” In perfect condition, the three cards combined would be worth close to $10,000 according to the website Sports Cards Pro. Cards that show wear-and-tear or have flaws are worth far less in the memorabilia market.
As a youngster, King collected thousands of baseball cards and a few dozen football cards during the early 1970s. Like most boys of that era, he did not protect them in plastic. Unlike most of his peers, King hung on to a large percentage of his cards. “My mother put them in clothing boxes from Plymouth – which was a store at Kings Plaza. They’ve spent most of the last 50 years in different attics.”
The auction will begin April 26 and end on April 30. Interested persons can participate in the auction by visiting king2024.us/auction. The current high bid will be updated twice a day. The winner can pick up the Simpson, Namath and Butkus cards at the Rockaway Republican Club meeting at the Knights of Columbus on May 1.
Paul King is the Republican candidate for Congress, challenging long-time incumbent Gregory Meeks this November. He is also President of the Belle Harbor Property Owners Association.
