1951 Blue Back Panels

[coachh]

Hello all. I am a newbie to these boards and in need of some help. I was recently given a couple of 51 Blue Back panels. I had them graded by PSA and got a 7 on one and a 9 on the other. The 9 is the highest graded of that panel.
I have been searching for information on these cards but am not having much luck. No values, no sales records etc. I found 1 person that has a set registered through SGC but have been unable to contact him.
Does anyone have any ideas about value or availability of these cards.
Thanks
Rob

[ALR-bishop]

Topps put out 5 baseball sets in 1951. There were the Blue back and Red back game card sets ( each with 52 cards, but there are two distinct variations of cards 36 and 52 to the Red set), the Team cards, The Current All Stars and The Connie Mack All Stars. Their rank in scarcity and value from easiset to hardest would in my view be --Red backs, Blue Back, Team Cards, Connie Macks and then Current ( particularly if you include the 3 unissued cards from that set).

The Blue backs are scarcer than the Red backs by virtue of a large find of Red backs back in the 80s. The Red backs can be found as a set that was sold in a plastic bag with a foldout game card and some inserts from the Connie Mack and or Current AllStar set. Otherwise both Reds and Blues were sold two to a package for 1 cent. Uncut panels of these cards often bring a premium over individual cards

Both the Reds and Blues were produced on heavy card board and a good many have survived in pretty good shape because of that. There are very few big names in the Blue back set. The 2010 Standard Catalog lists a top condition Blue set ( NM) at @ $ 2000, EX @ $ 1000 and VG @ 600 . Individual cards in top condition are listed @ $ 30 , but with a premium for the few star cards, for example Ashburn @ $ 200.

I am not a graded card collector, but would suspect the 9 you describe might bring a pretty big premium no matter which player it is since there might be several registry collectors interested in it. Would not think the 7 would bring a huge premium, but might sell well over the $ 30 listed in the Catalog. We have some graded card experts on the board and I am sure they can help you out more specifically on prices. It might be helpful to list the players

[GoldenAge50s]

Rob---

The owner of that set on the SGC Registry has, unfortunately, passed away.
(Randy Stuckemeyer)

I don't know if a son or anyone is replying to that EM addy---Does anyone know?

[coachh]

Just to clairify, these are the 2 card panels, not the individual cards. I have seen panels of the Red Back cards listed but never any Blue Back panels.
I tried to send an email to that addy for Mr. Stuckmeyer but it was returned.

[Chris Counts]

I wasn't aware of the large find of Red Backs in the 80s because I was out of the hobby. But I was very active in the 70s, and I recall Blue Backs were considered much tougher to find even back then ...

[Jim VB]

I wasn't aware of the large find of Red Backs in the 80s because I was out of the hobby. But I was very active in the 70s, and I recall Blue Backs were considered much tougher to find even back then ...



My impression was that the blues were more scarce than the reds, but because blue had fewer HOFers, the demand was lower.

[toppcat]

Blue Back panels are hard to come by and would likely have a pretty good premium "attached" (ahem) to them. If you want background I have blogged on them a couple of times:

http://toppsarchives.blogspot.com/search/label/1951%20Topps%20Blue%20Backs

I would be guessing at values for the panels. I would contact somebody like Rob Lifson or Irv Lerner to see what they are worth.

[coachh]

Blue Back panels are hard to come by and would likely have a pretty good premium "attached" (ahem) to them. If you want background I have blogged on them a couple of times:

http://toppsarchives.blogspot.com/search/label/1951%20Topps%20Blue%20Backs

I would be guessing at values for the panels. I would contact somebody like Rob Lifson or Irv Lerner to see what they are worth.

Dave
I have read your blogs. They were very informative. Thank you. Do you have any idea how to reach either of the 2 gentlemen you mentioned?

Rob

[sflayank]

hi
i am the owner of a complete panel set
sflayank@aol.com
let me know which panels you have
thanks
larry