New Member Introduction
 

Hi all,

I joined this forum a couple months back and have been enjoying reading the discussions about old baseball cards.

Like some of you, my introduction to baseball cards was the boom of the mid 80's (I was 12 in 1987 and 1987 Topps will forever be etched in my memories...that Bo Jackson Future Stars card is my #1 favorite card ever).

As it goes, I left the hobby due to other interests and life in general, but now in my mid-40's something about vintage cards has drawn me back. And after "experimenting" with a few lots off of ebay (T206, 1933 Goudey, 1950s Bowmans) I was particularly drawn to the beautiful paintings of classic hall of famers on those Bowman cards.

My first thought was to try and put together a set of 1951 Bowmans, but quickly realized there were two reasons that would be out of reach on my budget (Mays and Mantle).

So I landed on 1952 Bowman in mid-grade condition as the set I'm chasing. Still a beautiful set, but the 2nd year cards of Mays and Mantle are so much more affordable (relatively speaking) than those rookies. I'm about 1 year into my quest, and am about 30% done.

I recently felt the need to pull the trigger on one of those centerpiece cards to sort of validate my collection in my mind, so I'm recently the proud owner of an SGC 5.5 1952 Bowman Willie Mays. I've seen many of your beautiful cards in posts, so the Mays may not seem like much. But to me.....I now have a 1952 BOWMAN WILLIE MAYS!!!! The joy I get out of owning that card surpasses my expectations. My 12 year old self never would have believed it.

So anyway, I just wanted to say hi. I'll be around reading, hopefully able to add some relevant posts and comments, and I have some Bowman related discussion topics I'll likely post in the future in the Post War thread.

John

Welcome John. I collect those great early Bowman sets! Post a pic of your 52 Mays so we can all enjoy!

Oh, sure thing...here's a scan.

And yes, I know there are lots of collectors that are sticklers for centering, and that my Mays would not be acceptable. However, as I think about collecting old cards, whatever kid pulled this card out of the pack over 60 years ago in pristine condition would still have found the same centering...the card was just "born that way". So far my collection is free of creases, paper loss, and marks....but centering has never really bothered me. In fact, it sort of feels even more authentic to have on off centered 1952 Bowman high number :)


https://dyn1.heritagestatic.com/lf?s...oduct.chain%5D

Welcome! Great looking Mays!

John, are you the child actor from Jerry Maguire? Now that you got the 1952, you ought to go for the gusto and get the 1951.....before the price goes through the roof.

Haha! Robert, no, I'm not the child actor. I used that screen name for one of the very first message boards I signed up for back in the day around the time that movie came out. I thought it was clever. And I've sort of just kept using it :) As for the 1951 Mays, I think it's already through the roof! But it's funny you mention that. My plan is to save the 1952 Bowman Mantle for the LAST card to complete my set, and reward myself with that gem. I can't buy it soon, because I basically spent my entire card budget on the Mays. I have two kids to put through college in a few years, so I really don't have much extra card money...so I save up for months and then spend on cards. But my fear is that with all the publicity the 1952 Topps Mantle gets, eventually the 1952 Bowman Mantle will be "discovered" and that will be out of my price range, forever leaving a hole in my set.

Welcome and awesome Willie Mays !

Welcome John... great Mays and I also love the 1987 Bo Jackson too!!! beautiful card.

It's a good thing I wasn't the kid in Jerry Maguire:

Jerry: "Did you know that Troy Aikman, in only six years, has passed for 16,303 yards?"

Me: "Did you know that passing for 2,717 yards in a 16 game season sucks?"

:p

Welcome aboard, John. Really nice looking Say Hey Kid. Enjoy it!!

Haha! Seems like a good line for the sequel? (Speaking of that, I'm surprised there hasn't been a Jerry Maguire 2)

Thanks to all for the welcome notes!