1959 Fleer Set

[1963Topps Set]

I personally think this is the worst set of the 1950s. I don't like that it is based on ONE player, I don't care how great they are. Some don't actually consider this a "set", I do. The photos are very drab and the design is poor. What is your take on this set?

[ALR-bishop]

Not my favorite set, but it sold better than their 63 effort.

[kailes2872]

I agree that it isn't very appealing to the eye, however, in my mostly uninformed opinion, I think that it is undervalued. When you think about what the '54 #1 & #250, '55 #2, 56 #5, 57&58 #1 plus the AS cards sell for - and then compare what the '59 fleer cards sold for, it seems like a bargain. I am comparing apples & oranges, I know...

[bnorth]

The best set from the 50's by far. Hope to own one some day. Yes it is based on one player but that player was by far the best of his era.

[ALR-bishop]

One of these Ted signs is counterfeit....which one ?

[bnorth]

I would pay a lot less for the bottom one.

[Griffins]

2nd one down. I remember when these were faked, Summer of '75. The guy had sold a bunch of them at the Philly show, and by the time he got to the LA show a few weeks later suspicions were high, and the promoters banned them from the show. Turned out to be for good reason.
I think they were sold by a guy from Detroit named Whelan.

[Paul S]

The one on the bottom for sure. The real cards have sort of an off white cream color border. I own and like the set, although it doesn't get any love. A complete set in quite nice condition and #68 graded general goes for only about $400-450. That said, I'm thinking of putting mine on the BST soon - not a plug - just recently selling a lot of my collection and this would be a good place to do it.

[bobsbbcards]

Originally Posted by ALR-bishop

One of these Ted signs is counterfeit....which one ?

The third one.

[ALR-bishop]

Some people see things as they are and wonder why. Bob dreams of things that never were and says.....there it is.

[bostonmarathonman]

Al, when you have a chance, could you please post a scan of the back of the counterfeit #68?? Thanks!!

[Econteachert205]

I like some of the cards but of course I am biased as a ted williams fan. They are a niche set, but Ted wasn't just another player, having been a war hero and hall of fame fisherman. There is a fishing special presented by Sears from the 1970s that is searchable on YouTube and really worth checking out "ted williams and the Atlantic salmon".

[Shoebox]

The cards that feature Ted fishing are my favorite cards in the set.

[ALR-bishop]

Rumor has it that SCI FY has a Salmonado film in the works.

Is his head still in cryogenic storage ?

Here is an old SCD O'Connell article on thew set

http://www.sportscollectorsdigest.com/classiccard5

My fake card has it labeled as such on the back. I think when a stash of the fakes were seized many were stamped and sold as reproductions

[Exhibitman]

If you like Williams there are some nicely rendered colorized images of classic publicity photos and fan response cards, like this 1957 PC:



Don't know if this is in the 1959 set:



But the 1960 is darned close:



Personally, I'd want only a type card of a nice image.

[tedzan]

Ted Williams was paid $5000 to sign a contract with FLEER that year. So, Sy Berger (an avid Ted Williams fan) did not print a card of Ted in the 1959 TOPPS set.

Personally, I saw Ted Williams play when I was a kid. Although, I was Yankees fan, Teddy was one of my favorites. Therefore, I like the 1959 FLEER set, and
I have completed 4 sets of them.






TED Z
.

[kailes2872]

Originally Posted by Paul S

The one on the bottom for sure. The real cards have sort of an off white cream color border. I own and like the set, although it doesn't get any love. A complete set in quite nice condition and #68 graded general goes for only about $400-450. That said, I'm thinking of putting mine on the BST soon - not a plug - just recently selling a lot of my collection and this would be a good place to do it.

Paul,
it has been a couple of years, but did you list this set?

[pclpads]

[QUOTE=bnorth;1352254]The best set from the 50's by far. /QUOTE]

Really?? I mean really and truly?? Over '52T et al?????

[bnorth]

[QUOTE=pclpads;1586629]

Originally Posted by bnorth

The best set from the 50's by far. /QUOTE]

Really?? I mean really and truly?? Over '52T et al?????

Yes easily over the 52 Topps set. Seriously there are 80 cards of the greatest hitter ever and they tell his life story. As a Ted Williams fan I could not imagine a better set from the 50's.

[ALR-bishop]

Some people have no imagination

[Paul S]

Originally Posted by kailes2872

Paul,
it has been a couple of years, but did you list this set?

Kevin,

On our BST? Yes, but it didn't sell. It eventually ended up with another board member in a private sale.

You can read the story behind it in my recent post #97 in the following thread, here:

http://www.net54baseball.com/showthr...=228608&page=2

It survived totally unscathed!

[bnorth]

Originally Posted by Paul S

Kevin,

On our BST? Yes, but it didn't sell. It eventually ended up with another board member in a private sale.

You can read the story behind it in my recent post #97 in the following thread, here:

http://www.net54baseball.com/showthr...=228608&page=2

It survived totally unscathed!

I can confirm it was totally unscathed.

[DBesse27]

[QUOTE=pclpads;1586629]

Originally Posted by bnorth

The best set from the 50's by far. /QUOTE]

Really?? I mean really and truly?? Over '52T et al?????

Yes. The cards are beautiful, much more so than 52 Topps or anything else. No commons; every card is a HOFer. And cameos by Babe Ruth, Jimmie foxx, Sam Snead and John Wayne.

[ALR-bishop]

Don't forget that big fish

[jason.1969]

I like this set a lot. The Williams/Ruth card is a favorite, and for some reason I have a disproportionate love for "How Ted Hit .400."

Had thought about turning my 20 or so cards into a set but was put off by the rare Ted Signs card. Decided I didn't love the set quite enough to throw down big $$.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using Tapatalk

[Paul S]

Originally Posted by jason.1969

I like this set a lot. The Williams/Ruth card is a favorite, and for some reason I have a disproportionate love for "How Ted Hit .400."

Had thought about turning my 20 or so cards into a set but was put off by the rare Ted Signs card. Decided I didn't love the set quite enough to throw down big $$.

Personally, I don't think #68 is all that rare. It is pretty much readily available anytime. IIRC, the myth was propagated in the 60s by dealers who would advertise in the trade pubs to get a premium on it more than warranted, and the legend remains today. Tougher than the rest? Sure, but not that tough at all. I think I paid about $38 for my complete set (now gone) in the 60s - the other cards were very cheap but #68 almost doubled the price.

[DBesse27]

Originally Posted by jason.1969

I like this set a lot. The Williams/Ruth card is a favorite, and for some reason I have a disproportionate love for "How Ted Hit .400."

Had thought about turning my 20 or so cards into a set but was put off by the rare Ted Signs card. Decided I didn't love the set quite enough to throw down big $$.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using Tapatalk

I spent about $400 on 79 raw cards and $135 on a PSA 1 of #68.

[ALR-bishop]

I had a 6 card p0ack with my set but was recently able to add a 8 card wrapper

[irv]

Originally Posted by ALR-bishop

I had a 6 card p0ack with my set but was recently able to add a 8 card wrapper

Very nice, Al!

[bnorth]

Originally Posted by irv

Very nice, Al!

+1 great pick up Al.

[JustinD]

Originally Posted by Paul S

Personally, I don't think #68 is all that rare. It is pretty much readily available anytime. IIRC, the myth was propagated in the 60s by dealers who would advertise in the trade pubs to get a premium on it more than warranted, and the legend remains today. Tougher than the rest? Sure, but not that tough at all. I think I paid about $38 for my complete set (now gone) in the 60s - the other cards were very cheap but #68 almost doubled the price.

I would say it's still pretty darn rare in comparison to most any other regularly issued card in the span around it.

Adjusted for inflation your 38 bucks if it was say 65', is 300 today. Which is still a good price.

[sandmountainslim]

The set as a whole isn't beautiful but the "Ted Shows He Will Stay" card is absolutely gorgeous. The only card I own from the set.

[ALR-bishop]

The "tent" in the background hinders that one for me