Outstanding Diamond Stars! I love this set also. If I ever find the budget to collect an older set, this would be it. I have Ott and Hornsby only. Anyone know why Ruth and Gehrig were excluded?

Was able to add a true superstar to my 1956 Topps Dodgers set...now at 6 cards!

Attachment 176161

54 Teddy
 

A big one here. Very low grade, but helps me kill my 54 Bowman set.

You get to live up to your screen name now! So quick story about this card...I was 10 or 11 when I got my first baseball card price guide as a gift. It was either the first or second year that the Beckett/Eckes book came out, and my mom's boyfriend hoped it would help me turn the corner from thinking about my cards as a fun hobby to thinking about my cards as a way to make money (still has never happened...I am in for the fun all the way even today!).

The book had pictures of some of the most valuable cards in the hobby, one of which was this 1954 Bowman Ted Williams, which I think back then was presumed much more rare than perhaps it is today. In a way that didn't happen with the Wagner, Mantle, Lajoie, or other top cards, I saw the picture and thought, "Wow, that would be my dream card!"

35 years later, I still don't have it. Maybe someday though. Congratulations to you, Rob, on picking up such a great card! In my book, the Ted Williams Baseball Card HOF is probably...

1. 1954 Bowman
2. 1939 Play Ball
3. 1941 Play Ball
4. 1957 Topps
5. 1959 Fleer "How Ted Hit .400" (I know I just lost all credibility with this pick, but for some weird reason I am a huge fan of this Ted Williams "common.")

Jason---

You didn't lose credibility with me, at least. I for one like the 1959 Fleer Ted Williams set. Fleer spent big bucks to secure the exclusive right to print any baseball cards of Teddy Ballgame. The colorization mirrors their fine 3 Stooges release of the same year. I like them.

However, methinks you should add to your listing of Mr. Williams the following two cards--- 1954 Wilson Franks and the 1952 Red Man chewing tobacco card. ---Brian Powell

PS--I grew up in the suburbs of Chicago in the 50s -- the 70s. What part do you hail from?

I am originally from the VERY distant Chicago suburb of Los Angeles, CA! But these days I am in Western Springs, IL, a western suburb that is sandwiched right between La Grange and Hinsdale--about halfway between Chicago and Naperville.

Robinson rookie
 

I just picked up this card I've been wanting for a while.

Jesse:

Very nice Jackie, I have been looking for one of those too. Hopefully, one will turn up for me soon..........

Thanks I had been looking for a while too. I'm sure one will turn up. I posted a wtb on this site and made a deal.

'54 Bowman Ted Williams, then Jackie Robinson rc! You guys are on some kind of roll! Keep it up...

That Jackie is exactly the kind I'd want. Cover that flip and just let it hit the eye, and that centering looks fantastic. Great addition to the collection.

Thanks Matt, I've seen some of your stuff. If it's good enough for your collection I guess I didn't do too bad. Let me know if you want to part with one of those 51 bowman Mantles.

Love the Jackie Robinson leaf card. I would take that card any day. Congrats on adding that card to your collection. Here is my latest addition to my Bench collection. I have been looking for PSA 9 for about 6 months and finally decided on this one. Super sharp corners on this one and one of the best 9's I have seen in a long time.

http://www.collectorfocus.com/images...ny-bench-psa-9

I am working on a '72 Reds team set PSA 8+. Your Bench is gorgeous!

Thanks George. How far along are you on the 72 Reds set?

I've shown this before but just added the Koosman autograph to round things out. I just wish I had sprung for a slightly more presentable card in the first place, but I was just so excited to finally be able to afford the card that I got one right away.

http://i1345.photobucket.com/albums/...g?t=1421811057

[QUOTE=jb67;1369926]Love the Jackie Robinson leaf card. I would take that card any day. Congrats on adding that card to your collection. Here is my latest addition to my Bench collection. I have been looking for PSA 9 for about 6 months and finally decided on this one. Super sharp corners on this one and one of the best 9's I have seen in a long time.

Thanks, I love that bench card as well. I just picked up his rookie but it's definitely not a psa 9.

I have about 60% complete, the high numbers get pretty pricey. It isn't a top priority, but they are beautiful cards. I like the blue on green and the red helmets really pop.

Should have a couple nice Mantles coming in the next few days, but went outside my PC and found this centered Koufax Rookie in the mailbox today!

http://www.collectorfocus.com/images...1955-topps-123

Great looking Koufax rookie! I need to add one to my collection. Here is what was waiting at the post office for me today. Sent this Aaron in raw and was happy with the results.

http://www.collectorfocus.com/images...nk-aaron-psa-3

That Hank is sweet! Thats the next card on my bucket list, if only I could find one that displays as good of centering as yours!

That Aaron features pretty rare centering right there. Another well-selected pickup, my friend.

Thanks MattyC. Picked it up raw off Ebay and was praying it was not altered in any way. Good news was the seller offered returns and also said that he had that card in his collection for over 30 years when I emailed him regarding if the card had be altered or trimmed in any way. Based on his answer I figured it was worth it to put a bid and see what happened.

Very nice Aaron & Koufax RC's, guys.

Ted Simmons...best player prior to the roids era not in the Hall of Fame.

For my fellow green tint enthusiasts, I picked up one of the absolute toughest cards to find, Dick Stuart. And to add a little class to my collection, I present a 1964 Topps Stand-Up Mr. Cub. My first HOFer (that isn't punched out) from that set.

Attachment 176407

OPC Schmidt
 

I got the Topps but I figured I needed one in French Canadian to go along... with good centering to boot eh.
http://www.net54baseball.com/picture...ictureid=17127

(13) very tough 1974 stamp booklets......

http://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Fj...s400/image.jpg

Added this 53 Bowman Color Mantle to my PC. Have one more big one that should arrive here any day now!

http://www.collectorfocus.com/images...owman-color-59

Nice looking 53 Bowman Mantle. Can't wait to see the next big arrival.

Not a tough card by any means, but it's a nicely centered upgrade for my set and it just happens to remain (almost entirely due to nostalgia) my most favorite card of all time…

Attachment 176613

Great centering on that 72 Mays. I have been looking to pick one up that is centered. I would have snatched that one for sure if I would have seen it. Congrats that is a great addition.

The 1961 White Sox team card on the right is the extremely rare variation where no yellow appears in the logo. Love it!! But the jewel of my month BY FAR is the Mr. Barton In Action on the left. For anyone who collects the '72 Topps set, this card is literally as close to impossible to find centered as you can possibly get. It was the card under the Willie Mays IA card on the printing sheet and both are always found miscut way to the left every time you see them. I am ecstatic to now have this frickin' beauty!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Attachment 176786

Kudos on the 1972 pickups! I remember last year trying to find a 1972 Hank Aaron in action that wasn't horribly off center. I nearly had to bite the bullet and go with O-Pee-Chee...luckily I found one eventually, but it was a struggle.

I would love to undertake completing an entirely 'perfectly centered' set. man, that would be tough. There are quite a few cards on my list that I have never seen centered. Never!

Finally picked up an elusive card for my 1953 set. Now I'm down to just two cards to complete the 1953 set (Mantle and Podres)

http://i812.photobucket.com/albums/z...pszksbzzyw.jpg

Nice Mays! Congrats.

The color on the Mays seems really vivid. Held up well these 60+ years!

Picked up this 70 Reggie Jackson.

As for as the centering on the 72's I have been trying to find a centered Johnny Bench IA and have not had any success. Cannot imagine trying to complete the set centered.

Is it just me or or are the hands on the 53 Mays just a little out of proportion? Very cool looking card and it is on my bucket list.

That is a beauty.

I love 7's that are well centered with minor corner wear.

Been on a Redman kick lately..........always collecting Aaron cards and slowly upgrading the 1975 Topps set.

Picked this one up a while back. It's unquestionably--along with Mays IA, Barton IA and a few others--one of the toughest to find centered…

Attachment 176933

Nice Red Mans Russ!

Very nice Bench IA. I saw PSA 10 a few months back and it was not as nicely centered. I will eventually find one.

To finish out the month with something i been wanting for a while,
but first heres what was on my mind all last night:
Buyers remorse?? Sorta say, I always wanted this card, but when i saw i was at my max, i was second guessing on upping the bid. The drama is there is also several other auctions ending in a week or so that have many items i also want to have. Have you ever thought of hoping of not winning an auction, in hopes on bidding something else.
Wheres the lottery when you need it. Well i had went to bed early last night, at it was at its max. The result was it held up for the last 4 or so hours when it ended and quite happy of grabbing such a iconic card.
The card: These are very hard to find centered and with good focus.

http://www.cleansweepauctions.com/im...ate14con38.jpg

Congratulations!! Not to get too crazy here, but money is only money. This, on the other hand, is a Satchel Paige!!

Great card, Chris, Congrats! I was thinking of getting into the action on that one but passed it up.

Great card Chris! Glad to see your bid held up. I was watching it as I waited for my auction to close last night. Great card!

When I learned that Ernie Banks passed away last Friday, I got the itch to add another Banks card to my collection, which consisted only of 1957, 1958, and 1969. Other than a little staining, I thought this one looked nice. Just came in the mail this afternoon.

Attachment 177176

I ended up donating my 1969, along with my 1956 Jet magazine, to the Ernie Banks memorial here in Chicago. See white framed thing by base.

Attachment 177179

Jason,
Nice centering on the Banks pickup. A very nice touch adding to the Ernie Banks Memorial!

Chris that is a very nice addition. I have been looking to get a 48 Satch. as well. Congrats!

1969 Transogram Mantle and a 1962 Canadian Life Magazine Mantle/Maris Panel (not my head in the picture).

http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MTIwMFgxNj...UhlQ-/$_57.JPG

http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/ODU0WDY0Nw...Uwsa5/$_57.JPG

Sorry about the size of the images.

Chris, nice pick-up on the '69 Transogram Mantle. The figure is in great shape and the card on the back looked really nice also. I saw it and thought about getting it but decided against it.

Awesome stuff guys, That paige rook is amazing! Also pretty cool Mantle Transogram, looks to be in great shape for the age. Here is my pc add that arrived today, had to pay a premium for the centering...

http://www.collectorfocus.com/images...1967-topps-150

January pickups
 

Off to a slowish start this year due to changing jobs, I did pick up a nice '60 Topps Dodger and '72 Topps high number.

Attachment 177199

Attachment 177201

Thanks Mike and MickeyMantle. I figured the price was really fair, so I could not pass it up.

Thanks to Sean1125 for another PC add!

http://www.collectorfocus.com/images...-1953-topps-82

Added two more cards to my 1956 Dodgers team set. Now have 8 of 24.

http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/15...737a075a73.jpg

January Pickups
 

Nice '56 Dodgers!

Rob - nice card of an overlooked HOFer.
Those '49 Bowmans really pop when in the right condition.
I am looking for a Spahn and Snider from that set.
Well done.

Nice Larry Doby pickup. I almost purchased one a few days back. Love those 49 Bowmans.

Love it!!!!! Wow!!

Thanks!! It took me a few years to find the right one for an affordable price. Either too expensive or severely flawed. Love those 48/49 Bowman/Leaf sets...

got these on listia.com, basically for free

my first card of this type

http://i1366.photobucket.com/albums/...psgqwpvlkl.jpg


first of this type as well, also for free (no money spent)
http://i1366.photobucket.com/albums/...pszzbm4rjc.jpg

also a listia win
http://i1366.photobucket.com/albums/...psx50whmsp.jpg


autographed post card, also won on listia
http://i1366.photobucket.com/albums/...psi5gshacz.jpg

Last card of the month
 

Finally found a nice Toy Cannon rookie after looking for quite a while...

Very nice Wynn RC, Carl.

Nice Doby RC, Rob.