1961 High Numbers

[BillP]

Looking to work on this set and about 60% of the way there, but the purpose of the post is to get an idea on the tougher 61 last series cards, also the easier ones. Any help appreciated, thx billp

[Northviewcats]

The high numbers are not that tough. I completed the set and then sold it a couple of years ago. The toughest card for me was #578 Mantle in a decent grade. It depends what grade that your looking for. They can get pricey in NM condition, but you can usually find them on eBay or our own BST. I have several 1961 high numbers for sale on the BST right now. Both high grade and medium grade.

Best of luck in completing the set. I really enjoyed putting the set together.

Joe

[nolemmings]

I haven't collected the set in 10+ years, but remember that the toughest, especially if you wanted them decently centered, were Gibbon, Gentile and Cerv. For some reason I was never able to find a Jack Curtis with centering I liked either, at least in high grade. Other Yankees Coates and Sheldon were somewhat tougher also as I recall. The Wilhelm card when found in nice condition is one of my favorite cards.

[brob28]

Bill good luck with the set, as you can see from my signature line, I'm 2 cards from completion. Todd's post above is pretty spot on. I have had major difficulty with finding the Coates card centered, in good condition for a reasonable price. Like most sets your condition and centering requirements will make this either a fairly simple set to put together or quite challenging. My set is roughly Ex/Mt and I'm a stickler for centering so it has been some work but I've had a great time. Patience has been key to not allow my condition goals to slide. Gibbons, Coates and Gentile are hard to find centered. Kaline and Musial always seem to be OC and or have the image tilted and for some reason I found Hal Smith #242 selling at a premium on Ebay, no idea why. I'd be happy to share my thoughts as they are still pretty fresh on this set. I have roughly 50 extras including some high numbers as well that might help you along. Good luck it's really a great set, IMO.

[toppcat]

Fifteen years ago I would say the 61 highs were considered among the tougher runs to complete but not so anymore. I was always curious why in the past they were thought of as tough.

[savedfrommyspokes]

Originally Posted by brob28

for some reason I found Hal Smith #242 selling at a premium on Ebay, no idea why.

There is one buyer who consistently buys most every copy of this card listed on ebay....I have sold 50+ copies of this card to him via ebay over the past few years....he is the only one who buys any copies of this card when I list it and he normally buys within a day or two of me listing. This 61 242 Smith card buyer is very similar to another ebayer who used to buy many copies of the 64 Curt Flood card.

[brian1961]

Originally Posted by savedfrommyspokes

There is one buyer who consistently buys most every copy of this card listed on ebay....I have sold 50+ copies of this card to him via ebay over the past few years....he is the only one who buys any copies of this card when I list it and he normally buys within a day or two of me listing. This 61 242 Smith card buyer is very similar to another ebayer who used to buy many copies of the 64 Curt Flood card.

SCD ran an article about a deranged soul whose sole purpose in collecting, or so it seemed, was to own every 1958 Topps Solly Hemus card. I think he had something like 500+ copies of that Solly. Maybe he was trying to corner the market on this card, and create a quasi-artificially-self-induced rarity. As if to say, "if you need this card, you'll have to come to me. Be prepared to pay through the nose!"

People like this already have too much of something else up their nose. It's a free country. These people just don't fit in with the "collect what you love" and "buy the card, not the number" or most any other kind of collectors. Or people period. They didn't get enough attention when they were growing up. They want to achieve some sort of crazy idiotic power.

But at the end of the day, I can't help but think they'd be disillusioned with their collecting life.

--Brian Powell

[brob28]

Originally Posted by savedfrommyspokes

There is one buyer who consistently buys most every copy of this card listed on ebay....I have sold 50+ copies of this card to him via ebay over the past few years....he is the only one who buys any copies of this card when I list it and he normally buys within a day or two of me listing. This 61 242 Smith card buyer is very similar to another ebayer who used to buy many copies of the 64 Curt Flood card.

That would make sense, I bought mine at a local show for the price of what it is, a common. As for the guy buying them all up - whatever floats your boat, I see a future for him, similar to those of the people that hoarded all the wax in the early 90's.