Touring (backwards) through the sets of the '50s

[cardsagain74]

1958

This is probably the most forgotten set of the '50s. Nothing stands out too much, though the Mantle/Aaron WS batting foes is one of the most coveted combo cards of the era.

My version has no backstory this time. But the noticeable factor is how it's about the most VG-EX set you'll ever find. Mantle is a 4. The avg grade is 3.99. The top 10 cards are all close to that, and 90% of the total set is between a 3 and 5 (with 5% above and 5% below).

Even the only PSA graded card is a 4

But hey, who doesn't love seeing the famous Brooks face here?

494/494

Avg condition: 3.99

Top 10 cards w/ grade:

150 Mickey Mantle: 4
1 Ted Williams: 3
47 Roger Maris: 3
52 Roberto Clemente: 4
418 World Series Batting Foes (Mantle, Aaron): 5
5 Willie Mays: 4
30 Hank Aaron: 4.5
187 Sandy Koufax: 3.5
487 Mickey Mantle All Star: 3.5
310 Ernie Banks: 5.5

[BillP]

My biggest challenge in collecting this set was finding the combo mantle/aaron card focused, the williams #1 focused and the team card variations. I ended up liking the set a lot more. In particular against the scd black background. At least most of the star cards are head shots, so that's consistent.

[commishbob]

These cards were my gateway into collecting. I was a kid living on Long Island in 1958 when I discovered the cards through a girl in the neighborhood who was a baseball fan. We look back at these designs and sometimes regard them as dull and unimaginative but back then TV and newspapers were filled with black and white images. These colorful things were amazing to me.

I asked for and got my first packs at Easter of ‘59 and by 1960 I was a ‘full set builder’. I’ve had a love affair with the late 50s through early 60s sets ever since.

[jchcollins]

Originally Posted by BillP

My biggest challenge in collecting this set was finding the combo mantle/aaron card focused.

Agreed, and that is usually a horrible card for ugly print snow as well.

[ALR-bishop]

1957/1958

[Seven]

John, I'm very much enjoying this. Love all the stuff you're posting!

[cardsagain74]

Originally Posted by Seven

John, I'm very much enjoying this. Love all the stuff you're posting!

Thanks James. Much appreciated.

It's also leading to seeing all of Al's unopened packs from the decade, which is one of the most impressive collecting accomplishments I've ever seen

[cardsagain74]

Originally Posted by jchcollins

Agreed, and that is usually a horrible card for ugly print snow as well.

I don't remember if it's the whole series, but the snow seems so prevalent in everything numbered around the Mantle/Aaron. To the point where it's like PSA doesn't even really penalize anything but the higher grades for it on those particular cards.

[jchcollins]

Originally Posted by cardsagain74

I don't remember if it's the whole series, but the snow seems so prevalent in everything numbered around the Mantle/Aaron. To the point where it's like PSA doesn't even really penalize anything but the higher grades for it on those particular cards.

I was lucky enough about 5 years ago to find a technically lower grade copy of the Mantle / Aaron without much print damage. I’ll take that over an otherwise NM copy that looks like a snowstorm any day.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[cardsagain74]

1956

This set has driven me crazy (yet I've still developed a soft spot for it at the same time). When I first started collecting again, I did not feel the same love for it as many do, and it was the least likely for me to end up with.

All I could see was a very similar design to the '55 with many identical pictures, and saw no need to fool with it. Got an ok low grade Mantle early on, and had no interest past that. So going after a '55 + that Mick was going to fit the bill fine for my preferences.

Then I started to really focus on the backgrounds of the '56s. And things changed. Decided "well I need some of these commons anyway cause I love the backgrounds". Then wanted to collect the team cards. Before I knew it, I had those and about half the commons to go with the Mantle, a Jackie R blazer from further back, and a great Yogi.

You know what's going to happen at that point. Been filling the set in ever since, especially since I felt like I had the freedom to use as many low grade cards as I wanted. Now it's 10 commons away from being complete.

Everything about my particular set is all over the place. Figuratively (the condition) and literally (they're the only cards from this run that I don't have all logged by grade or even completely organized yet). A lot of lower grade HOFers, but also some nice ones here and there. The commons vary from low to upper-end midgrade too.

Definitely the redheaded stepchild of my '50s run. But still taken care of the same

330/340 with checklists (unmarked)

Avg grade: approx 3.0

Top 10 cards w/ grade:

135 Mickey Mantle: 2
33 Roberto Clemente: 2
5 Ted Williams: 1
30 Jackie Robinson: 7
79 Sandy Koufax: 1
31 Hank Aaron: 1.5
130 Willie Mays: 1
251 Yankees Team: 3
110 Yogi Berra: 6.5
166 Dodgers Team: 3

[ALR-bishop]

Toughest Topps wax packs to get are 56 and 58. Only have penny pack for both. Anthony ( Griffins) has both I think. A Salesman sample for this year is also tough

Checklists are tough. Getting all the white and gray backs for 1-180 is expensive since so many star cards are involved

The different versions of the team cards are challenging but fun

George Vrecheck has done an SCD article on the wo cropping versions that exist for many of the cards.

If you are OCD there are also many colored line variants ( print offsets) for many of the cards, including Williams, between the name and team/position boxes.

Also the 56 ( along with the 55 ) Hocus Focus baseball subset is in my experience the hardest Topps issued at wide retail set to complete










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