November pickups

[4reals]

Caught one of my white whales. When I say white, I mean white. After almost a decade of searching I had never been able to even locate an image of a "white" back 74 Deckle Sutton. The grey backs are plentiful but when this white was listed recently I was fortunate the seller didn't identify its back variation in the title, limiting the competition.

[the 'stache]

Thank you, gentlemen. I have such a long way to go on this set, but I enjoy looking for pieces that meet my high standard. The 53/47 centering is the only real flaw, if you can call it that. I don't know how they get an 8 out of that card, though.

Al, I don't know how you find some of the things you do. Your additions never cease to amaze. That wrapper is really stunning. Obviously, I have less experience than a lot of you guys, so it's not surprising that I, too, have never seen one of those wrappers.

Dustin, those are two really nice AS cards. Really nice eye appeal for the grades. I think we've collectively hit a group of cards where at least from the scans, it appears that the cards are a bit undergraded. The centering is a bit off, but otherwise, the cards are very clean. Nice edges and corners, certainly nothing that would warrant the grades they received. I think more than anything, you guys just happen to find beautiful cards that are stronger than their grades would suggest. I like the Sport Magazine/Sporting News All Star cards quite a lot, actually. My favorites are the 1961 Sporting News design. The profile pictures busting out of the newspaper is a really cool design. Aesthetically, they're just great looking cards. A collector could just work on those, ignoring the remainder of the set, and have one hell of a collection. I've thought about starting the '61 subset, as I really am not working on anything in the 60s right now. That would give me the Bowman Color set in the 50s, the 1975 Topps set, and the 1980 Topps set for the 80s. It would be a no brainer if Clemente were in it. He was an All Star for the first time in 1960, hitting .314, and an All Star in 1961, winning his first batting title hitting .351. But these cards were obviously printed before the end of the season. Maybe I'll just make a custom card and print it on some high quality paper, and offer it to our vintage members. I'll have to look into that.

Steve, those two cards are beauties. You know, the '64 Topps Giants cards is another option for a 60s set. I don't know why the set isn't more expensive. I think they're beautiful cards. And there is a Clemente. Hmm.

Bob and Joe, nice cards, too. I admit I know nothing about the Kahn's set, or the '74 Topps deckle edge (though I have at least seen them before). Though Topps was the only game in town for a long time after Bowman stopped producing, there are some nice alternatives that popped in from time to time. I'd like to explore some of them, including the Kellogg's baseball cards, because they are unique.

But thus far, Saved has my favorite card. Finding '53 Bowman Color cards centered and clean can be difficult. Finding Mr. Mantle like that is an exercise in frustration. I haven't even been seriously looking as a prelude to purchasing one (that will be a little later). I've just looked for the sake of finding one, and that's a really nice example. One of my all-time favorite cards, and a beautiful highlight for your set. Bravo!

Keep up the great pick ups, gang. November is off and running! Now, to eBay I go!

[ALR-bishop]

Very nice Sutton Joe, and you are right about the white backs being tougher. I have gone a little over board on this set . I have completed in in both deckled and in undeckled form with finished backs. I also have it in blank back proof form on two uncut sheets. But I am still two white backs short of finishing it in both deckled gray and white back.

[savedfrommyspokes]

Thank you Bill!

[Leon]

Had never gotten around to picking one up...there is a very light, horizontal wrinkle across the middle of the card. It can mainly be seen when tilting it sideways and looking at it. I thought it was a nice looking 2, especially for the series.

[toppcat]

Al-if anyone was going to find that wrapper it was you! I believe one box at least is out there as well. It was a limited release in certain cities and Card Collectors Co. sold off the overstock from what I have unearthed.

Leon-nice pickup on the Tip Top-tough issue, maybe one of the tougher sets out there in the post WW2 issue that saw any kind of (sorta) national distribution.

[Leon]

Originally Posted by toppcat

Al-if anyone was going to find that wrapper it was you! I believe one box at least is out there as well. It was a limited release in certain cities and Card Collectors Co. sold off the overstock from what I have unearthed.

Leon-nice pickup on the Tip Top-tough issue, maybe one of the tougher sets out there in the post WW2 issue that saw any kind of (sorta) national distribution.

Thanks Dave..... They aren't that difficult to find but seem to be in mostly lower condition (which is fine by me as long as they look good). Here is another I added yesterday, H801-3, 1948 Smith's...(the back scan is off a little, it is sharp in person). I still need a 1947 HOF'er....hint hint......