So I started a Roberto Clemente "project".....

[DJCollector1]

6-16

Next up to the pump..............

When I saw this card I couldn't pass it up. I knew I was going to include a colorful 1960 Topps in my project anyway.
Although there is a bit of a glare that keeps from showing how truly sharp this card is, you can see the majority of its strengths.
(It does have a slight bit of tilt, for the centering obsessed) But the color and overall look of this one, I thought was great right out of the gate.
Notice the lack of snow and print dots out in the blue field to the left, and thats a serious issue with all 1960 cards.

(In fact I thought about grading it, but I will likely leave it as is and slip it into my project)

Overall this one just popped, and seemed like a perfect fit for my Clemente display.









I have a few more pickups on the horizon, and will likely have 1-2 more by the end of next week.
A good start though.

A few of you know, I was "looking" at a Clemente signed item the last couple weeks.
I did indeed strike a deal with that particular website, and I agreed this morning on a price and to get that item.
Its going to make an excellent addition, and I'm excited to add this in to my collection.
I will have a picture in the next few days to add in here.

[docpatlv]

Congrats on the auto pickup!

[DJCollector1]

Originally Posted by docpatlv

Congrats on the auto pickup!

Thank you sir!

Can't wait for it to roll in, I'm assuming I will hear more from them Monday morning.


Need to pick up a few more cards for this display.
I kind of like a few of the newer bat/relic cards, but a big part of me wants to keep this to the older cards and vintage items.


I'm currently looking at a '72 Topps In Action card, and they are surprisingly cheap. Often can be had raw for less than $12-$15 bucks. I was not aware of that.
I mentioned it, but I think I'm going to snag a Deckle Edge.... kinda perfect for this. A good image, and very '60s looking.
The OPC versions are more expensive, but I like those as well.

[DJCollector1]

So late Saturday afternoon, I get a knock at the door, and its the USPS.
I knew immediately what it was, although oddly enough I never was informed in advance it was en route, no tracking number, nothing. (I WAS told my order had been processed though....) Weird.

Other than that, my transaction was very smooth.
I believe they were "just getting back to normal" and were backlogged at the time, thus leading to some shipping issues. Their website said they were behind, because of just returning to work/virus restrictions etc.

I had mentioned to a couple of you I had been looking at a multi-signed item, and this is it.

1957 Cards/Pirates signed scorecard.

Signed by BILL MAZEROSKI
BOB PURKEY
BOB SKINNER
BUDDY PRITCHARD
DON BLASINGAME
ED KASKO
JOE TRIMBLE
JOHNNY O'BRIEN
KEN BOYER
KEN HAMLIN
ROBERTO CLEMENTE
ROMAN MEIJAS
VERNON LAW X2

Bill Mazeroski signed at the top middle, and Clemente down along the bottom right.



Excuse the poor cell phone pictures, as currently I have no scanner.
Although you can tell its age, it is definitely more vibrant in hand than what shows in these cell phone pictures.
Although it was in a plastic protector, I noticed immediately it was NOT in an acid free sleeve, and I slid it in one ASAP.

Easily my pickup of the year, and my favorite piece since I have come back to the hobby a few years ago.

More Clemente items for my display coming soon.

[docpatlv]

Originally Posted by DJCollector1

So late Saturday afternoon, I get a knock at the door, and its the USPS.
I knew immediately what it was, although oddly enough I never was informed in advance it was en route, no tracking number, nothing. (I WAS told my order had been processed though....) Weird.

Other than that, my transaction was very smooth.
I believe they were "just getting back to normal" and were backlogged at the time, thus leading to some shipping issues. Their website said they were behind, because of just returning to work/virus restrictions etc.

I had mentioned to a couple of you I had been looking at a multi-signed item, and this is it.

1957 Cards/Pirates signed scorecard.

Signed by BILL MAZEROSKI
BOB PURKEY
BOB SKINNER
BUDDY PRITCHARD
DON BLASINGAME
ED KASKO
JOE TRIMBLE
JOHNNY O'BRIEN
KEN BOYER
KEN HAMLIN
ROBERTO CLEMENTE
ROMAN MEIJAS
VERNON LAW X2

Bill Mazeroski signed at the top middle, and Clemente down along the bottom right.




Excuse the poor cell phone pictures, as currently I have no scanner.
Although you can tell its age, it is definitely more vibrant in hand than what shows in these cell phone pictures.
Although it was in a plastic protector, I noticed immediately it was NOT in an acid free sleeve, and I slid it in one ASAP.

Easily my pickup of the year, and my favorite piece since I have come back to the hobby a few years ago.

More Clemente items for my display coming soon.

Congrats Scott! Glad you were able to make the deal.

[DJCollector1]

Still stoked over the auto pickup, I also have a couple other items on the way in.
Yesterday this one came in, which ironically is one of my favorite cards of his.

Its actually surprisingly cheap raw. In fact, many of his later issue cards are very cheap ungraded. One would think the '68-'73 cards are more expensive than they are on one of the games greatest, but its not so. These years in particular can be had very modestly, ( obviously raw there can be problems) although a clean '71 will bring a premium because of the dark borders.


1968 Topps All Star






There are plenty of great looking copies of this one to be had reasonably.
Centering can be an issue, but looking around for a bit can easily pay off.
I've always thought he had a bit of a "determined look" on this one, but he often did.
One of my favorite issues, and its well centered, corners are strong and again, great color, but you can't see it as well in this "slightly worn" Card Saver.

I alluded to this before, but this will be behind UV protective glass. Any "help" with colors that really pop is a good thing, and this one is definitely no exception.
Even though I can a bit "OCD" with centering at times, these projects must take overall presentation and colors more seriously.
It really will help the overall appeal when I'm done, and colors help stand out when its "on display".
When you can find a card with strong coloring, overall look/appeal AND decent centering, then its a win-win.

I know not all these cards are "perfect" for whatever reason. But I really think it helps the piece itself if it has a small "bit of wear" here and there.
Makes it look more "real", or true vintage. Sort of gives these some "character", and you can still imagine some young kid opening a pack and discovering these cards~~!
If I wanted perfect razor sharp corners and crystal clear items, I'd probably use reprints......... But I'm not interested in going that route.


Already snagged another item that should be here any day.

[DJCollector1]

Yikes...….…….
Not sure if any of you are using Firefox as a browser, but after an update a few days ago I have NOT been able to access the board on my FF browser.

So I'm temporarily using IE, for this board.

I snagged this next one, early last week.


- 1973 Topps -






Other than a slight nick to the bottom right corner, this card is beautiful.
Great color, strong centering, and is a perfect fit for this display.
(I need to pick up a scanner, these cell phone shots don't do many of these items justice)

Ironically, I have never been a fan of '73 Topps, but this is one of the better shots in my opinion.

I'm starting to tinker with a few design layouts, and I may have mentioned I am going to make this one horizontal, not vertical like I did with the Mickey Mantle.
I did the Mantle in a dark green, and it turned out beautiful.
I don't think I will go the green route this time though, I may opt for a rich burgundy, or maybe even a dark brown. I think a dark brown would really make the colors jump, but I will tinker with a few colors.


I'm stopping by a buddies in the next 2-3 days, and I hope to get the signed scorecard scanned so it can be shown a bit better than the poor quality shots above.


Already got a couple more pickups heading my way this week.
This project is starting to take shape.