Looking for 1955 Ashland/Aetna Basketball

[wake.up.the.echoes]

you're welcome. i only have two myself. it's an interesting set, and one I doubt I will finish in my lifetime.

alan

[booyahlaw]

Originally Posted by 19bowman48

you're welcome. i only have two myself. it's an interesting set, and one I doubt I will finish in my lifetime.

alan

If you don't mind me asking, which two do you have (not trying to angle on you, just curious).

Trust me, if you finish it in your lifetime, you have accomplished something extraordinary in collecting which most people don't even realize the magnitude. I have collected these only for a couple of years now, but have discussed this issue with many sophisticated collectors who have been toiling with them for longer than I have been alive. As of today, I have only heard of three confirmed complete sets--and one of those is a set with mixed Ashland/Aetna backs. Never heard of anyone who has completed the master set of All Ashland/All Aetna.

[wake.up.the.echoes]

I dont mind you asking at all.

I bought the PSA 7 Calvert (Aetna background I think, don't have it in front of me) that was up on eBay from BMW. And a PSA 5 Gastevich (ashland back).

Also, I just bought RAW copies of George Orr and Gayle Rose (both Ashland background). I haven't received them yet—although I am sure that I will very soon—so I don't count them towards my official total. =)

4 down, 92 to go.

How far along are you on your set?

I'm also working on the Busch Bavarian set. I need Pettit still. And I finished the Essex Meats Hawks set, minus the Si Green (of course).

Alan

[booyahlaw]

I am a decent ways along I suppose. If i mixed and matched Ashland and Aetna backs, I am not sure, but I would estimate by mixing backs I would be at 49 to 51 cards of the 96.

I am trying to do a master set, one of Ashland backs and one of Aetna. I have 43 Aetnas, with 2 duplicates, and then 23 Ashlands, with 4 duplicates.

In my search, I have found Kentucky, Louisville and Western Kentucky cards with relative ease. My problem has arisen after those teams. After those, especially Murray State and the West Virginia schools, it gets tough.

I hear that Bavarian set mentioned all the time, whats the story with that set?

[wake.up.the.echoes]

I think the busch bavarian set is 1959/60. It features players from the St. Louis Hawks. Set is small in number, but large in size. Checklist is: Sihugo Green, John McCarthy, Clyde Lovellette, Bob Pettit, Cliff Hagan. The cards measure around 4" by 5". Here's a link to an old Mastro auction which shows what they look like: http://www.legendaryauctions.com/Lot...px?lotid=34906

Personally, for my set, I am missing the Pettit card.

The PSA set registry lists Sihugo Green as an SP. I don't know if that's true, as I own more Greens than any other card from the set. Maybe it's a mistake with the SP listing. I know the Sihugo Green was SP in the 1961 Essex Meats set. So much so that there's MAYBE one graded and I have never seen another one. In fact, the 1961 Essex Meats set is considered complete even without the Green. Maybe a more experienced collector can chime in.

(Shameless plug for myself: "Oh, and if you are ever interested in selling some of your duplicates from the ashland/aetna, please let me know.")

[booyahlaw]

I may end up selling some of my dups here in the near future. I just lack motivation to go to look through them and decide which ones to keep and which ones not to. I will let you know which ones I have to get rid of, but chances are they will be Kentucky or Western Kentucky players (probably have a Ed Diddle, Head Coach of WKU, to get rid of).

That Busch set looks pretty cool. Speaking about SP's, its weird what cards are considered SP's in some of these old regional sets--I really believe that its just a guess on the part of the people labeling these cards as such.

For example, there are several cards in the Ashland set that are labeled short prints which have been among the easiest cards to find for me. Some of the University of Kentucky players that are listed as short prints I disagree with, but that's just based upon my experiences in collecting these things.

Do you collect Kahn's basketball? It seems like another tough regional issue--particularly pre-1962 and 1964-65 (color photos).

[wake.up.the.echoes]

Haven't dipped my toe into the Kahn's pool yet, but I am sure that I will before too long. I'll let you know when I dip my toe (I'm sure it'll actually be more of a jumping straight into the deep end of the pool kind of thing).

I love the old regional basketball. So much fun to learn about.

Alan