Only signed PSA/DNA 1961 Fleer Basketball Complete Set EVER!

[vthobby]

I finally did it! Since that day I got my starter set on here from Jerry G many moons ago till today. 100% complete!

Quick facts:

- 1 card is a pop 1 making this set nearly impossible! Carl Braun welcome to my set!
- No one has EVER built a complete set on the PSA Registry of this 1961 Fleer Signed Basketball set until today
- About 40% of this set that I compiled is the highest ever graded for that card
- Wilt Rookie is trimmed at top but has a beautiful sig (only 6 ever slabbed that were signed)

Here is the breakdown on the lowest population signed cards: numbered of total graded in ( )

#7 Carl Braun (only 1)
#8 Wilt Chamberlain Rookie (6)
#11 Walter Dukes (2)
#15 Sihugo Green (3)
#24 Phil Jordon (3) ~ died in rafting accident in 1965
#27 George Lee (5)
#37 Guy Rodgers (5)
#47 Wilt Chamberlain In Action Rookie (3)
#48 Larry Costello In Action (3)
#50 Walter Dukes In Action (2)

It is clear that to try for a complete set is daunting to say the least. Especially when 2 of the low pops include Wilt Chamberlain Rookies!

Phew! Thank you Jerry G for starting me on this journey with your starter set many years ago!

I'll post a few of the best of the best!

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[egri]

Congratulations! You give the rest of us building sets some inspiration. I remember when you first picked up that set and announced you weee going to complete it. Great work; you must be over the moon!

[frohme]

Congrats, Mike - amazing accomplishment!

[ALBB]

that's a feat !

[sportscardpete]

Mike, well done!!

[x2drich2000]

Congrats! Not a basketball guy, so any idea why Braun has a a single graded example? Looks like he lived until 2010 so there was plenty of time to sign even after basketball cards became popular again in the 90s.

[rjackson44]

I have a near set not signed only a few cards auto form..but wow ,,

[vthobby]

Originally Posted by x2drich2000

Congrats! Not a basketball guy, so any idea why Braun has a a single graded example? Looks like he lived until 2010 so there was plenty of time to sign even after basketball cards became popular again in the 90s.

It is a bit of a mystery since he died in 2010. Phil Jordon died tragically in 1965 so he only had 3 or 4 years to sign and there are 3 known examples (I have 2 of them).

Braun however died in 2010 giving him literally decades to sign his card but yet only 1 exists in a PSA/DNA Red Label. (the one in my set of course). Red labels if you did not know are the only PSA/DNA slabs you can enter onto a Registry. The old blue labels can't be entered for Registry purposes. They have to be reslabbed in Red labels so its possible there might be a Braun or 2 out there in blue labels!

I have heard rumors that the last 20 or 30 years of his life he did not sign fan mail and he was a bit elusive. He was also not a Hall of Famer and I would think most people would not think to have his 1961 card ready to sign if they met him. This was not his Rookie card (2nd year) so that also lends credence as to why it might not have been a big deal to try and get him on the 1961 card.

Just a few thoeries but I feel they make sense. I'm sure a few will pop out of the woodwork at some point. Thanks!

[vthobby]

I appreciate all the nice comments:

Here are some more goodies from my set!
(The Hal Greer Rookie is the highest ever graded and is a vintage sig):

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[Hankphenom]

Mind-boggling! How many in the set total?

[oldjudge]

Great accomplishment, Mike!

[vthobby]

Originally Posted by Hankphenom

Mind-boggling! How many in the set total?

Always nice to respond to Walter Johnson's grandson!

There are 66 total in the set Hank.

The first 30 or so are considered base cards. The last half of the set shows most of the low number base players in an In Action pose so most players have 2 poses in the set.

Thanks Hank and hope you are doing well!

[tjisonline]

Congratulations

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

So cool. I know how long you've bee trying to track down a Braun from reading threads about the autographed set!

[Jerry G]

Way to go Mike! I love your persistence and determination. There are several toughies in that set but, old Carl is the toughest and you got them all! Wow.

[vthobby]

Originally Posted by Jerry G

Way to go Mike! I love your persistence and determination. There are several toughies in that set but, old Carl is the toughest and you got them all! Wow.

Jerry,

Here is the breakdown on the lowest population signed cards:

#7 Carl Braun (only 1)
#8 Wilt Chamberlain Rookie (6)
#11 Walter Dukes (2)
#15 Sihugo Green (3)
#24 Phil Jordon (3) ~ died in rafting accident in 1965
#27 George Lee (5)
#37 Guy Rodgers (5)
#47 Wilt Chamberlain In Action Rookie (3)
#48 Larry Costello In Action (3)
#50 Walter Dukes In Action (2)

It is clear that to try for a complete set is daunting to say the least. Especially when 2 of the low pops include Wilt Chamberlain Rookies!

Thanks again Jerry or starting me on this amazing journey!

[sbfinley]

Amazing accomplishment and set!

[Hxcmilkshake]

Amazing

Sent from my SM-S928U using Tapatalk

[CurtisFlood]

Outstanding job! Congrats. Wonder why Braun was so tough, one of the oddities of autograph collecting.

[Jay Wolt]

Mike Man that's impressive! Congrats!

.

[Scott L.]

Incredible accomplishment.....congratulations!!!!

[Jewish-collector]

Mazel Tov Mike !!! You did well you old geezer. Most of the new breed collectors nowadays are working on and/or have worked on the 1986 Fleer basketball set. It's nice to see someone work on a vintage set. For those that asked, Carl Braun just would not sign autographs, not sure exactly why, he just wouldn't. Bill Russell wouldn't sign for a long time, then did a lot of public & private signings in his last 25 years of his life.

[OhioLawyerF5]

Amazing accomplishment and awesome set!

[vthobby]

Originally Posted by Jewish-collector

Mazel Tov Mike !!! You did well you old geezer. Most of the new breed collectors nowadays are working on and/or have worked on the 1986 Fleer basketball set. It's nice to see someone work on a vintage set. For those that asked, Carl Braun just would not sign autographs, not sure exactly why, he just wouldn't. Bill Russell wouldn't sign for a long time, then did a lot of public & private signings in his last 25 years of his life.

Thanks for the Braun info, I've heard the rumors on him being reclusive.

I actually got Bill Russell and Oscar Robertson at Rich Altman Shriner's Shows in Mass. Altman was the only Promoter Russell would sign for at one time.

Oscar made a joke about his Rookie being worth something and was i sure I wanted it signed? I chuckled nervously and said it was ok for him to sign it! lol I also paid $35 extra for him to add "Big O" under his auto. Well worth it!

Bill Russell did not even look up at me of course!

Those were the days!

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[Baseballcrazy62]

Awesome!!

[FromVAtoLA]

This is incredible! Especially after the ups and downs you felt chasing a dream for a decade. Are you working on something for a next act to follow it up?