A Celebration of Topps: HOF Pitchers

[nolemmings]

Originally Posted by cjedmonton

Outstanding. I knew I couldn’t be the only one!

Couple questions:

1. How far along did you get?
2. How did the Bowman/Fleer years factor in if no dupes?
3. What do you mean by “2 HOFers from each year” Both pitchers, or a mix with hitters?

Otherwise, that is a great list. Mine is quite a bit different, but am also focusing on relevant teams/years during their career when possible, plus aesthetics (colors, pose, etc…).

Will post my list shortly (wasn’t going to, but it’s. ore fun).

The list I just posted was compiled yesterday for fun. I used the two cards you already have, although I remember I preferred the 1970 Jenkins and a different Palmer (I had Brooks Robinson and Sparky Anderson for '71).

I will try and dig up my old list. As I think about it, I may have gone back to 1948 so as to cover all major post-war sets. I had a graded minimum requirement of 7 for cards from the 50s, 8 from the 60s and 9 from the 70's (except 1971). I would probably relax that if I tried again, or at least adjust my picks. I remember a '62 Frank Robby was on my list and that card is very hard to find in nm-mt without spending a ton. I think I ended up swapping that for 1967 and putting Marichal there.

I had all HOFers, not just pitchers. I tried to get one from each league for each set, although not always ('53 offered the only "inexpensive" Paige and I really wanted Newhouser on the Tigers). Each set was represented even if from the same year-- in fact, I remember I listed (but never got) the '53 Bowman B&W Casey Stengel. Musial was the '53 Bowman color, as I consider that the most beautiful post-war card ever produced.

I did not get that far, as again, I went pretty much all in to pre-war. I was taking two steps forward and one step back, selling some to buy the old stuff, and when I sold my Musial and '55 Jackie, well, that kind of made me bitter toward the whole project. I jettisoned almost all of it. I regret it very much. My only solace is that I believe all of the cards are readily available if you find the $$$, so I may start over. Heck, you might have inspired a 2022 challenge for me--thanks!

[Peter_Spaeth]

So if Tiant is inducted, what effect does that have. I guess just one more year, because you could substitute him for someone still active in 82?

[cjedmonton]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

So if Tiant is inducted, what effect does that have. I guess just one more year, because you could substitute him for someone still active in 82?

82 would be the easiest fit if/when Tiant and or John make it…but that’s years away at a minimum. Can barely look ahead to this weekend, it seems! Inevitably, I’d have to relax my “rules”. Would much rather have a mid-70s Tiant/John, so would probably double up on a year.

Anyway, thanks for the interest. Probably a couple weeks out from my next addition.

[nolemmings]

I found an old version of m list--can't recall if it was the last. I added a few players today--last name only. Also see my memory is not that good on the one from each league thing, and I did add a rookie (Maz). This would need to be tweaked if I start again--maybe move Brett into the 80's since Yount will be added anyway, and move Palmer to 1976 to free up a spot. It is tough to get pics of cards you like--no capless, few if any head shots, etc.

• 1948 BOWMAN SCHOENDIENST, RED
  1949 BOWMAN MIZE, JOHNNY KELL, GEORGE
  1949 LEAF RIZZUTO, PHIL KINER, RALPH
  1950 BOWMAN CAMPANELLA, ROY BOUDREAU, LOU
  1951 TOPPS WYNN, EARLY (RED) DOERR, BOBBY (BLUE)
  1951 BOWMAN ROBERTS, ROBIN IRVIN, MONTE
  1952 TOPPS LEMON, BOB SLAUGHTER, ENOS
  1952 BOWMAN MINOSO DOBY, LARRY
  1953 TOPPS PAIGE, SATCHELL NEWHOUSER, HAL
  1953 BOWMAN STENGEL, CASEY (B&W) MUSIAL, STAN (COLOR)
  1954 TOPPS WILHELM, HOYT SNIDER, DUKE
  1954 BOWMAN FORD, WHITEY REESE, PEE WEE
  1955 TOPPS SPAHN, WARREN ROBINSON, JACKIE
  1955 BOWMAN BARLICK, AL CONLAN, JOCKO
  1956 TOPPS FELLER, BOB WILLIAMS, TED
  1957 TOPPS ASHBURN, RICHIE MAZEROSKI, BILL
  1958 TOPPS FOX, NELLIE MANTLE, MICKEY
  1959 TOPPS DRYSDALE, DON BANKS, ERNIE
  1960 TOPPS LOPEZ, AL AARON, HANK
  1960 LEAF BUNNING, JIM APARICIO, LUIS
  1961 TOPPS CEPEDA, ORLANDO BERRA, YOGI
  1962 TOPPS MATHEWS, EDDIE ROBINSON, FRANK
  1963 TOPPS MARICHAL, JUAN ALSTON, WALTER
  1963 FLEER KOUFAX, SANDY CLEMENTE, ROBERTO
  1964 TOPPS SANTO KILLEBREW, HARMON
  1965 TOPPS GIBSON, BOB MAYS, WILLIE
  1966 TOPPS MCCOVEY, WILLIE KALINE, AL
  1967 TOPPS PALMER, JIM YASTRZEMSKI, CARL
  1968 TOPPS WILLIAMS, BILLY CAREW, ROD
  1969 TOPPS SUTTON, DON BROCK, LOU
  1970 TOPPS WEAVER, EARL JENKINS, FERGIE
  1971 TOPPS ANDERSON, SPARKY ROBINSON, BROOKS
  1972 TOPPS BLYLEVEN BENCH, JOHNNY
  1973 TOPPS SEAVER, TOM MORGAN, JOE
  1974 TOPPS NIEKRO, PHIL PEREZ, TONY
  1975 TOPPS HUNTER, JIM FISK, CARLTON
  1976 TOPPS BRETT, GEORGE WINFIELD, DAVE
  1977 TOPPS RYAN, NOLAN SCHMIDT, MIKE
  1978 TOPPS FINGERS, ROLLIE JACKSON, REGGIE
  1979 TOPPS CARLTON, STEVE STARGELL, WILLIE
  1980 TOPPS PERRY, GAYLORD CARTER, GARY

[cjedmonton]

Well, it has been over a month since my last update, but am glad to add these two to the project today!

A running group photo is in the OP.

I’ve also cut out the fluff narrative and just focused on the key points.

The next one en route is a heavy hitter (player stature, not grade… although I think you’ll appreciate the centering as much as I do).

Thanks for stopping by!

Card 3 of 30

1977 Dennis Eckersley #525
PSA 9
Pop. 257
Eckersley’s’ 2nd of 23 base Topps cards

Runner-up choice for 1977: Nolan Ryan
Runner-up choice for Eckersley: 1980




Card 4 of 30

1979 Jack Morris #251
PSA 9
Pop. 64
Morris’ 2nd of 17 base Topps cards

Runner-up choice for 1979: Rich Gossage
Runner-up choice for Morris: 1981

[cjedmonton]

One of the bigger pickups to this project! More than happy with the “collector” grade. The centering just makes me smile.

Card 5 of 30

1963 Sandy Koufax #210
PSA 5
His 9th of 12 base Topps cards

Runner-up choice for 1963: Don Drysdale
Runner-up choice for Koufax: 1965
Why his ‘63? This is the year he became Koufax. First Cy Young, NL MVP, World Series MVP, Triple Crown, 1st No-hitter, Peak Single Season WAR, etc…

[gustomania]

Awesome Koufax, one of my favorites, this set is coming together and really am enjoying the progress. Love your thinking outside the box and this is what it’s all about!!

Well done

[cjedmonton]

Very cool, and you’re right that all Topps-era HOFers are readily available. Just depends how much you want to spend. Couldn’t imagine incorporating hitters too. Would just be too overwhelming for me, as amazing as it would be when complete. A 30 player checklist is perfectly manageable with a little patience (40+ if I break down and expand to the modern guys).

My min. grades are way less stringent then yours, but other than the Paige, I have a rough min grade equalling the decade (5 for 1950s, 6 for ’60s, 7 for ‘70s, etc…). Will allow up to two grades higher because again the focus is on the player and year. Can’t justify a PSA 10 for any 70s card, and would much rather have 2 or even 3 other cards toward completion for the same cost.

Agreed on the Paige/Newhouser limitation (Paige being exclusive to 53T eliminates Hal’s only Topps card as a Tiger, as you know). Other than that, there are a lot of options.