“Ideal” centering for 1954 Topps Banks

[IgnatiusJReilly]

I would love to hear opinions on this and of course there is no “right” answer. Topps decided to screw with everyone in their production of this card. Even the PSA 10s I’ve seen on social media don’t look quite right. It’s one of the great mysteries of the hobby in my opinion.

For me, I want to see the left-right border matched in width near the bottom of the card where there is a border. For the top-down centering, I think the answer is that the bottom border matches the width of the side borders and the top border just doesn’t exist. I think a match between the “border” defined by top of his name and the bottom border isn’t the design intent but appears to be PSAs definition.

Let’s have a deep dive on this one!


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[IgnatiusJReilly]

Here’s my lovely example (if I can get my link to work!)

https://flic.kr/p/2kABWwG
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[Peter_Spaeth]

I prefer a little room above the name.

[Hxcmilkshake]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

I prefer a little room above the name.

This

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[Peter_Spaeth]

Here is one I like.

[ZiggerZagger]

Great topic Matthew!

The L/R centering is pretty straightforward, but the Top/Bottom centering is kind of a 'know it when you see it' sort of thing. Should have a bit of space above the name, I agree.

The Kaline for me is my favorite '54 for centering in my PC, and I think it nails the Top/Bottom centering for my money.
The Spahn is only shown as an example of centering that is just a wee bit too far weighted to the top for my eye.

[IgnatiusJReilly]

Just to be clear, my 7MC example is not my definition of ideal centering but it’s the card I have!


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[Wanaselja]

I picked this one up last year and from what I can see is as close to perfect centering as one can expect. I use the 3 borders (excluding the top) as my drivers. The b/w action image is clearly meant to encroach into the border as part of the original design intent.




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[IgnatiusJReilly]

Originally Posted by Wanaselja

I picked this one up last year and from what I can see is as close to perfect centering as one can expect. I use the 3 borders (excluding the top) as my drivers. The b/w action image is clearly meant to encroach into the border as part of the original design intent.




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I remember when you posted this one! In my opinion, this example has nearly ideal centering. Beautiful card!


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[pawpawdiv9]

Here is mine---the way i like them

[1954 topps]

Originally Posted by IgnatiusJReilly

I remember when you posted this one! In my opinion, this example has nearly ideal centering. Beautiful card!


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This is a beautifully centered Banks, left right on bottom, top to bottom is right on point, and I always pay attention to the Cubs logo to see if it's exactly parallel to the card both on the right side and top. This will tell you if the card is miscut at all.

For the black and white image, you want to see some white space between his rear end and the edge of the card, if it's touching or even close to the edge it's off center. See this overgraded SGC example in HA, you'd never see this in a new PSA holder in a 5. https://sports.ha.com/itm/baseball/1...umbnail-071515

I can't attach mine as I scanned it high resolution, tried compressing it to a zip and it's still too large.

[jchcollins]

Originally Posted by 1954 topps

See this overgraded SGC example in HA, you'd never see this in a new PSA holder in a 5.

Sadly, the "new" SGC lost the script on centering in the last 3 years along with their myriad other problems. That card could be considered miscut and is definitely not a 5. But with other things, it seems they have hired some graders who don't know how to compute centering and are overly harsh on it. Last year I had two different '72 Topps cards in SGC 5's that were moderately OC, but not more than 70/30. The centering downgrade was overkill - both could have been 7's.

[jb67]

Great thread. Some great looking Banks cards being shown. Here is my contribution to this thread. Not perfectly centered but not too bad for a 54.

[ASF123]

Originally Posted by Wanaselja

I picked this one up last year and from what I can see is as close to perfect centering as one can expect. I use the 3 borders (excluding the top) as my drivers. The b/w action image is clearly meant to encroach into the border as part of the original design intent.




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What am I missing that makes this only a 4? Or is it just more PSA chest-beating? “Oooh, we’re so tough!!”

[Wanaselja]

Originally Posted by ASF123

What am I missing that makes this only a 4? Or is it just more PSA chest-beating? “Oooh, we’re so tough!!”

Definitely some PSA chest thumping. No creases or wrinkles and sharp corners. You can see a little ding/dent(?) on the right edge by his butt. Otherwise it’s very clean. It’s one of the best I’ve seen in any grade.

[Hxcmilkshake]

Mine.

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[scotgreb]

My humble 4. Centering is always my priority and I believe I did well with this one but had not considered all of the factors brought forth in this thread.



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[jchcollins]

Sorry to resurrect an old thread, but I recently picked up a copy of this card that I consider to be ideally centered, and given that it was so difficult to find - this of course sparked interest. I can tell you from searching for hours on end at the National a few weeks ago, finding a nice one with room above his name at all on the top is a very tall order indeed.

That said - the “print cutoff” thing on the name - where like part of the E and S seems missing at the top - not just the bad centering / cut - does anyone have more insight into how / why this happened? I have noticed that almost all of the time you find a decently centered card with room above his name at the top, the print problem like that is there. Many examples where the card is OC or almost miscut at the top - and the print problem will not be there, the E and the B and the S will be fully formed. Wonder why this is…

[Zach Wheat]

Interesting thread. I always used to prefer sharp corners over centering until I ran into this set. No matter how centered the card is, they always look off center T to B because of the way they were printed. I prefer strong centering L to R, with a wide enough space above the name

[jchcollins]

Originally Posted by Zach Wheat

Interesting thread. I always used to prefer sharp corners over centering until I ran into this set. No matter how centered the card is, they always look off center T to B because of the way they were printed. I prefer strong centering L to R, with a wide enough space above the name

Yeah, it’s a nightmare set for centering purists. I’m not in my normal card collecting life, but have discovered over the years that if the centering affects how design elements (like name, secondary image on ‘54 Topps) are positioned in relation to the edge of the card, I quickly become a centering freak. Another example of this for me is the team lettering on 1963 Topps. With the colored full-bleed bottom border, ‘63s can sometimes be o/c and not really look it - but I absolutely hate it when the team name shows little or no color beneath it and looks like it was almost cut off at the bottom of the card. I recently got rid of an otherwise very clean ‘63 Mantle due to this problem.

I digress. ‘54 especially after you see uncut sheets is really just odd. The names for a lot are pushed to the top by virtue of the design and there is just not much room for error when it’s also badly OC. Same with the black and white action player image, many of which on the cards were designed to encroach into the border as almost a little gimmick. I’m a Cubs fan and the Banks RC was a must for me and my team set endeavors, but I am NOT a fan in general of the 1954 Topps layout.


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[jb67]

No doubt that finding a 54 Banks with good centering is a challenge. I managed to land this one. About as good I could expect.

[jchcollins]

Originally Posted by jb67

No doubt that finding a 54 Banks with good centering is a challenge. I managed to land this one. About as good I could expect.

Very nice. Can’t do much better than that up top, and you have nice s-s centering as well. I was actually looking for a card like that in the 3, 3.5 range - but figured I had better pounce on the 4 I found with it when I did. I had looked in Cleveland for 3+ hours and not found one that nice.


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[jchcollins]

By the way, here is the card I finally settled on. I would much rather have the slightly noticeable print problem than the near miscut problem…




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[wdwfan]

Here is my copy. Just back from SGC today.
Picked up this lovely (gah) copy for $100.
Cost $15 and about 2-1/2 weeks to have it graded.
Absolutely not in the best shape. But no crease.
Just the coffee cup stain on the left side.

[jchcollins]

Originally Posted by wdwfan

Here is my copy. Just back from SGC today.
Picked up this lovely (gah) copy for $100.
Cost $15 and about 2-1/2 weeks to have it graded.
Absolutely not in the best shape. But no crease.
Just the coffee cup stain on the left side.

Not at all bad for $100 raw. Most even trainwreck poor copies get $300 or so. And not a ton but you do have some room at the top above his name. Thanks for sharing…


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