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1957 Champion Celtics TTM project. EDIT: DONE!! Added Frank Ramsey. My new favorite collectible
VitoCo1972
Posts: 6,127 ✭✭✭
So I've been a huge Celtics fan my whole life. I've been working on a Celtics graded HOF set for awhile - only missing the 57 Russell. BUT, I always wanted to do a Celtics autograph project. The one thing preventing me was always that Bill Russell wouldn't sign. Well, I decided that I really wanted to compile a Celtics signed ball now. So today, I bought a PSA authenticated Bill Russell signed ball:
My plan is this....I'm going to mail it to the other 4 members of the 1957 Celtics starting 5, their first championship team. It'll also go to the 6th man. They all sign in the mail! I've had success with 8 X 10's for all of them. They are:
F - Tommy Heinsohn (HOF)
F - Jim Loscutoff (Retired #18, later worn by Dave Cowens - Loscy now hangs in the rafters)
G - Bob Cousy (HOF)
G - Bill Sharman (HOF)
6th Man - Frank Ramsey (HOF)
I've done hundreds of golf balls in the mail and numerous baseballs and plenty of floorboards, even some hockey pucks. That said, I've never done a basketball. I'm going to have to find appropriate boxes to ship with, calculate the appropriate postage coming back to me and include silver sharpies, a sincere letter and probably at least a $25 donation to each's favorite charity ($35 for Cousy who requires it). Anxious to start. I'll post updates as signatures are added.
I actually would like to ask one question. If you were me, would you add Loscutoff? He's not a HOF but a Celtics legend. The other 4 guys were starters for the 58 team that lost the finals. Is it better to have the all HOF starting 5 from the 58 team or the starting 5 plus 1 from the first championship team?
Latest Additions to this ball:
BillSharman
Bob Cousy
Tommy Heinsohn
Jim Loscutoff
Frank Ramsey
My plan is this....I'm going to mail it to the other 4 members of the 1957 Celtics starting 5, their first championship team. It'll also go to the 6th man. They all sign in the mail! I've had success with 8 X 10's for all of them. They are:
F - Tommy Heinsohn (HOF)
F - Jim Loscutoff (Retired #18, later worn by Dave Cowens - Loscy now hangs in the rafters)
G - Bob Cousy (HOF)
G - Bill Sharman (HOF)
6th Man - Frank Ramsey (HOF)
I've done hundreds of golf balls in the mail and numerous baseballs and plenty of floorboards, even some hockey pucks. That said, I've never done a basketball. I'm going to have to find appropriate boxes to ship with, calculate the appropriate postage coming back to me and include silver sharpies, a sincere letter and probably at least a $25 donation to each's favorite charity ($35 for Cousy who requires it). Anxious to start. I'll post updates as signatures are added.
I actually would like to ask one question. If you were me, would you add Loscutoff? He's not a HOF but a Celtics legend. The other 4 guys were starters for the 58 team that lost the finals. Is it better to have the all HOF starting 5 from the 58 team or the starting 5 plus 1 from the first championship team?
Latest Additions to this ball:
BillSharman
Bob Cousy
Tommy Heinsohn
Jim Loscutoff
Frank Ramsey
0
Comments
Not sure I would take the chance for a number of reasons.
<< <i>Is it better to have the all HOF starting 5 from the 58 team or the starting 5 plus 1 from the first championship team? >>
I would do the champ team plus the one.
Imo, I just can't see having a Celtic ball without Larry Bird.
I understand that you're doing an older team.
However, I feel it's your obligation as a responsible Celtic fan to do a modern ball with Bird's team as well
1994 Pro Line Live
TheDallasCowboyBackfieldProject
<< <i>
However, I feel it's your obligation as a responsible Celtic fan to do a modern ball with Bird's team
The problem is Dennis Johnson is dead and Larry doesn't sign at shows. McHale isn't the easiest signer either. Ainge and Parish are reasonable. I guess the 81 team is doable. Tiny Archibald, Cedric Maxwell, Parish, Bird and Chris Ford were the primary starters. I could buy the Bird and start from there.
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I didn't know about Larry not doing shows.
1994 Pro Line Live
TheDallasCowboyBackfieldProject
My Podcast - Now FEATURED on iTunes
Great Job and Good luck with your quest..
The only thing I have with Russell is an auto book - the ball is incredible.
Thanx for sharing - nice writeup.
mike
collecting RAW Topps baseball cards 1952 Highs to 1972. looking for collector grade (somewhere between psa 4-7 condition). let me know what you have, I'll take it, I want to finish sets, I must have something you can use for trade.
looking for Topps 71-72 hi's-62-53-54-55-59, I have these sets started
J
Brian
Too bad he doesn't sell on Ebay
1994 Pro Line Live
TheDallasCowboyBackfieldProject
Added Bob Cousy! Now have Bill Russell, Bill Sharman and Bob Cousy on this ball. Next up is Tommy Heinsohn. After that will be Jim Loscutoff and Frank Ramsey.
I present to you the third of the starting 5 from the 1957 World Champion Boston Celtics, Hall of Famer Bob Cousy
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My Sandberg topps basic set
My Sandberg Topps Master set
Keep us posted and good luck! Incredulous? Not me - I applaud your project and look forward to the next installment.
That's what we're here for - thanx for sharing!
mike
keep going, can't wait to see the completed ball
collecting RAW Topps baseball cards 1952 Highs to 1972. looking for collector grade (somewhere between psa 4-7 condition). let me know what you have, I'll take it, I want to finish sets, I must have something you can use for trade.
looking for Topps 71-72 hi's-62-53-54-55-59, I have these sets started
My Podcast - Now FEATURED on iTunes
HOF SIGNED FOOTBALL RCS
I bet you are very nervous every time you mail it out until you get it back each time. Great project.
Mr. Jim Loscutoff..#18...Jungle Jim or Loscy
I'm so excited/relieved every time this thing returns. I'm now going to send to Frank Ramsey - the 6th man and a Hall of Famer and then let this thing rest so I don't have a heart attack. I have had a GREAT experience so far with this ball. I enjoy writing to these guys and posting my progress here. Thanks for the well wishes guys.
One question - since Ramsey is the final signer, would you ask him to write 1957 World Champions somewhere on the ball? I'm thinking yes, but I'd love to hear opinions
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every day that ball was gone
Always looking for Chipper Jones cards.
Im a very focused collector of cards from 1909 - 2012...LOL
What an amazing guy. Now i have my all time favorite collectable and something that seemed like a pipe dream 6 months ago. The 6th and final signature to the 1957 World Champion Boston Celtics signed basketball - Mr. Frank Ramsey!!!!
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<< <i>WOW! I'm not even a Basketball fan, and that is still an amazing piece!! Congrats!! >>
Ditto!
Congratulations. Sweet piece and even sweeter to you since you had to put in the legwork to obtain it.
Mike
<< <i>Congratulations on having an awesome collectible Mike. I understand the priceless sentiment the ball has to you, but since I am a curious sort, what do you figure that you're "into" the ball for? Donations, mailings, cost of the ball, etc.... >>
Mailing ($13 to each guy X 6) $78
I actually mailed TO everyone for free when I was still employed. It was only return postage that I paid for
Boxes (4 each X 12) $48
Tape/Pens probably $20
Donations:
Sharman: $20
Cousy: $35
Heinsohn: $20
Loscutoff: $20
Ramsey: $0 (he sent it back to me!)
Original ball with Bill Russell signature: $285
So: 285, 20, 35, 20, 20, 20, 48, 78 = $526
And it was all 100% worth it. I had fun, got to correspond with Celtic legends and I have a real gem of a collectible to show for it.
My Podcast - Now FEATURED on iTunes
Brian