1953 Bowman Color set completion (celebrating well-loved cardboard)

TNP777

I started the 1953 Color set at the 2015 National in Chicago. I've had a Dodgers set for a long time (see scan link in sig) and have long thought it the most beautiful postwar set ever made. The Pee Wee Reese card is thought by many to be one of the most beautiful cards ever issued at any point. Anyway, I did some pretty good damage to the set in Cleveland a couple weeks ago, and late last week a friend in OBC sent the last four cards I needed. I thought I'd show them off to you guys as I get them scanned.

Love the old unis, the old ballparks, the youthful faces of some of the heroes of the game. I hope some of you enjoy them as much as I am.

#1 Davey Williams, #2 Vic Wertz

#3 Sam Jethroe, #4 Art Houtteman

TNP777

#5 Sid Gordon, #6 Joe Ginsberg

#7 Harry Chiti, #8 Al Rosen

JoeBanzai

Best looking set EVER as far as I am concerned. The Musial card is another all-time beauty!

TNP777

#9 Phil Rizzuto, #10 Richie Ashburn

#11 Bobby Shantz, #12 Carl Erskine ("Oisk" is a real gentlemen, btw)

SOM

Everything you said about that set is right on! Old ball parks, uniforms, fresh-faced stars. Beautiful set - and looks great raw, BTW

daltex

This is my second favorite baseball set. I'm partial to the B&W.

phelda

Certainly my favorite looking cards. I love that you chose to do an ungraded "rougher" looking set. No disrespect. You have inspired me, maybe this will be the next set I go after. Any advise?

TNP777

@phelda, two bits of advice: be patient and have fun.

You’ll need a bit of a budget, but not as bad as one would think. During the three years it took me to finish, I purchased 3 different Musials and didn’t pay over $45 for any of them. The last two were very nice for the price. $10 for Duke Snider, $30 for Pee Wee Reese, $46 for the Mantle/Berra, The Mantle was obviously the most expensive - mine set me back $240.

It doesn’t hurt to be able to go to a decent-sized card show now and again, either. In those three years, I attended two Nationals and a couple of Tri-Star shows. Lots of dealers had a good supply of lower-grade cards for me to choose from.

ZTarg

This thread spins me right round baby.

Stone193

Thanx for sharing your passion and thoughts Geordie.

You're a truly rare and dedicated collector buddy.

TNP777

#13 Gus Zernial, #14 Billy Loes

#15 Jim Busby, #16 Bob "yf" Friend (CU veterans will get the reference)

TNP777

@ZTarg said:
This thread spins me right round baby.

Hello, old friend. Hope you're well.

FINESTKIND

Congrats on finishing the set. I like the 53 Bowman color set better than the 53 Topps set. Shh...don't tell anyone.

TNP777

It's not a tough choice, actually. I like the '53 Topps a lot, but it's nowhere near as nice as the '53 Color.

ZTarg

@TNP777 said:

@ZTarg said:
This thread spins me right round baby.

Hello, old friend. Hope you're well.

I am, hope you are too. Sorry I couldn't get to Cleveland.