1959 Fleer Ted Williams
spacktrack
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Finest Set
Article
Just had a chance to read the article on the PSA homepage about this great set put out by Fleer. As well as being an interesting article, I was amazed to see the link to the finest set at the conclusion of the article. What a stunning display of cards; I only wish there were pictures to go along. I think even just looking at the set rating, GPA, and composition gives one a great sense of awe about this set. Definitely worthy of a look!
Article
Just had a chance to read the article on the PSA homepage about this great set put out by Fleer. As well as being an interesting article, I was amazed to see the link to the finest set at the conclusion of the article. What a stunning display of cards; I only wish there were pictures to go along. I think even just looking at the set rating, GPA, and composition gives one a great sense of awe about this set. Definitely worthy of a look!
0
Comments
First, if you look at the pops of each card, they are strangely all similar in terms of total number of cards graded and grade distribution. The only low-pop 9s are the first and last card in the set, and by far the most plentiful in 9 is the "rarest" card in the set (#68). A total of five GEM 10 cards have been graded in the set, and more than half of the total graded cards are 8s.
Second, as I write this, there are effectively almost two complete sets in NM-MT 8 available on eBay, and at least one more in the completed items. And if you would happen to buy one of these sets and register it, you'd only just barely crack the top ten in the registry.
-jim
Jim:
From a risk/reward standpoint, #68 is the most plentiful PSA 9 MINT card simply because it is the most valuable, and, as such, is submitted much more often than other examples from the same set.
Though there is some noise in this argument that I will not get into, it is basically the same reason that Mickey Mantle has many more submitted examples in any given year than Joe Schlabotnik. To this day -- there are a large number/percentage of collectors out there who have high-grade raw sets where the only graded examples are the star cards or the Yankees/Dodgers cards, etc.
If one would have to choose a favorite card, no bearing or weighting of the cost or value of it, I would have to pick the # 2 card from this set. Teddy Ballgame alongside The Babe, both in uniform, both with smiles gripping a bat. A nice looking card in itself but with so much legendary greatness on one card, and not a glossy chrome-like space age newer one, yet a true vintage card and almost reasonably affordabe.
I have about 6 or 7 graded , along with about a dozen raw. I do enjoy the set but have no plans on trying for a complete run. I think it's kind of amusing , that when I was nine years old , and starting to buy cards on my own, not just collecting hand-me-downs, I purchased two packs of these Fleer products at the local drugstore. After riding my bike home, I opened the packs and was quite dissapointed that they were only of one player. I wanted all the teams, not just a Red Sox guy who was not that big a deal. I shrewdly did not buy any more 59 Fleer. I was much happier with some left over 1958 Topps and new 1959 Topps which yeilded fellows like Harry Chiti, Chuck Stobbs, Del Ennis and a few stars. .... Oh how times and perceptions change.
Joe Schlabotnik...
And I though I was the only one to use that obscure Charlie Brown reference.
Back on topic... I understand the notion of more valuable cards (real or perceived) being submitted in higher numbers. It's a little strange in this set, though, because the set is "Just Ted," and because it would seem to be a rather plentiful card given my (incorrect) initial assumption after reading the article that this is a minor, oddball set.
The distribution of graded cards in the set is unbelievably even... it is everyone submitted sets for grading. Also, I was stunned that PSA 8 cards were so plentiful on eBay. In sets this age, many people shoot to build them in 8 with the occasional 9+, but for this set it would seem that a straight 8 set is an ugly stepsister. Like building a straight 6 set of 1963 Fleer.
And a personal note while I am on the topic of obsure sets... I got my first 1960 Leaf in the mail the other day -- A low pop PSA 8 Drabowsky. I think I am hooked. I also found someone with a nice run of PSA 9 high number commons from the St. Louis find... now I have to decide just how important eating is for hte next few months.
-Jim