Latest 69' Low POP - Some New Names

RayBShotz

This subject gets bantered around from time to time and I felt it was worth bringing up again considering there were some new names I hadn't heard previously mentioned.
After reviewing this mornings POP Report for examples of 1969 Topps Baseball with 5 or less in PSA 8 or better, I came up with the following names:
Excuse me if I missed any; my eyes arent as good as they used to be in 1969.

52 - Mike Andrews 3 8's 1 9 ( a long standing tough card, often brought up in these discussions, Andrews is most often found off center, rough around the edges, and adversely effected by those pesky snowstorms on the shirt and cap)

182 - Rigney 4 8's 1 9 (Yes thats Bill Rigney; Dont think I've heard this one mentioned before; lo and behold checking my own set I didnt have that one. Managers are often overlooked for grading; not sure if this one is truly tough or no one except those of us close to completing 69' set gave it much thought.)

481 - Bill Melton 5 8's None higher ( Again...Bill Melton? I dont recall previous conversation about this one either; I own this one in 8, so I'm a happy camper. Anybody shed some more light on this one?)

620 - Dean Chance 4 8's 1 9 (Bonafide toughie. Dont own it. No high profile discussions have taken place about this one, but most of us on this board have mentioned it as very tough at one time or another.)

663 - Dick Radatz 5 8's None Higher ( This elusive tough cookie has eluded me. The best Radatz that I own that is a solid 8.5 came back from PSA as less than standard size; I even sent it twice because I couldnt believe it. For my money this one has been my single toughest chase)

Like I said, Andrews, Chance, and Radatz make sense; but Rigney and Melton?
RayB69Topps

Stump

Ray

You are certainly correct about the Radditz. I have sent in 5 and have had two 7's and three trimmed. It took awhile and some big spending to finnally get mine in 8. I also have the Chance and Melton in 8 and the Andrews and Rigney in 7. I have been looking for Rigney for quite some time and the bidding on ebay is ferocious on this card. The Andrews I knew was going to be tough but the Rigney came out of nowhere, I dont remember the Melton being hard but with only five out there this will demand a premium.

Dave

gemint

I was surprised at the Rigney was such a low pop until I saw one sell for $100+ in a recent Superior auction. I never noticed the Melton was low pop. Fortunately I have that one. I recently picked up a Chance 8 for $70 which I thought was a great price compared to what the other low pop cards are commanding. I was also forunate enough to get the Andrews PSA 9. The Rigney and Melton came from submissions out of my raw set. I still need the Raditz though. I have a NM/MT copy but print snow brought it down to a 7.

Mitochondria

Ray,

The Rigney would make since in that it is a single print located along the right edge of a 2nd Series sheet. It sits just above John Donaldson; where 4 out of 5 roles begin that are double printed. Indeed, the Radatz and Chance cards are extremely challenging as well as a well centered Hershberger and Stone from the 7th series. I have yet to find any reasonable quantity of the Bill Melton card to select high grade examples for submission.

Ron

Basilone

Ron-

You really have to write an article on the 1969's....your knowledge of the issue is amazing!!

John

Mitochondria

John,

The only reason I know this is because I have one sheet from the 2nd series of the 1969 set. If you want insight on the 1969 set, the person to chat with is Bob Cacamese! He draws upon more experience with this set than I do.

Ron