New 1973 Set Now Posted

Machodoc

Just wanted to mention that I have just loaded in my 1973 set, which is only 15.6% complete with an average quality of 8.16. I guess it would be available for viewing sometime Monday or Tuesday. My better 9's include Aaron, Bench, and Perez. To eyeball it, it looks like at its present stage the set should come in somewhere around #11 or #12. My 1972 and 1973 sets will be my current priorities and if anyone out there has any extra 8's and 9's they can let go (unfortunately it will have to be for cash, as I have zero duplicates) - with emphasis on 9's - I am all ears!

KING KELLOGG

Machodoc...

Steve...Yet another monster set......


Good luck !



Larry

Virtualizard

Great, I was thinking about going after this set myself. Now I'm going to have some competition? I'm currently at #35. Steve, it seems that you just want to keep knocking me down a notch on every set that I'm working on.

Seriously, this is my favorite set of the '70s because of the great photography. I have stayed away from collecting it in graded form so far, but I do have a lot of raw cards ready to submit. Good luck on your set.

BTW, why is this set so unpopular compared to other sets? Any thoughts?

JEB.

Vargha

I always thought that the photos were awesome in this set. Maybe the format and colors are just too "plain-Jane" for most people.

Machodoc

My theory is that after the crazy 1972 set this looked like a letdown.... both in design, color, and size of the set.

DaveRead

Mach:

Contact Scott Wetzel (sdwetzel@erols.com) if you are seriously looking for a large dose of 73's. Scott started on his 73 set a year before me (2 1/2-3 yrs ago) and he hasn't disposed of many of his upgraded 8's and 9's. He would probably give you a fair price if you were looking to take a large quantity. Check out the pop report on Don Wilson (#217); only 50's, 60's, or 70's card that I know of with a pop of 1 (an 8). Scott's '73 set doesn't get any press on the forum here because only 3 people seriously collect 73's (graded), but it's pretty impressive. Having finished a '72 set and nearly finished a '73 set, I think you'll really enjoy it.

I'm not sure why the '73 set is not very popular, but that's ok; Scott, Mohiba, and I have enough competition with each other trying to scarf up all the 9's and 10's.

Wetzel

I don't know why this set isn't more popular. For me it was the first year that i bought baseball cards and i have been hooked ever since. I think that there a lot of great photos in this set.
Scott

mcastaldi

You never know. . .there may be one or two other people lurking in the shadows of the 73 set. . .

zardoz51

More than they think

DaveRead

Promises, promises. Lots of people start on the 73's, but it drops as a priority, then BAM, you're selling off what you've got to further upgrade that, oh I don't know, that 72 set overflowing with 10's, huh Frank!?!?!? One thing about the 73's though, there is no uglier card than an OC 73, even when it doesn't have a qualifier. Something about those big white borders, that when a card is 70/30 or worse, it just looks bad. But, give me a perfectly centered Steve Carlton or Johnny Bench 9, and there's no better looking card either.

mcastaldi

There are infinitely more "in action" cards in the 73 set than in the 72 set.

Mike

pb19991

Hello fellow set collectors, i am certainly not in Wetzel, Mohiba, or Mr Reads category on the 1973 set but i am currently #4 and closing in on 50% complete. i however cannot afford to get into the psa 9 or 10 market on many of these cards especially the stars. along with Mr. Wetzel this was my first year of opening packs of baseball cards spending every penny i could dig up to go buy more packs. i would like to complete the set but unfortunately i am crazy about most of the 60's and 70's baseball and can't seem to focus on any 1 set, although 1960 and 1973 are my 2 favorites and closest to completion. i find i just can't pass up a deal on e bay for graded cards of the 70's in psa 8 for less than what it costs for the grading fees. also Mr. Wetzel what an absolutely awesome 1973 set congartulations on you're great accomplishment. and if anyone has any of the cards i need for my set in psa 8 at a raesonable price let me know. thanks Phil

Machodoc

Dave -

Carlton's 1973 card is by far my favorite of him, but I know for a fact that Rose and Bench both don't like their 1973 cards (having asked them both) because they are nice action shots, all you get is a good look at their butts. I think Topps made nice in 1974 because the Rose and Bench 1974 cards are by far the best action shots of either of those guys and are my favorites of both - and their favorites as well.

ABBAdad

Doc,

I find it interesting that Rose and Bench don't like their 73's but like the 74's the best. I grew up a huge Reds fan in the 70s and was always trying to pull Reds players out of packs. Bench was my favorite player and his '74 card is my favorite, followed by '71 and '70. Where did you ask them about their favorite cards? At a show recently? Just curious.

Doctor David

Vargha

Questions to Rose need to be phrased in the form of a wager to get him to respond.

For example: "Hey Pete, I bet I know what your favorite baseball card of yourself is." (Laying favorable odds is also helpful in getting a response.)

Vargha

Machodoc

Abba -

I've seen Pete several times at shows in unguarded moments, and the same for JB and talked about cards with them. I am a huge fan of the BRM, they were my team of memory as a kid. Nothing brings a smile to my face faster than the memory of a hot summer night in 1972 or 1973 listening to Joe Nuxhall and Al Michaels (and Marty B after 1973) on the radio to hear how the Reds won again!

JB is my #1 sports hero and I have tons of his stuff thru relationships with his agent, etc.. I also have 2 of his game used bats that he turned into "statbats" (a speciality of mine - I have over 30 HOF'er statbats) thru the good graces of Cal Levy.

SW

jaxxr

The 73 set may be quite under-rated.

There is always debate on what "vintage" is, and the corresponding time, etc. No doubt the 73 set is the last older Topps one to issue cards the old fashioned way, via series. The high numbers are still a decent deal when compared to prices of other older sets' high nos. The action shots are interesting, a Mike Schmidt RC, and when combined with the fact that the last regular cards of Mays and Clemente are there, this set with traditional white borders should be more popular.

My feeble goal is to get the set done in at least a 7.5 NM + average, with probably some raw and some from the other big three graders which I find acceptable.

gaspipe26

Actually the card stock on 73's in my opinion makes high grade cards somewhat difficult. The pictures are some of the best ever. If theres going to be a mass push by collectors let me know I'll start sending in cards to grade!

gemint

<< <i>Actually the card stock on 73's in my opinion makes high grade cards somewhat difficult. The pictures are some of the best ever. If theres going to be a mass push by collectors let me know I'll start sending in cards to grade! >>



Throughout the past few years, I've submitted and sold my duplicates from this set. For the most part, PSA 8s are break even or less. 9s are almost always profitable to varying degrees. I'll be surprised if PSA 8 commons start hitting $10+.