Moving my Greatest Moments to start a new set...

missinglink

I have half of the much coveted 1971 Topps Greatest Moments set all graded and have decided to part with it and begin a new set.
View GM on ebay
This is where I need your advice

I have 3 sets that I am considering. All of them are mainstream sets, which is a first for me. Currently, everything I have collected is regional or test issue. Below are my 3 considerations and thoughts that may be holding me back. All of these would be completed in 7 or better. I would love to hear all your thoughts and hopefully you can persuade me to choose.

Thanks in advance.

1949 Bowman
I love the smaller size of the cards, the simple design with no name and the colors. I believe this set has upward appreciaton and longevity. Wondering if the Satchel Paige will be impossible to find?

1954 Bowman
I have always been attracted to these cards. I like the beauty of the cards and like the allure of the Ted Williams #66 that was pulled from production. Is this set undervalued? Underappreciated? or just lack appeal because the Top rookies were signed with Topps at the time?


1955 Topps
One of my favorite Topps sets from 50's. Has all the big rookie cards, as well as the stars of the day. Will this set continue to increase in value? or has it just about peaked? Really How tough is that Duke Snider #210 card in PSA 7 or better?


For those of you asking yourself "why the heck would he sell the Greatest Moments?" Collecting regional and test sets has many, many months of down times with no purchases. This makes me bored (there was a recent thread about what you do when you are bored) and that causes me to stray from my current plan and become unfocused and purchase cards I don't really want.

Also considering the 1962 Topps football set...love the Black beauties...

Peace out
Jeremy

LuxuryWines

Jeremy,

I am very partial to the 54 Bowman Set and think it is one of the most undervalued sets out there. The Set looks very impressive as a unit . (I have a mid -grade PSA complete set just been to lazy to post it....) Will try and find where my wife hid the digital so I can put a pic of it up on my free hosting space...... The main problem with set is the centering is atrocious and can drive you batty.... Plusses are that it is a small set and most of the stars are reasonable in mid grade (5,6,7) ..... Yes it is missing the Aaron and Kaline rookies but it is still loaded with great stars- MAys,MAntle Williams, Campanella, Feller .. Plus it can be done for a whole heck of a lot less $'s than the 54 Topps ...

Jeff

packCollector

missingLink, You can't lose with any of those sets. i like them all but all of them are going to cost you apretty penny. For me I will be watching all your 71's good luck with whatever decision you make ,you can't lose

1954

Jeremy-Too bad you are dumping the real set to start that other crap. You will do very well on the cards you are selling and I still think it was the wrong move.

Your best friend,
Leeho

helionaut

Good move bailing out on the 1971s. Only oddballs collect that set Hopefully I can pick up at least a couple of them for my set.

Of the the sets you mention, I'd probably go with 49 Bowman. In fact, I have been fascinated with that set for months now, especially the crude 2-color printing. I'm definitely in a minority, though, as the full-color sets are far more popular. But aside from that, there is an excellent checklist that, even without Ted Williams and Joe DiMaggio, stands up to almost any other set. Personally, in comparing it to the 1955 Topps set, I think the rookies of Paige and Robinson are more than a match for Koufax and Clemente, plus the 49 has Musial, who is missing from most other sets of the era. And it's not too expensive. A couple Paiges have been sold on ebay in the last while, an 8 that went for under $3000, and at least one 7 that went for about $1200, and maybe another for a little less, IIRC. Robinsons have gone for comparable prices. Lower echelon cards are not too common, but not so rare as to deter completion. The one drawback on this set for me is that even solid 7s can look unattractive. Where another set, say 1952 Topps, can still look good in 6 or even 5, the toned cardstock of 1949 needs to be in top grade to look its best. If you want to do it in 7, you really have to scrutinze every card as variations in the tone and the rough edges and marks that are apparently allowable in 7 can be dramatic.

1955 Topps is my second choice, but I prefer 1956. The background photos on the latter set are so much more appealing, and there's a more comprehensive checklist. No major HOF RCs in 1956 but no Mantle in 1955.

I never much cared for 1954 Bowman. The photos, when properly registered, can be beautiful, but the "notecard" design element never appealed to me. Yes, the Willliams card has mystique, but it's not hard to find, so . You could just buy that card and then build a 49B set.

dstudeba

I agree with 1954 you should keep the 1971 Greatest Moments set.......and dump your other regionals. Hot Dog cards especially are a waste of time.

The '55 is a great set. Always loved the Jackie Robinson in that one. The '49 in my opinion is the ugly duckling before the incredibly beautiful 50-52 run of bowmans. The '49 Bowman Campanella is probably one of the few Campy cards I will never own.

I also have toyed with the idea of the '54 set, but there aren't enough action shots to hold me. However the Williams, Mantle, and Campy cards are all awesome from that series.

Remember....sell all those stupid regional cards.......otherwise you might end up like murcerfan

murcerfan

Jeremy,
I agree, regionals and test issues (namely the G.M.'s) are way overpriced right now, completly maxed out and not much fun to work on any more. I would say the same for '62 Topps Football.

Those Bowman sets will surely be green pastures in comparison. Another really good buy right now is the '74 Deckle Edge set.

robr1967

Hey all, I figured I would chime in here as well.

I do not havean opinion one way or the other.

Presently, I am working on a 1949 Bowman BB set. So if you were to decide to go that route, I guess I would have more competition to deal with. There are quite a few people collecting the 1949 Bowman set that are not registered. The 1955 Topps set is probably the 2nd mostly highly collected set in the Topps 50's only behind 1952.

Finally, for all of you that have been thinking about working on a 1949 Bowman BB set. I would consider possibly selling the partial 1949 Bowman BB set that I have. The main reason I started putting it together was to start saving for a down payment for a house. So far, I am down to needing only 60 cards yet to complete the set in mostly PSA-8 condition with a few PSA-7's thrown in as well.

If anyone might be interested let me know.

Thanks
Rob Ruth

rruth@comcast.net

norty

I don't know what grade you are shooting for in any of the 3 sets you mentioned but watch out for the Ashburn in the 49 Bowmans. That is a sneaky tough star and is much more difficult than the Paige.