Another Newbie

HammeringHank

By way of introduction...let me say that I still have the cards that I opened in 1961, 62 and 63...they are not graded...however you can still smell the bubble-gum on them...they are that fresh...I've never seen 63 cards as clean as the ones I own...having said that...let me say that none of these sets are complete...I have almost as many dupes as I have the collection...back then you did not by sets...you bought packs and hoped for the best...in So Cal where I grew...we never saw the last parts of the set...so all three sets were and are mostly from the the 1st, 2nd or 3rd series...no high numbers...okay...that's my story to this point...about 2...2 and half years ago...I decided to sell my cards to pay for another hobby...stamp collecting...I also collect MINT US stamps...I've got quite a collection...almost everything from 1912 to present...the whole airmail collection...again most of this stuff was from my childhood...I kept everything...I also have a large collection of my comic books from the early 60's...anyway I digress...I was buying stamps on eBay...I thought I'd test the waters with regard to selling my cards...so I emailed a few of the people that I watched with success on eBay...regarding my cards...one of the gentleman that I ended up talking to...wanted to see my stuff...so I sent him some...as it turned out we ended up trading...and by the time I was finished instead of dumping my baseball cards...I owned an almost xmt 1960 set...which I completed last year...why or how I got to this point I have no idea...but here I am collecting cards again...in the meantime I shared my new hobby with an associate...who jumped in and started collecting the same thing that was into...the 1959 topps set...after-all I had the 60...and was working on the other 3 (61, 62 and 63)...so why not start on the 59 set...and not just any set...being a stamp collector...centering is the thing...so I started a new set...in what I perceived as PSA 7-8 material...and I now 19 cards away from completing the 1959 set...in perfect 50/50 centering...during this journey...I discovered that many of the cards that I was buying on eBay were not what they were represented to be...even thought the scan looked awesome...and the description said Near Mint...when I received the card...at best they were EXMT cards...so I turned to buying only graded cards...next I travelled to the National Card Show...I've been to the last three...where I have bought ungraded cards...because I could see, feel and touch them...again looking for 7 - 8 cards...as it turned out I have bought some cards that ended up in 8 holders...what a thrill...however most turned out to be 6's...and do I have some stories there...also during that time I joined PSA...have been a member now for almost 3 years...saying all this I'm still however learning...I've met along the way numerous people like me that are collectors and have shared and learned much...in fact one person I met through eBay...another collector and I met up each year at the National and go collecting together...currently I'm working on completing my 1958 Topps set...my set is currently #6 on that year...I am not however attempting to build the best set...I am trying to build that set like my 59 set...in 50/50 fashion...and it is my first attempt at collection the entire set in holders (or putting them into holders)...some of the cards in my set are 7's and I very happy with them...I've even traded an 8 for a 7 just because the 7 was centered better...when complete I hope to have the "best" centered high-end collection available...

I know this is a really long-winded intro...I have no idea how much time I'll invest on this site...however I have been "lurking" and reading some of the posts...and have learn a few things...if I can be of any help with my limited knowledge...I'll be happy to participate...however know that I'm a collector...also am not particularily fond of graded cards...even though I'm building a graded set...in fact my 59 set has many cards in it that I personally took out of 7 and 8 holders...the value of the card to me is for my judgement not that of a grader...I've seen to many very poorly cards in holders...so don't buy the grade folks is my first contribution...buy the card...

As to all of my personal cards from my childhood...still have them...their value is far and above anything anyone could give me...after all how many people can say they have a card that they opened from a pack 40 plus years ago...

aro13

Nice introduction, good luck on the 50/50 centered set that will look really good! Welcome to the boards.

GoSoxBoSox

Welcome to The Hammer. Show us your Aaron cards!!!

mariner

Welcome to the boards.......I collect 1959-1963 myself. Some of the best vintage years.

HammeringHank

How is this for the original Hammer...

The 58 card...



The 59 All-Star card...

GoSoxBoSox

You the man. Hank doesn't get the credit he deserves in my opinion.

Beautiful cards!!

roastedcat

Great cards!

Welcome to the board

Jery

MorrellMan

HammeringHank - thanks for the post. I'm a newbie as well and related to your early-collecting days memory. I collected late '50s and early '60s in SoCal as well; Van Nuys, actually, and we did get high numbers in '59 and '60. I never saw any '61 high numbers but I do remember seeing some '62 highs at a friend's house in Whittier. I remember being confused by seeing cards in a set I collected that I didn't have; and I also recall being struck by the vivid greens in some of those strange cards. It was years (decades) later that I realized they were the elusive high numbers that were missing from my set.

This is my first post and I'll go on more about me somewhere else, but I wanted to say thanx for the memories!

KING KELLOGG

HammeringHank....

Welcome to the Registry Boards!!!!


Among the Kellogg's sets I work on, is another favorite set...The 1959 Topps baseball set. Trying to build mine in a straight 8. A great set, and reminds me of years gone by......


(being in the construction business...I love those "crossed hammers" on your icon...great!)..


Larry

Skycap

Welcome HammeringHank!

Welcome MorrellMan. What do you collect?

Skycap

Putty

Welcome to the boards!
Great cards by the way I have a 56 Topps Aaron that is one of my favorites

MorrellMan

Hey Skycap - I collect everything I had as a kid - baseball, football, non-sports, 1957 thru 1962; also '56 Elvis, '54 Scoops. However, I offer my kingdom for a '59 Morrell Koufax in decent shape. I've got every one I've ever come across, but none are in PSA 5 or better shape. Thanks for asking - these boards are fascinating; I'm a little shy to share with you big guns!

jaybyrd

Hammerin Hank (love the handle, wish I had thought of that) welcome - 58 Aaron is one of my all-time favorite cards, wish I had that in as nice a shape as yours.

Tipem

HammeringHank and MorrellMan,


Welcome!!!!


It is always to see new people here.Hope you post often.


Vic

HammeringHank

Thanks...everyone...never was a Brave fan...however...Aaron could play on my team anytime...when I as a kid I played sort of a baseball game with my cards and dice...I had two teams...an A and a B team...of course Aaron was on my A...actually the were sort of All-Star teams...both of them...

Hodges...1B
Nellie Fox...2B
Eddie Matthews...3rd
Ernie Banks...SS
Aaron...LF
Willie Mays...CF
Mantle...RF
Berra...C

Koufax...P
Drysdale...P
Whitey Ford...P

That was my "A" team...

Roll the dice...1, 3, 4,5,6,7 and 8 were outs...3 was a strike-out...I kept stats...for K's and HR for the hitters...
2...walk
9...single
10...double
11...triple
12...home run

I played a complete season with these two teams...that's how I wore my cards out...never did the spoke in the wheel bit...

Today...some of those cards are on the wall in my office...had them framed...still have the pair of dice...ah...to be 12 again...

SUPERPUNK813

The 1958 Topps set is my favorite baseball set of the 50's and thats a very nice Aaron. Welcome to the boards.

Paul.