My second completed #1 set

MorrellMan

Look out Dav, I'm hot on your tail!!!
'48 Swell Sport Thrills

ZodiacMindwarp

Congratulations and thanks for taking the time to provide scans!

ArtRossLives

Way to go Mark! Very cool.

ajw

Congrats on finishing the set! (And I'll second the "thank you" for the scans...they add so much to the registry.)

Care to share any info about the set? How was it distributed? How tough is it to put together? (I'm assuming pretty tough as your #1 set has a lot of mid-range grades.)

The cards are nice, though I would prefer them to have the player's name on the front.

Edited to add:

Wow. That Gehrig card is great looking. I hope you don't mind if I post the image so we can all enjoy it.

WinPitcher

Mark great job!

ajw

While your Gehrig is great, if you're looking to upgrade, here's a fine example on eBay.

Great Slugging

Be sure to get the optional insurance so you're protected if the card is damaged during shipping. (Though it would be hard to prove it, I imagine.)

koby

Congratulations. That is a great looking set. I am not familiar with Swells.....are they related to the black and white playball sets?

Onlypsahockey

Congratulations Mark.

Great set, even greater accomplishment.

What's next?

Bob

Vintagegolfcollector

Nice going and thanks for the scans. Some history on the set, please.

Cubfan

Atta boy Mark!!! Keep up the good work!!!

marz

That is kind of an interesting set in fact!

good job!

MorrellMan

Thanks, everyone, for your enthusiasm. I will eventually update all the scans to the higher dpi resolution (that I just discovered).

It's hard to find these in high grade. Either the cards are trashed or the centering is way off. In building this set, I almost have a second low grade set put together from lots that featured one card I needed. 3/4's of the set and all the stars are my own submissions.

The set was issued with Swell Gum in packs at the same time as the set of The Babe Ruth Story cards. Both sets were black and white and, in my opinion, capitalized on the nostalgia of early baseball spurred in 1948 by the Babe's death. So much for speculation. There are some tough cards in the set - #11 (Alexander) being the toughest for me. #9 (Gionfriddo) & #20 (Furillo) are also tough ones. The SCD lists these 3 cards, plus #16 (DiMaggio) as scarce, but I didn't find that to be the case with the DiMaggio card.

#12 Ruth, #14 Gehrig, #3 Robinson and of course the Dimag cards are the stars and centering is tough. I will be upgrading this set as I can, mostly for centering.

Thanks again for looking!

GreenHead

HEY AJW,
Thats my Gehrig your making fun of. Funny thing is I have one that is actually in worse shape. Maybe Ill get a scan of it up later. And always take the optional insurance, the corners on this one are liable to fall off if it gets droped in shipment.
Ken

bowdowntome

MM - That's a cool looking set. I'd seen a few before but never gave them much thought (as a football colelctor). Seeing all these neat vintage oddball baseball sets almost makes me wanna tackle one as well. I just don't like to compete. Are there any vintage oddball baseball sets that just are not too popular, but are still pretty cool looking?

I too wish to say THANKS for the scans. I wish more people would do it, if they have the means. When, or if, I ever get a set on the registry I will also do my part to provide nice scans.

Great job!

ajw

<< <i>HEY AJW,
Thats my Gehrig your making fun of. Funny thing is I have one that is actually in worse shape. Maybe Ill get a scan of it up later. And always take the optional insurance, the corners on this one are liable to fall off if it gets droped in shipment.
Ken >>



Hope you don't mind me posting a link...I just thought it was an interesting addition to the story. That Gehrig is one great looking card, with or without corners. I would like to see a scan of your other Gehrig...maybe side by side with the "nicer" one. You should send them both to PSA at the same time...maybe they'll give you a 2 on the better one after seeing how bad the lesser one is!

MorrellMan

<< <i> Are there any vintage oddball baseball sets that just are not too popular, but are still pretty cool looking? >>



You might have a look at the Kahn's sets; I'm not sure if the 1964 set is on the registry yet, but it's a great looking set -
small enough to complete but large enough to keep your interest.



<< <i>I just don't like to compete. >>



The registry is much more than about being #1 - it's a place to display your set and share your interest. Good luck!

bowdowntome

<< <i>You might have a look at the Kahn's sets; I'm not sure if the 1964 set is on the registry yet, but it's a great looking set -
small enough to complete but large enough to keep your interest. >>



That's one I had thought about. I also thought about one of the Post sets.



<< <i>I just don't like to compete. >>





<< <i>The registry is much more than about being #1 - it's a place to display your set and share your interest. Good luck! >>



Actually, I guess I should have rephrased that, or expanded on it. When I say I don't like to compete, I generally mean I don't like to compete with too many other buyers for my cards. I definitely don't want to pick a highly popular set and wind up having to compete (pay too much for) with too many enthusiastic collectors, for the cards I might need. You can just call me cheap.......or frugal, whichever.

GOODLIEU

I was just reading the posts and seeing that today I finally was able to finish my 1948 Bowman Basketball set that I have been working on for the last four years I felt compelled to let my fellow registry members know that it sure feels good. Now I need to improve it when I can afford it. I love vintage Basketball and really enjoy the hobby. I have spoke to and met some very interesting collectors who by and large are willing to help each other out if they can and as these boards show they get as much a kick out of success stories of others as the person who actually achieved it. Take care and Good Luck with your sets.

MorrellMan

Goodlieu - thanks for posting.
Congratulations on completing a very difficult set.
I'd love to see some scans of that one.