Hardest Set to Build, Post 1952

THEBULLPEN

Ok, enough silliness. Does anyone have any thoughts on what is the hardest set to put together, post 1952? Any sport. Would love to hear what you think.

A761506

1961 Dice Game, nothing else would even be close

baseballfanatic

Ditto. Maybe all 24 1968 Plaks plus the 2 checklists would give it a run for the money..........

Griffins

'55 Felin's Franks. (incredibly rare)
'70 Topps Test Cloth Stickers. (no complete checklist, let alone a complete set)
'55 Topps Stamps. (ditto above)
'61 Dice Game (just plain tough)
'63 Pepsi Colt '45's (Bateman is impossible)

Just missing the cutoff
'51 Current All Stars ( only 11 examples exist of Roberts, Stanky and Konstanty)

WinPitcher

Bull are you including test issues? if so 1966 punchouts should be condidered.

Steve

ZodiacMindwarp

In terms of regular issue sets in PSA 8, the 35 card 1969 Topps Deckle Edge set has 8 cards with a population of 1 and the 72 card 1965 Topps Embossed set has 9.

rbdjr1

55 Topps All-American Football in PSA 8, 9 & 10's!


rbd

MuckyMutt

Somebody mentioned 65 Topps embossed? You mean these crappy things I've had for so long might have some desireability? I've really always thought they were butt ugly..

>>

ZodiacMindwarp

<< <i>Somebody mentioned 65 Topps embossed? You mean these crappy things I've had for so long might have some desireability? I've really always thought they were butt ugly..

>>



Most people would agree with you. I am always in the market for them in just about any condition. If you are interested in selling, please let me know.

interchanges

1968 topps 3-D would take along time...starting from scratch.

MorrellMan

'59 Morrell Meats Dodgers is a rather tough issue in high grade.
There is only one card graded 7 and eight cards graded 6; no 8s or better at all.

thesplendidsplinter

54 Wilson Franks Gorgeous cards & virtually impossible to afford for the common man. Bullpen, saw you had an extra 8k. That might get you the Williams in a PSA 4!!

ebaydave

1977 Topps Mexican Football....or at least the most difficult 3 or 4 cards...hard to find in any condition.

jmbkb4

Someone find me a nice Pat Borders #133 in the 1993 Finest Refractors set. I'll pay you well.

SoFLPhillyFan

<< <i>55 Topps All-American Football in PSA 8, 9 & 10's!


rbd >>



Speaking of this issue. Can anyone tell me what it says on the back of the Ed Garbisch card?

My uncle was an All American with Garbisch. They were the first two from West Point in 1921 (?).

I would like to get the card for my father and wondered if they made any reference to Garbisch's partner (Gus Farwick) on the back.


Keith

gregm13

I'd have to say, 1955 Bowman fb in straight PSA 8, 1962 Topps fb in straight PSA 8 and 1971 Topps fb in PSA 8.5+. The 71's are TOUGH even right out of a pack.

Regards,

Greg M.

mikeschmidt

Pretty much *ANY* Topps Venezuelan set. Pick a year - and it's tough.

Marc

jackstraw

1955 and 1957 Parkhurst Hockey! The 55 Lumley , The Forum and Mapleleaf Gardens card do not exist in NM MT condition!

downgoesfrazier

I guess you'd have to factor that you have absolute unlimited resources to arrive at some conclusion. Typically, we ALL think the set we are having difficulty with is the toughest. In reality, if you had unlimited resources and used equal effort on every issue you'd remove some of the variables. I doubt, in that case, that anyone could venture little more than a wild guess. In that spirit, I would vote for Wilson Franks, Venezuelan releases or Coke Tips.


dgf

baseballfanatic

Alan Rosen found I believe it was almost 500 Mint Coke Tips cards some years back in New England, which he immediately broke off into 10-20 sets and sold pretty quickly to some dealer friends and kept the rest for future auctions

bocaratondefense

<< <i>Alan Rosen found I believe it was almost 500 Mint Coke Tips cards some years back in New England, which he immediately broke off into 10-20 sets and sold pretty quickly to some dealer friends and kept the rest for future auctions >>



That is true. Several complete sets are auctioned off each year in the bigger auctions, so I don't know how tough they really are.

GeneralJim

In my opinion it would be 1988 Fournier Estrellas basketball insert sticker set . only 10 stickers randomly inserted with 7 of the 10 almost non existent.

Also 68-69 San Diego Rockets Jack in the box set, 14 cards with 2 short prints that nobody can find . I am always looking to aquire cards from both of these sets .

Griffins

I"ve picked up an almost complete set of Coke Tips in the last year, along with a few dupes. They aren't that tough, basically because the demand for them is so lot.
The test ones of Mays and Rizzuto are another story though.

downgoesfrazier

sadly, it is the Mays I seek. Further, I have yet to seen a pristine copy--of anyone-- in person. Mr. Rosen's find was four or five years ago. I thought they were really cool. I have been casually searching since and have yet to see one that wasn't garbage. Perhaps if I could remember my secret hand-shake, my luck would change.

dgf

jayhawke

Can someone post a picture of the coke tips?

downgoesfrazier

I would think everyone would chime in with images of these...plentiful as they are in high-grade. I'll be stopping at Starbucks today. I'm told they give a complete set with every grande beverage purchase through January 2006. Still haven't seen a high-grade one aside from Mr. Rosen's find, mind you, but they're everywhere. I'm pumped to see the images of these crisp, colorful beauties...schedule intact, flat edges...the works! Really pretty "cards".

dgf

bocaratondefense

Mastro had not one but two complete sets in their last auction:

http://www.mastronet.com/index.cfm?action=DisplayContent&amp;ContentName=Lot Information&amp;LotIndex=53281&amp;CurrentRow=1

http://www.mastronet.com/index.cfm?action=DisplayContent&amp;ContentName=Lot Information&amp;LotIndex=54834&amp;CurrentRow=1


I am not saying they are common but they do show up in complete sets six or seven time each year minus the test cards.

jayhawke

<< <i> would think everyone would chime in with images of these...plentiful as they are in high-grade. I'll be stopping at Starbucks today. I'm told they give a complete set with every grande beverage purchase through January 2006. >>



I did some research after I read your post, and actually it is dunkin donuts.

SoFLPhillyFan

<< <i>

<< <i>55 Topps All-American Football in PSA 8, 9 & 10's!


rbd >>



Speaking of this issue. Can anyone tell me what it says on the back of the Ed Garbisch card?

My uncle was an All American with Garbisch. They were the first two from West Point in 1921 (?).

I would like to get the card for my father and wondered if they made any reference to Garbisch's partner (Gus Farwick) on the back.


Keith >>



Thanks Southsider for the scan of the Garbisch card.

ebaydave

I'm gonna change my vote to the Venezuelans....anything better than VGEX is pretty good for that issue.

dstudeba

<< <i>54 Wilson Franks Gorgeous cards & virtually impossible to afford for the common man. Bullpen, saw you had an extra 8k. That might get you the Williams in a PSA 4!! >>



Wilsons can't even compare to the Felin's Franks set that Griffins mentioned. In the past 3 years I have seen one Felin's Franks card for sale. In that time I have seen hundreds of Wilsons for sale, and probably 5 complete sets. Not to say that the Wilsons aren't difficult and expensive. Also the Felin's were never actually issued.

gipper

Ed Garbisch card #44 center - Army
Ed's specialty was defeating Navy with his accurate field goals. In his sophomore year a great 45 yard kick provided the winning 3 points. As a senior he sank Navy singlehandedly! Locked in a scoreless ground game, Ed booted the ball through the uprights 4 times for a 12-0 victory.

Mantlefan

1959 Home Run Derby [19 cards of sluggers like Mantle, Mays, Aaron, Killer etc plus the host of the show] ...also 1959 Topps Venezuelan.

Boopotts

Wow. A lot of issues mentioned here that I've never heard of, much less seen, so I can't really add much. I'd think the '55 Parkie Quaker Oats set would be a bear, though, since I don't think a single Lumley has ever been graded.

meuandthelot

I agree, and went looking for info on some of these sets.
I came across this site, talk about a compilation of sets..wow!!!





OpenChecklist sets

helionaut

2005 Origins Old Judge Gold #/20!

But seriously, folks, I have to say I never heard of the Coke Tips set till reading this thread, and they look great. I've been casting about for a 50's set to build (manageable but notable like Red Mans or Red Hearts) and might have found it. Too bad they didn't have a more expansive checklist, or at least bigger stars. One of the auctions mentions 3 test cards, with Rizzuto and Mays being present. What's the third?

Griffins

I've got my notes at home, I'll have to check for the 3rd test tonite.
Here's a standard card, relatively available


And here is the May's test, tough, expensive, and often in horrible shape. I've seen about 5, all pretty much like this.

fsjeter

1975 Fleer Pioneers of Baseball. A 28 card set with only one slabbed by PSA so far. I have a Ty Cobb from this set but it is horrid condition. Tough to find complete sets or singles and they don't pop up too often. Demand is very soft which might account for the lack of sales.

Scott

divecchia

<< <i>2005 Origins Old Judge Gold #/20!

But seriously, folks, I have to say I never heard of the Coke Tips set till reading this thread, and they look great. I've been casting about for a 50's set to build (manageable but notable like Red Mans or Red Hearts) and might have found it. Too bad they didn't have a more expansive checklist, or at least bigger stars. One of the auctions mentions 3 test cards, with Rizzuto and Mays being present. What's the third? >>



Very nice thread.

In the 2006 Standard Catalog there are 3 test cards listed: Willie Mays along with 2 Phil Rizzuto cards. One of the Rizzuto cards has pitching tips. Hope this helps.

Donato