35 Sets Down--1963 Topps Completed in psa 8 or better

Davalillo

With the acquisition of Ralph Houk for $65, I acquired the last card I needed to complete the 1965 Topps set with every card psa 8 or better. The set is complete with an Eddie Mathews psa 10, 14 psa 9s and the rest psa 8s.

Most of the final cards I bought were in the 300 series with card #340 Yogi Berra surprisingly hard to find. I believe the most I paid for any common was in the $200s with Schofield, Linz, Ramos, Keough, Gaines among the tougher commons. As with most sets from the late 50s and 60s I had the set raw nrmt-mt and submitted all the cards I thought would 8. The rest I picked up from dealers, collectors and ebay. Thanks to Brian Dwyer who relentlessly hunts down cards I need and played a big role in bringing this set to completion.

My 60s Topps sets are nearing completion with 61,63,64,65,67 and 68 done, 60 and 66 needing 1 card apiece and 62 needing 6(I don't collect 69). 1962 will be difficult--primarily due to the pop 1 Landrum.

This brings completed baseball sets to 20 and overall sets to 35 in psa 8 or better as follows:

BASEBALL(20):
1936 S&S
1954 Topps
1956 Topps
1959 Fleer
1960 Fleer
1961 Golden Press
1961 Nu-Card Scoops
1961 Topps
1961-62 Fleer
1963 Fleer
1963 Topps
1964 Topps
1964 Topps Giants
1965 Topps
1967 Topps
1968 Topps
1969 Topps Super
1970 Kelloggs
1970 Milton Bradley
1970 Rold Gold

FOOTBALL(10):
1950 Bowman
1951 Bowman
1954 Bowman
1955 Topps All-America
1959 Topps
1960 Mayrose
1960 Topps
1961 Nu-Card
1964 Philadelphia
1976 Wonder Bread

BASKETBALL(4):
1948 Bowman
1961 Fleer
1970-71 Topps
1972 Icee Bear

HOCKEY(1):
1962-63 Parkhurst

Appreciate all the help on my sets. All sets are open on the registry--please e-mail Brian or me with cards you have that I need.

Jim

tkd7

Jim,
Congratulations on your progress. I enjoy reading about your journey.
Keep it up!

Tom

ironranger

Congrats Jim! I too like reading your updates!

thesplendidsplinter

Your my hero Jim!!

Congrats!! Just started the 65's & I need 573!! Oy vay!!

flatfoot816

Dude--that's some serious stuff. And I thought I had a nice colelciton. I'll have to show your completed list to my wife. She loves when I engage in competition. Just imagaine all that hard work, and like most collectors, someday you'll sell--for now--keep going

Davalillo

Thanks guys--the quest continues.

Jim

sagard

Congrats and a big thank you again for taking some eights from me! Good luck with the rest of your sets.

Davalillo

Flatfoot,

Probably will never sell--I have a son who I will pass it on to....or absent that I have thought about a museum.

Jim

kennylow

or you can adopt me :-)

Stump

Jim

Great job once again. Not that I would tell you whats in your collection but I had thought the 60 baseball set was done. I check periodically and just looked again. Maybe I missed it. Anyway good luck with the rest and keep us posted on your progress.

Dave

spacktrack

I thought the 1960 Topps set was complete too with Walters and Virdon (496 and 511) the last two commons. They showed up on eBay in the same week luckily. Looks like 35 is now 36.

nearmint

Congratulations, Jim! When I think about how long I've been collecting and that I have only one PSA 8+ set, 35 seems incredible.

Mike

Kurtman9

Wow! Congrats on the great accomplishments.

PS: I tried hard to win that 63 Berra, but came in 2nd to you and obc.

mariner

<< <i>1962 will be difficult--primarily due to the pop 1 Landrum. >>



It is unbelievable how tough this card is with pop 1 in PSA 8, but it is even more unbelievable that there actually exists one PSA 9 in this card. Does anyone have any idea who might have the Mint 9? Hard to believe that a 9 exists when only one had graded an 8. I suspect the 9 probably came from a pristine presentation set in someone's collection.

Davalillo

Dave and Brian,

I only count a set as complete when I receive the card--Brian--I don't believe I have in my possession yet--right?
Thanks for the congrats.

Kurtman9,

It is surprising how difficult that card is--We had a top all of well over $1,000 on the card.

Mike,

Also appreciate the kind words--when are we going to see a 60 Fleer Woodard in psa 8?

Jim

mariner

Kurt, the '63 Berra in PSA 8 is, no question, the tougest HOF'er in the 1963 Topps set.

Davalillo

Don,

Baseball Card Investments and MD Crabcake are good bets to have the Landrum in 8 or 9[[the leader does not have it. I asked the Rabbi who used to own it and he does not have records of who he sold it to.

Congrats on the 59s--you are sprinting up the registry--wow!

I have had to pay up for my 59s.

Jim

spacktrack

<< <i>Dave and Brian,

I only count a set as complete when I receive the card--Brian--I don't believe I have in my possession yet--right?
Thanks for the congrats.

>>



Good point--still waiting for the card to come in--most likely Monday or Tuesday.

jayhawke

Jim,

What did you have to pay for the Landrum in a PSA 7 holder? And I thought the '65 Charlie Smith was a tough card to find in NM/MT condition.

Davalillo

Jayhawke,

I started out in 62 by submitting my raw nrmr-mt set--the Landrum came back a 7.

Jim

mariner

Jim...

Thanks for the congrats on my '59 set. I am really proud of it. I am so close to 100% 8's and 9's. It is a tough set and very popular right now. The cards generate aggressive bidding and high prices as you said. Congrats on your terrific accomplishments on all of your sets.

I have really enjoyed dealing with Brian. He is a class act.

Jayhawke.....

A PSA 7 1962 Landrum sold on ebay recently in the $200+ range.

Davalillo

Don,

You should be proud--great accomplishment!

Brian is the best--you're right.

Jim

jackstraw

Don
That is a nice looking 59 set! I just looked through it and read all the write ups! great job!

Thanks I enjoyed it
John

mariner

John....

Thanks for the feedback! I am glad that you enjoyed it. It is a work in progress as I continue to add scans and comments. That is the great thing about the registry......the ability to share one's collection with others who appreciate great vintage cards.

Jim....

Don't mean to hijack your thread. I really do appreciate the comments.

SOM

Drat! Just when I thought I was closing in, you jump in front of me. (The '63 puts you 32 sets ahead of me. )



Seriously, Jim...Wow!!!

Nick

Stump

Jim

Thanks for the reply. I think the 544 Cardinals card will be tough. I tried for 9 months just to pick up a NM for my raw set before I found one at a local card show. It was my final card for my raw set.

Dave

Davalillo

Dave,

Funny, its a pop 15 which shouldn't make it real difficult but obviously it is.

Jim

Stump

Nasty card Jim for avalibility. Centering problems on top of being a short print on top of the cardinal collectors of the 60's. Normally a 15 pop should be available but I think cardinal collectors grab them up.

Dave