41 Down-1969-70 Topps Basketball Completed in PSA 8 or Better

Davalillo

Patience is a virtue when it comes down to waiting for that last card to finish a set. Many times I sit with just 1 or 2 cards to go in a set and resist the temptation to overpay or maybe its significantly overpay for that last card as Frank Evanov and Marc Schoenen have pointed out. Such is the case with the 1969-70 Topps Basketball Set. With a lot of help from Ken and Dennis I quickly got to 98 of 99 cards graded PSA 8 or better. For the past 18 months however I have have been waiting and waiting for the final card--#99 Checklist--at an acceptable vprice. The first I turned down at $4,000. The same dealer a few months later came down to $3,500--still too high. Last week, one of my top dealers(Rick Snyder of Mint State) called me up and said he had a beauty for $3,000 delivered. Done. Thanks Rick--Rick has twice been on my Top 10 Dealer List and was 7th last year--looks like he may well move up this year.
The set is now complete with a 8.01 set rating, 4th on the Set Registry, and I will not be adding 9s. In Basketball I would like to finish the 1957 Topps set and 1961 Essex Meats--the 1957 Topps Set is very difficult in PSA 8.
This represents the 8th set I have completed since year-end--the most I have ever completed in a short time. Although I have several one or two cards from completion, I expect this to be it for awhile.

My goal remains 50 vintage or semi-vintage sets by year-end and ultimately over 100.

Completed sets in psa v8 or better are as follows:

BASEBALL(23):

1936 S&S
1951 Topps Red Back
1954 Red Heart
1954 Topps
1956 Topps
1959 Fleer
1960 Fleer
1960 Topps
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 Cardinals
1960 Topps
1961 Nu-Card
1963 Stancraft Playing Cards
1976 Wonder Bread

BASKETBALL(6):

1948 Bowman
1961 Fleer
1969-70 Topps
1970-71 Topps
1972 Icee Bear
1976-77 Topps

HOCKEY(1):

1962-63 Parkhurst

MULTI-SPORT(1):

1933 Goudey Sport Kings

Thank you to all the collectors and dealers who have helped me achieve my collecting goals. All sets are open on the registry--please e-mail Brian or me with cards you have that I need.

Jim

mcholke

This is fun to watch. You are a machine. Congratulations.

mikeschmidt

Congratulations, Jim. The checklists of sets like these will never be easy - and I am sure it is a wonderful addition, plus another notch on your 100 set scoreboard.

Cheers

tkd7

Jim,
Congratulations again. I enjoy hearing your stories about building your collection. The journey is as interesting as the destination.

Tom

Davalillo

Thank you Marc, Tom and MCholke.

Glad you enjoy reading about the process--each set is a different adventure.

Jim

nearmint

I think Jim got nervous when I completed my 2nd set and pulled within 33 sets of him. He's been cranking them out daily since then.

At this rate you'll have your 100 by mid-summer, Jim. What will you collect then?

Congratulations--I'm enjoying watching your progress.

Mike

wolfbear

Look up perseverance in the dictionary and you'll see a picture of Jim. Congrats!

Davalillo

Mike,

You've got to help me finish one of these 60s Fleer FB sets. I need just two in 62 and 63 and three in 60.

After 100--who knows--150?

Thanks Wolf--what do you make of thsi ShoppingLucy on ebay?

Jim

wolfbear

<< <i>what do you make of thsi ShoppingLucy on ebay?
Jim >>



It's easy.
If he needs the card then we've got no chance of winning it no matter how much we bid.

If he's already got the card, then the rest of us have a chance to fight over it ...

Davalillo

Its unbelievable what he is bidding. Its like Don Spence or Don Louchios has come to Football.

What do his years run from and to as far as you can tell?

wolfbear

<< <i>Its unbelievable what he is bidding. Its like Don Spence or Don Louchios has come to Football.

What do his years run from and to as far as you can tell? >>


Tell me about it. Recent bid activity indicates 1954 through 1969 football.

He's cutting a pretty wide swath.
You may have to start driving a cab at night in order to obtain the funds necessary to keep up with him Jim ...

Mantlefan

Great going Jim. I think you should crack open a bottle of champaigne whenever you finish a set!

Davalillo

Frank,

That is a great idea--I think I will do that tonight.

Wish you lived a bit closer so you could join me.

Jim

Kurtman9

<< <i>

<< <i>what do you make of thsi ShoppingLucy on ebay?
Jim >>



It's easy.
If he needs the card then we've got no chance of winning it no matter how much we bid.

If he's already got the card, then the rest of us have a chance to fight over it ... >>



He sounds like primeagle with '61 Topps BB. If he needs the card in a 10 or a 9, no one and I mean no one outbids him. It's why I contacted him to sell my '61 Spahn AS that graded a PSA 10. I think this sort of bidding eventually helps these guys cause a lot of prospective bidders know they cannot compete and just don't bother.

Congrats on another "notch in your PSA 8 belt" Jim. Extremely impressive to say the least!

tkd7

<< <i>Frank,

That is a great idea--I think I will do that tonight.

Wish you lived a bit closer so you could join me.

Jim >>



I'll bring the champagne!

Davalillo

Kurtman,

Thank you--I was following Primeagle for a while and hearing Rob McBride's frustrations. Best thing is that these buyers generally do not have long lasting resolve and they burn themselves out.

Tom,

Boy that sounds great but I have a pretty bad cold that seems to be spreading to my eye of all things(yuck).

Will call you soon.

Jim

bri2327

Jim, congrats on finishing the set.....I love those cards.....would you happen to have any extras ? I am looking for Knicks, if you have any please let me know, thanks !

Davalillo

Bri,

Thank you.

Sorry but I have long since gotten rid of all dupes I had except of course the checklist which is a psa 6 if you want it.

Jim

tkd7

<< <i>Tom,

Boy that sounds great but I have a pretty bad cold that seems to be spreading to my eye of all things(yuck).

Will call you soon.

Jim >>



Get better Jim. The champagne will be on ice, sounds like you will be completing some more sets very soon!

aro13

Congratulations, Jim! Best of luck completing that 57 Topps Basketball set in PSA 8, although I am impressed that you knocked off the 48 Bowman set so quickly. I am having enough trouble completing the 57 set in 7, let alone seeing any cards available in 8's. I will be happy to purchase your 7's after you upgrade them to 8's.

Davalillo

Thanks Tom.

Aro,

I am buying four more this week in a deal brokered by Michael Rakosi--the King of Vintage Basketball.

They are not coming cheaply.

I do have an extra Slater Martin in 7 and could possibly have others.

Jim

thesplendidsplinter

Jim, make no mistake. YOU are the King! You are Yoda & we are all Luke wannabe's.

Davalillo

Splendid Splinter,

Ha--my schtick is breadth of collection--there are collectors who have better sets than I in almost every set I collect. There are also collectors stronger in every category. But to my knowledge there is noone trying to collect all sets all sports all years in psa 8 or better in vintage(not entirely true as there are lots of prewar baseball and hockey and golf I don't do(but if I live long enough you never know).

Jim

1954

Jim,
Congratulations on an incredible accomplishment. I graded out 3 Fleer FB sets last month and I may have a card or two for you in PSa 8 or 9. I will check to help you out because I like to help friends.

Its unbelievable what he is bidding. Its like Don Spence or Don Louchios has come to Football.


Shane

Davalillo

Shane,

Thank you--I would appreciate it.

All of a sudden my football buying on ebay has ground to a halt. I am losing everything to him.

Jim

WinPitcher

Looking good Jim!

Steve