45 Down--1963 Fleer Football Completed in PSA 8 or Better

Davalillo

All four of my early 1960s Fleer Football sets were nearing completion and I had been talking to Brian about which one we would finish first. Although I had the most to go in 1961(7), I thought that would be first as the 1960 Fleer Woodward was a pop 1 in 8, the 1962 Lott was a pop 3 and in 1963 the checklist seemed impossible(pop 8) and the Buonoconti never shows up.
Well, lightning struck twice within a day. First, well-known football dealer/collector Wolfbear(Paul Howard) e-mails me and offers me the checklist--a very high-end psa 8. The next day Brian calls me and tells me he has got the Buonoconti from another registry participant -- Brian Elswick--both at reasonable prices. Amazing that they came in at about the same time and nice that they are both set registry participants. Thanks Wolfbear and Brian!

The set now stands as complete at 8 psa 9s and 81 psa 8s and I expect a set rating of around 8.11(calculation is not working). This puts me fourth behind Fuzzdude, Mark Van Deusen and the Evil Empire. While it is tempting to try to knock off the Evil Empire for the 60s Football Olympics, I think I will let this set rest for awhile.

This represents the 12th set in PSA 8 or better I have completed since year-end 2005--the most I have ever completed in a short time.

My goal remains 50 vintage or semi-vintage sets all cards psa 8 or better by year-end 2006 and ultimately over 100 sets PSA 8 or better. Looks like I will have another one to announce soon.

Completed sets in PSA 8 or better are as follows:

BASEBALL(25):

1936 S&S
1948 Bowman
1951 Topps Red Back
1954 Red Heart
1954 Topps
1956 Topps
1957 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(11):

1950 Bowman
1951 Bowman
1954 Bowman
1955 Topps All-America
1959 Topps
1960 Mayrose Cardinals
1960 Topps
1961 Nu-Card
1963 Fleer
1963 Stacraft Playing Cards
1976 Wonder Bread

BASKETBALL(6):

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

HOCKEY(2):

1962-63 Parkhurst
1962-63 Topps

MULTI-SPORT(1):

1933 Goudey Sport Kings

Machodoc

*<Yawn*>

mcholke

Davalillo

Congratulations. I really enjoy your posts and can't help but imagine what your card storage areas must look like. Second to none. Keep up the good work, there are a lot of us leaving through you on your quest.

Kevin

Davalillo

Kevin,

Glad you enjoy the posts. There is a story behind finishing each set and I hope I am able to commmunicate the excitement for each one.

You are welcome to see the display room on your next trip to New Jersey.

I will be scheduling a collectors party soon for a Saturday afternoon/evening where my collection will be on display.

Jim

wolfbear

Glad to help out the cause Dav.
Gotta admire your focus and dedication.

Brings to mind President Ronald Reagan's famous "stay the course" quote.
At the other end of the spectrum, I always end up buying and selling haphazardly.

Must be because of Nancy Reagan's famous quote.
Every time I'm asked if I want to stop smoking crack, I "Just Say No" ...

nearmint

Congratulations, Jim! It's a great set with a lot of competition. I'm glad you're letting the set rest awhile--maybe a few more cards will slip down to sixth place.

Mike

2dueces

Thanks to Wolfbear, Brian Elswith and now Jim for helping me with my 63 project. I'm getting the trickle down affect for the big players. . I added 3 new cards to the set to bring my needed total to 6 and upgraded 7, picking up 7 perfectly centered 8's . A big thanks to Wolfbear for getting Jim his PSA 8 checklist, Why you might ask? Jim was nice enough to sell me his high end 7 to upgrade my 7 OC.. Thanks guys, I'm always looking for upgrades and you guys have been a great help along with Marks of Marks Red backs. Joe


Sorry to hi Jack your thread Jim. As always Kudo's on another great set.

mikeschmidt

congrats jim

1954

congrats Jim for the 45th time. Hopefully you can hit 50 by May. I still have those Pirates cards if you still need/want them. I sent you an email and have not heard from you.

Shane

Davalillo

Wolfbear,

Thanks--I'm also a big Ronald Reagan fan.

Mike,

I need your help on those 3 60 Fleers.

2Deuces,

Thanks and I'm sure that Brian will get that Checklist over to you soon.

Shane,

Please send again--I must have misplaced that message.

Jim

Fuzz

Congrats on another one Jim. That puts you ahead of me on this one since I still need the checklist. I need to keep in better touch with Wolfbear and at least once every couple of months read my PM's. I almost always keep it turned off since I never bother to read it (or at least until it is too late).
Also Jim wanted to commend you on your openness about your collection and sharing it with others. You do many things for the good of the hobby that I'm just not sure that I could do. Next time I'm in Jersey, someone please find me and either send me to Jim's house or send me home. Becuase if I'm in Jersey, I'm lost. For those of us who have not made the pilgramage yet, have exactly do you store that many cards in a display format. I have nearly 10K slabs and storage is an issue, let alone storage so that they can be easily seen. How about a few pics from the next get together?
Congrats again,
Fuzz

SKINSFAN

Jim i was sifting though the set reg last night and i saw a new 69 4 in 1 set for you so i guess #46 will be down real quick congrats on the quest.

Davalillo

Art,

I still need that Alworth card.

Fuzz,

Thanks. Its a very large room . Around the perimeter of the room I have approximately 1,000 cards(?) on the wall. I had a carpenter come in and build essentially wood panels which go around the whole room which the cards can fit into. It really works well. These are generally my most valuable cards. I also have separate areas where the b33 Goudey Sport King and 1934-36 Diamond King set are displayed.

In the room I have approximately 15 large tables that have cards from maybe 400 sets. My graded sets are neatly arranged in piles of 25 or less. My ungraded sets are in binders. I have approx 23,000 graded cards and then a couple hundred sets ungraded.

Perhaps we can get Mike Tavenner to bring a camera.

Thanks for the compliments.

Jim