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1955 Bowman Baseball

hardcorehockeyfanhardcorehockeyfan Posts: 573
in Trading Cards & Memorabilia Forum
I am putting together a master set of Al Kaline cards, and I got a pretty good deal on a '55 Bowman Al Kaline. The dimensions of the card I have are 2 1/2 X 3 3/4, right on the dot. I am not entirely famaliar with this issue, and all I need to know is if the dimensions I have are correct, card is in wonderful shape, just slightly offcenter L/R, and I just do not want to find out that it has been trimmed. I have no other '55 Bowman cards to compare it to. Thanks!!

Comments

  • fdnyladder7fdnyladder7 Posts: 293
    '55 Bowman is notorious for odd size cuts. Moreso than any other issue I believe. Yours is likely okay.
  • lostdart58lostdart58 Posts: 2,938 ✭✭✭
    The dimensions you list are correct............but the factory cutting of the cards was not that specific.......hence you will find larger cards and smaller cards.


    Member mikeschmidt is our resident expert on this set.............I am sure he will at some point chime in here....

    Collector of:Baseball
    1955 Bowman Raw complete with 90% Ex-NR or better

    Now seeking 1949 Eureka Sportstamps...NM condition
    Working on '78 Autographed set now 99.9% complete -
    Working on '89 Topps autoed set now complete


  • stownstown Posts: 11,321 ✭✭✭
    While y'all are answering '55B questions, what about the different TV shades (ie tan or dark brown)?
    So basically my kid won't be able to go to college, but at least I'll have a set where the three most expensive cards are of a player I despise ~ CDsNuts
  • mikeschmidtmikeschmidt Posts: 5,756 ✭✭✭


    << <i>While y'all are answering '55B questions, what about the different TV shades (ie tan or dark brown)? >>



    It is a sheet thing. SOmething like the first 74 cards [forgive me, I'm not near my set] are all the tan, and everything about that is the dark brown.

    ~ms
    I am actively buying MIKE SCHMIDT gem mint baseball cards. Also looking for any 19th century cabinets of Philadephia Nationals. Please PM with additional details.
  • mikeschmidtmikeschmidt Posts: 5,756 ✭✭✭
    p.s. just because a card measures standard in this set does not necessarily mean that it was not oversized and subsequently trimmed down.
    I am actively buying MIKE SCHMIDT gem mint baseball cards. Also looking for any 19th century cabinets of Philadephia Nationals. Please PM with additional details.
  • stownstown Posts: 11,321 ✭✭✭
    Thanks for the clarification.

    Stinks to hear about possible trimming issues. Does this effect PSA's grading standards since they can't really use measurements?
    So basically my kid won't be able to go to college, but at least I'll have a set where the three most expensive cards are of a player I despise ~ CDsNuts
  • poppiepoppie Posts: 598


    << <i>I am putting together a master set of Al Kaline cards, and I got a pretty good deal on a '55 Bowman Al Kaline. /q] Kaline is by far my favorite baseball player and I am presently third on the PSA basic set and will eventually be first. Best of luck on your masrer set!
    My focus, 1970 Topps Baseball Raw and Graded, pre 1989 PSA Hockey and 1933 INDIAN GUM ! Yikes!!
  • mikeschmidtmikeschmidt Posts: 5,756 ✭✭✭


    << <i>Thanks for the clarification.

    Stinks to hear about possible trimming issues. Does this effect PSA's grading standards since they can't really use measurements? >>



    In theory, measurement should only be a starting point. An examination of the angle of the cuts, the striations along the edges and the relative smoothness/whiteness of some edges over others are better areas to determine trimming. I do not think any grading company can/should just use measurement as a prerequisite for determining whether a card has been trimmed. That said, certain issues are more prevalent in regards to size variation.
    I am actively buying MIKE SCHMIDT gem mint baseball cards. Also looking for any 19th century cabinets of Philadephia Nationals. Please PM with additional details.
  • stownstown Posts: 11,321 ✭✭✭


    << <i>In theory, measurement should only be a starting point. An examination of the angle of the cuts, the striations along the edges and the relative smoothness/whiteness of some edges over others are better areas to determine trimming. I do not think any grading company can/should just use measurement as a prerequisite for determining whether a card has been trimmed. That said, certain issues are more prevalent in regards to size variation. >>



    Very interesting and thank you for your insight. Since I predominately purchase raw, think I'll be putting that set on hold for a while image
    So basically my kid won't be able to go to college, but at least I'll have a set where the three most expensive cards are of a player I despise ~ CDsNuts
  • hardcorehockeyfanhardcorehockeyfan Posts: 573


    << <i>

    << <i>I am putting together a master set of Al Kaline cards, and I got a pretty good deal on a '55 Bowman Al Kaline. /q] Kaline is by far my favorite baseball player and I am presently third on the PSA basic set and will eventually be first. Best of luck on your masrer set! >>




    Kaline along with Yzerman, were my favs in Detroit, although Kaline's career preceded my life. I read stories about Kaline, remember what my dad used to tell me about him, and Kaline is the ONLY player that I ever stood in line for to have a ball signed, and when I got up to the front, I was literally shaking, and this is out of about 25 autographs I stood in line for at early 90s, Gibralter Trade Center shows, when I ran tables there with a neighbor. Great man, great human being, and there will NEVER be a ball player like him again, as there will never be a hockey icon like Yzerman again.

    Thanks to everyone else for adding their insight into the '55 Bowmans, it was a good deal, because the card was free, a neighbor has a couple of them, and he gave me one because I helped him for the last few weekends, building a deck in his backyard. He said he would pay me, and with family and friends, I help them and no way would I ever ask for money, all I say is, make sure there is cold beer. He knows I am a Kaline fan, and he came over the other day, and gave it to me as a "thank you." So to myself, that is a great deal!!!
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