Information on Topps Presentation Sets

Tedw9

Does anyone have any information about these? What year(s) they were produced, how to distinguish them from a regular card?

The only things I know, or should I say I think I know about them is that they are from a set that was presented to an "official" or somebody of importance, they have a higher gloss on front and that the only ones I know about are the 1962 Topps versions. At one time I had a 62 Frank Thomas SGC 92 or 96, and I have never seen another. So they seem pretty rare, but maybe I am just missing something.

Any information would be much appreciated!

Bosox1976

You'll want the input of Don - "Mariner" on these boards - he owns one (or two?) I believe - but everything you have said is correct. Check out the 1963 Topps thread on the Set Registry Board.

Griffins

I went thru Mariner's (Don's) presentation set a few months ago, and it was specatacular. I believe they are a hair smaller and have a bevel cut. Joe Orlando wrote an editorial ("Whack Jobs") a few years ago that touched on them.
I"m sure Don can expand more on this, I'll make sure he sees this thread.

Tedw9

Thank you for the information. That was exactly what I was looking for.

If Don can come over here and share any more info I would appreciate it. I am looking at bidding on a 62 Presentation card and want to know as much about it as I can.

Bosox1976

Don posted some information (and some good scans/pics) on Presentation Sets on the first page of:

this thread

mariner

Mike, thanks for posting the link to the 1963 thread. It looks like its time to refresh it so I will do that later.

Tedw9, I did talk a little bit about presentation sets in that thread. All the cards I have scanned on there came from pres cards. I only own a 1963 set but years ago I do remember two different 1962 Topps pres sets being auctioned off. This also was in the late 1990's. I honestly don't think we will ever see another complete raw set come up for auction anywhere again. If anyone owns one, they probably would grade many of the cards and break it up.

I have seen some 1962 pres cards and they are stunning, jawdropping.......you name the adjective. Again, they would be different sizes, usually a little smaller but the gloss and color tend to be 'off the charts.'

You mentioned that you may bid on a card that is 1962 Topps presentation.....just curious how you know that it is? Is it in one of the old SGC holders when they would put the presentation pedigree on the label? They did that early on but have long since discontinued that practice. Otherwise, the only way to know for sure is if someone has a set with the boxes that it came out of. If a 1962 single looks outrageously stunning, glossy and colorful, one can assume that it came from a pres set, especially if the card is a little smaller. There is no way to know absolutely for sure though.

BTW, the toughest card in all of 1960's cards is the 1962 Topps #323 Don Landrum. There is currently only 4 PSA 8's....but there is one PSA 9. Since 8's in this card is almost impossible to find, how can a 9 exist??.....I would be willing to bet money that card came from a presentation set. I do not know that for sure but I think that I am right.

I would love to hear more about the card you may bid on. If you are comfortable with the card and that it is properly represented as a presentation card, you would be awed by it, I am sure.

Tedw9

mariner


There is one on ebay at the moment I am watching. The seller stated in the description it was a presentation card so I emailed them asking how they knew. Their reply was a picture of the empty box. The card is ungraded, but the color looks stunning. The seller listed it as a presentation card in the description, not the title. I just happened to stumble upon it because the seller listed the card as NMT and I was curious as to what they thought NMT meant.

If I do win the card I will have it graded. The other presentation card I had was graded by SGC and it carried the presentation label. I was thinking they still did that, I wonder if they would if I requested it.

I am only interested in one player, Carl Willey, from any of the sets. I have been looking for this card for about 15 years now. I passed on one in 1991 and I have kicked myself ever since.

This seller has over 9000 feedback and is listed as 100% positive. Not that is any sort of guarantee, but it does make me feel a bit more confident in bidding on this item.

mariner

Tedw9...

I just found the card on ebay that you are watching. I must say that it does look awfully nice. I would go for it if I were you.

SGC will not label any card as presentation any more. I have asked about that. The reason is that any grading company feels that there is no sure way to guarantee that a card came from a presentation set.

BTW, just curious why you are a Carl Willey collector? Relative, friend, or just a fan?

Good luck!!

Tedw9

mariner

Thanks for the advice and taking a look at the card. I think I will be going after that for my collection.

Carlton and I are close friends. I met him at a local show about 15 years ago when he was signing. I didn't see him for another 4-5 years when one day I saw him on the side of the road with a flat tire. I stopped and changed it for him and he invited me to stop over his house and talk baseball. I haven't stopped going back since.

He is one of the sweetest people you could ever want to meet. I love older people and Carlton is one of the gems. He has spent countless hours telling me stories about playing with Spahn, Aaron, Stengel and all those guys. Talk about some incredible stories! He lives in a very small town where everyone knows everyone. All day long there are older guys stopping in and having coffee and conversation. As a joke a friend of his hung a sign up outside his door that says "Ridge Road Old Mens Club". The joke being that is the hot spot for all the old guys in town to hang out. One day when I was there talking with Carlton and his friends, he looked at me and said, "I think your now the youngest member of the Ridge Road Old Mens Club." It meant alot to me to be welcomed into that circle of friends.

Carlton is special to my wife and I. We both love him and love his company and always look forward to getting to see him. Everytime I get something new of his, bring it over to show him. I've even been able to get him in touch with some of his old teammates by writing them for autographs and mentioning that we are friends. Every teammate that have wrote me a letter back has all said the same thing I do, he is a true gentleman. He is the closest thing to a Grandfather as I have in my life, so collecting his items is a little bit more meaningful to me.

Sorry if I have carried on!

mariner

That is a great story....thanks for telling us about it!! The very best to you.

mariner

just curious....which baseball card is Carlton's favorite?

originalisbest

Tedw, that's really cool to hear about Carleton. I have a few of his '60s cards - did you ever pick up the baseball card flipping, etc. book by brendan boyd? In it there's a snippet about Carleton... was published in '73, they re-released it again about 1992 or so.

bobsbbcards

Tedw9,

Thanks for sharing that story. Very touching.

Bob

HoofHearted

Enjoyed the story. Thanks for sharing it!

Tedw9

mariner,

Thank you for the kind words. As far as Carltons favorite card, thats something he has never mentioned. Actually, he has made fun of some of the pictures on his cards, like the 58 Topps and the 62 Topps 174a, because it showed the gap in his teeth (which was fixed after he got hit in the jaw with a line drive by the Detroit Tigers Gates Brown ). The one he was most impressed with was his 1951 minor league post card which showed him on his first professional team.


originalisbest,

I have a few books where Carlton is mentioned, but am always looking for more. Thank you for the information on that book, I didn't know about it and have just bought one on Ebay.


bobsbbcards and HoofHearted,


Thank you for the compliments. I'm glad I could share my story with people who can appreciate it.

magellan

Ted,
Do you live in Cherryfield?

Tedw9

magellan,


No, I live about a 30 min. drive from there. I grew up in that area and used to work in Cherryfield.

originalisbest

tedw9, you're welcome, I'll try to find the page at home in the book where he's mentioned. Something to the effect of how proud his hometown was of him as a big-league ball player. In reading the book, they gently poke fun at most of the personalities within - thankfully, with Carleton they seemed fairly kind in recollecting him, which is good, since from your personal experience it sounds as though he's deserving of it.