55 Down--1958 Topps Football Completed in PSA 8 or Better

Davalillo

With the purchase of Ted Marchibroda from Baseball Card Enterprises on ebay, I am now complete on my 55th set in psa 8 or better--1958 Topps Football.

This one started (as many do) with me submitting most of the set raw to PSA and then working to fill in the holes and upgrading those cards less than an 8. The last two cards that I got to complete the set were Ray Renfro(pop 5) and the Marchibroda(pop 15). Of course the set is best known as that containing Jimmy Brown's rookie card which I originally had in SBC 88--I was unable to cross this to an SGC holder at an equal grade so I sold the SBC 88 and bought a PSA 8.

I have decided to call this set complete even though I do not have the Felt Initial card as I do not consider it part of the set. If some feel it should be and can convince me, I will take it off my list until I locate the card in 8. Thus my set ranks 4th on the PSA Set Registry with a 7.97 set rating. First is the Evil Empire at 8.24. I will let the set rest at this level.

This represents the 22nd set in PSA 8 or better I have completed since year--end 2005.

My goal continues to be 100 sets in PSA 8 or better.

Completed sets in PSA 8 or better are as follows:

BASEBALL(27):

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
1966 Topps
1967 Topps
1968 Topps
1969 Topps Super
1970 Kelloggs
1970 Milton Bradley
1970 Rolfd Gold
1970 Topps Super

FOOTBALL(17):

1950 Bowman
1951 Bowman
1954 Bowman
1955 Topps All-America
1958 Topps
1959 Topps
1960 Mayrose Franks
1960 Topps
1961 Nu-Card Scoops
1961 Topps
1962 Kahn's Weiners
1963 Fleer
1963 Stancraft Playing Cards
1964 Philadelphia
1967 Topps
1969 Topps 4-in-1
1976 Wonder Bread

BASKETBALL(6):

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

HOCKEY(3):

1962-63 Parkhurst
1962-63 Topps
1963-64 Parkhurst

MULTI-SPORT(2):

1933 Goudey Sport Kings
1954 Sport Oddities

jradke4

Congrats. You have one heck of a collection.

Griffins

Jim-
Congrats on chalking up another one. Can 150 complete sets be far off?
While I admit I know absolutely nothing about football cards in general and this set in particular, I do think a set should include all cards and variations that were issued in that particular year. If you are looking for a complete set, shouldn't it be every card that came off the press? This is certainly not meant to take away from your achievement in completing this set, for which you should be proud (as should anyone that is able to complete a set). I am just of the opinion that a complete set should consist of every possible card that was intended to be in that set. You wouldn't consider '63 Fleer complete without the checklist, would you? How about '57 Topps checklists, contest cards, or lucky penny card? To me a set is made up at the very least of every possible card a kid could find ripping packs at the time of issue.
No matter whose yardstick is used to measure completion, this is certainly got to be a nice set. I"m sure the New Year will bring another dozen or two complete sets for you.

RobMM77

Thats Awsome, I am just trying to piece one of those together. Great Job

cuse

You may want to call or send Rick @ Mint State a note. I believe he had an 8 and 8 o/c '58 Initial cards a few weeks back. Good Luck!!!!

Stump

Jim

Great job again. 5 more that your goal. Any projections on 100 as far as your gola go's I know you have some sets that are close was just wondering in general how many cards you thought you were short and if you had all 100 started yet.

Dave

ironranger

Congratulations Jim! The 58 set is a great set that is tough to complete in high grade.

PSA is inconsistent with regards to which cards they consider part of "basic" sets. The un-numbered checklist is considered part of the basic 57 football set as is the 58 felt inital card. But the un-numbered checklist is not considered part of the 56 Topps football set (nor are the contest cards). Either way would be fine with me, but PSA should be consistent.

Wondo

Nice going!

Davalillo

tkd7

Congratulations Jim. Keep it up!

Davalillo

JRadke4,

Thank you--I appreciate your thoughts.

Anthony,

I agree--a set should only be complete if it has every card. Thus I will keep trying to get the Felt Initial card. For purposes of counting complete sets however I will probably continue counting them the way I have and try to pick up the variations when I can.

For example the 60 Fleer set would be next to impossible if I included the last card. However for the 61 Essex Meats I am including the Sihugo Green in the set and 68-9 Jack in the Box Finkel and Barnes which are next to impossible.

I include the checklists in every set and I think there are 2 fb sets where all I need is the checklist. 1963 Fleer the checkloist is included.
1957 Topps --all the checklists--I don't think so--and I am not including the contest and lucky penny cards although I agree I should.

As far as 150 sets are concerned--wow--hard to think about--I would either run out of money or space.

Thanks for the thoughtful comments.

RobMM77,

Thanks--not a real popular set but I like it.

Cuse,

Appreciate the heads up--Rick has sold me many cards in the past--I will take a look.

Stump,

Always great to hear from you. I think getting to 70 is a reasonable goal for 2007. I have not only started on my 100th set--the last time I calculated, my 100th rated set had a set reating of 6.78 Some of the sets that I am extraordianarily close, however, I am getting hung up on shortprinted cards and checklists or in some cases just extraordinarily low pops.

Wondo,

Thanks.

Ironranger,

I agree--I think Anthony is right overall but there is a bit of lack of consistency.

Thanks for the congrats.

Jim

gregm13

I've always been very fond of the 1958 set - it's deceptively tough in high grade. Congrats Dav - I'm still chugging along without a single complete set. For some reason, I have an affinity for sets that are impossible to complete (Dan Marino basic and master sets, NFL hall of fame autographed sets, ect..).

Regards,

Greg M.

Davalillo

Greg,

Keep chuggin'--how's the baby?

YTom,

Thanks--maybe you can come over again over the holidays to see the collection.

Jim

SKINSFAN

Jim as soon as psa gets around to the batch i dropped off at the Reading show we may be able to get you a little closer on a few sets

Congrats and happy holidays

Davalillo

Thank you Art.

I will even pay you for them(ha ha) and of course write you a check for the others.

JIm

perkdog

Do you think you will ever attempt a run at the 1952 Bowman Large set? That is a tuff one.

Davalillo

Perkdog,

I want to do them all pre 69.

I love the Bowman Larges. Currently I have 135 PSA 8 and better and need 9: Spencer(9), Poole(11), Justice(18), Miller (27), Van Buren(45), Christian (54), Schweder(72), Paul(103) and Lansford(144).

Jim

WinPitcher

Congrats Jim


Steve

FB

Great going Jim! Keep it up!

Frank

Davalillo

Thanks Steve and Frank.

Frank,

Why did you sell your 72 set? What are your plans for your remaining sets?

Jim

MorrellMan

Jim
Congrats on another one - outstanding.
As far as the felt initial card goes, I remember pulling them from packs and tossing them with the gum. I don't see why it would be included in the set. Is this card part of the 1988 set?

Griffins

Mark-
Kids often tossed checklists as well, or marked them up and then tossed them when the set was complete. Would you not include those?

jaxxr

I would certainly include those which were NUMBERED and were in fact meant by Topps to be part of the complete set !

My 1957 Topps FB set is causing me to drink more heavily than usual, while pondering over PSA's thought, and many good collectors as well, that the un-numbered beast which all kids threw away when done using, is a part of the complete set, and now must have 155 items rather than just the players who are numberd to 154 !

My most recent special submission though PSA did, among other lesser important cards featuing real people, yield a wonderful PSA 2 MK checklist for my set.
When I finnaly get it in hand, and once again view the beauty of the text, the checkable boxes, the Bazooka gum advertisement, and such, I might realize why this is more important via weight than a single Johnny Unitas RC, more weight than Tank Yonger, George Blanda, and Crazylegs Hirsh combined !!!

The "Master" set could include the checklist ( both Bazooka and Baloney versions ) and the Will Sherman error, while perhaps the regular set could include all the players 1 thru 154 ???

MeteoriteGuy

Congrats. on the completed set. Not sure where I would store all those cards.

Do you have any of the cards on display, if so, which and why?

Mark

MorrellMan

<< <i>Mark-
Kids often tossed checklists as well, or marked them up and then tossed them when the set was complete. Would you not include those? >>



Being tossed isn't my reason for not including them - having nothing to do with the set is more like it. As someone pointed out, checklist cards are numbered and part of the set. Coupon or special offer cards are a different story - definitely an interesting add to a master set, but I don't think they should be part of a basic set.

Davalillo

MeteoriteGuy,

The November SMR has several pictures of parts of my card room.


If you are ever in the NJ area you are welcome to come by.

Jim

mikeschmidt

Congrats, Jim.

How many more do you think you will cross of your list next year?

Davalillo

Marc,

My goal is 70. We will see.

Best to you and you family.

Jim

tkd7

<< <i>

YTom,

Thanks--maybe you can come over again over the holidays to see the collection.

Jim >>



Jim,
Thank you for the offer, I will be happy to take you up on it when you have some free time.
Tom

Davalillo

Tom,

Please send me your e-mail and phone number again to jdc122@aol.com.

Jim