57 Down--1957 Topps Basketball Finished in PSA 8 or Better
Davalillo
Posts: 1,846 ✭✭
In what must be one of the most difficult post-war mainstream sets in any sport to put together in PSA 8 or better, I have completed the 1957 Topps set in PSA 8 or better. With the exception of 1933 Goudey Sport Kings, I am most proud of finishing this set in PSA 8 of any set I own.
Like any of the "Big Three" vintage basketball sets(48 Bowman, 57 Topps,61 Fleer)all routes toward completing these sets in PSA 8 or better go through the "King of Vintage Basketball" Mike Rakosi. Mike has consistently over the last 3 years sold or given me the cards I needed to complete my sets--always at his cost. He is a fascinating guy--a successful commercial real estate guy that is a stand-up comic at the Comic Strip in his spare time. He many times owns multiples of certain cards even though the pops are low.
To finish the set, Mike sold me the last 10 cards in stages. The last group came I believe from The Evil Empire baling out of vintage basketball and Mike scooped up the set. He also scooped up Louis Bollman's partial set at the National.
While the pops are low, even these are overstated as I think there have been multiple submissions of some of the 8s to try to get a 9.
The last group of cards I bought included Ed Fleming(pop 3), Ernie Beck(pop 5), Ed Yardley(pop 6), Andy Phillipp(pop 6), first card Nat Clifton(pop 8) and last card Dick Schnittker(pop 7). Centering is a huge issue in this set and the vast majority of all cards are off center.
All 80 of my cards are in PSA 8. My set rating of 8.00 puts me second behind Mike at 8.19 and ahead of the mighty Don Louchios who according to Mike still needs 3 cards. I will let the set rest at this level.
My goal continues to be 100 sets in PSA 8 or better with an interim goal of 70 sets complete by year-end 2007.
Completed sets in PSA 8 or better are as follows:
BASEBALL(28):
1936 S&S
1948 Bowman
1951 Topps Red Back
1954 Red Heart
1955 Bowman
1956 Topps
1957 Topps
1959 Fleer
1960 Fleer
1960 Topps
1961 Golden Press
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 Rold 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(7):
1948 Bowman
1957 Topps
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
Like any of the "Big Three" vintage basketball sets(48 Bowman, 57 Topps,61 Fleer)all routes toward completing these sets in PSA 8 or better go through the "King of Vintage Basketball" Mike Rakosi. Mike has consistently over the last 3 years sold or given me the cards I needed to complete my sets--always at his cost. He is a fascinating guy--a successful commercial real estate guy that is a stand-up comic at the Comic Strip in his spare time. He many times owns multiples of certain cards even though the pops are low.
To finish the set, Mike sold me the last 10 cards in stages. The last group came I believe from The Evil Empire baling out of vintage basketball and Mike scooped up the set. He also scooped up Louis Bollman's partial set at the National.
While the pops are low, even these are overstated as I think there have been multiple submissions of some of the 8s to try to get a 9.
The last group of cards I bought included Ed Fleming(pop 3), Ernie Beck(pop 5), Ed Yardley(pop 6), Andy Phillipp(pop 6), first card Nat Clifton(pop 8) and last card Dick Schnittker(pop 7). Centering is a huge issue in this set and the vast majority of all cards are off center.
All 80 of my cards are in PSA 8. My set rating of 8.00 puts me second behind Mike at 8.19 and ahead of the mighty Don Louchios who according to Mike still needs 3 cards. I will let the set rest at this level.
My goal continues to be 100 sets in PSA 8 or better with an interim goal of 70 sets complete by year-end 2007.
Completed sets in PSA 8 or better are as follows:
BASEBALL(28):
1936 S&S
1948 Bowman
1951 Topps Red Back
1954 Red Heart
1955 Bowman
1956 Topps
1957 Topps
1959 Fleer
1960 Fleer
1960 Topps
1961 Golden Press
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 Rold 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(7):
1948 Bowman
1957 Topps
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
0
Comments
Seeking primarily PSA graded pre-war "type" cards
My PSA Registry Sets
34 Goudey, 75 Topps Mini, Hall of Fame Complete Set, 1985 Topps Tiffany, Hall of Fame Players Complete Set
Thank you--pls keep me in mind if you are a seller of 1952 Topps psa 8.
On the Cousy, it is one of the higher pops--I would say $1,200-$1,500 depending upon condition for an 8.
The Fleming is imo a $5,000 card and the Clifton and Schittker are in that zone as well.
Jim
Unbelievable! I can't believe that you can continue to knock these sets down at this pace! Continued success!
Frank B
Sets - 1970, 1971 and 1972
Always looking for 1972 O-PEE-CHEE Baseball in PSA 9 or 10!
lynnfrank@earthlink.net
outerbankyank on eBay!
Ron
Buying Vintage, all sports.
Buying Woody Hayes, Les Horvath, Vic Janowicz, and Jesse Owens autographed items
Regards,
Greg M.
References:
Onlychild, Ahmanfan, fabfrank, wufdude, jradke, Reese, Jasp, thenavarro
E-Bay id: greg_n_meg
Mark
Seeking primarily PSA graded pre-war "type" cards
My PSA Registry Sets
34 Goudey, 75 Topps Mini, Hall of Fame Complete Set, 1985 Topps Tiffany, Hall of Fame Players Complete Set
Great job on one of the toughest sets out there. Stay the course and good luck on the others
Dave
Don't you think it is odd how you completed the 1957 set on the 57th set completed? Congrats. When do you think you will have 58 sets done..........tomorrow?
Shane
Always great to hear from you--thank you for the good wishes--we will have to get together for lunch some weekend.
Ron,
Thanks--it is a terrific set.
Greg,
thank you--I am keeping an eye out for the Buononconti for you.
Phil,
Nice of you to say so--thank you.
Mark,
Got it--will check and be back to you.
Calaban,
Thats nice of you to say--thanks.
Dave,
To one of my great hobby friends--thanks a million.
Shane,
That is ironic. 1955 Bowman was the 56th so I just missed that. Maybe 1958 will be 58th? No, I think not. My next one--it could be a matter of seconds if you want to send the serial numbers. Thanks for that Shane and thanks for the other thing. You are a great collector.
407 cards, a checklist or two, quite the feat.
Just asking, why not go for 7.5 or something similar, for a set like the 1952 Topps BB ???
Why MUST all sets be 8 or better ???, you are somewhat unusual and very determined, what is the key to an 8, nm-mt, as the lowest card you can accept ???
With me that is sort of the cutoff for "investment grade".
However, I may take certain sets like 52 Topps baseball or 40 Play Ball and buy 7s or 8s--eventually I would like to upgrade to 8s but first and foremost I want to finish the set. With the last Mantle psa 8 going for $72,000 and a Pafko in 8 likely to be even more, thats getting to be a lot of money.
I can still get to 100 in psa 8 or better, however, without finishing
these sets these sets.
Nice job, btw. Good going.
I have some stamps and decals hanging around. Also some coin sets from the 60s and 3 Armour Coin sets from the 50s.
Thanks for the congrats.
Jim
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
I have great starter sets in 60 fleer FB, 71 Milk Duds baseball, and 78 T baseball if you are interested!
I see a Tom Barker set in your future!
John
Scott
I have the Milk Duds box set ungraded and am considering sending it in. Also have 78 raw. The 60 Fleer FB set I am #2 on the registry with all 8s and a Woodard(a brutal card) in 6.
Do you have a high grade Tom Barker set to sell me.
Thanks to all for their warm wishes.
Jim
The 57T Bkb in 8 or better is some task! Just finding the cards in that grade is hard enough...sometimes ya can't even throw money at it - they're just not available.
Just think about all those "polycarbonates" that were sacrificed for all those holders!
I wish your sets had pics - would be nice to see the 33 G Sk's you've picked up.
Good luck on reaching 70% this year!
mike
On the pictures, our buddy Al has offered to buy and install it for me. The problem is my computer is 10 years old so I am going to get a new computer and then seek Al's help(of course I will pay for the scanner).
You're a good guy Mike--thanks.
Jim
Congrats all the way around. The collection you are assembling passed "mind boggling" a long time ago. The hobby without a doubt is a rich mans sport at the level and scope that you are collecting. You know ..... ALOT of peeps play golf but not many play on Pebble Beach day in and day out
What is really rare is the top flight spender/investor like yourself who continues to share with all to see like yourself.
Keep up the tremendous work
ISO 1978 Topps Baseball in NM-MT High Grade Raw 3, 100, 103, 302, 347, 376, 416, 466, 481, 487, 509, 534, 540, 554, 579, 580, 622, 642, 673, 724__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ISO 1978 O-Pee-Chee in NM-MT High Grade Raw12, 21, 29, 38, 49, 65, 69, 73, 74, 81, 95, 100, 104, 110, 115, 122, 132, 133, 135, 140, 142, 151, 153, 155, 160, 161, 167, 168, 172, 179, 181, 196, 200, 204, 210, 224, 231, 240
<< <i>Thank you Mike. You have got it right that sometimes the cards do not exit. As one dealer friend told me...he had not sean an Ed Fleming in 8 in years--well when the pop is 3 and Rakosi has 2 of them and Louchios has the other what are you going to do? Lucky Mike is a good collecting friend.
On the pictures, our buddy Al has offered to buy and install it for me. The problem is my computer is 10 years old so I am going to get a new computer and then seek Al's help(of course I will pay for the scanner).
You're a good guy Mike--thanks.
Jim >>
Jim
If I did some simple math - I'm thinkin' it'll take you guys about 12 yrs to scan and post all those pics!
Lucky Al has a lot of free time on his hands(ha ha).
Softparade,
Thanks--I appreciate the kind words.
Jim
You have a great Mantle collection. With an upgrade of the 51 Bowman and 52 Topps it would be world class.
Good luck finding that 52T Mantle psa 7.
Jim
My goal is to find the last card you need for just 1 of your sets, maybe the 66 checklist,but maybe not still a zero pop
But i still have 40+ sets to work with so i will not give up and i will find something
Congrats again
You have already been a huge help to me(in many ways).
I think you nwill probably find the 53 Bowman card I beed or maybe the 64 Kahns Clendan Thomas?
Many thanks,
Jim