80 Down!!!--1941 Play Ball Finished in PSA 8 or Better

Davalillo

Some sets I am happy to finish because I love the set. Some sets I am happy to finish because I have been working on them a long time.
Once in a great while I finish a set that I absolutely love and that I have been working on a long time. This set(1941 Play Ball) is one of those sets.

About 2 weeks ago I got an e-mail from long-time hobby friend Anthony Nex telling me he was selling one of his two 1941 Play Ball sets and that he had psa 8s for the two cards that I needed--Bruce "Soupy" Campbell and George Case. For those of you who don't know Anthony, he is one of the greatest guys in the hobby. I have known him for the better part of ten years and we usually get together once a year for dinner in Beverly Hills. He said something like "I always wanted to help you finish one of your sets and now I have the opportunity to." Thanks a million Anthony.

I love the vintage pre-war sets but most of them are extraordinarily difficult to complete with each card psa 8 or better which is how I like to collect. This one certainly fits that description. I started the year needing three cards to finish this set. I picked up one early in 2009 and Anthony provided the final two.

With the final two 8s, the set has a set rating of 8.07 and consists of 3 8.5s, 4 psa 9s, 1 psa 10(Rollie Hemsley)(Thank you Dave Forman!!)
and 64 PSA 8s. It ranks fourth on the PSA Set Registry behind four giants of pre-war baseball collecting all of which are in the Hall of Fame--Don Louchios, Charlie Merkel, Don Spence and Marshall Fogle. I will let it rest at this level.

I am also trying to complete 1939 Play Ball in psa 8 or better and I need 11 cards there. 1940 Play Ball in psa 8 or better almost seems out of reach as I have about 45 psa 7s and am missing about 10 cards.

The goal remains 100 vintage or semi-vintage sets in PSA 8 or better. I appreciate the help of all collectors in helping me achieve my goal.

Completed sets in PSA 8 or better are as follows:

BASEBALL(37):

1936 S&S
1941 Play Ball
1948 Bowman
1951 Topps Red Back
1952 Bowman
1954 Bowman
1954 Red Heart
1954 Topps
1955 Bowman
1956 Topps
1957 Topps
1958 Topps
1959 Fleer
1959 Topps
1960 Fleer
1960 Topps
1961 Golden Press
1961 Nu-Card Scoops
1961 Topps
1961-62 Fleer
1962 Topps
1963 Fleer
1963 Topps
1964 Topps
1964 Topps Giants
1965 Topps
1966 Topps
1967 Topps
1967 Red Sox Stickers
1968 Topps
1968 Topps Game
1969 Topps Super
1970 Kelloggs
1970 Milton Bradley
1970 Rold Gold
1970 Topps Super
1974 Topps Deckle Edge

FOOTBALL(22):

1950 Bowman
1951 Bowman
1954 Bowman
1955 Bowman
1955 Topps All-America
1956 Topps
1958 Topps
1959 Topps
1960 Mayrose Franks
1960 Topps
1961 Fleer
1961 Nu-Card
1961 Topps
1962 Fleer
1962 Kahn's Weiners
1963 Fleer
1963 Stancraft Playing Cards
1964 Philadelphia
1965 Philadelphia
1967 Topps
1968 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

NON-SPORT(9):

1938 Ogden's Actors Natural and Character Studies
1939 Gallaher My Favourite Paet
1945 Mutoscope Artists Pin-Ups
1955 Barbers Tea Ltd. Cinema and TV Stars
1956 Jibco Tea Screen Stars--2nd Series
1956 Topps U.S. Presidents
1958 TV Westerns
1960 Fleer Spins & Needles
1962 ABC Colorstars

calaban7

Jim----

Wondo

Nice

PowderedH2O

Jim - We have never spoken or communicated in any way, but I will tell you that you are my kind of collector. I really think you ENJOY collecting the sets and the rankings mean very little. You go after a nice, respectable PSA 8 set in whatever you collect. When you reach a good point you go on to the next set. A lot of the top dogs are obsessed with moving past the other top dogs and will spend money out of their minds to do so. It always amazes me when I see someone that has an 8 in something that might cost $50, bid $450 on an 8.5 just to pick up .5 on one card in a set that has 500 cards just for the competition of the registry. You seem to have a good grasp that this is first and foremost supposed to be FUN!!! Keep up the good work.

Sam

coachh

Jim. Congrats on another set. Way to go.

Brick

Congratulations on a tremendous accomplishment. With your persistence I am sure you will meet your goal.

Griffins

Jim- thanks for the kind words, and I"m glad the cards have found a good home. Assume I have visitation rights next time I'm out your way!


Congrats on knocking off another set, it's quite an achievement.

mikeschmidt

Great accomplishment, Jim!

Davalillo

Thank you everyone--

Anthony--you not only have visitation rights, you can stay in the Anthony Nex room in our house--find me another card I need to finish a set and I might name a wing after you!!

Sam,

Thank you. That for the most part describes my collecting style. I have always liked high grade cards but generally speaking once I get them in high grade I am not obsessed with upgrading my 8s to 9s and 9s to 10s. Also I love having a lot of sets--I love all sports, all eras and even non-sports--I just have the collecting bug...and I do not have the money to upgrade the expensive sets. Saying that on occasion I will upgrade sets with 9s and 10s--usually this is on a smaller set. I have never spent money on an 8.5 when I have an 8--

Good luck on your collection.

Jim

cwazzy

Wow Jim! That's amazing! I wish I had the motivation to complete 1 set in any grade. I started a midgrade '54 Bowman baseball. Got about 35 cards and decided I didn't have the patients for it. Congrats again! And please post some more pictures!

Trevmo

Very nice. Congrats!

Basilone

Congrats Jim! Did you make it out to the National this year?

cougar701

AMAZING JOB, JIM!!!!

Congratulations!!


Wonderful sets you have to your credit beyond the new PlayBall completed!

Davalillo

Thank you for the nice words.

I did not attend the National. I have found that the National contains very few cards I need.

Sorry--I have a scanner but I don't know how to use it.

Jim

1954

Jim,
How many cards are you away from completing the 1952 Topps set? I believe you were about 40 cards away from completing this last year weren't you?

Shane

Davalillo

Shane,

52--roughly half upgrades and half missing. The bad news is the Mantle is 8 o/c and I am missing both the Pafko and Mathews(as well as sever lower pop commons).

Jim

1954

I want the PSA 8oc when you find a straight 8 for your set.

SL

Tabe

<< <i>Thank you for the nice words.

I did not attend the National. I have found that the National contains very few cards I need.

Sorry--I have a scanner but I don't know how to use it.

Jim >>


Jim, send me your cards and I'll be happy to scan them for you. I swear most of them will get returned to you

Nice work on the Play Ball set. Not one of my favorites but definitely a classic. Have always enjoyed reading your updates.

Tabe

Davalillo

Shane,

Sure--although the price for a straight Mantle 8 is upwards of $75,000 I believe.

Are you taking good care of my 48 Leaf DiMaggio card?

Tabe--thanks.

Jim

1954

Jim,
DiMaggio is resting in the safety deposit box along with some other goodies. The Mantle card that you purchase will run in that $75K range, but find you a dead centered one for that and it will pay off down the road. Did you see the PSA 9oc in SCP auction? It was beautiful!

Shane

Davalillo

Shane,

I did not see that. $75,000 is a lot. We'll see.

If I do, will give you first shot at my 8 oc. Sharp corners, slight angle cut, clear picture, 80/20 at worst part.

Jim

baseballfan

great accomplishment
congrats

keep going!!!

Davalillo

"Keep Going"

I will. God willing and as long as I can make enough money to support my wonderful habit, I don't plan on stopping at 100--its just an interim goal.

1954

'its just an interim goal'

I am scared to see the ultimate goal.

david1025

my grandfather just gave me alot of cards and most are from 1940. some are not in great condition but i noticed a tris speaker that looks perfect. he also gave me 2 1938 joe dimaggio cards but i figure psa 3 on one and like a 5 or 6 on the other. also same year jimmy fox looks like a 7 or 8. if you want send me the card numbers you need and maybe i can help.

Davalillo

David,

I would recommend you get the most valuable cards graded.

If any came back at 8 and I needed it I would pay you a good price.

Jim

Rangerman

AMAZING ACCOMPLISHMENT

mccardguy1

Hi Jim...

As mentioned on the non sprot net54 board I have a 1957 Topps Hit Stars Sal Mineo that is a PSA 8 that you might have interest in. I should have this card in hand this weekend and I have decided against doing the set in "8"'s. If you have interest please let me know.

I didnt mean to spa this thread but I tried a PM but it appears Jim does not allow PM's.

Thank you

Andrew

Davalillo

Andrew,

Thanks,

I am interested in the Mineo. Please e-mail me at jdc122@aol.com.

I don't know what a PM is so I guess I don't allow it.

Jim

Stone193

Congratulations Jim!

I agree - I've met Anthony - we froze dining alfresco in San Antonio if ya can believe that! - and conversed with him for about 5 yrs now - he's not only one of the most generous guys in the hobby but also a class act.

Thanx for sharingk, happy hunting - good luck.
mike