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82 Down--1968 Topps Football Completed in PSA 8 or Better

What a great hobby. I have mentioned on my posts before that most of the sets that I finish are a direct result of fellow collectors or in some cases friendly dealers finding a card or cards for me and selling it to me to help me finish a set.
This is yet another one.

1968 Topps should not be too hard of a set to complete in psa 8 or better, A year ago I needed 4 psa 8s to complete it. I then picked up the two lower pops--Jerry Smith(pop 12) and John Mackey(pop 15). I was left with the Green Bay Packers backfield--Jim Grabowski and Elijah Pitts. Not quite Hornung and Taylor but collectors love the Packer cards and they often are tough to find. Six months went by and no Pitts or Grabowski showed up.

Ben Milch who is a dealer that operates wheretheyaint.com has found a few tough vintage cards for me recently. I got an e mail from him that said he had located a Grabowski in psa 9. I grabbed it immediately. The very next day I get an e-mail from fellow collector Scott Anservitz who said his brother had an Elijah Pitts 8 and he sold it to me. What makes the story even more interesting is four days later I got an e-mail from collector Kirk Robinson who said he had a Grabowski in psa 8 for me and would sell it to me for his cost. Since I committed to Ben, naturally I had to say no.

The 1968 Topps Set is perhaps best known for having the Bob Griese rookie card. Other valuable cards are the Starr, Namath and Kemp.
Objectively it is probably one of the easier Topps fb sets of the 1960s. I have completed 1960, 1961, 1967 and now 1968 Topps. I am only 3 cards away from the 1964 set in psa 8 or better(Stover, Flores and Powell) but still 10 mor so away on 1963 and 20-25 on 1962 and 1965.

To be totally up front, I do not have both versions of the checklist which PSA considers to be in the Basic Set. However I consider the set complete with just 1 version. Usually my criteria for completing a set if identical to PSA or in some cases tougher. This is one instance where it is not.

I currently have an 8.07 set rating which puts me sixth on the PSA Set Registry. I will try to get the checklist variation and then let this set rest. Joe Henninger has the top set here with a very high set rating(congratulations Joe) followed by PSA board member MojoRob, the Pink Catfish and good hobby friend Doug Rivard who is always on the lookout for me for cards.

This set represents my 23rd vintage or semi-vintage football set completed in PSA 8 or better and my 82nd overall. The goal remains 100 vintage or semi-vintage sets completed in PSA 8 or better. I appreciate the help of all collectors and dealers 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 Fleet
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(23):

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
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(10):

1936 Gallaher Film Episodes
1938 Ogden's Actors Natural and Character Studies
1939 Gallaher My Favourite Part
1945 Mutoscope Artists Pin-Ups
1955 Barbers Tea Ltd. Cinema and TV Stars
1956 Jibco Tea Screen Stars, 2nsd Series
1956 U.S. Presidents
1958 TV Westerns
1960 Fleer Spins & Needles
1962 ABC Colorstars


Comments

  • baseballfanbaseballfan Posts: 5,456 ✭✭✭
    congrats

    your moving right along lately
    Fred

    collecting RAW Topps baseball cards 1952 Highs to 1972. looking for collector grade (somewhere between psa 4-7 condition). let me know what you have, I'll take it, I want to finish sets, I must have something you can use for trade.

    looking for Topps 71-72 hi's-62-53-54-55-59, I have these sets started

  • cardbendercardbender Posts: 1,831 ✭✭
    Congrats on the set completion.

    It's nice hearing stories like this about other collectors, dealers, hobby friends, helping you complete a set. They're all top notch guys in the hobby.

    The '68 Topps Football set isn't as easy a set to complete in high grade as most would think. It contains major centering issues on a lot of cards like Mackey, Buoniconti, Dale, etc... Some stars are easy like Griese, Sayers, Unitas, but it's the hard to find commons that make the set a real challenge completing it in high grade.

    Again Dav, nice job continually working on your set completion goals.
  • calaban7calaban7 Posts: 3,003 ✭✭✭
    Once again , way to go Jim . image
    " In a time of universal deceit , telling the truth is a revolutionary act " --- George Orwell
  • DavalilloDavalillo Posts: 1,846 ✭✭
    Cardbender,

    I had forgotten about the Dale which is a pop 13 but when I bought it over a year ago was a single digit pop. I think I paid more for the Dale than any other card in the set.

    Jim
  • rexvosrexvos Posts: 3,304 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Great set. I debated on doing that set over the 69. I went with the 69 after I subbed the Namath for both and got a 7 on the 68 and an 8 on the 69.
    Looking for FB HOF Rookies
  • DavalilloDavalillo Posts: 1,846 ✭✭
    Rexvos,

    How difficult would the 69 set be to do in psa 8 or better relative to say 68-any condition scarcities.

    I am in the process of doing 1969 baseball in psa 8 or better and may6 as we3ll take football through that year as well.

    Jim
  • rexvosrexvos Posts: 3,304 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>Rexvos,

    How difficult would the 69 set be to do in psa 8 or better relative to say 68-any condition scarcities.

    I am in the process of doing 1969 baseball in psa 8 or better and may6 as we3ll take football through that year as well.

    Jim >>



    69 football has some low pop commons and stars that are pretty tough:

    Dick Butkus, Bob Brown, John Hadl, Jim Otto, Roman Gabriel probably being the worst. It only took me a little over 2 years to finish it, but I was extremely lucky finding deals on a few of the low pops, and I had a raw Butkus that was graded an 8.
    Looking for FB HOF Rookies
  • mikeschmidtmikeschmidt Posts: 5,756 ✭✭✭
    Congratulations, Jim, on another set completed. Fantastic accomplishment.
    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.
  • Congrats Jim - '68 is a great and underrated set.

    Jack
  • mccardguy1mccardguy1 Posts: 1,507 ✭✭✭
    Hi Jim

    I couldnt pm you so please excuse my asking this question here. I know on another board you said you were working on the 57 Topps Hit Stars set in PSA 8 and mentioned I had the Mineo as an 8 which you possibly needed. If you are interested please let me know. I am sure we can work something out!!
    I am on a budget and I am not afraid to use it!!
  • FavreFan1971FavreFan1971 Posts: 3,103 ✭✭✭
    The majority of the Packers are tough to get in high grade due to their horizontal config. The Raiders are tough too. I can't find the article but both of these teams are on the edge of the sheets prior to cutting and they have issues. The Carroll Dale is by far the toughest card to get in 8. I know for a fact four of the 8's are cracked out and attempted to get a 9. The guy failed on all four attempts and never sent the flips #'s to PSA to remove. So, in that case the PSA 8 for Dale is the only single digit popped 8 and it also has no 9's.
  • mojorobmojorob Posts: 392 ✭✭
    " The Carroll Dale is by far the toughest card to get in 8. I know for a fact four of the 8's are cracked out and attempted to get a 9. The guy failed on all four attempts and never sent the flips #'s to PSA to remove. So, in that case the PSA 8 for Dale is the only single digit popped 8 and it also has no 9's. "

    I also cracked out one of the PSA 8 Dale cards and did not send back the flip.
    In my collection presently I have a PSA 8 Dale and a Ultra Sharp SGC 92 Dale.

    Jim,

    A Big Congrats on another link in the chain on your Quest to 100.

    The 68 Set is outstanding & so is your vast collection!

    Kirk
  • 19541954 Posts: 2,898 ✭✭✭
    Fantastic and unbelievable Jim.
    Nice job.

    Shane
    Looking for high grade rookie cards and unopened boxes/cases
  • cardbendercardbender Posts: 1,831 ✭✭
    Not to take anything away from Dav's '68 set accomplishment, but mojorob's 1968 SGC set is something to behold. It's maybe the finest '68 Football set in the hobby in slabs.

    Check out the SGC registry to view Mojo's set. It's freaking unreal.

    Sorry Dav, I had to interject that here since were discussing the '68 set.
  • Stone193Stone193 Posts: 24,406 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Congratulations Jim!

    Good luck on completing those few 60s sets that are almost nailed.

    I'd have to have a full time assistant to do what you're doing!
    mike
    Mike
  • image


    One of the best Collectors!
    succesful deals :richtree, Bosox1976, Bkritz, mknez, SOM, cardcounter2, ddfamf, cougar701, mrG, Griffins : thanks All

    Go Phillies
  • very nice!

    chaulk one up for the old guys!!
    -----------------------
    the Boz
  • DavalilloDavalillo Posts: 1,846 ✭✭
    mccardguy--e-mail me at jdc122@aol.com--I would buy it.

    Thank you to all for your complements--now I've got to figure how to get to 83--I have an iron in the fire that would get me there on another vintage baseball set--we'll see.
  • FBFB Posts: 1,684 ✭✭
    Jim,

    Again congrats! Always a super achievement as you knock another one off!!!

    Frank B
    Frank Bakka
    Sets - 1970, 1971 and 1972
    Always looking for 1972 O-PEE-CHEE Baseball in PSA 9 or 10!

    lynnfrank@earthlink.net
    outerbankyank on eBay!
  • DavalilloDavalillo Posts: 1,846 ✭✭
    Thanks Frank,

    I owe you a drink ...or something.

    Jim
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