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Sometimes, things aren't as they appear....or don't. 1972-73T Basketball w/pics. - UPDATE w/GRADES!

itzagoneritzagoner Posts: 8,753 ✭✭
in Trading Cards & Memorabilia Forum
so, several days ago i decided to go after a 1972-73 Topps basketball set that i found, just because i like the set and it had been awhile since had been able to work on building one.....the Julius Erving rookie card was presented as the centerpiece of the set, of course, and from the pics it looked pretty nice, in fact NM-MT was not out of the question, and even that little fisheye next to his elbow was fairly well faded, but the color and centering of the card were great, so i thought "WTF" and went for it, even though my only other indentifier on the set was a picture of all the other cards stacked up in Card Savers.....i assumed that the Erving card would carry the set and whatever happened, happened......well, i received the set a few days ago, and upon pulling out the Erving card and viewing it in the screwdown, i got very excited.....what a major find!

pulled the card outta the screwdown, and i'll let you guess what happened next.....ok, i'll tell you.....the back left corner of the card had been bent, presumably while it was stored in a box long ago, and a series of spider wrinkles quite visible in a triangular feature covering about 1/2 inch corner of space on the card.....BLEH!!....it looked so nice from the front, too.....i'm not even gonna show the card, because who wants to look at creases, anyways?.......oh well, EX 5, lesson learned.....

right? wrong.

the rest of the set was organized in stacks of rubber-banded Card Savers, 5 different groups, and even my wife strolled by while i was unpacking the cards and started chiding me about idiots rubber-banding vintage cards.....what was i thinking? no worries honey, i think some of these are gonna be pretty nice. image

so, i viewed the set, card by card.....i started in the middle of the set, instead of the beginning, because i knew that some of set's toughest cards exist there, and was curious to see if they were as thrashed as so many i've seen before......it only took a few cards before i knew what i had gotten into.....what i found was rather shocking, in fact, i had run out of adjectives, and just threw my arms in the air.....

here's a sampling of what i found, the highlights, so to speak, and i don't think i've ever been more amazed at an absolute complete turnaround of expectations.......if you love this card set, ENJOY.
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Comments

  • gregmo32gregmo32 Posts: 2,648 ✭✭✭
    I love it when that happens (which is not very often)!
    I am buying and trading for RC's of Wilt Chamberlain, George Mikan, Bill Russell, Oscar Robertson, Jerry West, and Bob Cousy!
    Don't waste your time and fees listing on ebay before getting in touch me by PM or at gregmo32@aol.com !
  • AricAric Posts: 757 ✭✭
    Those are bllllllllllllazers. I would say you did okay.
  • RonBurgundyRonBurgundy Posts: 5,491 ✭✭✭
    I need several of these for my set. Give me a call. 867-5309. Thanks.
    Ron Burgundy

    Buying Vintage, all sports.
    Buying Woody Hayes, Les Horvath, Vic Janowicz, and Jesse Owens autographed items
  • itzagoneritzagoner Posts: 8,753 ✭✭


    << <i>I need several of these for my set. Give me a call. 867-5309. Thanks. >>



    image

    gonna have a tough time letting some of these outta my sight....told ya they were nice. image
  • RonBurgundyRonBurgundy Posts: 5,491 ✭✭✭
    Well if you hadn't sold me some 72-73's here awhile back, I wouldn't need those too. Me like the Cookie Monster, me must gobble up all da good cards, mmmmm..........
    Ron Burgundy

    Buying Vintage, all sports.
    Buying Woody Hayes, Les Horvath, Vic Janowicz, and Jesse Owens autographed items
  • billwaltonsbeardbillwaltonsbeard Posts: 3,748 ✭✭✭✭
    Fantastic!! The exact opposite of what raw Ebay purchases usually turn out to be.

    congrats!
    My cards on COMC
  • Stone193Stone193 Posts: 24,438 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Very nice cards - I like when that happens.

    Congratulations.
    Mike
  • gameusedhoopgameusedhoop Posts: 3,594 ✭✭✭✭
    Just gave you a call Ron, Jenny said she tossed your sorry rear end out about a week ago. Guess that explains the sale prices. image
  • thenavarrothenavarro Posts: 7,497 ✭✭✭
    Sharp looking cards. Congrats on the pickup.

    Mike
    Buying US Presidential autographs
  • DboneesqDboneesq Posts: 18,219 ✭✭
    WOW! AWESOME looking cards! Nice buy. Good luck with whatever you decide to do with them.
    STAY HEALTHY!

    Doug

    Liquidating my collection for the 3rd and final time. Time for others to enjoy what I have enjoyed over the last several decades. Money could be put to better use.
  • SDavidSDavid Posts: 1,584 ✭✭
    Nice grab. That's one snipe I shouldn't have cancelled. image

  • 54topps54topps Posts: 1,145 ✭✭✭
    Wow those are sharp!
  • lsutigers1973lsutigers1973 Posts: 11,093 ✭
    So where's the Doctor?
  • Goodsport40Goodsport40 Posts: 1,010 ✭✭
    Wow, those are sharp. Love the West and the Haywood.



    Robert
  • DboneesqDboneesq Posts: 18,219 ✭✭


    << <i>So where's the Doctor? >>


    Let's hope taking care of your baby and NOT doing any trimming on those cards!
    STAY HEALTHY!

    Doug

    Liquidating my collection for the 3rd and final time. Time for others to enjoy what I have enjoyed over the last several decades. Money could be put to better use.
  • itzagoneritzagoner Posts: 8,753 ✭✭
    ok, here's The Doctor, but only cuz Bill asked nice and just had a new baby. image

    the front, pretty much status quo, the back is enhanced a little, and the wrinkle is visible as it runs through the copyright symbol...there are a couple other smaller wrinkles which don't show up, thanks Epson V300! image

    image
    image
  • TNP777TNP777 Posts: 5,710 ✭✭✭
    those... are... simply mintacular!!!

    image

    really nice to see a good story come out of buying raw on the Bay. Congrats on a great pickup!

    Dodgers collection scans | Brett Butler registry | 1978 Dodgers - straight 9s, homie
  • DboneesqDboneesq Posts: 18,219 ✭✭
    It's STILL a real nice looking card. Glad that you were HAPPILY surprised with your purchase!
    STAY HEALTHY!

    Doug

    Liquidating my collection for the 3rd and final time. Time for others to enjoy what I have enjoyed over the last several decades. Money could be put to better use.
  • TNP777TNP777 Posts: 5,710 ✭✭✭
    When I saw this card, I just knew Keith Erickson was a straight baller. Legit, y'dig? Who else shows up for his photo shoot and rocks the Kid n Play look? And you can tell he's got leaps - must be the hair, Money.

    image

    Dodgers collection scans | Brett Butler registry | 1978 Dodgers - straight 9s, homie
  • diamondmandiamondman Posts: 2,020
    Nice sheet cut set!!! image

    Nice find I would still send in the Erving in for grading. It would be a fantastic PSA 5.
  • DboneesqDboneesq Posts: 18,219 ✭✭
    It looks like Wilt and Walt are ready to beat the %$^#& out of Kareem and he is scared to death! LOL

    image
    STAY HEALTHY!

    Doug

    Liquidating my collection for the 3rd and final time. Time for others to enjoy what I have enjoyed over the last several decades. Money could be put to better use.
  • cardbendercardbender Posts: 1,831 ✭✭
    Wow, those are sharp. Great buy.
    The Lu Allen is super tough as it always has
    surface issues. How's the Terry Dischinger? Another toughie.

    I see a lot of Mint 9's and possibly 10's coming your way soon.
    Awesome!!
  • billwaltonsbeardbillwaltonsbeard Posts: 3,748 ✭✭✭✭


    << <i>When I saw this card, I just knew Keith Erickson was a straight baller. Legit, y'dig? Who else shows up for his photo shoot and rocks the Kid n Play look? And you can tell he's got leaps - must be the hair, Money.

    image >>



    Let me help you out a bit here....first of all, wearing clothes backwards was not Kid N Play, it was Kriss Kross. And the reason some of the NBA guys did this for their card pics is because Topps couldn't show certain teams logos back then. Kinda like old school football cards have the logos airbrushed from the helmets, basketball guys had to turn their jerseys around.

    But regardless, Keith Erickson looks like he was the man. I'm sure he got all the chicks when he and his teammates went out.
    My cards on COMC
  • PowderedH2OPowderedH2O Posts: 2,443 ✭✭
    Keith really WAS the man... on the volleyball court. While he was a very good bballer, he was a much better volleyball player and was at one time one of the very best in the world and a star on the US Olympic Team. And being an LA guy playing volleyball on the beach and playing bball for UCLA back in the day, I imagine Keith's social life didn't suck too bad.
    Successful dealings with shootybabitt, LarryP, Doctor K, thedutymon, billsgridirongreats, fattymacs, shagrotn77, pclpads, JMDVM, gumbyfan, itzagoner, rexvos, al032184, gregm13, californiacards3, mccardguy1, BigDaddyBowman, bigreddog, bobbyw8469, burke23, detroitfan2, drewsef, jeff8877, markmac, Goldlabels, swartz1, blee1, EarlsWorld, gseaman25, kcballboy, jimrad, leadoff4, weinhold, Mphilking, milbroco, msassin, meteoriteguy, rbeaton and gameusedhoop.
  • TNP777TNP777 Posts: 5,710 ✭✭✭


    << <i>Let me help you out a bit here....first of all, wearing clothes backwards was not Kid N Play, it was Kriss Kross. And the reason some of the NBA guys did this for their card pics is because Topps couldn't show certain teams logos back then. Kinda like old school football cards have the logos airbrushed from the helmets, basketball guys had to turn their jerseys around.

    But regardless, Keith Erickson looks like he was the man. I'm sure he got all the chicks when he and his teammates went out. >>

    you are absolutely right. I knew it as I typed it that Kid N Play didn't feel right. DOH!

    I also knew about the uniform logo rule - I was just running with my "Keith Erickson is a pimp" thought.

    Man, can't believe I brain dumped Kriss Kross image

    Dodgers collection scans | Brett Butler registry | 1978 Dodgers - straight 9s, homie
  • TheCARDKidTheCARDKid Posts: 1,496 ✭
    Amazing!

    Funny, when I first read your Erving description, I was expecting a mess. But that's probably one of the nicest raw ervings you'll ever find on ebay (appearance wise at least). Looks like the whole set is in the top 5% of raw cards out there.
  • itzagoneritzagoner Posts: 8,753 ✭✭


    << <i>Wow, those are sharp. Great buy.
    The Lu Allen is super tough as it always has
    surface issues. How's the Terry Dischinger? Another toughie. >>



    Dr. Dischinger looks pretty good, hoping for an 8.....it has that white blast on the top border like they all do and a couple nibbled corners, but looks good overall as does the #134 Ken Durrett, which was one of the first cards i thought about when going after this....also hoping for an 8 on that one, due to slight corner softness.

    thanks for the nice comments, one and all.....i will update this thread later on down the line when the grades come in.
  • xbaggypantsxbaggypants Posts: 2,185 ✭✭✭
    My E-Mail Address
    Website
  • GDM67GDM67 Posts: 2,526 ✭✭✭✭
    I would have really enjoyed seeing the Topps photographer suggest to Mr. Wilton Norman Chamberlain that he should turn his jersey around.
    My Sets
  • itzagoneritzagoner Posts: 8,753 ✭✭
    well, all in all, not too many surprises, but several expectations have been pleasantly fulfilled. [insert smug, self-righteous smilie here] image


    26 1 17225260 NEAR MINT-MINT 8 1972 TOPPS 3 GEOFF PETRIE Card US
    27 1 17225261 MINT 9 1972 TOPPS 14 JOE ELLIS Card US
    28 1 17225262 MINT 9 1972 TOPPS 24 CURTIS ROWE Card US
    29 1 17225263 MINT 9 1972 TOPPS 28 NATE THURMOND Card US
    30 1 17225264 NEAR MINT 7 1972 TOPPS 32 PHIL JACKSON Card US
    31 1 17225265 MINT 9 1972 TOPPS 40 BOB RULE Card US
    32 1 17225266 NEAR MINT-MINT 8 1972 TOPPS 64 JOHN WARREN Card US
    33 1 17225267 MINT 9 OC 1972 TOPPS 66 FRED FOSTER Card US
    34 1 17225268 NEAR MINT-MINT 8 1972 TOPPS 75 JERRY WEST Card US
    35 1 17225269 MINT 9 1972 TOPPS 79 TOM VAN ARSDALE Card US
    36 1 17225270 MINT 9 1972 TOPPS 88 DEAN MEMINGER Card US
    37 1 17225271 NEAR MINT-MINT 8 1972 TOPPS 96 DON MAY Card US
    38 1 17225272 MINT 9 1972 TOPPS 102 PHIL CHENIER Card US
    39 1 17225273 NEAR MINT-MINT 8 1972 TOPPS 134 KEN DURRETT Card US
    40 1 17225274 MINT 9 1972 TOPPS 135 JOHN BRISKER Card US
    41 1 17225275 MINT 9 1972 TOPPS 136 DICK SNYDER Card US
    42 1 17225276 MINT 9 1972 TOPPS 138 CLYDE LEE Card US
    43 1 17225277 MINT 9 1972 TOPPS 140 KEITH ERICKSON Card US
    44 1 17225278 NEAR MINT-MINT 8 1972 TOPPS 141 BOB WEISS Card US
    45 1 17225279 NEAR MINT 7 1972 TOPPS 143 TERRY DISCHINGER Card US
    46 1 17225280 NEAR MINT-MINT 8 1972 TOPPS 145 LUCIUS ALLEN Card US
    47 1 17225281 NEAR MINT-MINT 8 1972 TOPPS 146 JOHN MENGELT Card US
    48 1 17225282 NEAR MINT-MINT 8 1972 TOPPS 148 BOB LOVE Card US
    49 1 17225283 NEAR MINT-MINT 8 1972 TOPPS 149 BOBBY SMITH Card US
    50 1 17225284 MINT 9 1972 TOPPS 150 ELVIN HAYES Card US
    51 1 17225285 NEAR MINT 7 1972 TOPPS 152 CHET WALKER Card US
    52 1 17225286 NEAR MINT-MINT 8 1972 TOPPS 156 NBA CHAMPIONSHIP TWO IN A ROW Card US
    53 1 17225287 NEAR MINT-MINT 8 1972 TOPPS 158 NBA PLAYOFFS GAME 5 JERRY DRIVES IN Card US
    54 1 17225288 NEAR MINT-MINT 8 1972 TOPPS 160 NBA CHECKLIST 1-176 Card US
    55 1 17225289 NEAR MINT-MINT 8 1972 TOPPS 161 JOHN HAVLICEK ALL STAR Card US
    56 1 17225290 NEAR MINT-MINT 8 1972 TOPPS 162 SPENCER HAYWOOD ALL-STAR Card US
    57 1 17225291 NEAR MINT-MINT 8 1972 TOPPS 163 KAREEM ABDUL-JABBAR ALL STAR Card US
    58 1 17225292 NEAR MINT-MINT 8 1972 TOPPS 167 BILLY CUNNINGHAM ALL STAR Card US
    59 1 17225293 MINT 9 1972 TOPPS 168 WILT CHAMBERLAIN ALL STAR Card US
    60 1 17225294 NEAR MINT-MINT 8 1972 TOPPS 169 NATE ARCHIBALD ALL-STAR Card US
    61 1 17225295 NEAR MINT-MINT 8 1972 TOPPS 170 ARCHIE CLARK ALL-STAR Card US
    62 1 17225296 NEAR MINT-MINT 8 1972 TOPPS 171 NBA SCORING LEADERS Card US
    63 1 17225297 MINT 9 1972 TOPPS 172 SCORING AVG. LDRS. Card US
    64 1 17225298 MINT 9 1972 TOPPS 173 NBA FG PCT. LEADERS Card US
    65 1 17225299 MINT 9 1972 TOPPS 174 NBA FT PCT.LEADERS MARIN/MURPHY/GOODRICH Card US
    66 1 17225300 NEAR MINT-MINT 8 1972 TOPPS 176 NBA ASSIST LEADERS Card US
    67 1 17225301 MINT 9 1972 TOPPS 180 ARTIS GILMORE Card US
    68 1 17225302 NEAR MINT-MINT 8 1972 TOPPS 182 JOHN ROCHE Card US
    69 1 17225303 NEAR MINT 7 1972 TOPPS 183 GEORGE McGINNIS Card US
    70 1 17225304 MINT 9 OC 1972 TOPPS 185 WILLIE WISE Card US
    71 1 17225305 NEAR MINT-MINT 8 1972 TOPPS 211 GEORGE LEHMANN Card US
    72 1 17225306 NEAR MINT-MINT+ 8.5 1972 TOPPS 212 RED ROBBINS Card US
    73 1 17225307 NEAR MINT-MINT 8 1972 TOPPS 221 GEORGE THOMPSON Card US
    74 1 17225308 MINT 9 1972 TOPPS 224 WALT SIMON Card US
    75 1 17225309 NEAR MINT-MINT 8 1972 TOPPS 226 WENDELL LADNER Card US
    76 1 17225310 NEAR MINT-MINT 8 1972 TOPPS 229 JAMES JONES Card US
    77 1 17225311 NEAR MINT-MINT 8 1972 TOPPS 236 DARNELL HILLMAN Card US
    78 1 17225312 NEAR MINT-MINT 8 1972 TOPPS 237 RICK MOUNT Card US
    79 1 17225313 NEAR MINT-MINT+ 8.5 1972 TOPPS 241 ABA CHAMPIONSHIP PACERS-GAME 1 Card US
    80 1 17225314 MINT 9 1972 TOPPS 242 ABA CHAMPIONSHIP RICK BARRY-GAME 2 Card US
    81 1 17225315 NEAR MINT-MINT 8 1972 TOPPS 243 ABA CHAMPIONSHIP GEORGE McGINNIS-GAME 3 Card US
    82 1 17225316 GEM MINT 10 1972 TOPPS 246 ABA CHAMPIONSHIP TIGHT DEFENSE-GAME 6 Card US
    83 1 17225317 NEAR MINT-MINT 8 1972 TOPPS 247 ABA CHAMPIONSHIP PACERS Card US
    84 1 17225318 NEAR MINT 7 1972 TOPPS 248 ABA CHECKLIST CHECKLIST 177-264 Card US
    85 1 17225319 NEAR MINT-MINT 8 1972 TOPPS 250 RICK BARRY ALL-STAR Card US
    86 1 17225320 MINT 9 1972 TOPPS 251 ARTIS GILMORE ALL-STAR Card US
    87 1 17225321 MINT 9 1972 TOPPS 252 DONNIE FREEMAN ABA ALL-STARS Card US
    88 1 17225322 NEAR MINT-MINT 8 1972 TOPPS 254 WILLIE WISE ABA ALL-STARS Card US
    89 1 17225323 MINT 9 1972 TOPPS 255 JULIUS ERVING ABA ALL-STARS Card US
    90 1 17225324 MINT 9 1972 TOPPS 257 RALPH SIMPSON ABA ALL-STARS Card US
    91 1 17225325 MINT 9 1972 TOPPS 259 ABA SCORING LEADERS C.SCOTT/R.BARRY/D.ISSEL Card US
    92 1 17225326 NEAR MINT-MINT 8 1972 TOPPS 260 ABA 2-PT. FG PCT. GILMORE/WASHINGTON/JONES Card US
    93 1 17225327 MINT 9 1972 TOPPS 261 3-PT. FG PCT. LDRS. COMBS/DAMPIER/JABALI Card US
    94 1 17225328 NEAR MINT-MINT 8 1972 TOPPS 262 ABA FT Pt. LEADERS R.BARRY/M.CALVIN/S.JONES Card US
  • hhmag70hhmag70 Posts: 2,107
    Lots of 8's & 9's, congrats.
  • HeritageAddictHeritageAddict Posts: 3,266
    Congratulations, even a Gem Mint in there! image
    Cut Auto Cards 4 sale

    My Registry Sets
  • burke23burke23 Posts: 1,475 ✭✭✭
    Wonderful - not bad for a raw purchase image A mint 9 Wilt, Gilmore RC, and Erving AS? I would take that any day. If you have a plan to 'dump' the 8's as a lot let me know. Would be a great way to kickstart my way on this set.
    Looking for rare Randy Moss rookies and autos, as well as '97 PMG Red Football cards for my set.
  • bobbybakerivbobbybakeriv Posts: 2,186 ✭✭✭✭
    Fantastic grades....congrats!
  • nam812nam812 Posts: 10,586 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>......93 1 17225327 MINT 9 1972 TOPPS 261 3-PT. FG PCT. LDRS. COMBS/DAMPIER/JABALI........... >>



    Holy cha ching batman.
  • burke23burke23 Posts: 1,475 ✭✭✭


    << <i>

    << <i>......93 1 17225327 MINT 9 1972 TOPPS 261 3-PT. FG PCT. LDRS. COMBS/DAMPIER/JABALI........... >>



    Holy cha ching batman. >>



    That a big one? Can't access VCP from here.
    Looking for rare Randy Moss rookies and autos, as well as '97 PMG Red Football cards for my set.
  • PSASAPPSASAP Posts: 2,284 ✭✭✭
    The last two sold for $510 and $355 respectively.
  • 080762080762 Posts: 76 ✭
    great cards wow ,what do you want for the jerry west pm me thx o big laker fan
  • ThoseBackPagesThoseBackPages Posts: 4,871 ✭✭
    NIIIIIIIICE!!!!!!!!
    Big Fan of: HOF Post War RC, Graded RCs
    WTB: PSA 1 - PSA 3 Centered, High Eye Appeal 1950's Mantle
  • RonBurgundyRonBurgundy Posts: 5,491 ✭✭✭
    image
    Ron Burgundy

    Buying Vintage, all sports.
    Buying Woody Hayes, Les Horvath, Vic Janowicz, and Jesse Owens autographed items
  • digicatdigicat Posts: 8,551 ✭✭
    For those of us who know squat about basketball cards, could you bold the poppage that elicited the biggest cries of "WOOT"?
    My Giants collection want list

    WTB: 2001 Leaf Rookies & Stars Longevity: Ryan Jensen #/25
  • stownstown Posts: 11,321 ✭✭✭
    Thank you for the very generous contest.

    Did I win yet?

    image
    So basically my kid won't be able to go to college, but at least I'll have a set where the three most expensive cards are of a player I despise ~ CDsNuts
  • itzagoneritzagoner Posts: 8,753 ✭✭


    << <i>For those of us who know squat about basketball cards, could you bold the poppage that elicited the biggest cries of "WOOT"? >>



    43 1 17225277 MINT 9 1972 TOPPS 140 KEITH ERICKSON Card US
    59 1 17225293 MINT 9 1972 TOPPS 168 WILT CHAMBERLAIN ALL STAR Card US

    pretty glad to see these, since i'm a Laker lover, both tough in high grade.......but my rocks were already knockin' from the time i pulled the aged, discolored 9-slot pages out of the shipping carton. image

    what's particularly rewarding is getting a few back to collect this time.....when i had a large haul of these cards before, they belonged to someone else and i had to sell them.
  • yankeeno7yankeeno7 Posts: 9,251 ✭✭✭
    CBT
  • GDM67GDM67 Posts: 2,526 ✭✭✭✭
    I've always loved that Erving All Star card. Julius flying over poor Billy Paultz, just like the Converse ad from years later. Different teams, same result.
    My Sets
  • cardbendercardbender Posts: 1,831 ✭✭
    J,
    Very nicely done. I love that Wilt All-Star 9 card. PSA always
    seems to grade that one harshly. All the all-star cards seem
    difficult to find centered.

    I remember you selling a ton of mint 9's on this issue on ebay a few years ago and you mentioning they were on consignment. It's nice that these can all be kept in your collection if you choose to do so.

    Congrats on a really outstanding buy. The seller deserves a double
    5-star rating on this deal.

  • GarabaldiGarabaldi Posts: 2,004 ✭✭✭
    Congrats
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