106 Down--1951 Topps Blue Back Completed in PSA 8 or Better

Davalillo

Well, its been a while since I last completed a psa 8 or better set. The reasons are several. I have had a new job since February that keeps me pretty occupied; I no longer buy cards off of ebay and am dependent upon a couple of close dealer friends to spot cards I need; I am trying to be more focused in completing sets rather than continuing to start new ones; and it is just flat out difficult to find some of the cards I need. But I am still moving forward and still adding meaningfully to my collection.

Set number 106 is 1951 Topps Blue Backs. This is one of the sets Topps put out in its first year. The set is 52 cards and considerably tougher than the Red Back set. Each set is 52 cads. It took me several years to find the Waitkus card in psa 8(thanks Steve) which is the lowest pop psa 8 in the set at 12. The Sisler and Chapman are pop 13s in psa 8. My set ranks 8th on the PSA Set Registry with an 8.16 Set Rating with 8 PSA 9s and 44 PSA 8s behind Levi, Louchios, Don Spence, Ron Hobbs and others. I will let it rest at this level.

I appreciate the help of allo collectors and dealers in helping me achieve my collecting goals.

Completed Sets in PSA 8 or Better(every card) are as follows:

BASEBALL(44):

1936 S&S
1941 Play Ball
1948 Bowman
1951 Bowman
1951 Topps Blue Back
1951 Topps Red Back
1952 Bowman
1954 Bowman
1954 Red Heart
1954 Topps
1955 Bowman
1955 Topps
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
1963 Topps Peel-Offs
1964 Topps
1964 Topps Giants
1965 Topps
1966 East Hills Pirates
1966 Topps
1967 Topps
1967 Topps Red Sox Stickers
1967 Topps Pirates Stickers
1968 Topps
1968 Topps Game
1969 Topps Deckle Edge
1969 Topps Super
1970 Kelloggs
1970 Milton Bradley
1970 Rold Gold
1970 Topps Super
1974 Topps Deckle Edge

FOOTBALL(28):

1948 Bowman
1950 Bowman
1951 Bowman
1953 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
164 Topps
1965 Philadelphia
1967 Topps
1968 Topps
1968 Topps 4-in-1's
1969 Topps
1970 Topps
1970 Wonder Bread

BASKETBALL(9):

1948 Bowman
1957 Topps
1961 Fleer
1969-70 Topps
1970-71 Topps
1971-72 Topps
1971-72 Topps Trios
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(20):

1934 Carreras Film Stars
1934 Gallaher Champions of the Screen & Stage
1935 C&T Bridgewater
1938 Gallaher Film Episodes
1938 Ogden's Actors and Character Studies
1939 Gallaher My Favourite Part
1945 Mutoscope Artists Pin-Ups
1952 Dixie Cup Nelson's Ice Cream
1955 Barbers Tea Cinema & TV Stars
1955 Movie Stars of MGM
1956 Jibco Tea Screen Stars, Second Edition
1956 U.S. Preidents
1957 C.W.S. Western Sstars
1958 TV Westerns
1960 Fleer Spins & Needles
1962 ABC Colorstars
1962 Barnett & Co Warriors Thru the Ages
1962 Topps Civil War News
1966 Leaf Good Guys and Bad Guys
1967 Who Am I?

mariner

Another tough set completed....congrats, Jim.

Griffins

well done Jim. Those '51's are next to impossible in high grade due to wrinkles- to have both sets completed is really an accomplishment.

Dboneesq

Once again Jim ... just AMAZING! Congrats!

Mickey71

Congrats Jim.....you need to collect the Elvis set from 1956.

calaban7

Jim , once again , very nice job. I'm glad you still have the collecting bug , but am even happier that you and I don't collect the same sets. One day I will get back up there and finally see the " Great Card " museum , but until that day , I'm satisfied in knowing that you have once again put together another fine set.

My hat and cup to you my friend ---- Sonny

Brick

Congratulations. May I ask why you no longer get cards off ebay?

mikeschmidt

Great job, Jim -- fantastic set. Too bad the Topps Teams and All-Stars are impossible in PSA 8 condition. The Red Backs seem so so much easier than the Blues -- nice to have both under your belt at this point.

divecchia

Congrats Jim, on another set completion...

Donato

theskypilot

way to go Jim

hankcaddy

congrats !!!!

gemint

Congrats Jim. It's been awhile since you knocked one off the list so it's good to see that you're still making progress. I'm up to two sets completed in 8 or better, so I'm right on your heels.

Davalillo

Thank you everyone--I appreciate the kind words.

I don't do ebay anymore because I won't use Paypal. I ignored sellers statements of paypal only and three sellers dinged me so I was thrown off despite some ten years of 100% positive feedback.

Jim

Stone193

Hi Jim

Just saw this - 8.16 - really sweet.

This is beyond tough - I'm a fan of both sets.

My uncle came over my house when I was a kid - and we played baseball with a redback set - he not only taught me BB but how to tell time and tie my shoes - he was my hero as a kid - with a flat top and a cool '41 Chevy.

Congratulations.