Opinions on my son's latest card purchases - experts chime in please. :-)

fmaz

Hi all -

My just-turned 13 year old son is so much more into cards than I ever was, it's amazing to me. He loves going to card shows each month and he's really enjoying the hobby a great deal. And I'm enjoying it with him. He's made some good relationships with a few dealers, and one in particular who just loves seeing a young kid so into cards -- especially the older cards (he loves the cards from the 50's the most).

Well he saved up all his Christmas and birthday money and has made two big purchases in the last month.

First, he bought this 1954 Bowman Mickey Mantle:



And then today we were at a show and the dealer had just about 30 minutes earlier got this 1952 Berk Ross Ted Williams card and told my son he couldn't let him leave without buying it. Neither of us had ever heard of the Berk Ross cards, but it was too cool to pass up.




Sorry the pictures aren't great, but I think the cards are really nice.... and my son is thrilled.

This dealer always tells him that he can bring the cards back anytime and get his money back, and today he even let him pay just half of the Williams and pay him the rest at another show when he's saved up for it. The guy is really great.

But my son wanted me to post them and see what you guys thought of them, since before this he's been mostly buying Topps HOF players from the mid-50's to late 60's... so these are kind of new to him.

Appreciate knowing what you all think!

Thanks,
Frank

brendanb438

<< <i>Hi all -

My just-turned 13 year old son is so much more into cards than I ever was, it's amazing to me. He loves going to card shows each month and he's really enjoying the hobby a great deal. And I'm enjoying it with him. He's made some good relationships with a few dealers, and one in particular who just loves seeing a young kid so into cards -- especially the older cards (he loves the cards from the 50's the most).

Well he saved up all his Christmas and birthday money and has made two big purchases in the last month.

First, he bought this 1954 Bowman Ted Williams:



And then today we were at a show and the dealer had just about 30 minutes earlier got this 1952 Berk Ross Ted Williams card and told my son he couldn't let him leave without buying it. Neither of us had ever heard of the Berk Ross cards, but it was too cool to pass up.




Sorry the pictures aren't great, but I think the cards are really nice.... and my son is thrilled.

This dealer always tells him that he can bring the cards back anytime and get his money back, and today he even let him pay just half of the Williams and pay him the rest at another show when he's saved up for it. The guy is really great.

But my son wanted me to post them and see what you guys thought of them, since before this he's been mostly buying Topps HOF players from the mid-50's to late 60's... so these are kind of new to him.

Appreciate knowing what you all think!

Thanks,
Frank >>




That is the oddest 1954 Bowman Ted Williams card I have ever seen. Your son has picked up some nice cards.

ThoseBackPages

Those are some AMAZING cards!

I hope your Son has a lot of friends that he can spread our "virus" to

daddymc

Wow, if those are the kind of cards he is picking up when he is 13, I can only imagine what his collection will be like when he's my age! Nice pickups and keep it up!

judgebuck

Hey, anytime you get a 1950s Ted Williams and Mickey Mantle, you've done well. These are two iconic figures from that decade, and collectors are always looking to buy them. It's great that your son appreciates the stars from that era.

fmaz

Yeah he's so into baseball history it's fun. But the card thing has really been going the last year or so. He won't buy graded cards because he really likes to be able to touch and hold the cards at least to start, and then he's got them on display in his room. Although with each new purchase, a few "display" cards get moved to binders and get replaced by others.

I've told him that at some point maybe he should consider getting a few of his best cards graded... but for example, is it worth grading those two that he just got? We really don't know much about grading when it comes cards that aren't really really perfect.

Also... pricing on these cards? I really trust his dealer, but since we're not grading experts, I'm hoping he did ok.

Funny story - i was a die hard comic collect at his age... and I always remind my dad how, when I was 10, I saw a copy of Amazing Spider-Man #1 for $80 and he wouldn't let me spend that much on a "funny book". Now, that was mid-70's so I get that it was a lot of money.. but I always remind him that that $80 investment would be looking pretty good today.

So when my son wants to lay out his money for these cards... if he is happy with it, I figure I'm not going to be the one on the other end of things like that Spidey comic deal. :-)

fmaz

<< <i>
That is the oddest 1954 Bowman Ted Williams card I have ever seen. Your son has picked up some nice cards. >>



LOL. Edited to fix. Thanks!

captainthreeputt

Those cards are amazing, and for a 13 year old, I would say amazing times infinity!!!! I collect with my 11 year old. We have collected together for about four years now, and he loves the older cardboard as well. It is great to see some of the younger kids enjoy the old stuff. Congrats to your son, and congrats to you for being there with him.

lilmule

Looks like a start to a great collection. Will be looking forward to seeing what he has comming next.

bobbyw8469

Yes!!! It is worth getting it graded. I had a beat all to heck 1954 Bowman Mantle PSA 1. It sold for $125!!



Your Mantle looks like around a '3' and the Berk Ross Williams looks like around a '4'. Super cards!!! If anything, your son should protect them to prevent future damage! Anyway, he has great taste!

RonBurgundy

bobbyw8469

Fmaz....turn your pms on. I sent two lenghty replies, and you don't seem to be getting them.....

AnAlbumCover

It is very nice to see a young man appreciating baseball and baseball card history.

You must be very proud.

fmaz

<< <i>Fmaz....turn your pms on. I sent two lenghty replies, and you don't seem to be getting them..... >>



Done, thanks.

fkw

Both cards are nice.

Really like the 1952 Berk Ross Williams, good to see the original small tabs from the perforations at top and bottom, nice clean card.

All the Berk Ross cards are much scarcer than the Topps and Bowman cards of the same era, but suffer a bit value wise compared to the gum cards because they were issued as a boxed set, originally usually sold in toy stores.

NickM

Any '50s Mantle is generally worth grading, because demand is so high for his graded cards. The same goes for any '50s Williams other than the '59 Fleer Ted Williams set (most of that set should only be graded if they are near mint or better).

They're beautiful cards, and he's off to a great start as a collector.

Nick

fiveniner

Cherish the relationship you have with your son.Your post brings back so many great memories.

MBMiller25

Thanks for sharing, great to see your son involved in collecting, excellent cards! Love the 52 Berk Ross Williams, the color flow so well.

paleocards

Terrific cards and very heartening for us "old folks" to see a young man passionate about vintage cards whose hobby is supported by his dad. Those are two great pick-ups, please continue to post his purchases and feel free to ask for advice from the board-members; we all have a stake in encouraging the next generation of card-collecting.