113 Down-1953 Bowman Color Completed in PSA 8 or Better

Davalillo

This one is big(for me). In my opinion, 1953 Bowman Color is one of the most beautiful card sets ever made and it ranks as one of my top 5 completed sets. The cards are simple but mgnificent. The 160-card set contains the famous Pee Wee Reese card but also Mantle, Berra, Musial, Spahn, Ford, Feller and a Berra/Mantle/Bauer beauty.

I mostly built this set card by card and like many I do it took over a decade to do it. The cards are difficult but not impossible in high grade. Actually the whole second series is difficult. There are 3 pop 17s in PSA 8(Michaels, Kryhoski and Goodman). The last two for me in PSA 8 were Luke Easter and Max Surkont--both pop 21s. Thank you Steve. The toughest of all may be Whitey Ford which is a pop 25 in PSA 8. I could have completed this set more quickly but like with all sets I try not to overpay for cards and some of the second series cards were scarce and went for big prices in recent years.

My set ranks 6th on the PSA Set Registry with a 8.03 set rating. It contains 155 PSA 8s, 4 PSA 8.5s(including the Reese) and 1 PSA 9. This puts it behind heavyweights Branca, Spence and Merkel who are fighting it out for top set with set ratings between 8.91 and 8.94. Its is also behind Fogel and Allan King. I will let it rest at this level.

Thanks to all the collectors and dealers who have played such an instrumental role in helping me complete my sets.

Completed sets in PSA 8 or better are as follows:

BASEBALL(51):

1936 S&S
1941 Play Ball
1948 Bowman
1951 Bowman
1951 Topps Blue Back
1951 Topps Red Back
1952 Bowman
1953 Bowman Color
1953 Topps
1954 Bowman
1954 Red Heart
1954 Topps
1955 Bowman
1955 Red Man Tobacco
1955 Topps
1956 Topps
1957 Topps
1958 Topps
1959 Fleer
1959 Topps
1960 Fleer
1960 Leaf
1960 Topps
1961 Golden Press
1961 Nu Card
1961 Topps
1961-62 Fleer
1962 Topps
1963 Fleer
1963 Topps
1963 Topps Peel-Offs
1964 Topps
1964 Topps Giants
1964 Topps Stand Ups
1965 Topps
1966 East Hills Pirates
1966 Topps
1967 Topps
1967 Topps Pirates Stickers
1967 Topps Red Sox Stickers
1968 Topps
1968 Topps Game
1969 Topps
1969 Topps Deckle Edge
1969 Topps Super
1970 Kelloggs
1970 Milton Bradley
1970 Rold Gold
1970 Topps Super
1973 Topps(1953 Topps Reprints)
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
1964 Topps
1965 Philadelphia
1967 Topps
1968 Topps
1968 Topps 4-in-1s
1969 Topps
1970 Topps
1976 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 and Stage
1935 C&T Bridgewater
1938 Gallaher Film Episodes
1938 Ogden's Actor and Character Studies
1939 Gallaher My Favorite 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. Presidents
1957 C.W.S. Country Stars
1958 TV Westerns
1960 Fleet Spins & Needles
1962 ABC Colorstars
1962 Barrett & Co Warriors Thru the Ages
1962 Topps Civil War News
1966 Leaf Good Guys and Bad Guys
1967 Who Am I

Brick

I do agree this is one of the nicest sets ever produced. Congratulations again.

PowderedH2O

This might be (along with 1953 Bowman Football) the toughest all 8's set you've done. That is impressive!

perkdog

Awesome set and definatly would be the best ever had it only had a Willie Mays, Ted Williams and Jackie Robinson in it.

Griffins

Congrats Jim! IMO '53B is the nicest modern set, and it must be amazing having it in such high grade.

So what's on your wantlist now?

Davalillo

Thanks everyone.

Anthony,

I have another vintage baseball set(that perhaps you would call modern ) that I just completed but have not yet received the card which is when I announce them. On the urging of another poster, I am going to list the sets where I am down to a last card or two. on the top of my list would be 1952 Bowman Large and Small.

Jim

1954

Wow Jim, way to go! This is a very difficult set to make in PSA 8 with all of the centering issues that exist. Those high number cards can be very expensive in that grade. Great job and keep it going.

Shane

qualitycards

Jim, Congrats on completing such a classic set!

mikeschmidt

A very beautiful set, Jim -- I love the 53 Bowmans in top grade. Congratulations!

Are you sending in any [more] of your sets to PSA for .5 bump review?

Davalillo

Thanks Jay and Shane.

Marc,

Its been several months since I have sent in cards. I plan to give them 5,000 or so next time. I can now drive them down to their NJ office.

Jim

halosfan

Nice one Dav ...

GDM67

This is a stellar accomplishment. I love that Luke Easter card.

Cubfan

Wow, that is a major set to check off of your list Jim.

Big congrats!!

Keith P.

Basilone

Congrats !!

gemint

Congrats Jim! That's a classic set right there and very tough.

sayheykid54

One of the best sets ever made. Congratulations!

1960toppsguy

The HEAVYWEIGHTS . . . I wouldn't consider yourself a lightweight

Stone193

Hiya Jim.

Wow - congratulations on a superb set - and I agree - not only one of the premier issues but very difficult in top condition - with a roadblock of low pops to leave any normal being screaming into the night!

How did ya do on centering? To me another challenge. That's a set I would like to sit down and view in 8 or better.

I made the mistake of becoming a "centering freak" over the years and any set is virtually impossible to tackle - probably why I enjoy baseball board games!

Davalillo

Thanks guys--I love the set.

Another major one to come shortly.

Jim

Dboneesq

My guess is the 1950 Bowman! LOL ... you already posted it.

Davalillo

Good guess Doug? If you guess the next one right you will get a special gift

Stone193

<< <i>Thanks guys--I love the set.

Another major one to come shortly.

Jim >>

71T set.