1960 Topps Baseball PSA set: who is interested and who can help a new guy!

jmaciu

Hello all!!! This is my first post, as I am a new member to the forum. As a passionate baseball fan, I have recently rekindled by childhood passion for baseball cards. Late last year, I started buying a few PSA graded cards. In November, I bought my first card from the 1960 set: a PSA 6 Eddie Mathews. I was immediately taken by the cards color and design. I decided to make a run at a complete graded set. While ideally I would like a PSA 8 set, it is not feasible at this point for me. My set is currently almost 10% complete, and with the cards I have just purchased, has a mixture of PSA 4-8. My set is on the PSA registry as jmaciu's 1960 Topps.

I have become almost obsessed with this adventure and have read some of the archived posts here about the set. I have tried to research it as much as possible on the interenet. I would love to one day own low pop PSA 8 commons like Berberet, Mantilla, Dotterer, Murtaugh, and of course, Curt Simmons. Also, I dream of Mantle, Mays, and Aaron PSA 8's. For now, I am trying to build the set as economical as possible, so that means looking mainly at PSA 5-7. But, i will go for 8's if the right cards and the right prices come my way.

So far, I have purchased all my cards through eBay, but want some new avenues. Are there any collectors out there who have cards available or some advice for me? Also, I would enjoy reading more about your experiences in collecting the set. Thanks in advance.

bobsbbcards

Hi, and welcome to the forums!

I've collected the set three times--once when I was in my 20s, picking up raw common lots and buying stars at card shows, once in the very early days of eBay as a complete set with stars graded and commons raw but very "minty", and once as a completely graded PSA 7/8 set. The set I have currently is a mix of all of those--commons that I've graded myself and the best of the graded cards.

I don't have a lot of advice on purchasing single graded cards, since I've never done that. I had quite a bit of success selling of graded dupes of the stars and tougher commons though, easily recouping my costs for the earlier purchases.

Good luck with your set! It will be fun to track your progress.

bobsbbcards

...and since all threads are useless without scans.....

jmaciu

Thanks for those scans, Bob. I hope to one day own my own PSA 8 version of all of those cards!!! Your set registry is very impressive, by the way.

Mires

I don't collect Baseball but that's one of the best looking sets I've seen.

Brick

Hi, hello, how are ya?

I've been working on the 1960 set for about 20 years with the goal of finishing it before I die. I guess that means it's on my bucket list. One thing about the low pop commons is you can get a really nice PSA 7 for a fraction of the price of a mediocre PSA 8. Good Luck on your quest.

bobsbbcards

So I got curious as to what are the most expensive cards in the set in PSA 8. Here are the 26 cards with a VCP average of $200 or greater (from highest to lowest).

350 - Mickey Mantle - 1,200
300 - Hank Aaron - 583
316 - Willie McCovey - 561
148 - Carl Yastrzemski - 480
496 - Bill Virdon - 459
223 - Danny Murtaugh - 409
451 - Curt Simmons - 399
446 - Ellis Burton - 384
200 - Willie Mays - 381
326 - Roberto Clemente - 335
563 - Mickey Mantle All Star - 334
1 - Early Wynn - 284
10 - Ernie Banks - 274
480 - Yogi Berra - 272
116 - Jim Rivera - 258
73 - Bob Gibson - 253
250 - Stan Musial - 237
44 - Bobby Locke - 231
111 - Vic Wertz - 228
50 - Al Kaline - 218
493 - Duke Snider - 213
343 - Sandy Koufax - 212
377 - Roger Maris - 206
564 - Willie Mays All Star - 204
220 - Billy Jurges - 200
237 - Elmer Valo - 200

bobsbbcards

...and the ones between $100 and $200.

112 - Jack Harshman - 198
450 - Orlando Cepeda - 197
509 - Tommy Davis - 195
132 - Frank Howard - 193
565 - Roger Maris All Star - 191
566 - Hank Aaron All Star - 186
498 - Al Pilarcik - 186
489 - Steve Ridzik - 183
14 - Jim Grant - 178
262 - Hank Bauer - 171
2 - Roman Mejias - 169
176 - Vada Pinson - 162
204 - Ryne Duren - 161
28 - Brooks Robinson - 158
490 - Frank Robinson - 154
502 - Jim Bunning - 147
210 - Harmon Killebrew - 146
391 - World Series Summary - 144
287 - Felipe Alou - 142
18 - Dodger Team - 138
488 - Norm Cash - 137
445 - Warren Spahn - 136
471 - Ned Garver - 134
151 - Giants Team - 132
160 - Rival All Stars - 131
83 - Tony Kubek - 129
388 - World Series Game 4 - 129
35 - Whitey Ford - 129
33 - Tom Morgan - 123
242 - Cards Team - 120
52 - Dave Philley - 118
21 - Dutch Dotterer - 117
539 - Gene Baker - 115
26 - Wayne Terwilliger - 113
570 - Don Drysdale All Star - 113
163 - Hector Lopez - 111
560 - Ernie Banks All Star - 109
304 - Joe Ginsberg - 107
136 - Jim Kaat - 106
405 - Bobby Richardson - 104
286 - Ray Semproch - 104
170 - Del Crandall - 104
324 - Jim Perry - 102
400 - Rocky Colavito - 102

cadets68

I am over 80% done with the 1960 set. I am doing it in a PSA 6-7 grade. I have a few 8's and a few 5's that need to be upgraded. For the money saved I do not mind 6's and 7's versus 8's.


My Mantilla needs to be upgraded. I do not have these others that are shown.

Here are some of mine to compare with Bob:











Shawn

jmaciu

Brick-- how close are you to being complete? How have you built your set?

Bob-- data you presented is quite eye opening. I was looking at the population report last night. There are more cards with a population under 60 than I thought in the PSA 8 range.

Shawn -- I seem to be following your plan. Thanks for sharing some of your cards. What avenues have used to acquire your cards?

cadets68

I have made many purchases here on the PSA boards. I have another 28 cards coming the I just picked up from members here.

I have submitted some of my own raw cards.

I have purchased at shows. I hope to finish this set at the National.

I have made trades both locally and on message boards.

I have purchased lots and singles on Ebay.

How ever you do it, enjoy. I have been working on it since about Christmas of 2010.

Shawn

bobsbbcards

<< <i>There are more cards with a population under 60 than I thought in the PSA 8 range. >>



451 - Curt Simmons - 32
116 - Jim Rivera - 38
220 - Bill Jurges - 43
446 - Ellis Burton - 43
489 - Steve Ridzik - 43
33 - Tom Morgan - 45
112 - Jack Harshman - 45
223 - Danny Murtaugh - 45
471 - Ned Garver - 47
44 - Bobby Locke - 48
262 - Hank Bauer - 49
78 - Bob Grim - 50
106 - Billy Gardner - 50
111 - Vic Wertz - 50
498 - Al Pilarcik - 50
176 - Vada Pinson - 51
438 - Jim Coker - 51
501 - Bob Schmidt - 51
114 - Ken Aspromonte - 53
170 - Del Crandall - 53
477 - Don Ferrarese - 53
496 - Bill Virdon - 53
516 - Marty Kutyna - 53
194 - Bobby Gene Smith - 54
204 - Ryne Duren - 54
14 - Jim Grant - 55
27 - Dick Drott - 55
94 - Leo Kiely - 55
151 - Giants Team - 55
286 - Ray Semproch - 55
531 - Sandy Amoros - 55
488 - Norm Cash - 56
539 - Gene Baker - 56
26 - Wayne Terwilliger - 57
304 - Joe Ginsberg - 57
318 - Jim Baxes - 57
6 - Lou Berberet - 58
86 - Dick Gernert - 58
511 - Ken Walters - 58
21 - Dutch Dotterer - 59
257 - Gordy Coleman - 59
287 - Felipe Alou - 59
391 - World Series - 59
528 - Ben Johnson - 59
177 - Johnny Kucks - 60
362 - Russ Kemmerer - 60
530 - Mike Mccormick - 60

CocoaBeachDodgers

If you are interested in the McCovey rookie PSA 8, turn on your PM. I have one that I am willing to accept payments.

MintMoondog

best wishes! My only piece of advice is that the last 20% is more difficult than the first 80% so be ready for the long haul.

jmaciu

My PM is turned on.

mariner

Good luck with collecting the 1960 set....it is a beauty!

Great scans and, Bob, your cards are gorgeous!

gemint

Nice cards Bob! The centering on that Simmons is awesome!

DetroitSquirreL

welcome

jmaciu

I just picked up 10 PSA 7-7.5 1960's from a member here. Thanks to everyone's encouragement on building this set. Once I get these cards, I will have almost 70 total. I have a long way to go, but it will be a fun ride. I will post updates. Keep the pictures coming too. I will try to post some as I acquire some nice cards.

Brick

<< <i>Brick-- how close are you to being complete? How have you built your set?

I have 519 in PSA 8 and another 35 in lower grades. Only 18 cards I need to complete the set and I do have several of those raw but very low grade.

Brick

<< <i>
best wishes! My only piece of advice is that the last 20% is more difficult than the first 80% so be ready for the long haul. >>


Truer words were never spoken.

JoeBanzai

jmaciu

For those collecting this set, what do you find the most challenging (i.e. a certain card you are having trouble finding) and the most rewarding?

mariner

Curt Simmons is probably the most difficult card in the set. There are others that are fairly difficult as well.....Wertz, Burton, Pilarcik, Ridzik, Harshman, Virdon come to mind.

usmc1986

One of my favorites from the set!! [/URL]

jmaciu

I love the Ernie Banks card. I met him in a hotel in Cincinnati a couple years ago. My wife and I were lucky enough to spend a half an hour with him. He is a true gentleman and got a great photo with him.

jmaciu

A few weeks ago, I acquired a Johhny Kucks (card #177) PSA 8 for a decent price, considering it has a semi-low pop of 60. I must say, a PSA 8 card makes a 6 or an uncentered 7 look not so nice. Since I am in this for the long haul, I think I will take my time and try to build this set with a majority 8's. It will cost me a lot more, but patience and careful buying should make it possible.

cadets68

I am at 89% complete. I still have a couple higher priced cards to get. Hoping to knock them out at the National.

Shawn

bishop

The Banks card can be found with some variant print differences. The Section I notation at the bottom of some cards is scarce but recurring, and occurs in varying degrees. The printer's mark in lower left border also recurs

markj111

<< <i>Curt Simmons is probably the most difficult card in the set. There are others that are fairly difficult as well.....Wertz, Burton, Pilarcik, Ridzik, Harshman, Virdon come to mind. >>




Murtaugh and Rivera are tough.

cadets68

My set will be 92% complete going into the National.

There is still some low hanging fruit that I hope Levi from 707 will be bringing to the show. He has then listed on Ebay so he will probably have them.

I also need to get these higher priced cards: Clemente, Banks, Mantle All Star, McCovey, Koufax, Maris

Then with a little luck I hope to find a few high numbers.

Shawn

bishop

Good luck Shawn. Tell Levi you really like his hat, that may get you a discount

cadets68

Picked up a bunch of 1960's at the National. Lots of upgrades.

I am now at 96.85% complete.

Still looking for a McCovey rookie and 17 more cards.

Shawn

MorrellMan

Easily my favorite set - welcome to the hunt. I'll echo the sentiment of the last 20% being tough. Lo pops abound, as has been listed here, and there are lots of condition rarities in the first series (#s1-110). I'm collecting the set in 8 and I've submitted a lot of cards from my raw collection. I probably have a couple of PSA boxes of 7s that are for sale and I could get you a list if you're interested, but the main reason I'm chiming in is to note that after a whirlwind of acquisition, I'm down to the last hundred cards that are killing me - some other PSA 8 toughies in the first series are Drott, Hadley, Clete Boyer and Gordon Jones.

cadets68

pm sent