Before....After. How did I do?

frankhardy

As many of you know, I am a Cardinals team set collector. My team sets fill up 20 different albums. I have 3 albums that fill up Topps miscellaneous inserts and test issues.

I had been looking for a 1972 Topps Candy Lids Test Issue Lou Brock for approximately 8 to 10 years. I finally own one as of a few days ago. It was a PSA 5 due to centering, but since my sets are in albums, I busted it out.

I already owned a Bob Gibson and a Joe Torre from the same set. The Brock completed this rare team set. The catch is that the Joe Torre was an uncut proof. I bought the Brock on Ebay from a set break which also had the Torre (non proof) for sale. Since I paid so much for the Brock, I was only going to bid on the Torre if it went really cheap. Turns out that the Torre went for nearly $300. Since these cards only come around once or twice a decade, I decided on plan B.

I am a stickler for neatness and organization in my collection. I put the Brock in my album beside the Gibson and the Torre proof and I just couldn't stand it.....the proof stuck out like the proverbial sore thumb. So......yes.....you guess it. Since I have absolutely no plans of selling my collection, I got out the ole scissors.

So.....how did I do?

I have posted before and after pictures below.

llafoe

Ouch!

frankhardy

I wasn't expecting perfection. It turned out better than I anticipated. Looks better in my album anyway. I guess I shouldn't expect some to like it. Maybe nobody does. Oh, well....I do and I guess that is what matters.

1980scollector

I like it a lot.

PMKAY

That really hurts.

frankhardy

I also need to add that I paid around $50 for that proof about 5 years ago. Even if you guys think it was totally dumb, I didn't loose much monetarily.

Brandon554

I'm scared to say I don't like it, you might crush me with your gigantic balls

PMKAY

Originally posted by: frankhardy
I also need to add that I paid around $50 for that proof about 5 years ago. Even if you guys think it was totally dumb, I didn't loose much monetarily.

I'd calculate what you lost monetarily. based on the value of the item now not what you paid for it five years ago? Any idea what you could have sold it for prior to cutting it up?

To look at it your way, my taping the majority of my Gretzky OPC rookie cards into a photo album the year they came out only caused me (or more accurately my parents) to monetarily lose a few cents.

CocoaBeachDodgers

As you say, your not looking to sell it & even if you were, it's what matters to you, so I love the idea. You can also look at it this way, you now have a 1 of 1.

Stingray

You didn't make it off center like the other two!! JK.

frankhardy

From what I can tell, proofs usually sell for much less than the round version. That played a factor into why I decided to do it. If they sold for the same price, I simply would have sold my proof and then bid aggressively on the Torre that sold when I got my Brock.

Ironmanfan

not sure that's what I would have done, but as you said, it's your collection and you can do as you please



IMF

bishop

Now you need to draw in the bat on the tab to make them all uniform

If you like it, I like it fine, Shane

UncleTwoPillow

I dunno. We all have our collecting quirks. Gawd only knows how many times I've eliminated an item from my stuff because it "didn't fit". Now, yours does.



As an aside, though, is it bothering anyone else as much as me? The curly lock of hair on Torre's forehead? Ugh. Where was Photoshop?

packCollector

Bravo!

monetarily , there is probably no difference between a hand cut proof and a hand cut lid. it doesn't look bad but I would have personally built a template and cut it with an exacto and you probably would have had a perfect replica but overall it looks great

BeRoyalKC

I think you should have left it and completed the master set by getting the Gibson and Brock uncut proof and the regular Torre lid ?? enjoy your collection the way you see fit. I think it looks great.

frankhardy

I honestly didn't think about the fact that the proof was hand cut. So, it actually went from a hand cut proof from a sheetf to a hand cut lid. Now, I feel even better about it.

I did use a template, but used scissors instead of an exacto knife.

I didn't notice the hair, but now I will see it every time I look at it!

1954

This reminds me of the story of the old man I met years ago. He was selling his childhood collection of 1952-1958 Topps run. He did not like the fact that he could not place his cards in the same plastic sleeves as the 1957 and 1958. So he neatly trimmed his entire collection of 1952-1956 Topps cards down to the same size as the 1957 and 1958. He told me it was not that big of a deal because he liked it that way and these cards only cost him a penny a card.

frankhardy

The difference is that those 1952 - 1956 Topps cards were not sheet cut like the Torre proof. Plus, I don't think I lost that much value. If I were to sell and note that the Torre was cut from a sheet cut proof, since these are so rare, my opinion is that I might be able to get a "proof price". Maybe not, but that is my opinion since the lids are so rare. Regardless, it looks great in my album.

bishop

Originally posted by: UncleTwoPillow
I dunno. We all have our collecting quirks. Gawd only knows how many times I've eliminated an item from my stuff because it "didn't fit". Now, yours does.

As an aside, though, is it bothering anyone else as much as me? The curly lock of hair on Torre's forehead? Ugh. Where was Photoshop?

If that bothered you, this one might have sent you over the edge. Joe was likely thankful they did not keep using it

frankhardy

Lol! He looks dazed!

UncleTwoPillow

"Hey Joe."



"Yeah."



"I need a mug shot."



"Come on. I was on the red eye and they doubled down my beverages."



"Just smile. Like you just won a batting title or something."



"Cheese."

frankhardy

Hilarious!

mrpeanut39

Didn't Jim Bouton say "Joe Torre dissolved camera lenses"?

Dboneesq

Shane ... nice job on cutting the card. Looks real nice. Enjoy it in your album.