MY 5 Year QUEST: 1967 Topps Complete graded set: the last card

alma1960 · July 2, 2008 12:56PM

After several years I'm now down to one card: #306 Bud Harrelson.

It's always interesting in set building who that last card ends up being. In my 2001 Topps Heritage Chrome set it's CP26 Kazuhiro Sasaki. I put together a 1999 Greats of the Game auto set and had to wait months to find the Tommie Agee auto.

I've been working to put together a regular, PSA 7 set, nothing flashy, but a set that brings back a lot of good memories. These are the first baseball cards I ever collected. Bought packs at the 7-11 across the street from the Little League park. After our games we would go buy a pack of cards, get 2 or 3 of those sugar straws, and wash it down with an ICEE (we only had Coke flavor back then). After that we'd go back behind the bleachers for a 2 hour long game of "cup" ball to burn off all that energy. I remember trading my Richie Allen card to a kid in the neighborhood for Andy Etchebarren just because I was collecting catchers.

One card to go, a few select upgrades, and she'll be done at a 7.0. It's taken a long time, but it's been a lot of fun. Like I said, good memories.

WinPitcher · July 2, 2008 1:08PM

Nice!

Steve

storm888 · July 2, 2008 1:11PM

Good Go!

perkdog · July 2, 2008 1:12PM

Good stuff! Nice to remember those good times as a kid, congrats on getting the set done!

RonBurgundy · July 2, 2008 1:19PM

I have card #306 (Harrelson) in PSA 7. PM me your address and it's yours for free.

Great to see collectors accomplish a worthy goal. It's a terrific set and you should be proud.

Ron

perkdog · July 2, 2008 1:23PM

<< <i>I have card #306 (Harrelson) in PSA 7. PM me your address and it's yours for free.

Great to see collectors accomplish a worthy goal. It's a terrific set and you should be proud.

Ron >>

mickeymantle24 · July 2, 2008 1:55PM

on completing the set

natetrook · July 2, 2008 1:58PM

Awesome display of collecting support.
What a nice board.
Nate

SidePocket · July 2, 2008 1:58PM

Congrats, that's a great set, and nice touch by Ron Burgundy too.

css23 · July 2, 2008 2:16PM

Congrats on the completion!!

Classy move Burgundy!

HighChopper · July 2, 2008 2:35PM

Good stuff, guys.

Congrats!

Burgundy is classy.

VitoCo1972 · July 2, 2008 3:03PM

That was a GREAT move Ron. This board rules. My 1000th is coming up and I know I already can't top that!

Estil · July 2, 2008 3:55PM

That's quite a classic set you just made. Maybe in the year 2012 or something I can make a 1967 set of my own.

Care to show us some scans? Preferably fronts and backs (I like the olive green backs)?

Allen · July 2, 2008 4:05PM

Great set, I love the Seaver even though I have never owned one because I can't find a nice 4 or 5 for a good price. I hate the 67 Mantle though, that card should be on a poster for alcoholism.

GDM67 · July 2, 2008 5:28PM

A superb set. Assembling it in 7 is quite a feat

cardbender · July 2, 2008 6:47PM

Great accomplishment on building your nice set. My hats off to anyone completing a 600+ card set, especially in nice PSA 7 condition.

Also, way to go Ron! Very nice gesture on your part.

Rich

alma1960 · July 2, 2008 9:10PM

Ron, I never expected someone to make an offer like yours. Thanks a lot. Maybe one day I can return the favor to someone on the board in the same situation. Great group of collectors on this site. Thanks for the kind words.

When you read SMR you often see that a supercollector just put together a 1952 Topps set or a 1915 Cracker Jack Set in Mint 9 condition. Those articles make your NrMT set look somewhat lame. Everyone's posts made me feel pretty good about completing my favorite set. I guess that's the difference in a collector and an investor. thanks again, Mark

262Runner · July 2, 2008 9:33PM

Congrats mark, great set and a great accomplishment.

Flintboy · July 2, 2008 9:52PM

Hey Ron,

I am down to one final card for my 63 set....You dont by chance have a Rose rookie laying around? It would not be a problem for me to PM my address to ya...

fandango · July 2, 2008 11:19PM

Ron is a very generous board member..

congrats on finishing your set!

fattymacs · July 2, 2008 11:25PM

Congrats on the set and kudos to Ron.

eyebone · July 2, 2008 11:38PM

Congratulations Mark. Well done Ron.

Eyebone

bobbybakeriv · July 2, 2008 11:42PM

Great job all-around!

billwaltonsbeard · July 2, 2008 11:45PM

What a class move! Nicely done Ron. And Congrats on that set!!

MeteoriteGuy · July 2, 2008 11:49PM

<< <i>I have card #306 (Harrelson) in PSA 7. PM me your address and it's yours for free.

Great to see collectors accomplish a worthy goal. It's a terrific set and you should be proud.

Ron >>

+2 for Ron

TJMAC · July 3, 2008 1:46AM

Great looking set. What are your favorite cards? I always liked the Yaz, Frank Robinson, Hank Aaron and Ernie Banks. What is your next endeavor?

SportsCardCollector · July 3, 2008 2:25AM

Congratulations Mark! The '67 Topps set is a great one to collect and your completing it is a major accomplishment. Well done!

Your story about your beginnings with the 1967 set reminded me of the summer of 1967 and my fun that summer buying those 5 cent Topps packs (hard to believe, isn't it?) at the drug store around the corner from me. My best friend and I would walk around town all day looking for Coke bottles that people had tossed aside. Then we would take the bottles back to the store for the 2 cent deposit and use the 10 or 20 cents we made to buy packs of cards and some penny candy.

I bought a lot of packs that summer and gave all of the Yankees I got (yes, even the Mantles) to my best friend who was a big Yankees fan. Even though I wish I had one of the Mantles today (I even keep trying to find an affordable one in poor quality just to have one again), I am glad I gave them to him because I remember how thrilled he was to get them. Thanks for reminding me of that happy memory and my very close childhood friend.

Also want to add my kudos to Ron Burgundy for his generosity in helping you out with the last card. Very nice gesture, Ron!

alma1960 · July 3, 2008 4:25AM

TJMAC,
Here's a list of my favorite cards from the set. A lot of them are Cardinals, great photography.

82 Steve Barber
226 Julian Javier
251 Woody Held
285 Lou Brock
295 Sam McDowell
304 Phil Gagliano
545 Jim Grant
546 Woody Woodward
589 Dave Ricketts

Next endeavor will be finishing a graded 2001 UD Hall of Fame bat set and continuing work on collecting and grading "on card" autograph cards of Hall of Famers. I think I'm ranked 4 or 5 on that registry set now. I might start a registry set of graded game used uniforms of Hall of Famers. thanks for asking, Mark

alma1960 · July 3, 2008 4:27AM

SportsCardCollector:

Thanks for the post. Good to know that there are still some of us old guys still collecting! - Mark

TJMAC · July 3, 2008 4:39AM

I am not familiar with a lot of commons from the set since I have focused on only HOFers and superstars from that year, but I do like the picture on the Lou Brock card. I did build a complete set of 1969 Topps raw and had a great time doing it. I remember reading Jim Bouton's book Ball Four as I was doing it and it was cool seeing cards of players in the book especially, the Seattle Pilots. I believe Steve Barber is in it.

It sounds like you have a good focus behind your collecting, which I can appreciate.

Take care,
Terry

Downtown1974 · July 3, 2008 4:43AM

Congrats Mark, thats quite an accomplishment. You dont realize how big some of these sets are until you start building them. Ron, that was a very generous gesture.

Estil · July 3, 2008 1:27PM

Good thing Ron was just at the right place at the right time, eh? I won't be able to do the entire 1971 set in PSA 7 (I'm doing key cards/most HOFers in PSA 7; rest raw NRMT or better) but I hope that quest is just as rewarding as your 1967 quest was.

Now when do we get to see the fruits of your labor???

RonBurgundy · July 4, 2008 5:54AM

Here's the scan of the card going out to alma tomorrow!

hankcaddy · July 4, 2008 6:05AM

very nice gesture, ron.... that is what this thing should be about.

67 is one of my favorites
congrats ALMA

bigred1 · July 4, 2008 6:23AM

Congrats, I admire your dedication. An impressive accomplishment.

yankeeno7 · July 4, 2008 6:26AM

Very nice gesture

BTW...I need a 55 Clemente psa 7 to finish my set....

RonBurgundy · July 4, 2008 6:28AM

I'll see if I can print up a Clemente for ya......

Estil · July 4, 2008 8:04AM

<< <i>Here's the scan of the card going out to alma tomorrow!

>>

The last piece of the puzzle; the golden spike if you will. Say, that's a nice big commemorative patch he has; anyone know what it's supposed to be celebrating?

bxb · July 4, 2008 12:30PM

I believe the patch commemorates the 1964/1965 New York World's Fair.

alma1960 · July 4, 2008 11:26PM

Ron, thanks again. I appreciate the kind gesture.

Here are some examples of the crisp photography in the 1967 set. Card 311, Ed Brinkman was one of the last cards I added to the set. I purchased this card raw at a local card shop a couple of years ago, just sent it in last month for grading. These days it's tough to find vintage commons that get a decent grade. Couple of items of note, I think Max Alvis always has big chew in every baseball card he ever had made. Second, most background stadium shots appear to have been taken at either Shea or Yankee Stadium. Looks like Yankee Stadium in the Killebrew card. Sorry about the scan, its crooked, I'll try another. - Mark

alma1960 · July 4, 2008 11:39PM

Here are a few more, not crooked. The more I look at the Seaver card I purchased 3 years ago, the more I think PSA was a little generous with the grade of 7. Card has some black ink problems, a few breaks in the black photo outlines. I love the Westrum and Barker cards, looks like you could reach out and shake their hand. Excellent portrait focus on the pictures. (This is my first time posting scans, I think I've got the hang of it using photobucket. You learn something new everyday.) - Mark

mojorob · July 4, 2008 11:45PM

Mark,
I am very happy for you and am pleased to have read this post.
You have built an absolutely beautiful set that recaptures some special childhood moments for you
for which I can certainly relate.
IMHO, the finest baseball set of the 1960's.
GREAT JOB!!

Kirk

Blackborder · July 5, 2008 2:29AM

Awsome set, congrats!

Yankeeefan · July 5, 2008 2:38AM

Awesome job! If I were going to start another set, it would the 67s. Nice job to Ron for sending you the final piece to your puzzle.

Estil · July 5, 2008 4:21AM

Can you do a few backs as well? I like the olive green backs.

Kurtman9 · July 5, 2008 6:18AM

Congratulations on an amazing accomplishment. I love the photography and design of the 1967 set. Very nice gesture by Ron.

GDM67 · July 5, 2008 6:53AM

<< <i>most background stadium shots appear to have been taken at either Shea or Yankee Stadium. >>

Yeah, if you're a fan of either the Big Ballpark In The Bronx or Shea, this is a set for you. Off the top of my head, there are a few I can think off that were shot in Philadelphia (Terry Fox of the Phillies, Woody Woodward and Tony Cloninger of the Braves) and Bill Heath of the Astros, which was shot at Dodger Stadium.

I see you've got more than a few 8s mixed in, as well. A nice looking set.

alma1960 · July 10, 2008 1:24PM

Ron thank you again for the card, I never thought when I started this post I would actually have someone reading the thread give me the last card.

I received it today, looks great. It's been added to my registry set and I've changed my signature to show a 100% complete set.

The quest is finished, now on to the next one!

Many thanks, Mark

billwaltonsbeard · July 10, 2008 1:31PM

Awesome!! very impressive

jeff8877 · July 10, 2008 1:39PM

Great accomplishment Mark,

I am always amazed at the generosity and kindness of fellow collectors on the boards. There are some great people here.

I am also working on this set and need a few more to complete the master set...thought another 67 collector might see it here.

None of them are that difficult relative to others in the set. Looking for PSA 7 or 8s.

Here they are...

13 JOE SPARMA
152 WORLD SERIES GAME 2
155 WORLD SERIES SUMMARY
237 A.L. STRIKEOUT LEADERS
425 PETE MIKKELSON
470 BOB SHAW
497 RON CAMPBELL

Also...I have about 75 PSA 7 doubles if anyone is interested in starting this great set.

Thanks to all

Jeff

leadoff4 · July 10, 2008 10:35PM

Beautiful set and I agree, it's the most beautiful set of the 60s... although the '63 is a close second. Kudos again to Ron for supplying the Harrellson.

MY 5 Year QUEST: 1967 Topps Complete graded set: the last card

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