tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39857510295681881592024-03-14T05:58:41.933-07:00Adventures in 1952 ToppsStack22http://www.blogger.com/profile/17776094817608096430noreply@blogger.comBlogger383125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3985751029568188159.post-30549635185894348232021-04-11T09:44:00.003-07:002021-04-11T09:44:40.303-07:00Cards #1 to #310 Bindered<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnA_-EgSB1th2esU2Y1RvaweG0fcYS8R4Py9YWfJE6M7k6xsffkjIEHMDqIxr04bSatjvT86-1a2Q0NDhg5H6mPr_NvY20ctlDTKY1RuO9alb6Ghjwbr0jM0qlpU7Nr8Wn5jEYr2Z5r5aK/s4032/IMG_8510.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnA_-EgSB1th2esU2Y1RvaweG0fcYS8R4Py9YWfJE6M7k6xsffkjIEHMDqIxr04bSatjvT86-1a2Q0NDhg5H6mPr_NvY20ctlDTKY1RuO9alb6Ghjwbr0jM0qlpU7Nr8Wn5jEYr2Z5r5aK/w640-h480/IMG_8510.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><p>When it comes to my sets, I sleeve them and keep them in 3-ring binders. My 1952 set build effort is not exception. I view the Topps base set as a sort of year book, or almanac, for every major league season. A historical record that should be looked at and enjoyed. That's not easily done when they're kept in the rectangle boxes. Prior to starting this '52 set, I didn't even know there were 8-pocket pages to sleeve these slightly over-sized cards in. Having now completed and sleeved the first 310 cards (plus 2 high numbers), I find the 8-pocket pages to be very aesthetically pleasing, and thought I would try to share how it came out. So here's a look:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwuIkr8o2PoxI6utBpiOGq3Ex-2KOr-rWDi1yR27jR0scMSWpw0bO38GpjDL0T8UH_nM3B1H0lorvi_o8uwfgehvmofKtLBqJKwLnnZ6dTUln8ISB-Kr4qU9PE0_qV9fnSr4sWhVeTCRcZ/s2048/IMG_8512.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1354" data-original-width="2048" height="443" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwuIkr8o2PoxI6utBpiOGq3Ex-2KOr-rWDi1yR27jR0scMSWpw0bO38GpjDL0T8UH_nM3B1H0lorvi_o8uwfgehvmofKtLBqJKwLnnZ6dTUln8ISB-Kr4qU9PE0_qV9fnSr4sWhVeTCRcZ/w669-h443/IMG_8512.jpeg" width="669" /></a></div><div><br /></div>The note is one that came with about half dozen cards from this set that a generous reader sent me at one point. I've kept my Mays in it's slab, which pains me to no end. Maybe one day I'll find the courage to do the right thing and set it free. For now, I scanned and printed and cut out a copy of my actual card to use as a place holder in the sleeve. That other loose slab tag is from the Billy Martin in this set, which I was able to crack and set free.<div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMYgZDkSc2lIB9MFc8UHVe7aCvMcJyCFH0b_0Cp5Z3wY_jMTfoHAFxVoxKVCRjaCycoF4lHZGdY8R0Z5CpcQsw1B0gSHICb4_aANHd5Tsychyphenhyphen7tG7UqR7X1cqS4bVtxxyvDlUnew-wzmiU/s2048/IMG_8513.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1332" data-original-width="2048" height="445" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMYgZDkSc2lIB9MFc8UHVe7aCvMcJyCFH0b_0Cp5Z3wY_jMTfoHAFxVoxKVCRjaCycoF4lHZGdY8R0Z5CpcQsw1B0gSHICb4_aANHd5Tsychyphenhyphen7tG7UqR7X1cqS4bVtxxyvDlUnew-wzmiU/w684-h445/IMG_8513.jpeg" width="684" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1NGZoi1NTdGyY1AFAZtoC9UEMtpktNLO29q9au9QoCnRIO_bk7qfHrGcRY6sW0NBfB5g5OWGZu01Ndr5TmTifN8QOyrmjcCJAiMpOlgSr30AIIoI7wKkRKf8EdThubNBIKGdWFwJ4PLK9/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Z57WBkZkyz0XfyfzHqxyQOY1KeNFfBcB5pmb9Dm9Cgr2WMJMrKyTQPCLqxayyKlPmYlC2ZK7Qn1LTvBTLB4t-XXEDQNt3wLHWkQQt8mUlbtj3oXihwYrbnj4p0W8iWp6Zan0_7QW8d1f/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1296" data-original-width="2048" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Z57WBkZkyz0XfyfzHqxyQOY1KeNFfBcB5pmb9Dm9Cgr2WMJMrKyTQPCLqxayyKlPmYlC2ZK7Qn1LTvBTLB4t-XXEDQNt3wLHWkQQt8mUlbtj3oXihwYrbnj4p0W8iWp6Zan0_7QW8d1f/w682-h432/IMG_8543.jpeg" width="682" /></a></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7yE7DD_BPTdfmbw5s3yp2IFSH72Fs5-BKFVpWDW5aBzrlMNOGc3PWCc6f2_qdGAKnwjEnoT8tKAi6b4ySG5dRtm9xl85PG89VoGy_Ydmg-uKu6cqN02z2YA3T0Cmf4BrH2EBvIhGSFVWg/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1308" data-original-width="2048" height="435" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7yE7DD_BPTdfmbw5s3yp2IFSH72Fs5-BKFVpWDW5aBzrlMNOGc3PWCc6f2_qdGAKnwjEnoT8tKAi6b4ySG5dRtm9xl85PG89VoGy_Ydmg-uKu6cqN02z2YA3T0Cmf4BrH2EBvIhGSFVWg/w683-h435/IMG_8544.jpeg" width="683" /></a></div> (That's the printed out copy of Willie Mays above. It's far from great, but it works)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqPUJI3o7bMsPpG1gK4LfZISCiUDnxjGWq5iZSEIQJkOF1dctruuIvNTENnLXUFSjBYcK9ESrCaFnhKP1aPbt-PuEfZ8PkS59qmrgBXivSGJY3aGOxGc_j3wjlXv2wEugdP2jl-qod3LYg/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1305" data-original-width="2048" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqPUJI3o7bMsPpG1gK4LfZISCiUDnxjGWq5iZSEIQJkOF1dctruuIvNTENnLXUFSjBYcK9ESrCaFnhKP1aPbt-PuEfZ8PkS59qmrgBXivSGJY3aGOxGc_j3wjlXv2wEugdP2jl-qod3LYg/w677-h432/IMG_8545.jpeg" width="677" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyJP-KGhRvnSbZTV_Ac_sp2UXm_YOKKIXhkvqFnmProVYeqanlE60_EXDjyQcwIxFUv7taRqEZRWVyHo5MVzgWCbSCMjaIHTRYMItcBfYA7f9NP3SAu8SasTUuo6HkoEs-hGfwQA_Zh5AI/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1294" data-original-width="2048" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyJP-KGhRvnSbZTV_Ac_sp2UXm_YOKKIXhkvqFnmProVYeqanlE60_EXDjyQcwIxFUv7taRqEZRWVyHo5MVzgWCbSCMjaIHTRYMItcBfYA7f9NP3SAu8SasTUuo6HkoEs-hGfwQA_Zh5AI/w678-h428/IMG_8546.jpeg" width="678" /></a></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtB1-DaSEgfM3fFb36v0aO_KT6UUBU5zGK0T81xywlyOB6B6Cx5xeJbMVXwhPRS4qZ2P3J43XUKjsjug92UHl2BsHZ3zBMbLgPWC9L-fv33KmsfqaCDkqwa23WH3JypNiYITZEwHiUShnw/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1332" data-original-width="2048" height="449" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtB1-DaSEgfM3fFb36v0aO_KT6UUBU5zGK0T81xywlyOB6B6Cx5xeJbMVXwhPRS4qZ2P3J43XUKjsjug92UHl2BsHZ3zBMbLgPWC9L-fv33KmsfqaCDkqwa23WH3JypNiYITZEwHiUShnw/w690-h449/IMG_8547.jpeg" width="690" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd8sBN-6ZEDDMqj52GG4_kjWVqdBWau_NLdL68HnvnAN64OBvIY5Cn3p8-co7HLskLEpz2sxBUGBmiEfix-sORnMPKWD7jlLIP4fOOZ1_Sb2_mVFBGm9nblTrCvhQ6pmvFxqQYpHNbw7Rb/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1330" data-original-width="2048" height="448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd8sBN-6ZEDDMqj52GG4_kjWVqdBWau_NLdL68HnvnAN64OBvIY5Cn3p8-co7HLskLEpz2sxBUGBmiEfix-sORnMPKWD7jlLIP4fOOZ1_Sb2_mVFBGm9nblTrCvhQ6pmvFxqQYpHNbw7Rb/w689-h448/IMG_8548.jpeg" width="689" /></a></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6vppQIO1QEaaHSB9Zq5o1tacPNWVF382Wlv0d2rU5xTKjU3xXUyoHBoXcPiVa1ojaH4nSzKUXsbR1oYBBC_WbMlRGTgNsdNQq52QbKl4KN_kdX3WbloMzIww0Eh92ScD97sRrxcsdTwpM/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1338" data-original-width="2048" height="449" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6vppQIO1QEaaHSB9Zq5o1tacPNWVF382Wlv0d2rU5xTKjU3xXUyoHBoXcPiVa1ojaH4nSzKUXsbR1oYBBC_WbMlRGTgNsdNQq52QbKl4KN_kdX3WbloMzIww0Eh92ScD97sRrxcsdTwpM/w688-h449/IMG_8549.jpeg" width="688" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2PSKJAz81aFNbzPCwfbpHRbthMwbpVABIEKNo0J_JGCwYU_5lu7R9KmAVVdEaZmipYUcpyUEfVYRMI7PlAdt-eRBhsgzx_o7At_dpeHIYa8zTHum00MUlhppwbKPEkx6TBijoLpEkmTUh/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1379" data-original-width="2048" height="466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2PSKJAz81aFNbzPCwfbpHRbthMwbpVABIEKNo0J_JGCwYU_5lu7R9KmAVVdEaZmipYUcpyUEfVYRMI7PlAdt-eRBhsgzx_o7At_dpeHIYa8zTHum00MUlhppwbKPEkx6TBijoLpEkmTUh/w694-h466/IMG_8550.jpeg" width="694" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The last two cards on that final page, the Campanella and the Dressen (yet to get a post of it's own) are high numbers and out of place. The slot that Roy is in actually should belong to Mickey Mantle, but it's unlikely the Mick is going to find his way there anytime soon. That said, I hope to continue to add the periodically high number here there, probably through trades, but it's not really a priority at this point.</div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div>Stack22http://www.blogger.com/profile/17776094817608096430noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3985751029568188159.post-39445030858702570832021-02-21T10:30:00.004-08:002021-02-21T10:33:30.608-08:00#261 Willie Mays<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFVZ-iREK4vXJZJ8zCk7S99oPegTV38ZRxYc6wwDVJiZmasDPsEvo0UHqC0Z3koCsvm9k8eFJxNbYxmMaWC0YmM4h40bqdh3ftOZTwrCAekrPaew3c5Mf1VHBsosWOCaAswcwe1wKAR6Ut/s2048/261+Mays%252C+Willie.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1451" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFVZ-iREK4vXJZJ8zCk7S99oPegTV38ZRxYc6wwDVJiZmasDPsEvo0UHqC0Z3koCsvm9k8eFJxNbYxmMaWC0YmM4h40bqdh3ftOZTwrCAekrPaew3c5Mf1VHBsosWOCaAswcwe1wKAR6Ut/w284-h400/261+Mays%252C+Willie.jpg" width="284" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1UzQw8KRr1lF_XOGiDUTLfeM8-xzsjb6tWKOfOiKpV_g3gZfMsFn2Nhv80vlFEDuU1c8pvLiLxvtQzikfq-VMQ8q4-PxdcpU7o-he13EswaqKVh5iXKLu5yWfxrxKwVWBTnOhKOhmzs73/s2048/261+Mays%252C+Willie+%2528back%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1446" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1UzQw8KRr1lF_XOGiDUTLfeM8-xzsjb6tWKOfOiKpV_g3gZfMsFn2Nhv80vlFEDuU1c8pvLiLxvtQzikfq-VMQ8q4-PxdcpU7o-he13EswaqKVh5iXKLu5yWfxrxKwVWBTnOhKOhmzs73/s320/261+Mays%252C+Willie+%2528back%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span>#261 Willie Mays</span><br /><span>Progress: 1st of this card</span><br /><span>311 of 407 76.2% complete</span><br /><span>How acquired: Purchased on eBay</span><br /><span>Condition: Good</span><br /><span><br /></span>I used to buy Beckett Monthly in the 1980's. Not every month, but a couple times a year depending who was on the cover and whether or not my brother or one of the other kids on the street had already purchased the latest issue. One of the things we would do was highlight the cards we had. We would also highlight the cards we wanted to one day have. We'd sit around trading '86 Fleer and the like, and debate the greatest cards of all-time and the ones we coveted most. This 1952 Willie Mays was about as big as I could dream. The ridiculously unobtainable one that I never really expected to own a copy of. Yet here it sits in my hand. It felt so surreal at first that I actually re-submitted it to PSA for a second authentication, I just couldn't believe I actually owned a copy.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Willie was my father's favorite player growing up. When he told my brother and I of Willie's greatness, it wasn't presented in a subjective manner. Mays was the greatest of all-time, the greatest there had ever been, and no one would ever be greater. Who was I to argue? I just looked at the handful of Mays cards that had survived in my father's collection with awe and felt lucky to have them under my roof. A '61 Topps being the oldest of the bunch.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Another surreal aspect of this card, is what it represents for purposes of my 1952 Topps collection. This Mays completes the run of cards #1-310. When I started this blog, I didn't think I'd ever come anywhere close to that. I'm well aware that there are another 97 cards in the set, but I'm not going to focus on them. I feel accomplished enough with the first five series in the books.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I purchased Mays back in 2017 and am just posting it now. You may have noticed the images above are little different from how they normally are on this blog. It's because that Mays sits inside a PSA cage. When I bought it, it was the most I had ever spent on a card. I had gone so far to create an excel spreadsheet and had been tracking eBay sales of it for about six months before bidding on this one. Despite it's large price (about a car payment), based on my numbers I felt like I had picked it up for a very good price. I don't usually spend more than $20 to $50 on a card, and even that is extremely rare. I hate PSA slabs, or any slab, I think they're a scam. But for resale purposes, there is no denying most buyers like them. So I've debated for the last four years as to whether or not I should crack this Mays out of it's plastic tomb. Over time, I've watched the price explode. It's regularly selling for 10x what I paid.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">One day, my card collection will get passed down and in all likelihood sold. That's fine. My daughter doesn't need to share my enthusiasm for this hobby and there is no reason my cards should take up space as unwanted relics in someone else's closet. When that day comes, I hope to make it as easy as possible for her to cash in what I have. So this Mays is going to stay slabbed. My apologies to Willie, this card deserves to breath free. Hopefully it's next owner will be braver than I am.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Stats: <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/mayswi01.shtml">22 Seasons</a>, 2x NL MVP, 20x All-Star, 12x Gold Glover, Rookie of the Year, 660 Home Runs, 3,187 hits, .302 career avg.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/hof_1979.shtml">Inducted into The Baseball Hall of Fame in 1979</a></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/hof_1969.shtml"><br /><br /></a></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Stack22http://www.blogger.com/profile/17776094817608096430noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3985751029568188159.post-62239761826668902152019-12-07T11:28:00.002-08:002020-10-03T11:54:42.574-07:00#314 Roy Campanella<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEYFKK5uykJsHCLMBsuwm3lUJ4Jjwx7-iXvzCncPMuCrr8DtbXUvpBukmof5mQ0Ja5b0Jet6qUyBlDeS73ugfJ-vZuW9UW_SXSaUckAUT1ghTt4bhfD2GYsWghFt1vZkKyBobnspMnLRmG/s1142/52+Campanella%252C+Roy.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1142" data-original-width="809" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEYFKK5uykJsHCLMBsuwm3lUJ4Jjwx7-iXvzCncPMuCrr8DtbXUvpBukmof5mQ0Ja5b0Jet6qUyBlDeS73ugfJ-vZuW9UW_SXSaUckAUT1ghTt4bhfD2GYsWghFt1vZkKyBobnspMnLRmG/w284-h400/52+Campanella%252C+Roy.jpeg" width="284" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLAMP6Z8DIR4yiYzmUpmk2Gy0l02T7olZpTAMBZHnyR8a3CIr5Rrd8lk49HvJKMp0fW08OoLK2j6SyI1cr8Q96u54rD6QJWKtqKCjlG35SnfSkJVPk3_tsVDVtnklzQtsMNMA3B8kRp-7d/s602/52+Campanella%252C+Roy+%2528back%2529+B.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="602" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLAMP6Z8DIR4yiYzmUpmk2Gy0l02T7olZpTAMBZHnyR8a3CIr5Rrd8lk49HvJKMp0fW08OoLK2j6SyI1cr8Q96u54rD6QJWKtqKCjlG35SnfSkJVPk3_tsVDVtnklzQtsMNMA3B8kRp-7d/w400-h288/52+Campanella%252C+Roy+%2528back%2529+B.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vLmhrj2k8Dk/XevoGmJ6LMI/AAAAAAAAJlw/hrWUUA8TwfopY80sUhaOVnwXB03_ddojACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Campy%2Bb.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">#314 Roy Campanella</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Progress: 1st of this card</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">310 of 407 76.2% complete</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">How acquired: Sent as an <i>extremely</i> generous gift from a reader</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Condition: Poor</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">This Campanella was sent to me by a reader of this blog, who only asked for a few '73 Topps set build needs in return</span><span style="font-size: large;">. I'm a little blown away by the gesture. It's also my first high number card from this set, even if you can't tell just by looking at it, due to the three in "314" no longer being visible on the back. I'd be lying if I said I don't get a little bit of an extra thrill from having a high number in hand. So a huge thank you to the individual who sent it. I have been embarrassingly slow in getting out a package of '73 Topps to him, really a trivial return for a card like this, but still have a mounting stack that will eventually find their way into a mailbox.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I don't think "Campy," needs much of an introduction. On the short list when it comes to the subject of "Greatest Catcher of All-Time," the three time MVP helped lead the Brooklyn Dodgers to five NL Pennants and a World Series title before having his career cut short by a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roy_Campanella">tragic automobile accident</a>. While his career is pretty well documented, I was somewhat surprised to see that in his lone pitching appearance in the Negro League, Campanella threw a complete game and picked up a win. Also worth noting for it's absurdity, "Campy" wasn't let into Cooperstown until his 7th year on the ballot. Even when he finally was inducted along with Stan Musial in 1969, he barely squeaked in with just 79.4% of the vote. That remains a blackeye for the BBWAA as far as I'm concerned.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I haven't posted anything new on this blog since April of 2018. I am sitting on one more new addition, and it's a big one, but I've just been unsure how I want to post it, and what to do next as far as future post. I hadn't intended to pursue the high numbers in this set orignally. But two things have happened. One, the low end high numbers in this set have dropped in price significantly over the last two years. For a long time they never showed up for under a $100, no matter how beat up they were. Now they're routinely going in the $40-60 range, which is still obscene, but I may be able to swing 2 or 3 a year. And two, on the other end of my set building, 1970's high numbers have been going up in price. While $40-60 for a single card isn't really something I can stomach, $5-10 a card for common '72 high numbers can also add up fast. So I'm not sure which direction I'll go. A third option is to focus on 1953 Topps (an effort <a href="http://53topps.blogspot.com/">I also have blog for</a>, that despite a huge backlog of new pick-ups, hasn't been updated in over a year). I'll probably just go scatter shot and not finish anything off.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Stats: <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/camparo01.shtml">10 seasons</a>, 3x NL MVP, 8x All-Star, 5x NL Pennants, 1954 World Series Ring</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/hof_1969.shtml"><br /></a></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/hof_1969.shtml">Inducted into The Baseball Hall of Fame in 1969</a></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3985751029568188159.post-87874796458084471222018-04-24T12:04:00.002-07:002020-11-30T09:36:09.133-08:00#284 Hank Arft<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYTpwDc4wfinsrjpKMtPif1GoeMB4aKmdXHtmiM3kp24jY1Hm_l-fg2IzH5x0nkR-99-4nsgINTD5N_CGe38k-Nn-4Ipo6WW8kClNNtnJ5HA_QS4fOwjzzhlYZliETx3u5xzaqB0hntXlx/s2048/284+Arft%252C+Hank.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1445" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYTpwDc4wfinsrjpKMtPif1GoeMB4aKmdXHtmiM3kp24jY1Hm_l-fg2IzH5x0nkR-99-4nsgINTD5N_CGe38k-Nn-4Ipo6WW8kClNNtnJ5HA_QS4fOwjzzhlYZliETx3u5xzaqB0hntXlx/w283-h400/284+Arft%252C+Hank.jpeg" width="283" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAefU5t7zhb1N5_UsqbmHpuXD6k6Ph7W_Ght4TKHGbHGcuxN1irZZyKx2jYQwYQYr51EnBg9zTweHioRWIxmfxCcpcoigrcs0ttoigcGi7YBmjsymVlQQe7jPDqQV2_04BTTWUapOzDfRz/s2048/284+Arft%252C+Hank+%2528back%2529.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1462" data-original-width="2048" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAefU5t7zhb1N5_UsqbmHpuXD6k6Ph7W_Ght4TKHGbHGcuxN1irZZyKx2jYQwYQYr51EnBg9zTweHioRWIxmfxCcpcoigrcs0ttoigcGi7YBmjsymVlQQe7jPDqQV2_04BTTWUapOzDfRz/w320-h228/284+Arft%252C+Hank+%2528back%2529.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;">#284 Hank Arft</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Progress: none, <a href="http://1952topps.blogspot.com/2013/03/284-hank-arft.html">2nd of this card</a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">How acquired: $4.99 on eBay</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Condition: Good</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">At first glance, this card appears to be in much better condition than my <a href="http://1952topps.blogspot.com/2013/03/284-hank-arft.html">first copy of Hank Arft</a>. However, my collecting taste, or probably more accurately, my collecting tics, fall a little bit outside of the mainstream. While I can deal with the paper loss on the back, that little clipping in the upper left just irritates me to no end. To the point that I opted to keep my fist copy in the '52 binder I have going and relegate this one to my duplicates pile. I'm also of the opinion that this card was likely trimmed along it's edges at some point.</span><br />
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<span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: #441500; color: #ffeedd; font-size: medium;">Stats:</span><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/a/arftha01.shtml" style="background-color: #441500; color: #ff8866; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; text-decoration-line: none;"> 5 seasons</a><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: #441500; color: #ffeedd; font-size: medium;">, 229 hits, 13 home runs</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Here's a side by side of the two copies:</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrsTKNO9YMcoMj7N1VAFPs-0uVEgyqY34RFl3gmQ9fREOISLboa3dWo-oNdMrkj2PLno7qcxedzDlw5_TK5VNMvuSiz1tiUkcWoKQsSM44qWiNUNH_q4EeIE0ZEGbi4tO_6EjIdNApH4lJ/s765/284+Arft%252C+Hank.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="765" data-original-width="543" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrsTKNO9YMcoMj7N1VAFPs-0uVEgyqY34RFl3gmQ9fREOISLboa3dWo-oNdMrkj2PLno7qcxedzDlw5_TK5VNMvuSiz1tiUkcWoKQsSM44qWiNUNH_q4EeIE0ZEGbi4tO_6EjIdNApH4lJ/s320/284+Arft%252C+Hank.jpeg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_vhwYD4gFfrHorKgfy8VW3aMsiQLXopr6MpdBKnTghnZMRCO6r6zmvBj2n4nnh2uYFm9i20C5nfVYQjqnb_Dzl7_nQ0N9cyxsG8Qthq0izlZ_aIELlLDkSqayCeLg9kHuIQtWk9VUxXta/s759/284+Arft%252C+Henry+%2528back%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="537" data-original-width="759" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_vhwYD4gFfrHorKgfy8VW3aMsiQLXopr6MpdBKnTghnZMRCO6r6zmvBj2n4nnh2uYFm9i20C5nfVYQjqnb_Dzl7_nQ0N9cyxsG8Qthq0izlZ_aIELlLDkSqayCeLg9kHuIQtWk9VUxXta/s320/284+Arft%252C+Henry+%2528back%2529.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div></div><br /><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Maybe I'm nuts, but I prefer the one on the left. It's faded colors, creases, scuff marks, and the sorry state of the edges are all more akin to medals to be worn with pride than defects to be derided when it comes to my collecting taste.</span></div>
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<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3985751029568188159.post-39877647009622859182018-04-19T13:40:00.002-07:002021-02-21T14:17:09.371-08:00#275 Pat Mullin<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib5qdpirgyl9gi72JtUhK3t-s7oKwTcvNyRSSsKZmy6fHSvRovCdn2-GGzhCFgHznWJb8l5eDud4_OayDOJ-uTUx28ou4L91Bh-UgEJC7GUvhd0LgTyhWTsK06wwgs_klDAClGq_4LWkG6/s1149/275+Mullin%252C+Pat+2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1149" data-original-width="815" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib5qdpirgyl9gi72JtUhK3t-s7oKwTcvNyRSSsKZmy6fHSvRovCdn2-GGzhCFgHznWJb8l5eDud4_OayDOJ-uTUx28ou4L91Bh-UgEJC7GUvhd0LgTyhWTsK06wwgs_klDAClGq_4LWkG6/w284-h400/275+Mullin%252C+Pat+2.jpeg" width="284" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTfg6YfbtjP-_vdLUG_ZQLxtiJkEGQnIs1xbXWQUkjHsBfm43t89dka6KKxbxU1cH-jnIrZLyzrA-Z7EHLkYHkIlJ2a7883sPoat_oFMdJvcR2TwMKhtwRR_UZMyFogPakQAqE96kOsD9M/s1143/275+Mullin%252C+Pat+%2528back%2529+2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="813" data-original-width="1143" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTfg6YfbtjP-_vdLUG_ZQLxtiJkEGQnIs1xbXWQUkjHsBfm43t89dka6KKxbxU1cH-jnIrZLyzrA-Z7EHLkYHkIlJ2a7883sPoat_oFMdJvcR2TwMKhtwRR_UZMyFogPakQAqE96kOsD9M/s320/275+Mullin%252C+Pat+%2528back%2529+2.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">#275 Pat Mullin</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Progress: none, <a href="http://1952topps.blogspot.com/2017/07/275-pat-mullin.html">2nd of this card</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">How acquired: $8.75 on eBay</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Condition: Good</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I think I lost my mind a few months back when I was closing out on my remaining needs and adding duplicates when available at good prices. This is a duplicate. That is not a good price. I have no idea what I was thinking. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I know I was not happy with my initial copy of this card. The bottom edge appears to have been eaten by rodent or bird. Growing up my brother had a cockatiel bird for longer than I would like to remember, and the thing used to be allowed out of it's cage and would immediately start to nibble my comic books. <a href="http://1952topps.blogspot.com/2017/07/275-pat-mullin.html">The damage on my first Mullin card looks like t</a>he pages of my comic books after "Louie" had snacked on them. In any event, it was one of the few cards I was actively looking to upgrade. I just shouldn't have done so at this price.</span></div>
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<span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: #441500; color: #ffeedd; font-size: medium;">Stats: </span><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/mullipa01.shtml" style="background-color: #441500; color: #ff8866; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; text-decoration-line: none;">10 seasons</a><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: #441500; color: #ffeedd; font-size: medium;">, 2x All-Star, 676 hits, 87 HR, 385 RBI, .271 avg.</span></div>
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<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3985751029568188159.post-17914504665204672522018-04-18T09:38:00.001-07:002021-02-21T14:18:06.801-08:00#251 Chico Carrasquel<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-De5-Lzi2WxE/WtdyuUlWLuI/AAAAAAAAJdU/cq59IBL5Nh0UlSYqkEaBFTEgUeGbRu3fwCLcBGAs/s1600/251%2BCarrasquerl%252C%2BChico%2B%2528back%2529%2B2.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvshN8jz73NQs4KViTWsIvbS0uJQtZWU5dpi9_I1yqmWjkLYTNlS4vNUHBN1UN-W1HUZtZ8miEFGde0whtPzb51yMlCM4C5Z52QjeVTCP4H260bR86mEJ2Av189eoQgTqX1Gz_bnWTFYxr/s765/251+Carrasquel%252C+Chico+2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="765" data-original-width="535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvshN8jz73NQs4KViTWsIvbS0uJQtZWU5dpi9_I1yqmWjkLYTNlS4vNUHBN1UN-W1HUZtZ8miEFGde0whtPzb51yMlCM4C5Z52QjeVTCP4H260bR86mEJ2Av189eoQgTqX1Gz_bnWTFYxr/w280-h400/251+Carrasquel%252C+Chico+2.jpeg" width="280" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuO_rudiGPjUYHfjReI60U5prYjuox-rb2X9pjawvmfsDcsqCRPZNszGxmAJBv0W9l2YTQpqHwQYnKGUCf7qTh0Xa_VzM8WPhGIbAsqZlxSB8o_-G9XhhVVp6qhwUajeNxjpYvhXTaGxcd/s768/251+Carrasquerl%252C+Chico+%2528back%2529+2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="541" data-original-width="768" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuO_rudiGPjUYHfjReI60U5prYjuox-rb2X9pjawvmfsDcsqCRPZNszGxmAJBv0W9l2YTQpqHwQYnKGUCf7qTh0Xa_VzM8WPhGIbAsqZlxSB8o_-G9XhhVVp6qhwUajeNxjpYvhXTaGxcd/s320/251+Carrasquerl%252C+Chico+%2528back%2529+2.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iZsmjOYR_BM/WtdyuJIWRCI/AAAAAAAAJdQ/YlNgGAOrJFEDy49KvkZuJj93RQ4HXRPEgCLcBGAs/s1600/251%2BCarrasquel%252C%2BChico%2B2.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">#251 Chico Carrasquel</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Progress: none, <a href="http://1952topps.blogspot.com/2017/05/251-chico-carrasquel.html">2nd of this card</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">How acquired: $5.50 on eBay</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Condition: Good</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">To be honest, I'm not sure what I was thinking when I bought this card. It's an upgrade over my first copy, but there wasn't anything horribly wrong over the one I already had, and this one wasn't exactly cheap. I guess I just get carried away sometimes when I'm placing all my max bids with a seller who has a lot of 52's listed for auction.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">If nothing else, it's a 5th series card of a guy who made multiple All-Star teams. I've made sillier decisions in my collecting life than this.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Stats: </span><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/carrach01.shtml" style="color: #ffeecc; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large;">10 seasons</a><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: #441500; color: #ffeedd; font-size: medium;">, 4x All-Star, 1,199 hits, 3x AL Defensive WAR leader</span></div>
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<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3985751029568188159.post-42644933206360429702018-04-17T09:34:00.002-07:002021-02-21T14:19:56.405-08:00#155 Frank Overmire<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eh0moDhBzmI/WtYfZ4rk0fI/AAAAAAAAJdA/1SowZPrCKR8YPQfLKfIKOL6mfk-ZyFFWgCEwYBhgL/s1600/155%2BOvermire%252C%2BFrank%2B%2528back%2529%2B2.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVBJ32pveEwAO_kEd2vp1U46MWumx7hZHeUse50rho7ziPqhb3bIj48qVUDxEAcBldp12SZOXj3ROufj6H41N9TqRuZMPfWStooHZgAvj4X64JjDGaG-mrCR1_VrLcvDgzxCOkTaJIcx3T/s2048/155+Overmire%252C+Frank+2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1448" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVBJ32pveEwAO_kEd2vp1U46MWumx7hZHeUse50rho7ziPqhb3bIj48qVUDxEAcBldp12SZOXj3ROufj6H41N9TqRuZMPfWStooHZgAvj4X64JjDGaG-mrCR1_VrLcvDgzxCOkTaJIcx3T/w283-h400/155+Overmire%252C+Frank+2.jpeg" width="283" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFANT01xnPM4w6d7VbZFUyS6OjGIv-35mRvkhZKN_ckcY_hIP5s0TV0Av5RXfewtxyh-AFWQfej9Kkfcz5l8v_EvhvCDDDJYINjJrEuBOkftRvvFuPGXzSKQTox_SrhsOK_gEwKVshuUsV/s1149/155+Overmire%252C+Frank+%2528back%2529+2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="822" data-original-width="1149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFANT01xnPM4w6d7VbZFUyS6OjGIv-35mRvkhZKN_ckcY_hIP5s0TV0Av5RXfewtxyh-AFWQfej9Kkfcz5l8v_EvhvCDDDJYINjJrEuBOkftRvvFuPGXzSKQTox_SrhsOK_gEwKVshuUsV/s320/155+Overmire%252C+Frank+%2528back%2529+2.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-G-B8LxYXgBc/WtYfeEAqIiI/AAAAAAAAJdE/XB1Qib1Im1YRNZrEfOOH_H7VxNVoVvN3gCEwYBhgL/s1600/155%2BOvermire%252C%2BFrank%2B2.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eh0moDhBzmI/WtYfZ4rk0fI/AAAAAAAAJdA/1SowZPrCKR8YPQfLKfIKOL6mfk-ZyFFWgCEwYBhgL/s1600/155%2BOvermire%252C%2BFrank%2B%2528back%2529%2B2.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eh0moDhBzmI/WtYfZ4rk0fI/AAAAAAAAJdA/1SowZPrCKR8YPQfLKfIKOL6mfk-ZyFFWgCEwYBhgL/s1600/155%2BOvermire%252C%2BFrank%2B%2528back%2529%2B2.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">#155 Frank Overmire</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Progress: none, <a href="http://1952topps.blogspot.com/2015/11/155-frank-overmire.html">2nd of this card</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">How acquired: $5.04 on eBay</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Condition: Very Good</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">When I first started collecting this set about ten years ago, this Frank Overmire was one of my early favorites. I didn't really anticipate ever actually owning most of the stars, but if I couldn't own the real stars, I may as well try to own a card that looked like one. This Overmire just has the look of a card that should cost a lot. And given his MLB resume, it certainly costs more than it should. But it still calls out to me on eBay, and when I had the chance to pick up this second copy, I couldn't resists.</span></div>
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<span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: #441500; color: #ffeedd; font-size: medium;">Stats: </span><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/o/overmst01.shtml" style="color: #ff8866; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; text-decoration: none;">10 seasons</a><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: #441500; color: #ffeedd; font-size: medium;">, 58 wins, 50 complete games, 3.96 ERA, World Series Ring with Detroit in 1945</span></div>
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Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3985751029568188159.post-4270127133788108342018-04-16T10:56:00.004-07:002021-02-21T14:20:43.008-08:00#139 Ken Wood<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3tBpACCSLyWxIfyeuF0ORmZBHkb7oNAbwtBHXrk58ET7xg-434hHKHq1Km3Ab2KWuXeD-HwCMHNK9xGeQ_wUCG-Kwm7CAu_N2lfA92sXwYJhiOWRzRv7rZbr3ArWI6tUBcU1iJylwDm_U/s1152/139+Wood%252C+Ken+2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="809" data-original-width="1152" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3tBpACCSLyWxIfyeuF0ORmZBHkb7oNAbwtBHXrk58ET7xg-434hHKHq1Km3Ab2KWuXeD-HwCMHNK9xGeQ_wUCG-Kwm7CAu_N2lfA92sXwYJhiOWRzRv7rZbr3ArWI6tUBcU1iJylwDm_U/w400-h281/139+Wood%252C+Ken+2.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1bCqWuCQNY7YCvx6sg0SAMfB6RmW4FU_lWQWh7MkOewgJKUPOPHFECNtS4DOw2DRrIgUkmfWHmARi16Qio1Bw4HQzYWYe7WFvbiEStrNtUSZQHAnpXQzD-KXH34Rvml58o6mN2xxfEzM8/s1152/139+Wood%252C+Ken+%2528back%2529+2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="806" data-original-width="1152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1bCqWuCQNY7YCvx6sg0SAMfB6RmW4FU_lWQWh7MkOewgJKUPOPHFECNtS4DOw2DRrIgUkmfWHmARi16Qio1Bw4HQzYWYe7WFvbiEStrNtUSZQHAnpXQzD-KXH34Rvml58o6mN2xxfEzM8/s320/139+Wood%252C+Ken+%2528back%2529+2.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WOxs61y7SJ0/WtTf6VJS1GI/AAAAAAAAJcM/dG9PvqXt0OE2zV2qgX9FjlPDcmkC6I48QCLcBGAs/s1600/139%2BWood%252C%2BKen%2B2.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">#139 Ken Wood</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Progress: none, <a href="http://1952topps.blogspot.com/search/label/Wood%20Ken">2nd of this card</a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">How acquired: $4.69 on ebay</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Condition: Fair</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">This was not an intentional acquisition. I had a brief run awhile back where I was able to acquire a good number of these from a couple of sellers at reasonable rates. $4.69 would be at the high end for a duplicate Ken Wood, at least on my budget, and not one I would target. But for a 1st copy that crosses off a need, anything under $5 is typically my goal. Due to my own stubborn habit of not updating my need list until a card is actually in hand, I failed to realize that I had picked up a Ken Wood less than a week earlier in another purchase, and it was in the mail. I'm not losing any sleep over it, but this card actually cost about 50¢ more than my first one, and is in worse shape. Oh well.</span><br />
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<span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: #441500; color: #ffeedd; font-size: medium;">Stats: </span><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/woodke01.shtml" style="background-color: #441500; color: #ff8866; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; text-decoration-line: none;">6 seasons</a><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: #441500; color: #ffeedd; font-size: medium;">, 223 hits, 34 homer runs, .234 avg.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3985751029568188159.post-38734158095139142622018-04-03T11:52:00.001-07:002018-04-03T11:52:46.975-07:00#307 Frank Campos<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VKC4dorZbLg/WsPKLMaityI/AAAAAAAAJbo/DtnOLVSDzF8oqwUFGL0qIlZ_cv-zwlc4ACLcBGAs/s1600/307%2BCampos%252C%2BFrank.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1144" data-original-width="800" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VKC4dorZbLg/WsPKLMaityI/AAAAAAAAJbo/DtnOLVSDzF8oqwUFGL0qIlZ_cv-zwlc4ACLcBGAs/s400/307%2BCampos%252C%2BFrank.jpeg" width="278" /></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KGAvqtfVkdU/WsPKKiRCD2I/AAAAAAAAJbk/l5bFPmlrvKMYz9Ad5TqgLYxSG-ZjqVP3gCLcBGAs/s1600/307%2BCampos%252C%2BFrank%2B%2528back%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="808" data-original-width="1148" height="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KGAvqtfVkdU/WsPKKiRCD2I/AAAAAAAAJbk/l5bFPmlrvKMYz9Ad5TqgLYxSG-ZjqVP3gCLcBGAs/s320/307%2BCampos%252C%2BFrank%2B%2528back%2529.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">#307 Frank Campos</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Progress: 1st of this card</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">309 of 407 75.9% complete</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">How acquired: $11.50 on eBay</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Condition: Very Good</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">This Frank Campos has some water damage in the corner, but is in other wise great shape. I'm a fan of any card in this set that has that shield patch on the sleeve, and this Campos is no exception. It's a good looking baseball card, and the way the "W" on the jersey sort of looks like the Wu-Tang logo does nothing to change my opinion on that.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I overpaid for this Campos, but these 300+ number cards just seem to cost a little more, even when the player on the front is Frank Campos, who had 41 career hits over three seasons. This was actually the last card I needed to complete the run from 1-310 and I just didn't have the patience to hold out for a better priced, worse looking copy. I wanted to finish. Obviously one card remains to be posted. Those of you who have been paying attention can probably guess who that is. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Stats: <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/campofr01.shtml">3 seasons</a>, 41 hits, 13 RBI's, .279 avg. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Best Hall of Fame Showing: N/A </span>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3985751029568188159.post-6922535899929094122018-03-25T09:24:00.001-07:002018-03-25T09:24:11.562-07:00#287 Steve Bilko<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aAytmmycFEE/WrfJsxlxDpI/AAAAAAAAJbM/NsQL1QQjb_kdrmBYbZnySWz6BOkRHAXgwCLcBGAs/s1600/287%2BBilko%252C%2BSteve.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="811" data-original-width="1145" height="282" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aAytmmycFEE/WrfJsxlxDpI/AAAAAAAAJbM/NsQL1QQjb_kdrmBYbZnySWz6BOkRHAXgwCLcBGAs/s400/287%2BBilko%252C%2BSteve.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6IQSHOqx658/WrfJsWHoFdI/AAAAAAAAJbI/XZgo67jAg6kxaL_T9bBRbdpGqHVXtRTlgCLcBGAs/s1600/287%2BBilko%252C%2BSteve%2B%2528back%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="819" data-original-width="1146" height="228" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6IQSHOqx658/WrfJsWHoFdI/AAAAAAAAJbI/XZgo67jAg6kxaL_T9bBRbdpGqHVXtRTlgCLcBGAs/s320/287%2BBilko%252C%2BSteve%2B%2528back%2529.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">#287 Steve Bilko</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Progress: 1st of this card</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">308 of 407 75.7% complete</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">How acquired: $12.00 on ebay<br />Condition: Fair</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">This Steve Bilko was not a fun card to track down. Bilko spent ten seasons in the majors, but was only a regular in two of them ('53 and '61), the other eight he struggled to get on the field. Which made shelling out $12 for this card one of the more painful transactions of the first 308 cards I've picked up. These 5th series cards are just tough.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Adding to my distress is that I just find this card to be not that nice to look at. Beyond the fact that it's in pretty rough shape (which doesn't really bother me) I just don't like the shot. To start with, it's horizontal, and I'm not wild about the horizontal cards in this set. I'm also not wild about all the blue sky. Maybe in better shape it would look nicer, but as it is, it just makes the card look pale. And finally, it's just a crummy picture. Bilko's face is obscured by his shoulder, you can't see much of the bat, and the position I'm sure makes Bilko look closer to 280 than his already robust 230. It's just poor cropping. In any event. I now sit two cards away from completing the run of first five series from #1-310. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Stats: 10 seasons, 432 hits, 76 hits, 249 avg.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Best Hall of Fame Showing: N/A </span>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3985751029568188159.post-45918642776454333232018-03-16T10:40:00.000-07:002018-03-16T10:40:46.809-07:00#268 Bob Lemon<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ga15UQc8nWQ/Wqv9ptgUIsI/AAAAAAAAJao/MDLqN9NoFJwwEzjV81DILwpndBQSqgkxQCLcBGAs/s1600/268%2BLemon%252C%2BBob.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1147" data-original-width="810" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ga15UQc8nWQ/Wqv9ptgUIsI/AAAAAAAAJao/MDLqN9NoFJwwEzjV81DILwpndBQSqgkxQCLcBGAs/s400/268%2BLemon%252C%2BBob.jpeg" width="281" /></a><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Yj2K3ek5a-s/Wqv9ojeNDjI/AAAAAAAAJak/Ugb5Ph_khN4UTo-htmN_4RZyZ2TtSvrlgCLcBGAs/s1600/268%2BLemon%252C%2BBob%2B%2528back%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1140" height="227" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Yj2K3ek5a-s/Wqv9ojeNDjI/AAAAAAAAJak/Ugb5Ph_khN4UTo-htmN_4RZyZ2TtSvrlgCLcBGAs/s320/268%2BLemon%252C%2BBob%2B%2528back%2529.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">#268 Bob Lemon</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Progress: 1st of this card</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">307 of 407 75.4% complete</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">How acquired: $9.49 on eBay</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Condition: Fair</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I wasn't familiar with Bob Lemon, but that's just because I'm not very bright. Lemon is a Hall of Famer. He had a brilliant 13 year career with Cleveland. During his prime Lemon made seven straight All-Star teams, won 20 or more games six times, led the AL in wins three times, and finished in the top 10 of MVP voting six times. He helped the Indians win 2 AL Pennants, and went 2-0 as a starter posting a 1.65 ERA in Cleveland's 1948 World Series victory over the Braves. Solid at the plate, Lemon hit 37 career home runs and finished with 147 career RBI's.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Initially, I was very annoyed that this card cost so much. However, after doing my research, and feeling like a fool, I am no longer upset that this card set me back almost $10. Having reconsidered Lemon's status, it feels like a bargain. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Stats: <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/l/lemonbo01.shtml">13 seasons</a>, 7x All-Star, 207 wins, 128 loses, 3.23 ERA</span><br />
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<a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/hof_1976.shtml"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Inducted into The Baseball Hall of Fame in 1976</span></b></a><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"> </span>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3985751029568188159.post-52007060805479764192018-03-05T10:33:00.001-08:002021-02-21T14:30:50.643-08:00#175 Billy Martin<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigTGFSKqfi2lfE7V-mMdIoPP5i1THihZDS_xvXvVyAjW8clMQ_a2g0L4gPqVhCkIYjeyPi2YoLydQWPKY8yaM3Cc1e1LXy1-WXSnLhyphenhyphentbsIVg8TzqrxvbDOoEhmQ2JnH-_mGDkbamZP-zh/s1151/175+Martin%252C+Billy.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1151" data-original-width="809" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigTGFSKqfi2lfE7V-mMdIoPP5i1THihZDS_xvXvVyAjW8clMQ_a2g0L4gPqVhCkIYjeyPi2YoLydQWPKY8yaM3Cc1e1LXy1-WXSnLhyphenhyphentbsIVg8TzqrxvbDOoEhmQ2JnH-_mGDkbamZP-zh/w281-h400/175+Martin%252C+Billy.jpeg" width="281" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM6qHcCmISxZGf_SoFMMPwEyJTAHcyfAPS6c2r7ZHT8pL6lqHAiNIbGyWX5RPmN-hNDn0LLj5r1SP1pZG4bGytMkNso4BP1z7j8tbU5u0p6ANC79vBgkFsx9ybdevKoXzwzawLE-o-dYw7/s1147/175+Martin%252C+Billy+%2528back%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="807" data-original-width="1147" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM6qHcCmISxZGf_SoFMMPwEyJTAHcyfAPS6c2r7ZHT8pL6lqHAiNIbGyWX5RPmN-hNDn0LLj5r1SP1pZG4bGytMkNso4BP1z7j8tbU5u0p6ANC79vBgkFsx9ybdevKoXzwzawLE-o-dYw7/s320/175+Martin%252C+Billy+%2528back%2529.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aKUrjzxk0nQ/Wp2FhVXniCI/AAAAAAAAJZU/BrraIm2qNTo9Mj9HowORwZAXT5Ina8T4ACLcBGAs/s1600/175%2BMartin%252C%2BBilly.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">#175 Billy Martin</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Progress: 1st of this card</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">306 of 407 75.2% complete</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">How acquired: $50.00 on eBay</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Condition: Good (<i>PSA 2 MC, technically</i>)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Billy Martin is one of the big guns in the first 310 cards, and I had to pay accordingly, which wasn't a very pleasant experience. I'm not as wild about this Martin as I was few of the other big names that set me back, such as <a href="http://1952topps.blogspot.com/2017/06/11-phil-rizzuto.html">Rizzuto</a> and <a href="http://1952topps.blogspot.com/search/label/Berra%20Yogi">Berra</a>. I'm not sure why, I like Billy Martin, but this card just didn't generate the same excitement for me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I caught a bit of a break on the price of this card, as ridiculous as that may sound, due to the fact that it's miscut. If you notice, the back of this card is severely miscut, with the bottom of the card next to it appearing along the top. It's done in such a way though, that you could be forgiven if you just thought that was the regular design. It's not like it has someone else's name showing up on the back. So it really doesn't bother me at all. The coloring is a little faded (I think), and I'm a little disappointed in that, but ultimately, I'm just happy to cross this off my need list and add it to my ongoing efforts with this set.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Stats:</b> <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/martibi02.shtml">11 seasons</a>, All-Star, 877 hits, .257 avg., 5x World Series Rings (4 as a player one as a coach), 1,253 wins as a manager</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Best Hall of Fame Showing:</b> <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/hof_1967.shtml">0.3% 1967</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Martin's #1 was retired by the New York Yankees in 1986</span><br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PwaVC0tmR10/Wp2Iz_uCL8I/AAAAAAAAJZo/uAJ9CMWIgQgMj0kz4TIb72esk_0HOnEKACLcBGAs/s1600/BM1.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1265" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PwaVC0tmR10/Wp2Iz_uCL8I/AAAAAAAAJZo/uAJ9CMWIgQgMj0kz4TIb72esk_0HOnEKACLcBGAs/s640/BM1.JPG" width="505" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">This Martin came encased in a PSA slab. I'm not a "graded card guy." If you are, that's great, I won't try to talk you out of it, but it's just not for me. I like to touch my cards. Feel them in my fingers the same way some random person long lost to history did when they first pulled it from a pack, smell them (I know that's weird), and wiggle them to see how sturdy they are, you get the idea. However, that doesn't mean I can't appreciate the benefits of PSA, or BVG, or SGC. When I'm dropping what I consider to be a lot of money (like $50 on this Martin) for a card on eBay, I like the added reassurance that the card is genuine that these graded card services provide. A little extra piece of mind. Still, once I have it, the cards coming out. I wish there was an easier way to do it. Would it kill these companies to leave a slot or something that a screw drive could be easily inserted into to get these cases open? Instead, I have to break out my tools and I actually cut my finger in the process of opening this one.</span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-z_1rrOhgbSY/Wp2I_476bPI/AAAAAAAAJaI/IH4ptETsBMMdGWAt-8YAvBrTFI4pbyQHQCEwYBhgL/s1600/BM2.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1233" data-original-width="1600" height="492" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-z_1rrOhgbSY/Wp2I_476bPI/AAAAAAAAJaI/IH4ptETsBMMdGWAt-8YAvBrTFI4pbyQHQCEwYBhgL/s640/BM2.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-o9QoX_Ta8jQ/Wp2JBTLJGEI/AAAAAAAAJaI/SGdZuaFUduA7iz2b--rvUkM6wLWU5y9YQCEwYBhgL/s1600/BM4.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1058" data-original-width="1600" height="422" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-o9QoX_Ta8jQ/Wp2JBTLJGEI/AAAAAAAAJaI/SGdZuaFUduA7iz2b--rvUkM6wLWU5y9YQCEwYBhgL/s640/BM4.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The first thing I did was crunch the corners off. It takes a little elbow grease, and while I like handling my cards and can live with whatever extra "damage" that may cause, I'm not out actively looking to make them worse. So it's a little nerve racking to be taking these tools to the case.</span><br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NspKAvQUAJA/Wp2JSJoCk2I/AAAAAAAAJaU/KYiCq5bt0gIGDDprYLMy1oz0aiuCVqWPACEwYBhgL/s1600/BM5.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1571" data-original-width="1600" height="628" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NspKAvQUAJA/Wp2JSJoCk2I/AAAAAAAAJaU/KYiCq5bt0gIGDDprYLMy1oz0aiuCVqWPACEwYBhgL/s640/BM5.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Once I removed enough of the corners, I was able to slide a screwdriver into the case. It wasn't too difficult to pop the thing open from there. (You can see a dab of my blood below the "Y" in Billy Martin on the PSA tag)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8fuFN5JmOkI/Wp2JPBfAUII/AAAAAAAAJaM/WNXWBw1NYoIP5Zbtvjs9iosmXLPVY-hQwCEwYBhgL/s1600/BM6.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1442" data-original-width="1600" height="576" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8fuFN5JmOkI/Wp2JPBfAUII/AAAAAAAAJaM/WNXWBw1NYoIP5Zbtvjs9iosmXLPVY-hQwCEwYBhgL/s640/BM6.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Properly freed from his plastic prison, I was able handle my '52 Martin (after cleaning my cut) the way Sy Berger intended it to be all those years ago. From there, Martin took his place in my '52 binder creating yet another completed page. As any vintage set builder can attest to, the completed page is one of the most satisfying feelings there is to be found in collecting.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Zxr15vQioTA/Wp2IwIxa1kI/AAAAAAAAJaM/f-roLweimKQ0XKv-xK8kz54fOYknRg45QCEwYBhgL/s1600/BM%2Bpage.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1403" data-original-width="1600" height="560" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Zxr15vQioTA/Wp2IwIxa1kI/AAAAAAAAJaM/f-roLweimKQ0XKv-xK8kz54fOYknRg45QCEwYBhgL/s640/BM%2Bpage.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3985751029568188159.post-25125058957128187622018-02-23T07:54:00.000-08:002018-02-23T07:54:00.075-08:00#81 Vernon Law<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uaSbeQeFSZk/WpA3AL88YyI/AAAAAAAAJY4/a67btnNajU4s80c-XVBTZln1Bdb8TRSKACLcBGAs/s1600/81%2BLaw%252C%2BVernon%2B2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1138" data-original-width="1600" height="283" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uaSbeQeFSZk/WpA3AL88YyI/AAAAAAAAJY4/a67btnNajU4s80c-XVBTZln1Bdb8TRSKACLcBGAs/s400/81%2BLaw%252C%2BVernon%2B2.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nu9AtsEIcR0/WpA2_m8niRI/AAAAAAAAJY0/SsNxOX2MilwrHWmA5JT17gSnjB6QAxu-ACLcBGAs/s1600/81%2BLaw%252C%2BVern%2B%2528back%2529%2B2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="808" data-original-width="1142" height="226" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nu9AtsEIcR0/WpA2_m8niRI/AAAAAAAAJY0/SsNxOX2MilwrHWmA5JT17gSnjB6QAxu-ACLcBGAs/s320/81%2BLaw%252C%2BVern%2B%2528back%2529%2B2.jpeg" width="320" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">#81 Vernon Law</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Progress: none, <a href="http://1952topps.blogspot.com/2012/11/81-vernon-law.html">2nd of this card</a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">How acquired: $1.84 on eBay</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Condition: Very Good</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">"Very Good" is a generous assessment for this card given the missing corner by the #81. But all my grades have been pretty generous. Just consider it grading on a curve. My first copy of this card was one of the first ones in this set I ever picked up. Someone applied <a href="http://1952topps.blogspot.com/2012/11/81-vernon-law.html">a sloppy splash of red lipstick to Vern on that card,</a> which makes this copy a big upgrade.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Vernon was not slouch of a player, racking up 162 wins and the 1960 Cy Young Award over <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/l/lawve01.shtml">16 MLB seasons</a>.</span>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3985751029568188159.post-30438766079010056532018-02-12T06:36:00.001-08:002018-02-12T06:36:35.743-08:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ri7I0ylPaDw/WoGjyyED9dI/AAAAAAAAJYY/LWNitE1r9OAUTyJ4Lw_gPDeZDUSc6yrjwCLcBGAs/s1600/72%2BOlson%252C%2BKarl%2B2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="771" data-original-width="556" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ri7I0ylPaDw/WoGjyyED9dI/AAAAAAAAJYY/LWNitE1r9OAUTyJ4Lw_gPDeZDUSc6yrjwCLcBGAs/s400/72%2BOlson%252C%2BKarl%2B2.jpeg" width="287" /></a><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TuHYvFkAIIY/WoGjywVcmhI/AAAAAAAAJYU/tpj-DGeO5IM4z4CLwhCzMnVKBIQ7FEo9wCLcBGAs/s1600/72%2BOlson%252C%2BKarl%2B%2528back%2529%2B2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="546" data-original-width="766" height="228" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TuHYvFkAIIY/WoGjywVcmhI/AAAAAAAAJYU/tpj-DGeO5IM4z4CLwhCzMnVKBIQ7FEo9wCLcBGAs/s320/72%2BOlson%252C%2BKarl%2B%2528back%2529%2B2.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">#72 Karl Olson</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Progress: none, <a href="http://1952topps.blogspot.com/2013/02/72-karl-olson.html">2nd of this card</a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">How acquired: $2.00 on eBay</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Condition: Good</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Representing an anomaly that is a first for me, this Karl Olson, bought four years after I picked up <a href="http://1952topps.blogspot.com/2013/02/72-karl-olson.html">my first copy</a>, cost the exact same amount. I guess two bucks is just the going rate for this card. Once again I got "lucky" and discovered this one is red back after picking up a black back the first time around. I know there are probably some serious collector's who cringe when I say that I got "lucky," as the black backs are supposed to be more scarce. Fine, that's fair enough. But I think the red looks better, and I already had a black one.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">By any objective measure this card is in better shape than my first copy. I like the first copy better. Not because it's worn out and I'm being difficult, I'm just one of those weird collector's who doesn't like off-centered cards, and especially slant cut cards like this one. I don't need corners, I don't mind creases, an extra pen mark or two doesn't even bother me. But off-centered cards bug me to death. That said, this card still replaced the first one in the binder as I know to the ordinary person without my weird hang ups, this card looks nicer.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Stats: <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/o/olsonka01.shtml">6 seasons</a>, 160 hits, 6 HR's, .235 avg.</span>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3985751029568188159.post-29573616783163629192018-02-08T14:18:00.000-08:002018-02-09T08:20:40.802-08:00#69 Virgil Stallcup<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0rtLc-sPI-w/WnzKjp7g7qI/AAAAAAAAJYE/H5G0bvz3p84BXEjM2jGf_QzysBiosie1QCEwYBhgL/s1600/69%2BStallcup%252C%2BVirgil%2B2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="557" data-original-width="766" height="290" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0rtLc-sPI-w/WnzKjp7g7qI/AAAAAAAAJYE/H5G0bvz3p84BXEjM2jGf_QzysBiosie1QCEwYBhgL/s400/69%2BStallcup%252C%2BVirgil%2B2.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TBVb-N64OMY/WnzKjXtlkZI/AAAAAAAAJYA/yIL5BgTQvP46bwd5s0u_O3eCAxIL4d2FwCEwYBhgL/s1600/69%2BStallcup%252C%2BVirgil%2B%2528back%2529%2B2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="543" data-original-width="762" height="228" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TBVb-N64OMY/WnzKjXtlkZI/AAAAAAAAJYA/yIL5BgTQvP46bwd5s0u_O3eCAxIL4d2FwCEwYBhgL/s320/69%2BStallcup%252C%2BVirgil%2B%2528back%2529%2B2.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">#69 Virgil Stallcup</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Progress: none, <a href="https://1952topps.blogspot.com/2016/08/69-virgil-stallcup.html">2nd of this card</a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">How acquired: $1.25 on eBay</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Condition: Good</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">This duplicate Stallcup checked all four boxes on my duplicate list. The first one is easy, and really the only one that matters, that being "<i>is it a 1952 Topps card?</i>" Obviously it is. The next most important factor, "<i>is it cheap priced right?</i>" They don't come much cheaper than this one. "<i>Is it an upgrade?</i>" is the next question I ask, though it doesn't really matter if the previous question is a resounding yes, and this Stallcup is in fact a slight upgrade (with the water stain, ink bleeding and all). Finally I address the Red/Black back question, usually (always so far), this final question doesn't happen until I've already bought the card and have it in hand and remember to look. By happy accident, <a href="https://1952topps.blogspot.com/2016/08/69-virgil-stallcup.html">my first copy</a> was a black back, making this red back sort of "new" to me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Stats: <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/stallvi01.shtml">7 seasons</a>, 497 hits, 22 home runs</span>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3985751029568188159.post-13340702665000773552018-02-03T18:12:00.001-08:002018-02-03T18:12:48.916-08:00#306 Lou Sleater<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RiodFMimCBw/WnZpfDdvoyI/AAAAAAAAJXk/mgEgUWJLkPsrm4zavV_O6owSKibSPvD_wCLcBGAs/s1600/307%2BSleater%252C%2BLou.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1144" data-original-width="812" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RiodFMimCBw/WnZpfDdvoyI/AAAAAAAAJXk/mgEgUWJLkPsrm4zavV_O6owSKibSPvD_wCLcBGAs/s400/307%2BSleater%252C%2BLou.jpeg" width="283" /></a><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BQAmXFoejbs/WnZpe2crEgI/AAAAAAAAJXg/xg2lyrpCNyEynwIhQ2bSxv_GNWbJx0LFQCLcBGAs/s1600/306%2BSleater%252C%2BLou%2B%2528back%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="814" data-original-width="1140" height="228" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BQAmXFoejbs/WnZpe2crEgI/AAAAAAAAJXg/xg2lyrpCNyEynwIhQ2bSxv_GNWbJx0LFQCLcBGAs/s320/306%2BSleater%252C%2BLou%2B%2528back%2529.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">#306 Lou Sleater</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Progress: 1st of this card</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">305 of 407 74.9% complete</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">How acquired: $4.99 on eBay</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Condition: Good</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Picking up this Lou Slater for under $5.00 felt like a bit of a minor miracle. And it's not even in all that terrible of shape. It's one of my least favorite cards in the set so far, and I can't say I've ever been much of a Lou Sleater fan (nothing against him, I've just never heard of him). So the prospect of having to pay $20 plus for the "<i>#300 tax</i>" wasn't sitting well with me. Ultimately, I think I've just grown very impatient as I've zeroed in on the final few cards, because with a little self-control on the "Buy it Now" eBay button, I ultimately ended up with this copy at a less than painful price.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The artist did Mr. Sleater no favors with this card. His chin could have easily been made to look a little more pronounced and he almost looks like Jim Abbot on his throwing hand the way it's drawn into the glove. And speaking of the glove, come on, either this was a B-Team artist, or one of the last ones the artist did and was ready to go home. For a guy known as a knuckle baller, the throwing hand deserved a better effort.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Stats: <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/sleatlo01.shtml">7 seasons</a>, 12 wins, 18 losses, 4.70 ERA, 300.2 IP</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Best Hall of Fame Showing: N/A</span><br />
<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3985751029568188159.post-22360137755070347572018-01-30T10:15:00.000-08:002018-01-30T10:15:14.218-08:00#302 Max Surkont<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-G2iktK9Rsdk/WnCzHDAyQuI/AAAAAAAAJXE/n_PzXVlMQPEdjkJAjL8ls_ZtElyK6exAQCLcBGAs/s1600/302%2BSurkont%252C%2BMax.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1145" data-original-width="812" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-G2iktK9Rsdk/WnCzHDAyQuI/AAAAAAAAJXE/n_PzXVlMQPEdjkJAjL8ls_ZtElyK6exAQCLcBGAs/s400/302%2BSurkont%252C%2BMax.jpeg" width="282" /></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mwxFebjG4o0/WnCzG6aYnWI/AAAAAAAAJXA/KuGotSv0PgQB6NhQoQz_0VrEfRHMyQVQQCLcBGAs/s1600/302%2BSurkont%252C%2BMax%2B%2528back%2529%2B.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="808" data-original-width="1143" height="226" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mwxFebjG4o0/WnCzG6aYnWI/AAAAAAAAJXA/KuGotSv0PgQB6NhQoQz_0VrEfRHMyQVQQCLcBGAs/s320/302%2BSurkont%252C%2BMax%2B%2528back%2529%2B.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">#302 Max Surkont</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Progress: 1st of this card</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">304 of 407 74.7% complete</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">How acquired: $9.52 on eBay</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Condition: Very Good</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">This Max Surkont has "#300" number on the back, so apparently it should be considered as scarce as a hi-number. I mean, 302 is practically 311, right? Aside of course from the whole Mickey Mantle is an actual hi-number at 311, and Mickey being The Mick and Max being, well, Max, the Mantle is going to set you back ten thousand dollars or so. But otherwise, I see nothing wrong with the inflated prices for cards #300-310 demand in this set. I guess it is easier to pretend #302 is a high number than it is to pretend card #2 is. I'm sure there's been more than one crummy seller who has listed these cards on eBay as a "hi-number" with a $50 Buy it Now price tag, and I bet more than one person has fallen prey.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">All complaining aside, this card is actually in very nice shape. I don't mind paying ten bucks or so for these cards when they arrive as nice as this one. Would I prefer one in worse condition for a buck or two, absolutely, but if I'm going to over pay I prefer it be for cards in as nice of shape as this Surkont.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Stats: <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/surkoma01.shtml">9 seasons</a>, 61 wins, 76 loses, 4.38 ERA, 58 CG</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Best Hall of Fame Showing: N/A</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3985751029568188159.post-21483224380107819822018-01-27T07:34:00.001-08:002018-01-27T07:34:12.750-08:00#299 Ray Murray<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9XANJnBisqQ/WmyXxyb4rbI/AAAAAAAAJWo/rn3L3NeyecIx3J9DLm0NKxM9Thqk98yLwCLcBGAs/s1600/299%2BMurray%252C%2BRay.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1149" data-original-width="811" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9XANJnBisqQ/WmyXxyb4rbI/AAAAAAAAJWo/rn3L3NeyecIx3J9DLm0NKxM9Thqk98yLwCLcBGAs/s400/299%2BMurray%252C%2BRay.jpeg" width="281" /></a><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-l_EE8g-7NcM/WmyXx97dDAI/AAAAAAAAJWk/fWeOOigs8iYHzKpxj_YoXp0cnBvCzb6VgCLcBGAs/s1600/299%2BMurray%252C%2BRay%2B%2528back%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1145" height="226" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-l_EE8g-7NcM/WmyXx97dDAI/AAAAAAAAJWk/fWeOOigs8iYHzKpxj_YoXp0cnBvCzb6VgCLcBGAs/s320/299%2BMurray%252C%2BRay%2B%2528back%2529.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">#299 Ray Murray</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Progress: 1st of this card</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">303 of 407 74.4% complete</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">How acquired: $9.48 on eBay</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Condition: Very Good</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The 5th series of this set consists of cards #251-310. In my expierence these are this is the most expensive cards to acquire of the first five series. Cards #251-280 and #301-310 are triple prints, and #281-300 are quadruple prints. That's relative to each other based on how they laid out the printing sheets for the series. So objectively the triple prints should costs a little more than the quad prints. That hasn't been what I've found. What I've seen is that the higher the card number, the more it costs. #310 is no more scarce than #251, but #310 often gets priced like it's a high number. All of the 300's seem to cost more. I expierence a similar phenom with the 1970's sets, cards in the 700's seem to cost more than cards in the 600's despite all being from the same high number series. I'm guilty of it too, because I'd be lying if I said it didn't feel cooler to pick up a card numbered 300-something verse say #289. This Murray was a tough get, I guess the #299 is close enough to #300 for a lot of collector's. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Murray was known as a strong armed catcher and earned the nickname "The Deacon" for his frequent banter with umpires. Allegedly, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ray_Murray">per wikipedia</a>, he once removed all his catching gear during a game, knelt on the plate and prayed for the lord to grant the umpire better vision. He was "promptly ejected."</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Stats: <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/murrara01.shtml">6 seasons</a>, 250 games, 184 hits, 8 HR, .252 avg., World Series Ring with Cleveland in 1948</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Best Hall of Fame Showing: N/A</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3985751029568188159.post-59663689371768765012018-01-24T08:30:00.000-08:002018-01-24T08:30:33.420-08:00#295 Phil Cavarretta<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-i34-ykFMXbE/Wmiv9P3t8lI/AAAAAAAAJWM/WXwSNO0nr6sOIfTCMvrQea-f4UUL9kaSwCLcBGAs/s1600/295%2BCavarretta%252C%2BPhil.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1144" data-original-width="805" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-i34-ykFMXbE/Wmiv9P3t8lI/AAAAAAAAJWM/WXwSNO0nr6sOIfTCMvrQea-f4UUL9kaSwCLcBGAs/s400/295%2BCavarretta%252C%2BPhil.jpeg" width="281" /></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-14PmU0nmfJ0/Wmiv9Osqm_I/AAAAAAAAJWI/9qkzFmLnWvkCi9PIx5VAJJwTD1GmFo3cQCLcBGAs/s1600/295%2BCavarretta%252C%2BPhil%2B%2528back%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="804" data-original-width="1148" height="224" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-14PmU0nmfJ0/Wmiv9Osqm_I/AAAAAAAAJWI/9qkzFmLnWvkCi9PIx5VAJJwTD1GmFo3cQCLcBGAs/s320/295%2BCavarretta%252C%2BPhil%2B%2528back%2529.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">#295 Phil Cavarretta</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Progress: 1st of this card</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">302 of 407 </span><span style="font-size: large;">74.2% complete</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">How acquired: $5.63 on eBay</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Condition: Poor</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I made a couple of discoveries in pursuit of this card. The first, was that Phil Cavarretta cards are expensive. The other was that Phil Caverretta was a very good baseball player. His career spanned from 1934-1955 (not exactly my wheel house), and included twenty seasons with the Cubs. In 2007 a popular Cubs blog, <a href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2007/2/8/9654/99780">Bleed Cubbie Blue, named him the 11th greatest Cub of all-time </a>(that may be subject to some change given recent events). While his career numbers didn't quite equate to a place in Cooperstown, he was no slouch in his prime, winning the batting title and NL MVP award in 1945 (though it probably should have been awarded to <a href="http://1952topps.blogspot.com/2018/01/289-tommy-holmes.html">Tommy Holmes</a>). He also played in three World Series with the Cubs picking up twenty hits. That could very well be a franchise record.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">At the time of Cavaretta's death in 2010, he held the distinction of being the last living player to have played against Babe Ruth. On <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/BSN/BSN193505120.shtml">May 12, 1935</a>, the Cubs beat the Boston Braves 4-1. Ruth went 0 for 2 with two strikeouts. Cavaretta for his part went 1 for 4.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Stats: <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/cavarph01.shtml">22 seasons</a>, 4x All-Star, 1945 NL MVP, 1,977 hits, 95 HR, 920 RBI, .293 avg.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Best Hall of Fame Showing: <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/hof_1975.shtml">35.6% in 1975</a></span><br />
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<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3985751029568188159.post-1685554448915535042018-01-23T08:09:00.003-08:002018-01-23T08:09:55.190-08:00#214 Johnny Hopp<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-opprt_78FOI/WmdZirj1MkI/AAAAAAAAJVw/7Fmrbj6ljv04i3SS-n8jBwJB5mgEZ5YoQCLcBGAs/s1600/214%2BHopp%252C%2BJohnny%2B%2528back%2529%2B4.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="828" data-original-width="1150" height="230" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-opprt_78FOI/WmdZirj1MkI/AAAAAAAAJVw/7Fmrbj6ljv04i3SS-n8jBwJB5mgEZ5YoQCLcBGAs/s320/214%2BHopp%252C%2BJohnny%2B%2528back%2529%2B4.jpeg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-izuCr5emNI0/WmdZi611hyI/AAAAAAAAJV0/LhF_FnEnKfss7YUITQZmxu1w7GlnBqByACLcBGAs/s1600/214%2BHopp%252C%2BJohnny%2B4.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1144" data-original-width="804" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-izuCr5emNI0/WmdZi611hyI/AAAAAAAAJV0/LhF_FnEnKfss7YUITQZmxu1w7GlnBqByACLcBGAs/s400/214%2BHopp%252C%2BJohnny%2B4.jpeg" width="280" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">#214 Johnny Hopp</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Progress: none, <a href="http://1952topps.blogspot.com/search/label/Hopp%20Johnny">5th of this card</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">How acquired: $4.84 on eBay</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Condition: Very Good</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">This is my <a href="http://1952topps.blogspot.com/search/label/Hopp%20Johnny">5th copy</a> of Johnny Hopp. That's the high water mark for any card amongst my collection of 52's. This one, by any objective measure, is in the best shape of any of the five, though for some reason I kind of like the coloring of the card stock on the back of a more worn copy. My first two were in horrible shape, my third is in ok condition, and the 4th copy is almost as nice as this one. Do I need five copies of this card? Of course not, but that doesn't mean I won't take them when the world wants to offer them up for under $5.00. <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/hoppjo01.shtml">Hopp was a Yankee and an All-Star</a>. It's impossible not to bid on them when a seller has other cards I actually need that I'm already bidding on.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I can't go into details, and they're boring anyway, but last year I crossed paths with Johnny Hopp's grandson and great grandson in Farmington, New Mexico of all places. The great grandson shared the same name, and I said off the cuff "<i>You know there was a Yankee in the 50's with that same name.</i>" Long story short, they already knew.</span></div>
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Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3985751029568188159.post-46640378673355429632018-01-22T09:22:00.002-08:002018-01-22T11:23:08.640-08:00#57 Ed Lopat<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KS2jzMHrDXY/WmYaw9sKCKI/AAAAAAAAJVc/5Vlym-STsMsIhqIT3fnfkC1PGDjRv6ZcQCEwYBhgL/s1600/57%2BLopat%252C%2BEd%2B3.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1161" data-original-width="813" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KS2jzMHrDXY/WmYaw9sKCKI/AAAAAAAAJVc/5Vlym-STsMsIhqIT3fnfkC1PGDjRv6ZcQCEwYBhgL/s400/57%2BLopat%252C%2BEd%2B3.jpeg" width="280" /> </a><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-E5RENrhRRvY/WmYZ0Xmv59I/AAAAAAAAJVQ/et3vflzhFBMHL4PSJdHqmxkDBSVZBi0xACEwYBhgL/s1600/57%2BLopat%252C%2BEd%2B%2528back%2529%2B3.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="807" data-original-width="1156" height="223" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-E5RENrhRRvY/WmYZ0Xmv59I/AAAAAAAAJVQ/et3vflzhFBMHL4PSJdHqmxkDBSVZBi0xACEwYBhgL/s320/57%2BLopat%252C%2BEd%2B%2528back%2529%2B3.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">#57 Ed Lopat</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Progress: none, <a href="http://1952topps.blogspot.com/search/label/Lopat%20Ed">3rd of this card</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">How acquired: $4.60 on eBay</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Condition: Fair</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Yes, this is in fact my <a href="https://1952topps.blogspot.com/b/post-preview?token=zHOZIGEBAAA.hkq0YC-KMtMbCL814G18BqrFvhKJJl_Phl7lBWHRxtadAEaFz64WdPmTkzwNGPsdABXqZt9KeNaPLYE22SjvvA.CkgJxpUb60e6v5uDUTJrzA&postId=4664037867335542963&type=POST">3rd copy of Ed Lopat</a>. By happy accident this one is also my first "black back" copy, which is a nice little discovery after seeing my first two were red backs. I probably should have been paying better attention to that distinction earlier than this, but better late than never I guess.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">How in the world I'm able to keep picking up '52 Ed Lopat's for under $5 is beyond me, but I'll happily write the post for a 50th copy if chance and circumstance allows for it. Any Yankee with <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/l/lopated01.shtml">a baseball-reference page as impressive as Lopat</a> shouldn't be so disregarded in this set.</span></div>
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Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3985751029568188159.post-83207095633987977742018-01-21T09:21:00.001-08:002018-01-21T09:21:21.687-08:00#28 Jerry Priddy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Lj51njvW1ic/WmTJmr9UfvI/AAAAAAAAJU0/xauixUvQSX0e1qskqR1uEEunfjkfHnyogCLcBGAs/s1600/28%2BPriddy%252C%2BJerry%2B2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1146" height="282" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Lj51njvW1ic/WmTJmr9UfvI/AAAAAAAAJU0/xauixUvQSX0e1qskqR1uEEunfjkfHnyogCLcBGAs/s400/28%2BPriddy%252C%2BJerry%2B2.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9XM61UIyqsQ/WmTJmlUoqGI/AAAAAAAAJUw/9HrdJCVbuqUhp5dKmLjheJX0lxTe5tZAACLcBGAs/s1600/28%2BPriddy%252C%2BJerry%2B%2528back%2529%2B2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="812" data-original-width="1144" height="227" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9XM61UIyqsQ/WmTJmlUoqGI/AAAAAAAAJUw/9HrdJCVbuqUhp5dKmLjheJX0lxTe5tZAACLcBGAs/s320/28%2BPriddy%252C%2BJerry%2B%2528back%2529%2B2.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">#28 Jerry Priddy</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Progress: none, <a href="http:/#28 Jerry Priddy">2nd of this card</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">How acquired: $3.55 on eBay</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Condition: Very Good</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">This copy of Jerry Priddy is in about the same shape <a href="http://1952topps.blogspot.com/2015/12/28-jerry-priddy.html">as my first one</a>, though I elected to keep the original in the binder where I keep the better examples. This card came with a good number of others from the same seller, another case of when shipping is combined at a flat rate, I'll bid $5 on every '52 that's available. I don't consider myself a card "speculator" or "investor," I just feel like there's worse things to add to my collection than '52 Topps duplicates. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">By happy accident this is a "Black Back." I am by no means attempting to build a master set of 52's, but at the same time if I'm going to double up on a first series card, I prefer they be different color backs. At some point I'll take a look at where I stand as far as the red/black backs in the first series of 80 cards where they show up in two colors.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Stats: <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/priddje01.shtml">11 seasons</a>, 1,252 hits</span></div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3985751029568188159.post-70146651587139656042018-01-20T11:45:00.002-08:002018-01-20T11:48:58.516-08:00#25 Johnny Groth<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-thFT5sKoXnQ/WmOZlUma2tI/AAAAAAAAJUY/v3KN5_kzyiMz-XaRNF0Z3sL62DR6_ctwACEwYBhgL/s1600/25%2BGroth%252C%2BJohnny%2B2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1148" data-original-width="806" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-thFT5sKoXnQ/WmOZlUma2tI/AAAAAAAAJUY/v3KN5_kzyiMz-XaRNF0Z3sL62DR6_ctwACEwYBhgL/s400/25%2BGroth%252C%2BJohnny%2B2.jpeg" width="280" /></a><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kzhK4BSppGc/WmOaCCE6TXI/AAAAAAAAJUc/4ip50WCvMF8Xf87EGO_VWKD0vVe5QZNAgCLcBGAs/s1600/25%2BGrothy%252C%2BJohnny%2B%2528back%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="807" data-original-width="1140" height="226" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kzhK4BSppGc/WmOaCCE6TXI/AAAAAAAAJUc/4ip50WCvMF8Xf87EGO_VWKD0vVe5QZNAgCLcBGAs/s320/25%2BGrothy%252C%2BJohnny%2B%2528back%2529.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">#25 Johnny Groth</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Progress: None, <a href="http://1952topps.blogspot.com/2014/11/63-johnny-groth.html">2nd of this card</a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">How acquired: $3.30 on eBay</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Conditon: Good</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">This Groth is a huge improvement over <a href="http://1952topps.blogspot.com/2014/11/63-johnny-groth.html">my first copy</a>. I wasn't looking to upgrade, but when I'm bidding on a card and the seller combines shipping, I'll take any and everything under a certain price. And I apologize in advance for what I'm about to say, but as my binder fills out to near completion, I've realized that maybe some of the more horrible worn and wrinkled cards bug me a little bit. So it's kind of nice to replace one like this. Also, I suspect I'm in the minority, but I prefer that my first series cards be red backs like this, despite the black being considered slightly rarer. In any event, now I have Groth in both.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Groth for his part, was a very solid player enjoyed a <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/g/grothjo01.shtml">15 year career </a>and collected over a 1,000 hits.</span>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3985751029568188159.post-40788197721047372372018-01-16T15:34:00.000-08:002018-01-16T18:17:08.128-08:00#1 Andy Pafko<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-b-1XUK-KYw4/Wl6CQtIu3II/AAAAAAAAJTw/YpJAIxAY1gwpvaMiQmIk8671pKsgn4mywCLcBGAs/s1600/1%2BPafko%252C%2BAndy.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1144" data-original-width="799" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-b-1XUK-KYw4/Wl6CQtIu3II/AAAAAAAAJTw/YpJAIxAY1gwpvaMiQmIk8671pKsgn4mywCLcBGAs/s400/1%2BPafko%252C%2BAndy.jpeg" width="278" /></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Vt0ME9_Q6oY/Wl6CQK6RmNI/AAAAAAAAJTs/6b2hnn2s0_kicwJMf9wPR6heBy_1PiuBQCLcBGAs/s1600/1%2BPafko%252C%2BAndy%2B%2528back%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="798" data-original-width="1132" height="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Vt0ME9_Q6oY/Wl6CQK6RmNI/AAAAAAAAJTs/6b2hnn2s0_kicwJMf9wPR6heBy_1PiuBQCLcBGAs/s320/1%2BPafko%252C%2BAndy%2B%2528back%2529.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">#1 Andy Pafko</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Progress: 1st of this card</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">301 of 407 73.9% complete</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">How acquired: $47.96 on eBay</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Condition: Poor</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">When I first made the decision to actively pursue these '52 Topps cards, Andy Pafko was the only non "common" that I was actively targeting and had a saved ebay search for. Back in 2008, It was my goal to pick one of these up for under $20, and I came very close a couple of times. Over time I lost interest, as when I had enough in my "ebay account" (I sell a lot of cheap modern cards on ebay) to put towards a big purchase, "Pafko" wasn't a name that rang out the way a lot of the Hall of Famers did. As a result he took a back seat, and now is actually the final card of the first 310 I acquired. When I chose him for the banner of this blog (and now this card has been photo shopped in) I never would have guessed that to be the case.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I used to be a pretty big comic book collector in my pre-teen and early teenage years. "Reader" is probably a more accurate description. But I liked to read the old issues and story lines, a habit that couldn't help but rub shoulders with "collecting." Issue #1's were always a very big deal. In the mid-1980's, DC Comics (I was a DC reader) rebooted all their story lines, and restarted a lot of the comics at issue #1. When I was "collecting" in the early 90's these were "old" and still within my price range. So I targeted a lot of #1's and tried to work/read my way up to where I was currently in the story line. It ingrained the importance of "#1" into my collecting subconscious, even though there is no real inherent value to card #1 in baseball sets. With one very notable exception, this Andy Pafko.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">In a way, I'm doing with Topps cards what I did with Justice League, and Flash, and Superman comics thirty years ago. I'm working on the old sets, building my way up to where my own collection started. These sets, Topps sets, tell a story. They're like almanacs of a given year of baseball history. This Pafko is the Topps version of Detective Comics #27, or probably more accurately, Action Comics #1. This is where the Topps story starts. I know, the red/blue backs are out there, but they're not "baseball cards," at least not as I've known baseball cards to be my entire life. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I've read that this card is "valuable" because kids would wrap there cards in a stack with rubber bands and as such, there aren't many high grade copies of this Pafko because he was usually on top. I don't buy that theory. For one, there aren't many high grade copies of any of these cards, and more to the point, why are the low grade copies so expensive? It's a lot simpler than that. This is card #1 in the first Topps set. That's all you need to know to explain the price it carries. No offense to Pafko, who had an excellent career, but he shouldn't cost anywhere near what Yogi does. There's a strong argument to be made that it's the first modern baseball card. I don't think you need to be an old comic book collector to appreciate that.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">Look at the back of this card. </span><i>"In 1943 at Los Angeles, Andy led the Pacific Coast League in batting with .356 and was brought up to the Cubs at the end of the season." </i>Call me Ishmael. With that simple sentence about a minor league batting line, the Topps story begins.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">My copy is well worn. I sort of figured that I would have to pay out for a nicer one, given I didn't think I would land one of these for less than $80, and at that point, I'll pay a little extra for a slabbed one to make sure it's real (and then free it myself). But this one fell in my lap at a price I can live with. I'd prefer it was a red back, but the black backs are allegedly more "rare," so I guess it has that going for it. Aside from the #1 on the back of the card, there's really not too much to get excited about, but I don't think I'm alone in my belief that that #1 is more than enough.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Stats: <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/pafkoan01.shtml">17 seasons</a>, 4x All-Star, 1,796 hits, 213 HR's, 976 RBI's, .285 avg.. 4x NL Pennants, World Series Ring in '57 with Milwaukee Braves</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Best Hall of Fame Showing: <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/hof_1966.shtml">0.7% 1966</a></span>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3985751029568188159.post-84797610903278785292018-01-13T10:36:00.000-08:002018-01-13T10:36:08.080-08:00#294 Walker Cooper<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-a8DiA9EofHg/WlpMGJcLNiI/AAAAAAAAJTU/R35CCqA4T-suPdbW7LTNPjoedFYa2oXJQCLcBGAs/s1600/294%2BCooper%252C%2BWalker.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1148" data-original-width="814" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-a8DiA9EofHg/WlpMGJcLNiI/AAAAAAAAJTU/R35CCqA4T-suPdbW7LTNPjoedFYa2oXJQCLcBGAs/s400/294%2BCooper%252C%2BWalker.jpeg" width="282" /></a><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BQT3jJ2o--w/WlpMGK59goI/AAAAAAAAJTQ/rJfy3sf_ZVcsVo5AXQTc3J9ESENoBRN0gCLcBGAs/s1600/294%2BCooper%252C%2BWalker%2B%2528back%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="847" data-original-width="1193" height="227" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BQT3jJ2o--w/WlpMGK59goI/AAAAAAAAJTQ/rJfy3sf_ZVcsVo5AXQTc3J9ESENoBRN0gCLcBGAs/s320/294%2BCooper%252C%2BWalker%2B%2528back%2529.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">#294 Walker Cooper</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Progress: 1st of this card</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">300 of 407 73.7% complete</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">How acquired: $8.25 on eBay</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Condition: Fair</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">This Cooper has some fairly heavy creasing throughout, but nothing that's going to keep me up at night. It's a nice looking card, with Cooper being another guy that was clearly given extra attention by the artist. The "Star" treatment if you will. Cooper was one of the better catcher's in all of major league baseball in the 1940's being named to eight All-Star teams between 1942-50. I feel pretty good about landing one of these for less than the cost of a movie ticket.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">A fact that the back of this card makes mentions of, but doesn't follow up on, is that Walker's brother Mort was also in the majors. <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/coopemo01.shtml">Mort Cooper</a>, a pitcher, played from 1938-49, and was the NL MVP Award winner with the Cardinals in 1942. He won a league best 22 games, and also led the NL with a 1.78 ERA and 10 shutouts. Walker was also an All-Star in '42 and finished 11th in MVP voting. In '43 Mort would again win 20 games and finished 5th in MVP voting. Walker, apparently tired of playing second fiddle at family gatherings, finished 2nd in '43 MVP voting. Both would finish in the top 10 in MVP voting again in '44. The brothers helped the Cardinals win three straight NL Pennants and two World Series.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Stats: <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/coopewa01.shtml">18 seasons</a>, 8x All-Star, 1,341 hits, 173 home runs, .285 avg.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Best Hall of Fame Showing: <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/coopewa01.shtml">14.4% in 1976 </a></span>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0