March Pickups
 

I was very happy to get this card in the mail today. I have been looking for a nicely centered 68 Rose and finally found this one. This card looks as good most 9's I have seen.

jb67 - outstanding card. Excellent eye on that one.
Those '68s seem to be all over the place on centering. Finding a well-balanced T-B/L-R is no easy task. Well done.

very nice 68 rose! I love 8.5's. can usually snag for a fraction of what a 9 goes for and usually no difference in the quality of the card.

i've been working on the mad hungarian basic topps set. don't even think he has that set requested on the psa site, but usually that tends to work in my favor price wise....

here's a few that arrived today:

http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m...pssbfhoj8y.jpg

For my 1956 Set
http://caimages.collectors.com/psaim...114[1].jpg

For my Clemente Set
http://www.legendaryauctions.com/Ite...-copy_med.jpeg


Both are a little more OC than I would like, but I got these well below VCP average, so I couldn't pass them up!

Yossarian thanks for the props.

begsu1013 those are two very nice looking 9's of the Mad Hungarian. Hard to find cards in both of those sets centered. I had forgotten about his nickname. Thanks for sharing.

Upgrade for my 75 Topps set. Already had a PSA 7 specimen but this SGC 7 is centered better.

great cards, Steve!

When I first saw a copy of this card as a kid, I thought that the black thing on Nolan's sleeve was an errant Sharpie mark...

Bob, nice Mad Hungarian cards! It reminds me of watching baseball with my grandfather in the 70's. My grandpa would just bust up when Al would wind himself up to make a pitch. Great baseball days! I thank my grandpa for introducing me to baseball. I miss him!

thanks luis! ironically enough, my grandpa lives in st. pete, fl where the cardinals used to do spring training and he himself was a decent minor league pitcher. anyways he loved him as well and later in his career he ended up in Atlanta where I got to seem him play. anyways, he was quite the character on and off the mound. we used to get kicks on his pre-pitch physic-up behind the mound. can see it in this clip here around the 52 second mark...love the fact that the batter thought the straight heater was coming and the mad Hungarian just lobs a hanging fork ball in there! HYSTERICAL.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=09R5JKA1Md0

That was an epic video. Thanks.

Picked this up earlier this week...
Attachment 181781
Attachment 181782

Very cool pickup! Never seen one before. Thanks for sharing.

focused on another great moment in baseball history the other night. as usual, it involved a pitcher and a batter. however, this was no ordinary batter. this is eddie gaedel (uniform no. 1/8) and the rookie of the only man to pitch to him bob cain. fittingly enough, both cards arrived today!

another thing I liked about this story is that bob cain was the only person in mlb to attend gaedel's funeral, who suffered a terrible death/tragedy.

side note: eddie gaedel is one of the few autographs that actually meet or exceed babe ruth's!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eddie_Gaedel

http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m...psfgf05fqo.jpg

63
 

That '63 Clemente is sweet, very crispy with nice image nice pick-up...

STOKED!

I added 3 1956 PSA 7s to my 56 HOF set just this week (2 below and the Jackie 7 in an earlier post)! I'm happy if I can do that in a month or two.

Febuary and March seem to have been good months for me! Also picked up 72 Clemente PSA 8. That may conclude my spending for the month though, not even a week in. Bitter sweet.

http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MTU4MVg5Mz...U7ktR/$_12.JPGhttp://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MTU4MVg5Mz...U7k9k/$_12.JPG

63 Fleer Clemente
 

Well, this one has a bit of a story behind it... When I turned 30 six years ago my older sister surprised me with this card.... She doesn't believe in paying big $ on a little piece of cardboard but I was really into collecting (still am but keeping things in perspective) and so she got into a bidding war--think she paid around $100--and gave me a large box with ribbon etc that ended up having a raw 63 Clemente she bought on eBay.... I was stoked!

(She did always have a physical attraction to Roberto so I think that helped her make an exception....)

Unfortunately, a couple years later it came back trimmed so I sold it... This card kinda had a black mark since the first one was altered...
So recently, I saw this one decently priced and picked it up to replace the original.. Also my b-day is coming up in a week so the timing couldn't be better....

http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/q...ps1uoiesmn.jpg

Great Cards guys, looks like March is going to be a good month for us. Mail man surprised me this morning with another addition to my Mantle run....

http://www.collectorfocus.com/images...1968-topps-280

I broke my spending rules for the chance to buy these in person from the original owner (opened the packs back in 55/56) and share stories and memories from our lifelong loves of baseball. The fun was worth more than the cards here.

http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/15...377ca9342a.jpg

Knocked a few more off my Exhibit list,plus added some Topps cards.

March Pickups
 

Picked up another nice '71 Topps high number.

Attachment 182052

Looks like I'm working on my HOF RC Collection again.... :)

I was very happy to pick up all of these off ebay last night. With the Jose Mendez, Rube Foster, Buck Leonard, and Pop Lloyd I already owned I believe I now have all of the HOF inductees from this set.

http://i1269.photobucket.com/albums/...psb9nypuvz.jpg

http://i1269.photobucket.com/albums/...psdwzfhvlf.jpg

http://i1269.photobucket.com/albums/...psnujrgcgi.jpg

Jimi, really nice card! I've been picking up some steam with my MLB HOF RC collection lately also. Congratulations!

Nice job, Dustin. Now you need to get Day, Smith, White & Stearnes from the '78 Laughlin set....

Thanks Phil. I will be looking for them. I haven't seen the HOFers from the '78 near as often as these.

Always awesome to hear that, Dan! Welcome back!! :)

Jimi

Thanks yet again, Sean. A centered '41 Joe D-- but even more importantly, it has focus/good registration. So many of this card are just blurry, especially in the face, and that kills it for me. Whereas when the registration is perfect, which is rare, even the folds on his uniform really pop. Just an all-time classic card, and the one to represent Joe D for me. I love the V355, the Zeenut Batting, and the '37 OPC, but this one comes first for me because of the color-- and the massive historical significance of the year, the streak, and the infinitesimal 13 strikeouts in one season!

http://www.collectorfocus.com/images...l-joe-dimaggio

Once again Matt you sure now how to pick them. Great example of an all time Classic Joe D. Card.
Drew

Nice pickup on the '41 PB DiMaggio. Beautiful card.

Very nice Joe D. Matt. Congrats on landing it.

Agreed on the Joe D! Someday I will plan to add a DiMaggio, and your post makes me think 1941 might be the one to go for. But like you, I've definitely seen a ton that don't look nearly as nice as yours.

really wanted an 8 or higher and still looking, but this will hold me over for a little while. hard to find them centered like this!

http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m...psgnjkpa8n.jpg

I was watching that one and couldn't figure out why it showed the auctio ending at $0.99. Nice pickup. I was going to take a swing at it at the end but you saved me from myself.

If I had that 6, it would take one special, better-centered 8 to get me to spend so much more to upgrade. The left-right is money. I have seen cards with 8 on the sticker that look way worse than that, and I wouldn't trade that 6 for those 8s. Whereas I would feverishly unload an ugly 8 or 9 for that 6 and a bunch of cash for more great looking cards.

That card would look completely at home if the silly little sticker said '7.' Crop or cover that sticker and I'd guess 7.

I know this thread is for later models but since you're the group I normally share my pickups with...here are two gents who know what it's like to bat .400!

http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/15...4253a67555.jpg

And here is one of my favorite pitchers...

http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/15...e8737a6163.jpg

Jason, love that Cobb and Sisler. Nice pickups.

Pretty excited about this one. Not thrilled with the grade, as the box is in pretty good shape except for where it was opened. But it's the only complete box Mays graded, and only 1 of 2 examples of the 1963 Box graded by PSA. And who doesn't love raspberry "imitation flavor"?

Attachment 182297
Attachment 182298

Makes ya wonder with all the talk that we need organic this and that, and yet plenty of people who were raised in the Imitation Raspberry Flavor Jello Era have lived to ripe old ages!

Saw this pop up on eBay for cheap and could not resist! The card is in hand and in natural light the crease cannot even be seen, which is so awesome. The focus is mad crispy, too.

http://www.collectorfocus.com/images...-mickey-mantle

I for one don't. :p

However, that is one sweet box. I'm not sure what criteria they use to grade boxes, but I would just ignore the grade. Bad as it is, the grade does not detract from the beauty of the card or of the box.

PS some really nice cards so far this month. I especially like the Mantles, Clementes, and '56s.

I have wanted this card for a long time.I have to thank Paul S. for giving me a great deal!

64 Rose is a classic!

60 Topps Furillo

Robextend, Love that Campy rookie. I have almost pulled the trigger on one a couple of times. Congrats on the addition.

Thanks, took a while to find the right one at the right price.

I did a MattyC with this Mantle. Saw it a could not resist. Was not looking for this one but seemed like a good deal so I pulled the trigger. Curious as to what everyone thinks the grade on this is one is? The back is clean with good centering. I captured this shot from Ebay as I do not yet have the card in hand.

http://www.collectorfocus.com/images...-mickey-mantle

http://net54baseball.com/picture.php...ictureid=17653

Got this in today for my 1975 Topps set. I haven't felt much like buying any cards lately, so let's see if this gets the juices flowing.

Some nice cards, guys.

gonna go with a 3 or 4, but could pass as high as a 7 in my book. I would say the only reason i'm going that low is because of a requested no qualifier sub and it has a slight pd in the "1st base, yankees" circle which "technically" knocks her down 2 grades.

regardless of the grade; it's a well centered example and i'm sure a steal considering the overall eye appeal.

and if I am even remotely close to being right, i'd crack and resubmit tomorrow!!!

really into centered aaron rookies lately, but this is a pop 1 with only 1 higher. although the sig isn't as sharp as I would like, the man is 81 years old so I couldn't resist!

http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m...pstnrkbmbh.jpg

Never thought about cracking it out to resubmit. Once I get it in hand I will be able to have a better idea. BTW you are dead on. It is a PSA 3.5 but looks much better.

That Aaron rookie card is to die for!!! That is one sweet card. Congrats on the addition.

Insane signed Aaron. Wish I could track down a Mick like that, either 51 or 52. The card alone would be bananas since they rarely are centered that nicely. I've seen people display ten or more at once and they all have really unevenly sized borders.

Sweet card Begsu! Always love the Hank centered like that. Actually i have seen a few reently thats been centered well, in fact i think PWCC had a few nice ones in their latest auction. Well Done.

At MattyC: i remember seeing a signed Mick 51 or 52 elsewhere, i'll post if i run across it again.
Here ya go MattyC, This is from Heritage, where the buyer is offering Make offer:
NOT MINE!!!
http://dyn2.heritagestatic.com/lf?se...oduct.chain%5D

Will bring the level of Aaron awesomeness down a bit but continue the Hammer theme nonetheless.

The magazine is what I believe to be Aaron's first solo cover on a national publication. (First SI wasn't till 1969!)

The two cards are from the 1960 Nu-Card Baseball Hi-lites set. Prices are funny...I see anywhere from $10-$150 for mid-grade. Note that the "beats Yankees" photo is actually Aaron's "beats Cardinals" pic...an error that was corrected in the 1961 Nu-Card Baseball Scoops set.

http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/15...7ca7350619.jpg

These two just came in the mail. The Koufax is for a team set I now have 14 of 24 cards for. Am curious if you think it was a good value at $77. It was advertised as EX but has much rounder corners than that grade would warrant. Of course, a true EX would have cost much more than $77.

http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/15...d5c0f7ac27.jpg

Nice looking cards Jason.

Just my amateur opinion but if Sandy hand Monte's corners I would say you got a steal, but as is I think you paid a fair price for him.

Yes, I would love to trade corners if I could! I worry there may come a day when I look at my framed 56 Dodgers display and regret these corners. But if that happens, I'm hoping I can recoup most of what I paid.

This was the card that first really sparked my interest in "old" star cards as an 11 year-old back in 1988, in the midst of the Mattingly & Canseco soaked hobby that existed at the time. I found it waiting for me at a wonderful place (which is now long gone) called The Red Lantern Hobby Shop at Cotswold Mall in Charlotte, NC. I think with a little begging and after securing a loan of maybe $20 from my mother, I walked out with this card - worse centered than the example I have here, but sharp nonetheless and a speciman that would still have graded a 7 or at least a 6 today.

Flash forward less than a year - the kid down the street comes off the bus one day and says he has a baseball card I absolutely had to see - it turned out to be an totally destroyed (and waterlogged in its toploader to boot...) '65 Mantle #350. You guessed it...within about an hour I had traded my Sandy for the '65 Mantle. At the time I thought I had stumbled on something which surely should have been on display in Cooperstown (remember I was only 11, and at the time Mantle's status in the hobby and as an icon in the USA in general was only somewhat short of a total God...) I don't regret making the trade because it DID get me my first ever original Mantle card, but still - I have had regrets about giving up that nice '66 Koufax off and on - for nearly 30 years now.

Finally made it right with some birthday cash (I'm 38 now :)) a couple of weeks ago. What a card! It may have been Sandy's last year, but do remember - his swan song (27-9, 1.73 ERA, 317 K's, his third and final Cy Young award when there was only one given in all of baseball...) is the single finest in baseball history. The stat line on the back showing the record 382 strikeouts in 1965 really stands out, too. In the years since my trade for the battered '65 Mantle, I have gone through other Koufax cards - including a '57 Topps which I still have - but until just a few days ago I had never had another '66. It feels good!

On a side note, I was struck by how Monte's name was signed "Monty" on that card. So I did a bit of research and found his 1952 Topps card has him as Monty Irvin (Monford Monty Irvin), too. I wonder when/why "Monty" became "Monte"??

thanks matty! I thought I had a 51 mantle locked down the other week. ended up being a scam (search recent sales on ebay). card never showed, still kinda bummed bc I have been looking for a while. there was a 52 psa dna listed a month or so ago, but it was dog ugly and guy wanted $26K I think.


jb, thanks and if it really is a 3.5 I would crack and resubmit in a heartbeat. not much risk as if trying to crack out an 8 to go for a 9. seems like only upside and considering the day, ya never know...it could come back an easy 6-7 on a good day! lemme know if ya do and what the results are....

Speaking of Monte
 

Recently picked up this lovely '51 for my HOF rookie collection.

Nice looking Irvin rookie congrats! My kind of card! Love the centering.

I know we say it a ton around here but those early Bowman cards are just effing gorgeous pieces. The colors and the backgrounds are so pleasing to look at.

jb,

thanks for the pm. I've known about the other 52 being in the 57 spot, I just needed a quick kick in the arse to get it changed, so here she is...gave up a lil of my centering ocd to concentrate on the registration. the 57 series is a tough one in that regards. even w. my scanner it appears she is a lil washed out on the registration, but she's not...

disclaimer: this isn't a march pickup, I just couldn't figure out how to display a pic in a pm.

http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m...pstwqzh6tu.jpg

I agree when it comes to the 57-- that is one card where one has to weigh image clarity and boldness alongside centering. Both would be ideal but like the 41 Joe D, both problems plague it with the same unfortunate frequency. The two times I have encountered a really nice bold image at a good price point, I pulled the trigger.

I think we have may the same father, matty!

51s
 

Thanks! Those 51s really are great cards. I have been lucky to get Mays, Ford and Irvin with great centering. Definitely amongst the highlights of my collection! Still don't have the Mick...maybe one of these days.

Very nice. Back in my pseudo-dealer days I had one with just gorgeous registration and that blue-green background hue that is so hard to find, but it was O/C about 75/25 left to right and I eventually got rid of it.

I am a little behind on my scanning but I recently picked up some key additions to my Post-War Cardinals collection.

http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/...psxxjn3xl4.jpg

I also picked up some odd ball stuff and a few 1955 Double Headers. The 1961 Topps are both blank backs and the 1960 Miller is a Venezuelan (my first!).

http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/...psqt8chmxk.jpg

And last I picked up some 1954 Bowmans, I am contemplating putting together a low grade set. This would be my first attempt at any set older than 1973 Topps.

http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/...psqaijf1vu.jpg

Won a 1968 Topps set in the BST auction. Here are some key cards. The Ryan graded PSA 5 and the Bench PSA 6(ST).

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k4...s950jkvua.jpeg

Looks like the Ryan/Koosman is a 1968 Milton Bradley card.

+1

set pickups
 

Pretty nice mail day for me:
raw commons for my 55 set
SGC commons for my 56 set
PSA commons for my 58 set

Thanks for the look!

Added 2 HOF RC's

Very nice HOF RC's, Dan.

Not a card, but thought this was still relevant to share. Just received the LOA for this today!
Attachment 183135

What a unique find! Super.