1953 Bowman series question
 

I know the 1953 Bowman cards have a high number series 113-160, but were the lower 112 cards all released in one series or were they in two separate series?

With just 64 cards in the Black and White series and 48 cards in the high numbers it would make sense for the "lower numbers" to be in two series.

When I researched this, it was 1-112 in one series. Of course, the internet told me that everything on the internet was true, so take it for what it is worth...

Can't answer your question; but, for the '53 color set those cards from 113-160 fall into two groups. Numbers 113-128 are either short printed from that larger high number group or are a series unto themselves as they are all scarcer than the 32 cards from 129-160. I do notice that 16 is a divisor of each grouping - the first 112 numbers - the next 16 - and then the final 32.

1953 bowman
 

BOWMAN printed their 1953 color and B/W sets on sheets of 32 cards.

I have seen all these sheets except for the 4th sheet (cards # 97 - 128) of the color set. This 4th sheet is sort of a mystery, as the first group of 16 cards (#97 - 112)
printed on it are not that tough to find. While the 2nd group (cards #113 - 128) are very tough to find. Hey guys, has anyone on this forum ever seen this 4th sheet ?


TED Z

T206 Reference
.

Middle Series
 

I have never seen the 4th sheet either but I can attest to the difficulty in finding cards #112-128. I have been working on the set for 4 years and my gaps are in that area.

You can also see it in the prices as well. A PSA 8 #128 Whitey Lockman sells (at auction) for between $2-4k... almost in the range of a PSA 8 #59 Mantle which usually sells for about $3.3k.

I love the set though! Some of the best looking cards ever made (IMHO).

1953 BOWMAN set
 

Hi Jim

The toughest card in this entire set is without any question #121....Yogi Berra.

This story may interest you....circa 1985 there was a 1953 BOWMAN find in Mississippi of approx. 1000 color & B/W cards. The color cards were all Hi #'s (#113 - 160).
In the group of cards numbering 113 - 128 there was an average of 6 cards each, except for #121 (Yogi Berra) of which there was only one card.


Here are my 5 favorite cards in my set (the Martin / Rizzuto card would be the 6th favorite).


http://photos.imageevent.com/tedzan7...erReese50x.jpg.http://photos.imageevent.com/tedzan7...nMusial50x.jpg

http://photos.imageevent.com/tedzan7...ntlesnider.jpg
TED Z

T206 Reference
.

Great Story Ted Z
 

Great story Ted Z! Thank you for sharing. I had not heard that and appreciate my Berra card even more.


My favorite cards of the set...

#32 Musial. Such a great pose in front of the bat rack. My favorite card of Musial. It looks like he was in the middle of telling a story or a joke to someone standing to the left of the camera person. Posed yet relaxed. Looks like he is just someone that you want to hang out with...

#33 Reese. What else can you say except for "action shot" when action shot wasn't cool (or even around)!

#59 Mantle. I realize his back is to left field but he looks like is he just post swing. The morose and almost bored look on his face seems to say "another home run... no big deal..."

#99 Spahn. Post pitch pose. The color on this card has always popped for me. The first time I saw the card I said "Wow". I still say it sometime when I look at the card. Again, I love the fact that he is not looking at the camera for the picture. Just makes it for me.

#118 Martin. I KNOW the ball is just sitting there on the ground. I KNOW that he can't be fielding it and looking at the camera. BUT I love the way his weight is shifted slightly on his right leg... like he is about to pick up the ball and throw it over to first. Love it!

#121 Berra. The pose and color on this card are fantastic! I love the glove under the arm and the mask in the dirt in front of him. The green background just really pops for me as well.