1954 Topps...Countdown to Completion

[Big Six]

I have been working on a 1954 Topps set for about three years and of the 250 cards that make up the set, I'm down to what's listed below that I still need. With only a couple exceptions, all cards are at least PSA 7 or better with no qualifiers. The few 6 and 6.5 cards I have will get updated at a later date since they were raw cards I picked up and had slabbed...

As I make a purchase, I'll cross it off the list and once it's in hand, I'll edit the list accordingly to reflect only those cards still needed.

Here is the list of what's left...

1 Ted Williams
51 Johnny Lindell
52 Vic Power
60 Frank Baumholtz
61 Bob Cain
63 Johnny Pesky
64 Hank Thompson
65 Bob Swift
66 Ted Lepcio
67 Jim Willis
68 Sam Calderone
69 Bud Podbielan
70 Larry Doby
71 Frank Smith
72 Preston Ward
74 Bill Taylor
75 Fred Haney
76 Bob Scheffing
78 Ted Kazanski
80 Jackie Jensen
81 Dave Hoskins
85 Bob Turley
90 Willie Mays
92 Wally Westlake
93 Sid Hudson
94 Ernie Banks
100 Bob Keegan
106 Dick Kokos
107 Duane Pillette
115 Rip Repulski
116 Steve Bilko
120 Roy McMillan
124 Marion Fricano
125 Harry Perkowski
128 Hank Aaron
129 Spook Jacobs
130 Hank Bauer
134 Cal Hogue
135 Joe Presko
136 Connie Ryan
147 John Riddle
154 Mike Fornieles
155 Bob Kennedy
156 Joe Coleman
157 Don Lenhardt
159 Dave Philley
161 Johnny Hetki
162 Herm Wehmeier
168 Morrie Martin
170 Dusty Rhodes
172 Hal Brown
174 Tom Qualters
175 Frank Leja
177 Bob Milliken
178 Bill Glynn
182 Chuck Harmon
184 Ed Bailey
189 Bob Ross
199 Rocky Nelson
201 Al Kaline
207 Tom Oliver
211 Don Hoak
212 Mickey Micelotta
213 John Fitzpatrick
216 Al Sima
218 Fred Marsh
222 Bill Wilson
227 Buster Mills
232 Lou Limmer
234 Jerry Lynch
236 Paul Penson
242 Curt Roberts
250 Ted Williams

It's a little disheartening that I need so many of the big cards for this set, but I plan to do those last...

My next big goal is to get under 75 cards left, so that appears right around the corner...I'm pretty excited to get this set finished and hope no one minds that I post about it here...

[Ease]

I don't mind! Good luck with the rest!

[cdn_collector]

I don't mind either...'54 is a great set! I imagine some of those HoFers in PSA7 are gonna sting a little, but that must be one impressive looking set!

Good luck!

Regards,

Richard.

[Big Six]

An Oldis I picked up last week just arrived via USPS...still need 111 cards.

[paulcarek]

Love that set, Matt. Good luck, and keep us posted.

[Big Six]

A tough card for me to track down in PSA 7...#35 Junior Gilliam.

[Big Six]

I still need to get the major cards for this set (Williams x 2, Kaline, Banks & Aaron), but there are some cards I've had a very difficult time tracking down in PSA 7 or 7.5 holders...and examples in PSA 8 slabs are out of my price range...among them are:

13 Billy Martin
70 Larry Doby
101 Gene Woodling
121 Clem Labine
170 Dusty Rhodes
227 Buster Mills
245 Roy Sievers

I'm sure they are out there and patience will be the key, but these have been tough so far...

I would have counted Junior Gilliam and the O'Brien brothers card in this list, too, but I recently picked them up...

[GoldenAge50s]

The Gene Woodling is one of the toughest cards in that set to find centered. Looks like you already have Ben Wade, which is toughest of all in high grade.

[Big Six]

Originally Posted by GoldenAge50s

The Gene Woodling is one of the toughest cards in that set to find centered. Looks like you already have Ben Wade, which is toughest of all in high grade.

Agreed on Woodling...my Wade is in a PSA 6 slab...we'll see if I ever upgrade it...

[Big Six]

Harry Dorish and Ray Herbert arrived today...few more due in later this week!

[VinTX]

lookin good man keep it up! I've got some coming in for my '54 set too so my thread will be getting some updates before too long. look forward to continuing to see your new pickups!

[MBMiller25]

I've been keeping an eye on your pickups, I think your building one hell of a set. I really appreciate that your staying focused on high end centered cards, and not just buying the holder. You're going to have a fantastic set once its all said and done. I picked this up off the boards earlier this week.





Good Luck on your quest, Keep them coming!

[Big Six]

Jesus (the mail man) just brought me Milt Bolling and Dave Jolly...I like Jesus!!!

[Big Six]

Originally Posted by MBMiller25

I've been keeping an eye on your pickups, I think your building one hell of a set. I really appreciate that your staying focused on high end centered cards, and not just buying the holder. You're going to have a fantastic set once its all said and done. I picked this up off the boards earlier this week.





Good Luck on your quest, Keep them coming!

Thanks so much for the kind words...I plan on sharing them with my wife when she figures out how much this "little project" ends up being...

[Big Six]

Originally Posted by MBMiller25

I've been keeping an eye on your pickups, I think your building one hell of a set. I really appreciate that your staying focused on high end centered cards, and not just buying the holder. You're going to have a fantastic set once its all said and done. I picked this up off the boards earlier this week.





Good Luck on your quest, Keep them coming!

By the way, that is a great looking Aaron...some day I'll get one of those!!!

[Big Six]

I managed to pick this up a few months ago and thought those who are following my progress on the 1954 set would appreciate it...haven't seen any more like this...



apparently there would be a 2/2 with a stain front version...haven't come across it yet, though...

[Big Six]

Up for your consideration...#123, Mr. Bobby Adams...

[VinTX]

another very nice pickup, keep it up!

[Big Six]

Glad to add #160 Red Kress and #169 Jim Hughes (how 'bout that yellow background!!!)...



Should have one more coming in this week...

[VinTX]

dang...that's pretty much a textbook "bright bold colors" card isn't it! Had to shield my eyes, lol. keep em comin!

[Big Six]

Mr. Jim Lemon...#103...would have been cool if he left me needing only 103 more cards...oh well!

[Big Six]

The night started off well enough...picked up three nice commons as the only bidder...this will put me at 99 cards left to go...a major milestone for me! Then I lost a really nice Hodges at the last second...was bidding on my iPad and that was the mistake...it just wasn't fast enough to keep up with the last second flurry of bidding...same thing happened with a PSA 8 Mike Ryba that I thought I would walk away with...oh well. Only 99 more cards to go...not bad.

[Big Six]

Well...broke through my first major hurdle of getting under 100 cards needed...added Trice, Blyzka & Brodowski to the mix...

[VinTX]

great pickups man...into double digits left now, keep em comin! I'm enjoying watching this come together. when can we expect to see one of the big dogs drop off the list?

[Big Six]

Soon, VinTX, very soon...

[Big Six]

Joe Jay was the first graduate of the Little League to make it to the Major Leagues...who knew?

[Big Six]

I think Martin should be in the Hall of Fame...Dittmer, not so much...



Martin was really difficult to track down decently centered AND at a non-obnoxious price...glad to cross him off my list.

[VinTX]

HOF or not, those are 2 real nice pickups for your set! Great job, keep it up!

[almostdone]

Great pick ups! Keep going, I love seeing great sets like this being built one at a time. Good job! Drew

[Big Six]

This is the Miami Vice edition...Johnson was apparently also a broadcaster during the off season and Harshman was a hitter turned pitcher a la a reverse Rick Ankiel...

[VinTX]

actually Ankiel was a pitcher turned hitter...or was that what you meant? 2 more awesome pickups, keep er going!

have you got a "finish date" target that you're trying to hit or just kinda steady as she goes?

[Big Six]

No target date in sight so guess steady as she goes for now. Do have another nice semi-star en route that has been very difficult to track down. More to come...hope your projects are going well, too...Matt

[Big Six]

Winner of the 1960 Cy Young Award, Vern Law is best known for being the father of everyone's favorite utility infielder, Vance Law...

[Big Six]

A sharp card of the 1949 Rookie of the Year...a solid career that makes you wonder what he could have accomplished if injuries hadn't struck so oftern...

[Big Six]

It amazes me that Hodges isn't in the Hall of Fame...someday I hope...

[natetrook]

nice cards

[Big Six]

The Moose was an 8-time All Star and 5-time World Champion...and he's a hell of a nice guy, too!

[U240robert]

Originally Posted by Big Six

It amazes me that Hodges isn't in the Hall of Fame...someday I hope...

I agree Hodges should've been in the Hall long ago.
A great hitter and a great fielder !

[Volod]

Always wondered about the nickname: was it based on his size or his visage?

[benderbroeth]

Originally Posted by Big Six

This is the Miami Vice edition...Johnson was apparently also a broadcaster during the off season and Harshman was a hitter turned pitcher a la a reverse Rick Ankiel...

don johnson lives like 10 blocks from where i used to work!!! and signed my 54 topps card for me!!!
he just recently returned to new york to be honored along with some other yakees for a anniverser of a championship last year.

[benderbroeth]

i am trying to build a signed 54 set so far i have 20 or so.

[Big Six]

Originally Posted by benderbroeth

i am trying to build a signed 54 set so far i have 20 or so.

Great project...I did a 1952 topps reprint set and got about 150 of the 396 cards signed...was a lot of fun but many players are long gone now or too expensive (mays especially)...good luck!

[benderbroeth]

thanks!!! i love the set alot and yours looks great btw!

[Brendan]

Originally Posted by Big Six

Great project...I did a 1952 topps reprint set and got about 150 of the 396 cards signed...was a lot of fun but many players are long gone now or too expensive (mays especially)...good luck!

Are you still doing that? I bet I can get your Mays reprint signed.

[Big Six]

Originally Posted by Brendan

Are you still doing that? I bet I can get your Mays reprint signed.

Hey Brendan. Yeah, I tackle it as opportunities present themselves. Dare I ask your connection to Mays? I know he signs infrequently and at about $300 per sig which is way out if my budget...let me know what kind of magic you are practicing.... Matt

[Big Six]

Been kind of quiet lately, but had to pick up this Aloma at a steal of a price...nicely centered to boot!

[Big Six]

Picked up Grady Hatton at the East Coast National...wonder if Mr. Hatton did indeed become a rancher after retiring from baseball...

[Doug]

Originally Posted by Big Six

Picked up Grady Hatton at the East Coast National...wonder if Mr. Hatton did indeed become a rancher after retiring from baseball...

According to Wikipedia Grady is still alive at the ripe age of 88 so it is possible. I actually knew an older man in town that knew Grady Hatton from when he played for the Reds. He probably would have known if he, but unfortunately he passed a few years back.

[U240robert]

It's nice to see you have the patience to pick up these cards
at fair prices, or even bargains.
So many start a set and they seem like their in a race to complete
and totally overpay for some of the cards.
Ebay is filled with these types.
I don't think I'd enjoy the set if I bought the cards in bulk.

[Big Six]

Originally Posted by U240robert

It's nice to see you have the patience to pick up these cards
at fair prices, or even bargains.
So many start a set and they seem like their in a race to complete
and totally overpay for some of the cards.
Ebay is filled with these types.
I don't think I'd enjoy the set if I bought the cards in bulk.

Thanks for the note...slow and steady supposedly wins the race or so I'm told!