1953 Bowman Color

[Exhibitman]

I've thought about the set in passing but don't care to collect commons, so I never went for it. I've had these since I was a kid:





Got the Musial signed about 25 years ago.

Last year I didn't like the way things were going with prices so I picked up this one:



I think clean vg or signed is where I will land on this set




I am in the minority for the set in terms of fronts. I prefer the 1957 design for the ID data. If only the 1957 could have had the 1953 caliber pictures to go with it...

[RayBShotz]

Adam - Nice stuff. The stark wordless nature of the 53B make them appear more like a photograph than a baseball card. Tru dat.
However; there is something uniquely ethereal about these images. No other set I can compare it too relative to coloration, poses, camera angles and concise era-relative content.
Simple perfection.
Great thread.
RayB

[Neal]

Nice cards, Adam. Certainly an issue that works nicely with signatures!

as far as the 57s, I am in that minority as well. Love the design and the "darkness" that others seem to notice. Kind of sets it apart from the Topps and Bowman issues that preceded and proceeded the set

[vintagebaseballcardguy]

This card is the only member of the set I currently own, but I am thinking about beginning again. I honestly wouldn't mind finding a centered mid-grade Mantle right off the bat.

[vintagebaseballcardguy]

Is it me, or is the 9 in the 59 on back colored in?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mickey-Mantl...sAAOSwZVlXu3~C

[Neal]

Originally Posted by vintagebaseballcardguy

Is it me, or is the 9 in the 59 on back colored in?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mickey-Mantl...sAAOSwZVlXu3~C

Not you ..... looks that way to me too.

[almostdone]

Originally Posted by vintagebaseballcardguy

Is it me, or is the 9 in the 59 on back colored in?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mickey-Mantl...sAAOSwZVlXu3~C

Yup. Think they got away with that one with the graders.
Drew

[vintagebaseballcardguy]

Originally Posted by almostdone

Yup. Think they got away with that one with the graders.
Drew

That's too bad. It isn't an otherwise bad looking card.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

[Neal]

Originally Posted by vintagebaseballcardguy

That's too bad. It isn't an otherwise bad looking card.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

great card, and if it was priced better, I am not sure that possible mark would bother me.

The Mantle, in my limited searches for the card, does not seem to have a big centering issue like so many of the others - both commons and HOFers alike.

[vintagebaseballcardguy]

Originally Posted by Neal

great card, and if it was priced better, I am not sure that possible mark would bother me.

The Mantle, in my limited searches for the card, does not seem to have a big centering issue like so many of the others - both commons and HOFers alike.

I hear ya! It is absolutely brutal trying to find a mid grade example with reasonable centering. As is the norm with BINs, the price is out of whack. Good luck!

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

[LuckyLarry]

what does RCR mean?
Larry

Originally Posted by EldoEsq

Got this pretty cheap at the Westchester show yesterday...paid $10 for RCR...authentic, not trimmed, and actually doesn't look that bad in hand...

[ALR-bishop]

I am not a graded card guy Larry. Raw Card Review ? Paying someone to tell you what they think you should think about your cards ?

RoyaL Canadian Regiment is also a possibility :-)

[LuckyLarry]

Thanks Al I think you are right Raw Card Review, I see that in the posted image now. I thought the original poster paid $10 for the card, and I'm thinking that's a heck of a deal! But when I read the post now, he "got the card pretty cheap" and then paid Beckett $10 to insure it was authentic. I'm a little slow this AM.
Larry

Originally Posted by ALR-bishop

I am not a graded card guy Larry. Raw Card Review ? Paying someone to tell you what they think you should think about your cards ?

RoyaL Canadian Regiment is also a possibility :-)

[Neal]

This came in a few days ago .... not a big name, but this is kinda what I am looking for in a PSA 5 for this set.

Always wanted to use this guy as a leadoff hitter in SIM ... anyone here play Diamond Mine? If so, maybe a 54 Postwar custom league is in order

85 Hemus.jpg

[Neal]

Does anyone know if there are size variations within this issue? I have seen some cards that appear a tad bit short.

Other than being altered, is there any info regarding small cuts?

Thanks

[obctom]

Originally Posted by ALR-bishop

Ted--I wonder if anyone has ever created a color version of that card.

How's this?
Not a lot to colorize, and I'm still learning how to do it in Photoshop, so be gentle in your criticism

Tom

[Neal]

Nice work!
Would have looked great as a Bowman color card

[RayBShotz]

Neal - That's a great looking Hemus! These cards are amazing.
Nice progress on the set.
RayB

[JollyElm]

Originally Posted by Neal

This came in a few days ago .... not a big name, but this is kinda what I am looking for in a PSA 5 for this set.

Always wanted to use this guy as a leadoff hitter in SIM ... anyone here play Diamond Mine? If so, maybe a 54 Postwar custom league is in order

Attachment 243250

Funny, Ole Solly looks a lot like a young Bryan Cranston in that shot. Perhaps from his Dr. Tim Whatley days on 'Seinfeld.'

[Neal]

Originally Posted by JollyElm

Funny, Ole Solly looks a lot like a young Bryan Cranston in that shot. Perhaps from his Dr. Tim Whatley days on 'Seinfeld.'

you are an anti-dentite

[Neal]

158 Fox.jpg

One of the things I find unique and appealing about the set is the choice, or lack thereof, of cropping certain images.

[Neal]

Attachment 243985

One of the things I find unique and appealing about the set is the choice, or lack thereof, of cropping certain images.

158 Fox.jpg

[Republicaninmass]

If they had taken some time on the mantle card, it woild have been greatly appreciated! It seems lkme even well centered copies...are oc

[Neal]

Originally Posted by Republicaninmass

If they had taken some time on the mantle card, it woild have been greatly appreciated! It seems lkme even well centered copies...are oc

and that is what makes this set unique imo .... I think that is one of the Micks best cards actually lol

Here are a few of the main reasons why the set is so appealing

43 Garcia.jpg

15 Busby.jpg

45 Dropo.jpg

28 Burgess.jpg

110 Rush.jpg

[RayBShotz]

Wow! That Rush image is unbelievable! Great stuff Neal.
RayB

[Neal]

one of my favorite cards from the set ... just arrived today

103 Ennis.jpg

I am now at just under 25%, which is not a tough feat considering the grade level, but this is the first set that I have gotten to this completion percentage in a long while. I have pulled a Costanza, and have worked this set completely different than I have with other sets.

[vintagebaseballcardguy]

Great card. And speaking of old Georgie boy...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cKUvKE3bQlY

[campyfan39]

Steve,
Love this set and your firsthand experience but you said 53 topps was "pedestrian hand drawn artwork" ouch I feel like you just slapped my wife hahaha

Originally Posted by Volod

Al is certainly correct about the 1953 Topps cards outselling Bowmans' issue that year, but that fact was was not due to kids preferring the Topps cards at all. Rather, the relatively poorer sales figures for Bowman had to do with a smaller distribution and probably lower production numbers overall. Personally, I can recall kids in my schoolyard falling all over each other to get a look at the new Bowmans when they hit the stores that spring. The amazing color photography and innovative design impressed kids far more than the more pedestrian hand-drawn artwork used by Topps. Nonetheless, more kids had stacks of the Topps cards simply because that was what they found on store shelves and countertops. I recall riding a bike all over my small (40K) hometown trying to find the Bowman cards without much success that year. Candy distributors just bought many more cases of Topps product than Bowman regardless of what kids might have preferred.

[RayBShotz]

Great Ennis!

[Neal]

Just in today

10 Ashburn.jpg46 Campy.jpg
57 Boudreau.jpg61 Kell.jpg

[aconte]

Neal,

These are sweet! You need a 38 Goudey Joe D. to make your collection
complete!

T

[Neal]

Originally Posted by aconte

Neal,

These are sweet! You need a 38 Goudey Joe D. to make your collection
complete!

T

I already have one lined up pal

[DBesse27]

Damn, Neal, those are some sweet cards!

Is it just me, or does campanella have a bunch of great looking cards? Collecting his basic run would be a real joy.

[irv]

Originally Posted by Neal

Just in today

Attachment 245491Attachment 245492
Attachment 245493Attachment 245494

Wow, they graded those tough.

Great looking cards!

[GasHouseGang]

Originally Posted by irv

Wow, they graded those tough.

Great looking cards!

I agree! My eyes must be going if that Ashburn is only a 6.

[Peter_Spaeth]

I doubt this one would interest you.

[Neal]

Was waiting on that one to show up lol

Great berra!

[irv]

Originally Posted by GasHouseGang

I agree! My eyes must be going if that Ashburn is only a 6.

I also thought the Campy, especially with that centering, was graded way too low.

I am curious what Neal can tell us about those cards and his own personal view on how he thinks they only received what they did?

[Neal]

Originally Posted by irv

I also thought the Campy, especially with that centering, was graded way too low.

I am curious what Neal can tell us about those cards and his own personal view on how he thinks they only received what they did?

Hi Irv,
The Campy is accurately graded, imo. Perhaps a 5.5 would be in order if this was submitted today ...... maybe a 6 on a lucky sub. The corners are solid 5 corners.

[benderbroeth]

decided to start.

only looking for psa 5

[Neal]

nice start!

[irv]

Originally Posted by Neal

Hi Irv,
The Campy is accurately graded, imo. Perhaps a 5.5 would be in order if this was submitted today ...... maybe a 6 on a lucky sub. The corners are solid 5 corners.

Thanks for letting me know, Neal.

Pictures are deceiving!

[RayBShotz]

Originally Posted by Neal

Just in today

Attachment 245491Attachment 245492
Attachment 245493Attachment 245494

Now these are baseball cards! Wow Neal.
RayB

[spaidly]

I was going after the Dodgers team set for this issue but now they are like Pokeman -- gotta catch 'me all!

When I finished my 1971 set in near mint a couple months ago (what a beast) it was between 1957 Topps in near mint or 1953 Bowman in ex-mt or better as the next to chase. I just realized the answer was not OR but rather BOTH.

Some of those 5s are so nice I'm thinking I need to do EX or higher now. This board has definitely helped me fully understand that I need to buy the card I like rather than the grade/holder.

Scott

[Neal]

latest addition ....

121 Berra.jpg

Based on Ted's article, I realized that this was going to be a tough card. Thankfully I am working on the set in mid grade, so the centering will have to do on this one. I haven't seen any better, except for much high grades (and price tags beyond my budget) so I was pleased to work out a deal privately

[PolarBear]

Love the 53 Bowmans! Some players have their best card in this set, Musial, Snider, et al.

[RayBShotz]

A relaxed Yogi.
Life is good. That card is spectacular!
RayB

[flkersn]

There are several 1953 Bowman PSA-7 cards for sale in the current Heritage auction.

[Neal]

chugging along ...

18 Fox.jpg

[jerrys]

My only two:

mantle.jpg
musial.jpg