True Hobby Rarity finally surfaces!

[Leon]

A bit belated, congrats Mike!! And I agree with others, it's always good to see hobby enthusiasm.

ps...not all off topics get moved.

Originally Posted by vtgmsc

I know this is getting moved but HAD to post as I'm so excited!

I can't believe it but I am truly holding this card!

Phil Jordon has only 2 Regular cards that were issued in packs over his short career. 1957 Topps Rookie card and this 1961 Fleer Basketball Card.

SGC, Beckett nor PSA/DNA have NEVER slabbed a Signed Rookie card. I believe 1 exists but it is not slabbed but comes with a PSA/DNA LOA.

SGC, Beckett, nor PSA had NEVER slabbed a 1961 Signed Fleer until now!!!!!!!! You are looking at an incredible rarity. Jordon died in a rafting accident in 1965 at the very young age of 31! He also had a very interesting non active part in Wilt's 100 point game but you need to read about it. I don't want to spoil the fun.

I had just been awarded autograph set of the year for my 1961 Fleer Signed Set and now this beauty resides in it! Appropriate I think!

PSA gives complete set awards if a set is over 95% full on the Registry and mine was at 96% when it won the Set of the Year a month ago. This was before this card was in the set!!!

I still need a signed Carl Braun and a signed Guy Rodgers from this set so please shake out your old autos and make some money! This card finally surfaced so I KNOW the other 2 are out there somewhere! Cha-Ching!

Peace, Mike

PS Thanks to "Jerry G" on this board who sold me my 1st 33 cards from this set already signed and set me on this incredible journey about 2.5 years ago!
PS 2 Strangely enough, I also own the only slabbed signed Wilt Chamberlain In Action RC from this set but this Jordon excites me more as I truly thought I would never see one in my lifetime!

Attachment 324026

[Rich Klein]

The only one on your list of 1 of 1's which surprises me is the Larry Costello. Unless he did not like to sign at all, as the coach of the Bucks in the 1970's he was certainly available to average fans.

Rich

[vthobby]

Originally Posted by Rich Klein

The only one on your list of 1 of 1's which surprises me is the Larry Costello. Unless he did not like to sign at all, as the coach of the Bucks in the 1970's he was certainly available to average fans.

Rich

Rich,

I consider myself now a bit of a student of this signed set so this is my best go at why the Costello is a 1 of 1. Overall, if you study the pop report for these signed cards, the lower "Regular" cards of these guys were signed in much greater numbers. It has nothing to do with rarity of the actual unsigned cards but more to do with Aesthetics or perceived looks of the Signed low numbers vs the higher numbered "In action" cards. I first learned this from longtime board member "Jerry G" as when he was collecting these way back when, he loved the look of the lower numbers as the autos seem to pop off the different colors. Most if not all of the High Number In Actions have very dark backgrounds which of course does not allow the autograph to display as well.
I'll just use 1 quick example.
The most any low number card is signed is Oscar Robertson of which 46 are signed.
The most any In Action card is Bill Russell high number which has been signed only 16 times.
This ratio almost plays out for the Costello cards as 4 low number Costello's have been signed and of course only 1 High Number In Action signed card has been slabbed.
It seems like a pretty simple explanation but I believe it to be one of the reasons for the disparity. Another reason that I think contributes is that given the choice to get the player's "Regular" low number card signed vs. the high number "In Action" card, I think most went for the "Regular" card which in many instances is also their true RC card!
Just my 2 cents!
Thanks! Mike