Any love for vintage bowman? Your thoughts?

[Bigdaddy]

Agree with the OP, and I don't think it's debatable that they take a back seat to the Topps sets from those same years. At least if you look at the prices (which are a reflection of demand) of the cards.

I had a stash of 1954 Bowman and had never really paid much attention to them. Finally decided to pursue the set and I now have a new found reverence for the cards once I put the set together in a binder. They really look good.

I love the artwork on the '51 and '52s (with 52 slightly ahead) and the photography on the '53s is heads and shoulders above anything Topps put out in those years. I like some of the smaller Bowman issues, but always find myself wishing the cards were bigger.

But, shhhhhhh..., don't let it out of the bag how good they are.

[Harliduck]

I love the later Bowman cards...I've built the 54 and 55 sets. I had a few 55s when I was a kid and they seemed like a piece of history to me...cool TV set cards...loved them. I plan eventually to do the 53's...

However, I do not care much for the smaller cards, the early 50s. I've owned a few through the years, and got rid of them. Cartoonish, too small, look terrible in a binder...just not interested.

[rats60]

I never liked the 1949 or 1955 sets, but the 1950-1954 Bowman sets are my favorite 50s sets along with 1955-1957 Topps. The 1951 set has Mays and Mantle RCs, two of the top post war cards. The 1953 set has the best photography of any 50s set. I think Bowman gets plenty of love.

[Zach Wheat]

In general most Bowman issues are under rated. Some great photo's as well. How can you not like this action shot of Pee Wee Reese?

Collecting Bowman sets are a great way for some of the new collectors to get into the hobby and pick up some of the stars for a reasonable cost.

[skelly423]

Originally Posted by Harliduck

However, I do not care much for the smaller cards, the early 50s. I've owned a few through the years, and got rid of them. Cartoonish, too small, look terrible in a binder...just not interested.

I may not be able to change your mind, but you need the right size of. Under page. The 1950 set in 12 pocket pages looks stunning in a binder.

[Tere1071]

I also believe that while Topps cards have a wide-based appeal and are collected by the majority of hobby enthusiasts, Bowmans have a selective appeal. When I worked in a baseball card shop and at shows in the 1970s and 1980s, vintage Topps singles sold quickly as there were a number of collectors building sets. Bowmans, on the other hand, had more of an appeal to those collectors who wanted to go to the "next level." They were also a bit more difficult to find as most dealers back then, sold mostly Topps cards.

From my years working full-time at the store (1979-1987), except for one occasion I can remember anyone bringing us a vintage Bowman set or major star cards for us to purchase. The exception was a 1955 Bowman Baseball set in good to very good condition (Mays and Aaron were in really bad shape) for which I paid $20. This was what the seller wanted and I wasn't about to argue. The store owner was pleased, to say the least. The damaged cards were replaced with others in very good to excellent condition and it sold somewhere between $150-$200.

Finally, I remember at the Strongsville show back in 1986, Al Rosen had a "gem mint" complete 1951 Bowman Baseball set for $2,000, which was a stiff asking price at that time. Imagine that set walking into a shop now, even a ratty one would sell for way more than $2,000.

Phil aka Tere1071

Complete 1953 Bowman Color, 1971, 1972, 1974, and 1975 Topps Baseball sets under revision as the budget and wife allows

Under construction:
1970 Topps Baseball - missing over 100 cards, mostly after #450 and the three insert sets

1971 Topps Coins- 107/153

1973 Topps Baseball 659/660, missing #305 Mays

1974 Topps Baseball Washington variations

[thatkidfromjerrymaguire]

1952 Bowman is my all time favorite vintage set.

When I got into vintage collecting about six years ago I spent some time researching which set to chase. My criteria was based on artwork, player selection, and affordability. 1952 Bowman checked all those boxes and I completed it over about a three year span. My biggest complaint is that Jackie Robinson was not included....but other than that, it's the perfect, collectible set.

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[vintagebaseballcardguy]

The Bowman cards from 1950-1955 are some of my very favorite cards in the hobby. I have a complete lower grade set of '52, and I am over halfway toward a set of '50. I also have stars from the other years. I'm away from my scans right now, or I would proudly post some pics! I hope to also build a set of '54 and possibly '53 and '55.

[thatkidfromjerrymaguire]

[Delete - double posted]

[rugbymarine]

I think the 55 Bowmans are underrated. They're a more affordable option of owning early-career, mid-grade cards of the post-war great.

p.s. I can't stand the baggy that PSA uses on their oversized cards...

[ALR-bishop]

Color TV on cards at a time when probably less than a million folks had a color TV.

Plus all those great umpire cards

[Snowman]

Originally Posted by rugbymarine

I think the 55 Bowmans are underrated. They're a more affordable option of owning early-career, mid-grade cards of the post-war great.

p.s. I can't stand the baggy that PSA uses on their oversized cards...

How on earth is that Kaline in a 6 holder? PSA has completely forgotten how to grade vintage cards. It wasn't that long ago that this same card would have come back in a 8 or 9 holder.

[Harliduck]

Originally Posted by skelly423

I may not be able to change your mind, but you need the right size of. Under page. The 1950 set in 12 pocket pages looks stunning in a binder.

Thanks Sean...I honestly didn't know that existed as I never really looked. Still not a fan of the looks, but seeing that in those full sheets is certainly intriguing. I may have to pick a few up...I've been known to change my tune once I have cards in hand...

[vintagebaseballcardguy]

Originally Posted by Harliduck

Thanks Sean...I honestly didn't know that existed as I never really looked. Still not a fan of the looks, but seeing that in those full sheets is certainly intriguing. I may have to pick a few up...I've been known to change my tune once I have cards in hand...

My '50 partial is currently in Cardsaver IIs. I will admit those 12 pocket sheets are intriguing.

[bnorth]

My favorite Bowman is the 55 set by far. As an oddball project I put them together in lower grade with only purchases/trades with fellow Net54 members. Took me about 2 years and was a lot of fun. I will say I wasn't a fan of the prices the umpire cards sell for.

[Harliduck]

Originally Posted by bnorth

My favorite Bowman is the 55 set by far. As an oddball project I put them together in lower grade with only purchases/trades with fellow Net54 members. Took me about 2 years and was a lot of fun. I will say I wasn't a fan of the prices the umpire cards sell for.

I'll second that on the umpires, and even a couple of the SP higher number commons. But those umpire cards killed me!

[skelly423]

Originally Posted by vintagebaseballcardguy

My '50 partial is currently in Cardsaver IIs. I will admit those 12 pocket sheets are intriguing.

I wish I could find the party to give proper credit, but I did the cardsaver 2s myself before someone here tipped me off about the 12 pocket pages. Trust me, you won’t regret it if you make the switch.