Yesterday, I had nothing. Today I have something. It showed up in the mail and I was very pleased to see it. I collect Jackie Jensen in a pretty casual manner. If I see one that's reasonable I'll pick it up but I don't really seek his cards out.
I found this on eBay listed by a dealer I buy from often. He is a very conservative grader and had this Jensen as 'Poor'. It was the second cheapest '53 Color Bowman Jensen on a B-I-N and it appeared to be waaay better that many of the more expensive ones. While that card is creased (hard to see in the scan) it is nowhere near 'poor' as I view it.
Jensen is a very interesting character. I have heard him described as a 'poor man's Mickey Mantle' and while I'm not sure I agree he does have that 'fair-haired, rawboned power hitter with a flaw' thing going. Jensen's flaw would be his fear of flying that shortened his career. I've more or less been interested in Jensen for awhile but researching his '59 card for my blog of that set I read a lot and found him to be a unique and very talented guy. Rather than repeat that whole post I'll supply a link. There are quite a few stories and sites that are linked in that post that are well worth exploring.
As for the card, well, the '53 Bowmans sure are good looking, yes? Beautiful cards, portraits and posed action cards. Just wonderful baseball cards. I wish I had the wherewithal to make a run at a complete presentable set. I envy anyone who has one.
Meanwhile I'll have to be happy with my tiny stash of '53s. I own an Early Wynn, Billy Pierce and a Lou Boudreau which I can't find to scan at the moment. .
Man, if that card's "poor", I'd hate to think of what some of the cards in my collection would be graded... "Dreadful", "horrific", "ghastly"...
ReplyDeleteBeautiful pickup! I need to get a 1953 Bowman Color... I've only got two Bowman card from the 1950's, and I don't even know where one of them is (other than in a screw-down case somewhere in my house).
I think I might go out of my way to buy cards that were graded "Ghastly." I have a few that might merit that.
DeleteThe 53 Bowman color set is beautiful . The black and white arent quite as nice.
ReplyDeleteI'd never heard of Jensen before your 1959 post. He's a really interesting story. That's a really special-looking set, too. Nice pickups!
ReplyDeleteI'll give a plug to the seller. It's siriussportsauctions-store (I think....I can't get to eBay at work). I've bought/won from them several times and I am always satisfied.
ReplyDeleteI've bought from them numerous times. Always happy
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