Meanwhile, I have knocked off some stars and semi-stars. I really wasn't planning to do updates here on my set build. That's why my Willie Mays card and Spahn All-Star are sitting in the binder unscanned.
But I snapped up a nice handful of cards off COMC a few weeks ago and when they showed up I was very impressed with the condition. These are beauties and my stupid scanner doesn't do them justice. mostly it makes them look off-center by 'trimming' the borders. Oh, well, you will have to trust me on these.
Not much to say about them other than they are among the better cards in my binder now. The 61s I have are far nicer than my 71s. Oh, did I mention I'm working on that one? No want list just yet. I'll have a post coming soon though.
Good old underappreciated Richie Ashburn. 4-time NL hit leader, 4-time walk leader, 4-time OBP leader, and 5 times an All-Star. I'm guessing he'd have been a 'more time' All-Star if the NL hadn't been thigh deep in outfield superstars back then.
Whitey Ford. I posted his 1960 card over on that blog recently.
Two Braves, Mathews and Spahnnie. I'm trying to figure out what stadium that is on both cards. Wrigley?
I've said it a dozen times on this blog. Spahn cards are always fun. A series of oddly slanted elements, none at the same angle as any other.
Clete Boyer. I have no recollection of him playing anywhere else besides third base. But it looks like he played about a season's worth of shortstop early in his career.
Luis Aparicio. I absolutely love that Sox cap with the red bordered S-O-X logo. I have a couple.
Finally..here is the Cadillac of the '61 Topps cards. The highest dollar card I'll buy for the set. When I bust it out of the plastic prison I'll be extra careful not to ding it like I did my '62,Willie Mays. That was a hobby moment that nearly brought me to tears.
I figure that by the summer I'll be looking at tackling the last series of this thing. I've got quite a few other projects going in the meantime.
Great looking cards! Looks like you are making great progress on the 1961 set.
ReplyDeleteThe stadium in the background of the Spahn and Mathews cards is Shibe Park / Connie Mack Stadium in Philadelphia. The clues are the scoreboard with the Ballantine Beer ad, as well as the "spite fence" seen on the Mathews card.
More info here:
http://www.projectballpark.org/history/nl/shibe.html
FleerFan is correct.
DeleteI was only following the Phillies for the last 4 years at Connie Mack, but don't remember if i ever saw anyone launch one over the spite fence.
Good deal. My usual Connie Mack 'tell' is the red seats. Now that I look back at the Spahn I can see them. How did I miss that before? Been looking at too many cards I think.
DeleteThat section over Spahnie's shoulder (or the one just to the left of it) is where I sat for my first major-league baseball game in May 1967 (Phillies vs. Reds).
DeleteAwesome haul! I can't stand the '61s with cap-less players, but when they have hats on the cards can be flat out beautiful. That Mantle in particular has me drooling over here!
ReplyDeleteThe Yankees, an AL league team, at Wrigley, of an NL team Cubs. At what, the World Series in the 60's?
ReplyDeleteTHINK!!!!! :)
OK, Jeff....but I was talking about the Braves cards (or I thought I was). LOL Oh, and I can't think more than once or twice a day. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
DeleteAwesome cards, especially the Mantle! COMC has some fantastic vintage finds, I've picked up a bunch of cards there that ended up grading very high. The '61 set is nice because there's plenty of photo space and a low-key design element. Only thing that bugs me about them is the print bubbles that are all too common.
ReplyDeleteMr. Commish, the 1961 Red Sox team card was mailed today along with other things from your want list.
ReplyDeleteThanks. And watch your mailbox.
DeleteWhitey and Whitey Well done, sir!
ReplyDeleteAwesome stuff! Especially love the Spahn and Ford.
ReplyDeleteLefty Cy Young winners!!
Deletenice pickups!
ReplyDeleteUhhhhhhh so many Yankees! And they all look good. Even Boyer-who?
ReplyDelete