14 minute read
Postwar Baseball Cards
9037. 1948 Leaf Group of (24) Baseball and (6) Box-
ing Cards. Group of 30 1948 Leaf Gum Co. baseball and boxing cards, offering a great start on the brightly colored baseball set. The grouping includes 21 different baseball cards (plus three duplicates), and six cards from the boxing set. The group grades VG-EX overall, with many presenting closer to EX, and is highlighted by early cards of Ralph Kiner (VG-EX) and Johnny Mize (EX). Includes:
Baseball: #14 Billy Johnson #17 Frank (Stubby) Overmire #26 Sam Chapman #28 Jim Hegan #31 Lou Brissie (2) #42 Kent Peterson #46 Johnny Mize #47 George (Sam) Vico #49 Del Ennis (2) #59 Luke Appling #65 Bob Elliott #73 Pat Seerey #82 Johnny Lindell #84 Sid Hudson #86 Ralph Weigel #91 Ralph Kiner #97 Marty Marion #102 Gene Hermanski #128 Buddy Rosar (2) #136 Cliff Aberson (PSA VG-EX+ 4.5) #159 Mizell Platt
Boxing: #3 Benny Leonard #8 Arturo Godoy #13 Beau Jack #15 Tony Zale #18 Jackie Fields #19 Kid Chocolate
Starting Bid $200
9038. 1950s-60s Bowman and Topps Mickey Mantle Lot of (4) - PSA FR
1.5 to VG-EX+ 4.5. Great collector’s group of classic Mickey Mantle cards spanning his prime years, all graded by PSA. Includes:
1955 Bowman #202 Mickey Mantle - PSA GOOD 2 1956 Topps #135 Mickey Mantle (White Back) - PSA FR 1.5 1960 Topps #563 Mickey Mantle AS - PSA VG-EX+ 4.5 1965 Topps #350 Mickey Mantle - PSA VG 3
A vertical crease passes through Mantle’s face on the 1956 Topps card—otherwise, the group offers excellent eye appeal at a reasonable value. Starting Bid $200
9039. 1952 Topps #311 Mickey Mantle - SGC EX 5. Graded by SGC EX 5. One of the most recognizable and premiere cards within the hobby, this appealing example has been conservatively assessed by SGC. With slightly higher graded examples realizing prices in excess of six figures, this card offers a tremendous alternative while giving up virtually nothing in the way of aesthetics.
The image contains no discolorations, no blemishes of any kind, exhibiting a bold, crisp image with bright colors including the golden bat on Mick’s right shoulder, set against a deep blue sky canvas. Very comparable to examples graded much higher. Centering is 60/40 to the right which is above average for the issue. Very light corner wear is evenly appropriated to each corner, with subtle touches but still exhibiting 90 degree square angles. The reverse is very well centered, strong print quality and no surface issues.
A PSA 9 example sold earlier this year for $5.2 million, making it the most valuable card ever sold. Starting Bid $5000
EX-MT 6. A sought-after example of Mantle set to enter his fourth year with the New York Yankees, a season during which he would lead the entire major leagues in runs (129) en route to his third straight All-Star team nod. A handsome example with strong color; the image is slightly off-center, with soft corner tips. Starting Bid $200
9041. 1955 Bowman #202 Mickey Mantle - PSA NM-MT 8. Graded by PSA NM-MT 8. Extremely well centered, sharp corners example of this tough card. With the flush to the edge brown borders, this issue is tough to find in high grade. High end. Starting Bid $2000
9042. 1956 Topps #11 Cubs Team (Name Centered)
- PSA NM-MT 8 - Ten Higher! Picturing the 1955 Chicago Cubs, this is one of the six team cards in the 1956 Topps set (out of sixteen total) that comes in three variations: dated 1955, team name centered, and team name left-justified. The dated cards are considered most desirable, followed by the team name left, then team name centered.
The highlight of this card is the portrayal of budding superstar shortstop Ernie Banks in the third row, in his second full season in the big leagues. Like all team cards in the set, the back offers a brief team history, team records, and the dimensions of their ballpark: in this case, the iconic, ivy-covered Wrigley Field. One of the few PSA NM-MT 8 cards offered as part of this set registry auction, it is still difficult to beat: only ten have been graded higher. Starting Bid $200
9043. 1956 Topps #225 Gil McDougald - PSA MINT 9
- one Higher! The star infielder of the great 1950s Yankees teams, McDougald was a six-time All-Star and five-time World Series champ. Here, he is shown turning one of his trademark double plays: throughout his career, he led all American League infielders in double plays at three different positions—at third base (1952), at second base (1955), and shortstop (1957). Starting Bid $200
9044. 1956 Topps #228 Mickey Vernon - PSA MINT 9.
Vernon made his sixth All-Star team in his first year in Boston, hitting .310 with 15 homers and 84 RBI. Starting Bid $100
EX-MT 6. Near perfect centering, brilliant sunset orange/yellow color, with tiny chips to the right two corners. High end for the grade. Starting Bid $200
9046. 1959 Fleer Ted Williams Lot of (54). Lot of (54)
cards from the 1959 Fleer Ted Williams set (with some duplication), grading overall 5% NM, 15% EX-MT, 50% EX, and 30% VG-EX, with a few lesser. Key cards include: #1 The Early Years (VG-EX), #9 First Step to the Majors (VG-EX), #11 First Spring Training (VG), #79 Where Ted Stands (EX), and #80 Ted’s Goals for 1959 (2, EX). Starting Bid $100
9047. 1960 Topps #148 Carl Yastrzemski RC PSA
EX 5. Graded by PSA EX 5. The Boston Red Sox rookie star, Carl Yastrzemski, is shown as a second baseman on his first baseball card—a position he never actually played in the big leagues. Replacing the retiring Ted Williams, he learned to contend with Fenway Park’s Green Monster and went on to win seven Gold Glove awards as the American League’s best defensive left fielder. Also feared at the plate, he won the elusive Triple Crown in 1967, and tallied career totals of 3,419 hits and 452 homers. Some ink transfer across the surface is the detracting factor of this otherwise brilliant rookie card. Starting Bid $200
9048. 1960s-70s Topps Hall of Famers Lot of (7): Mantle, Ryan, Clemente, Bench, and Jackson. Seven
ungraded late 1960s–early 1970s Topps cards of Hall of Famers, including:
1968 Topps #150 Roberto Clemente - EX-MT 1968 Topps #247 Reds Rookie Stars Johnny Bench RC (2) - VG-EX 1969 Topps #260 Reggie Jackson - VG-EX 1969 Topps #500 Mickey Mantle - G 1969 Topps #533 Nolan Ryan - VG-EX 1973 Topps #220 Nolan Ryan - NM Starting Bid $200
9049. 1961 Topps #350 Ernie Banks and 1962 Topps #320 Hank Aaron - Both PSA VG-EX 4. Both graded by
PSA VG-EX 4. Nice examples of two of baseball’s transformative stars of the era, with bright portraits of the elite ballplayers. Banks is shown as the National League’s reigning home run king, while Aaron is vividly portrayed in his Milwaukee Braves uniform. Both are affected by mild wear to edges and corners. Starting Bid $100
9050. 1965 Topps #350 Mickey Mantle - PSA NM-MT+ 8.5. Graded by PSA NM-MT+ 8.5. Having many MINT 9 quali-
ties, this example has four sharp corners with a solid, near perfect blue reverse. Usually seen with less than stellar centering, this example is perfectly centered front and back. Starting Bid $500
9051. 1965–1967 Topps Hank Aaron and Willie Mays Lot of (4) - PSA
VG-EX 4 and EX 5. Nice lot of four mid-grade cards of the era’s top outfielders, all graded by PSA. Includes:
1965 Topps #170 Hank Aaron - PSA VG-EX 4 1965 Topps #250 Willie Mays - PSA VG-EX 4 1965 Topps #250 Willie Mays - PSA EX 5 1967 Topps #250 Hank Aaron - PSA EX 5 Starting Bid $200
9052. 1965 Topps #377 Willie Stargell PSA NM-MT
8. Graded by PSA NM-MT 8. Bright colors and sharp corners highlight this card from Stargell’s second All-Star season. Starting Bid $100
9053. 1966 Topps #1 Willie Mays PSA EX-MT 6.
Graded by PSA EX-MT 6. Clean and bright with respectable centering and even gloss, this is a fine mid-grade example of the first card of the 1965 Topps set: dressed in his San Francisco Giants uniform, Mays is shown tossing a baseball into his glove. Starting Bid $200
9054. 1966 Topps #1 Willie Mays PSA VG-EX 4 Group of (5). All graded by PSA VG-EX 4. Five mid-grade examples
of the first card of the 1965 Topps set: dressed in his San Francisco Giants uniform, Mays is shown tossing a baseball into his glove. Two exhibit light creases, while the others appear better than their technical grade. Starting Bid $200
9055. 1966 Topps #100 Sandy Koufax PSA NM-MT
8. Graded by PSA NM-MT 8. A brilliant close-up shot of the Dodgers southpaw is featured on his last regular Topps issue, produced in what would be his final season. The pack-fresh card is bright and clean on the front and back; slightly crooked centering and two touched corner tips place it as a solid near mint-mint example. Though pitching with a sore arm, Koufax turned in the ultimate capstone campaign for an extraordinary career—in 1966, he won 27 games with a 1.73 ERA and 317 strikeouts, leading the Majors in all three categories. He earned his third Cy Young Award and cemented his legacy as one of the greatest pitchers of all time. Starting Bid $200
9057. 1966 Topps #50 Mickey Mantle PSA
EX-MT 6. Graded by PSA EX-MT 6. A great mid-grade card of the switch-hitting slugger in his lefty stance while wearing Yankees pinstripes, affected by just a tiny ding to the upper right corner tip. Starting Bid $200
9056. 1966 Topps #30 Pete Rose PSA EX 5 Group of
(3). All graded by PSA EX 5. Three nice mid-grade examples of Roses’ third Topps card, showing the hustling Cincinnati Reds infielder in his batting stance. Generally well-centered with bright colors, slightly soft corner tips, and some minor printing irregularities. Starting Bid $100
9058. 1966 Topps #50 Mickey Mantle PSA EX 5
Group of (3). All graded by PSA EX 5. Three attractive mid-grade examples of Mantle’s classic 1965 Topps card, showing the switch-hitting slugger in his lefty stance while wearing Yankees pinstripes. Generally well-centered with bold colors and slightly touched corner tips. Starting Bid $200
9059. 1966 Topps #50 Mickey Mantle PSA EX-MT 6.
Graded by PSA EX-MT 6. This classic mid-grade card boasts sharp corners and shows the switch-hitting slugger in his lefty stance while wearing Yankees pinstripes; somewhat off-center with a small surface wrinkle at the top. Starting Bid $200
9060. 1967 Topps #250 Hank Aaron PSA NM+ 7.5.
Graded by PSA NM+ 7.5. The veteran slugger Hank Aaron finishes a mighty swing on the front of his 1967 Topps card, issued in the year of his last National League home run title. Vivid coloration, sharp corners, and a great glossy sheen make this card a standout. Starting Bid $200
9061. 1967 Topps #45 Roger Maris and #55 Don Dry-
sdale - Both PSA NM 7. Both graded by PSA NM 7. A nice pairing of stars from the 1967 Topps set, offered in clean and well-centered examples. Starting Bid $100
9062. 1968 Topps #177 Nolan Ryan/Jerry Koosman RC PSA NM-MT 8. Graded
by PSA NM-MT 8. Arguably the top rookie card of the 1960s, this iconic card of the Mets’ 1968 rookie stars—pitchers Nolan Ryan and Jerry Koosman—has a practically flawless appearance. With razor-sharp corners and edges, brilliant colors, and above-average centering, it is a spectacular example.
Although Ryan showed enormous promise in the Mets system, it was not until he was traded to the Angels in 1972 that he emerged as a bona fide flamethrower. Over the course of his career, Ryan amassed a whopping 5,714 strikeouts and made eight All-Star appearances. The only recognized rookie card of baseball’s alltime strikeout king, this is an extraordinarily highly soughtafter baseball card and one of the true Topps classics of the 1960s. Starting Bid $500
9063. 1973 Topps #50 Roberto Clemente PSA NM 7 (2) and PSA EX-MT 6 (1). Two graded by PSA NM 7 and
one graded by PSA EX-MT 6. A trio of mid-grade examples of Clemente’s last regular Topps issue, showing him at bat for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Clemente had collected his 3,000th career hit in 1972, and was killed in a plane crash at the end of the year while attempting to provide relief to Nicaraguan earthquake victims. Clemente was posthumously elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1973, bypassing the typical waiting period due to the heroic circumstances of his death. Starting Bid $200
9065. 1974 Topps #1 Hank Aaron Home Run King PSA MINT 9. Graded by PSA MINT 9. To start off their 1974 set,
Topps decided to preemptively honor Hank Aaron as baseball’s “new all-time home run king.” Great centering, perfect corners, and a vivid image of Aaron are the highlights of this MINT baseball card. Just one has received a higher grade from PSA.
After finishing the ‘73 campaign with a career total of 713 home runs—one behind Babe Ruth’s mark—it was only a matter of time before he would surpass the ‘Sultan of Swat’ and take his place at the top of the home run leaderboard. Hammerin’ Hank tied Ruth’s record in his first swing of the season on April 4, 1974, blasting a pitch from Reds pitcher Jack Billingham into the stands at Cincinnati’s Riverfront Stadium. He broke the record when the Braves returned to Atlanta on April 8th, sending an Al Downing fastball into the bullpen for his famous 715th home run. Aaron would retire two years later, with 755 home runs to his name. Starting Bid $200
9064. 1973 Topps #615 Mike Schmidt/Ron Cey/John Hilton
RC PSA MINT 9. Graded by PSA MINT 9. A choice example of the ‘king’ of the 1973 Topps set, featuring the National League’s rookie third basemen—Mike Schmidt of the Philadelphia Phillies, Ron Cey of the Los Angeles Dodgers, and John Hilton of the San Diego Padres. Nicely centered with razor-sharp corners and edges, this is a superb specimen of a sought-after rookie card. Only six examples have achieved a higher grade from PSA. Starting Bid $300
9067. 2010 Bowman #PP5 Mike Trout (Purple Refractor) PSA
MINT 9. Graded by PSA MINT 9. A desirable high-grade card of Mike Trout during his explosive minor league career. This attractive variant features the purple refractor background. Starting Bid $200
9066. 1980s Star Rookies Lot of (5): Ripken, Griffey, McGwire - All PSA NM-MT 8. Five classic rookie cards of
the 1980s featuring legends and Hall of Famers, all graded by PSA NM-MT 8. Includes: 1982 Topps #21 Baltimore Orioles Future Stars - Bob Bonner/Cal Ripken Jr./Jeff Schneider (2), 1985 Topps #401 Mark McGwire, and 1989 Upper Deck #1 Ken Griffey Jr. (2). A great quintet of three of the most sought-after rookies of the modern day. Starting Bid $100
