1961 Topps Yankees PhotoJam

Here's a PhotoJam of my 1961 Topps Yankees collection. They were my
favorite team when I was 10 years old. Hope some of you enjoy the
cards and the music.

http://www.shockwave.com/rd/photojam...7225971417_367

Ron

Ron B. wrote:

Here's a PhotoJam of my 1961 Topps Yankees collection. They were my
favorite team when I was 10 years old. Hope some of you enjoy the
cards and the music.

http://www.shockwave.com/rd/photojam...7225971417_367

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This is great, Ron!!

I was also 10 years old in 1961, and the Yanks were
also my favorite teem then.

Sorry I haven't done my '61 bios lately, but my father
passed away about a week ago, and I have been
dealing with that.

I hope to start back soon.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
John Wade

Hi John,

Sorry to hear about your dad. Mine passed away two years ago, and I
still remember the unexpected things it put everyone through. Not a
fun time.

I started collecting cards in 1960, when I was 9 years old. I
continued through 1963. My largest collection must have been 1961
Topps, because I remember them best. 1960 Topps is probably second in
that regard. I also remember the Fleer cards from that era, and the
Post cereal cards.

I have complete sets of 1960 Fleer, 1961 Fleer, 1963 Fleer, and 1962
Post (actually I'm missing one card from this 200 card set . . . the
Ralph Terry #10, which I've still never even seen a picture of).

I have over 100 each of '60 through '62 Topps, but haven't seriously
considered putting the sets together. Too many "commons" to hunt
down, and they don't interest me very much. I mostly stick with the
stars, the "leader" cards, and world series cards. I also like the
1961 "Baseball Thrills" cards, the 1962 Babe Ruth cards, and the 1962
action cards (#311 - 319). If I dabble in commons, they're usually
from a team that won the pennant that year, and keep them next to the
world series cards. I keep them all in 9 pocket pages and notebook
binders (with penny sleeves).

After I put nice collections together from 1960 - 1963, I slowly
expanded in both directions. Started putting smaller collections
together from the 1950s and the last half of the 1960s. Got
interested in the real oldies at one point, and found some fair
examples from different decades. Also picked up examples (mostly
rookies) from the '70's, 80's and 90's. I guess I span the years from
1887 through 1991 now. But I still concentrate on the early 60's, and
enjoy them the most.

The latest thing I've been working on is baseball card wrappers. I
have Topps examples for every year in the '60's except 1961 and 1962.
They're a little hard to come by. Hopefully I'll have one of each
before long. I also have the Fleer wrappers from that era.

I admire your ability to concentrate on just 1961 Topps. Do you seek
out the "variations" and error cards? Have you figured out why
nothing was issued for #426, #587, and #588? Which cards do you still
need to complete the set?

Ron

On Tue, 01 Feb 2005 10:26:32 GMT, John Wade wrote:

Ron B. wrote:

Here's a PhotoJam of my 1961 Topps Yankees collection. They were my
favorite team when I was 10 years old. Hope some of you enjoy the
cards and the music.

http://www.shockwave.com/rd/photojam...7225971417_367

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This is great, Ron!!

I was also 10 years old in 1961, and the Yanks were
also my favorite teem then.

Sorry I haven't done my '61 bios lately, but my father
passed away about a week ago, and I have been
dealing with that.

I hope to start back soon.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
John Wade

Ron B. writes:

Have you figured out why nothing was issued for #426, #587, and #588?

Two variations of # 463 exist. The Braves team variation should have
been # 426.

# 587 & 588 must have been a numbering foul-up because the All-Star
subset is complete. Missing cards in other sets were due to contract
problems that Topps had with players such as Maury Wills and Stan
Musial. 1958 card # 145 does not exist; it was probably Ed Bouchee
who was arrested on a morals charge.

My prime collecting years were 1952-57, both Bowman and Topps.
I'm currently working on the '55 Bowman and need nine more.
I got back into the hobby in 1973 while cards were still cheap
and have a complete run of Topps regular sets.

I busted packs and traded for my wants until 1985 when no one would
trade an Eric Davis rookie. I've bought the sets since then and have
an extra Davis rookie on my bulletin board under an old "Sports
Collectors Digest" headline: "How many Eric Davis rookie cards
does a 'true' collector really need? Paid 25¢ for that once $18 card.

Don

On 02 Feb 2005 06:41:31 GMT, (Don McC) wrote:

Ron B. writes:

Have you figured out why nothing was issued for #426, #587, and #588?

Two variations of # 463 exist. The Braves team variation should have
been # 426.


That's true. There's also two varieties of #437 because they spelled
Aparicio's first name Louis instead of Luis on the first attempt.

Plus three or four of the checklists have different varieties. This
may have been on purpose, though.


# 587 & 588 must have been a numbering foul-up because the All-Star
subset is complete. Missing cards in other sets were due to contract
problems that Topps had with players such as Maury Wills and Stan
Musial. 1958 card # 145 does not exist; it was probably Ed Bouchee
who was arrested on a morals charge.


How do you know the All-Star subset is complete? It's not that I
think it's untrue . . . it's just that I can't figure out how to
verify it one way or another. I sometimes think they originally
intended to add a couple more pitchers to the list. Oh well . . .


My prime collecting years were 1952-57, both Bowman and Topps.
I'm currently working on the '55 Bowman and need nine more.
I got back into the hobby in 1973 while cards were still cheap
and have a complete run of Topps regular sets.


1952 - 1957 were interesting years for cards. I've only become
familiar with them in the past few years. But I love the 1953 Bowman
color set. I'm also getting hooked on the 1953 Topps set. The 1955
Bowman TV cards are really unique, and must have turned a lot of heads
at the time. The '55 - '57 Topps cards are definitely among my
favorites.


I busted packs and traded for my wants until 1985 when no one would
trade an Eric Davis rookie. I've bought the sets since then and have
an extra Davis rookie on my bulletin board under an old "Sports
Collectors Digest" headline: "How many Eric Davis rookie cards
does a 'true' collector really need? Paid 25¢ for that once $18 card.


They're probably worth about a buck now. Such is life.

Ron


Don

Ron B. wrote, in part:

I have over 100 each of '60 through '62 Topps, but haven't seriously
considered putting the sets together. Too many "commons" to hunt
down, and they don't interest me very much.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I actually like the commons more than the stars. Their
story is usually more interesting, if you can find it at all.

With the stars, you can figure they came into the big
leagues, made a big splash, put up some big numbers,
and spent the rest of their life making public appearances,
and signing stuff.

I think my fascination with commons is the result of
reading "The Great American Baseball Card Flipping,
Trading, and Bubble Gum Book" years ago. It is still
my favorite book about baseball.

In it, the authors show a baseball card from the 50s or
early 60s, usually a common, and tell some funny story
about that player. Find a copy if you haven't read it.

Speaking of books, if you haven't read "Sixty-One" by
Tony Kubek and Terry Pluto, and you are a fan of the
'61 Yankees, beg, borrow, or steal a copy of that one
too.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I also like the 1961 "Baseball Thrills" cards...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yeah, those are cool, and except for the "Mantle Blasts..."
card, not too expensive.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Got interested in the real oldies at one point, and found some fair
examples from different decades.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I have thought before about getting some of the cards
from the turn of the century, but there are so many
counterfeits out there, I would be afraid of them.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The latest thing I've been working on is baseball card wrappers. I
have Topps examples for every year in the '60's except 1961 and 1962.
They're a little hard to come by. Hopefully I'll have one of each
before long. I also have the Fleer wrappers from that era.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
How about the inserts for the '61 set?? I have one
stamp panel in sepia, but I still need one in green.
Also the "Magic Rub-Off" inserts. I only have one
of those also, just as an example. I also have the
stamp book, which was a mail-in offer on one of the
wrappers. Send in a dime and get a cool album to
put all your stamps in.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I admire your ability to concentrate on just 1961 Topps. Do you seek
out the "variations" and error cards? Have you figured out why
nothing was issued for #426, #587, and #588? Which cards do you still
need to complete the set?
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I am still missing 32 cards from the set. Mostly common
high numbers, although I do need one common low
number, believe it or not.

#441 Dick Bertell

I have all the Mantle cards (I think there are 6 in all),
except #475, the MVP card.

I still don't have #344, Koufax, or 388 Clemente.

All of these cards are available through eBay, even
the rare high numbers (523-589), but I'm still holding
out for deals!! /;-)

I haven't done the variations of check lists yet. I'll
probably wait until I get the set finished before going
after those.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
John Wade

"John Wade" wrote in message
news
I think my fascination with commons is the result of
reading "The Great American Baseball Card Flipping,
Trading, and Bubble Gum Book" years ago. It is still
my favorite book about baseball.

In it, the authors show a baseball card from the 50s or
early 60s, usually a common, and tell some funny story
about that player. Find a copy if you haven't read it.

I'll second John's endorsement of the "Bubble Gum Book" which is more
about the players than about card collecting. My favorite quote by the
authors, Brendan Boyd and Fred Harris who each played high school ball:

"Please do not write us equally long letters (especially threatening ones)
complaining about how we have maligned your favorite ballplayer,
belittled baseball, befouled the very air you breathe. We know only
too well that we could not have played baseball half as well as even
the most inept players mentioned herein. We know that much better
than you, in fact. We tried."

Speaking of books, if you haven't read "Sixty-One" by
Tony Kubek and Terry Pluto, and you are a fan of the
'61 Yankees, beg, borrow, or steal a copy of that one too.

The same topic is covered in "Season of Glory" by Ralph Houk
and Robert Creamer, another good read.

--
Don
Facts are stubborn things, but statistics are much more pliable.
~ Mark Twain

On Fri, 4 Feb 2005 16:27:56 -0500, "Don McC"
wrote:

"John Wade" wrote in message
news
I think my fascination with commons is the result of
reading "The Great American Baseball Card Flipping,
Trading, and Bubble Gum Book" years ago. It is still
my favorite book about baseball.

In it, the authors show a baseball card from the 50s or
early 60s, usually a common, and tell some funny story
about that player. Find a copy if you haven't read it.

I'll second John's endorsement of the "Bubble Gum Book" which is more
about the players than about card collecting. My favorite quote by the
authors, Brendan Boyd and Fred Harris who each played high school ball:


I might have to check it out.

Ron


"Please do not write us equally long letters (especially threatening ones)
complaining about how we have maligned your favorite ballplayer,
belittled baseball, befouled the very air you breathe. We know only
too well that we could not have played baseball half as well as even
the most inept players mentioned herein. We know that much better
than you, in fact. We tried."

Speaking of books, if you haven't read "Sixty-One" by
Tony Kubek and Terry Pluto, and you are a fan of the
'61 Yankees, beg, borrow, or steal a copy of that one too.

The same topic is covered in "Season of Glory" by Ralph Houk
and Robert Creamer, another good read.

On Fri, 04 Feb 2005 16:25:38 GMT, John Wade wrote:

I actually like the commons more than the stars. Their
story is usually more interesting, if you can find it at all.

With the stars, you can figure they came into the big
leagues, made a big splash, put up some big numbers,
and spent the rest of their life making public appearances,
and signing stuff.

I can see where you're coming from, and you have a point there.

I think my fascination with commons is the result of
reading "The Great American Baseball Card Flipping,
Trading, and Bubble Gum Book" years ago. It is still
my favorite book about baseball.

In it, the authors show a baseball card from the 50s or
early 60s, usually a common, and tell some funny story
about that player. Find a copy if you haven't read it.

It does sound interesting.

Speaking of books, if you haven't read "Sixty-One" by
Tony Kubek and Terry Pluto, and you are a fan of the
'61 Yankees, beg, borrow, or steal a copy of that one
too.

Which year did Kubek get injured? What that in 1962?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I also like the 1961 "Baseball Thrills" cards...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yeah, those are cool, and except for the "Mantle Blasts..."
card, not too expensive.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Got interested in the real oldies at one point, and found some fair
examples from different decades.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I have thought before about getting some of the cards
from the turn of the century, but there are so many
counterfeits out there, I would be afraid of them.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The latest thing I've been working on is baseball card wrappers. I
have Topps examples for every year in the '60's except 1961 and 1962.
They're a little hard to come by. Hopefully I'll have one of each
before long. I also have the Fleer wrappers from that era.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
How about the inserts for the '61 set?? I have one
stamp panel in sepia, but I still need one in green.
Also the "Magic Rub-Off" inserts. I only have one
of those also, just as an example. I also have the
stamp book, which was a mail-in offer on one of the
wrappers. Send in a dime and get a cool album to
put all your stamps in.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I admire your ability to concentrate on just 1961 Topps. Do you seek
out the "variations" and error cards? Have you figured out why
nothing was issued for #426, #587, and #588? Which cards do you still
need to complete the set?
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I am still missing 32 cards from the set. Mostly common
high numbers, although I do need one common low
number, believe it or not.

#441 Dick Bertell

I have all the Mantle cards (I think there are 6 in all),
except #475, the MVP card.

I still don't have #344, Koufax, or 388 Clemente.

All of these cards are available through eBay, even
the rare high numbers (523-589), but I'm still holding
out for deals!! /;-)

I haven't done the variations of check lists yet. I'll
probably wait until I get the set finished before going
after those.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
John Wade

Ron B. wrote, in part:

Which year did Kubek get injured? What that in 1962?
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tony got called up to active duty right after the World
Series in '61. His first week in the Army, during a game
of touch football, he was upended while going for a pass.

He actually broke his neck, but didn't get any medical
help. It wasn't until 1965, after some tests for his back
trouble at the Mayo Clinic, that he learned the extent of
his injuries. The doctors warned him that any abrupt
movement, or a head-first slide could paralyze him, so
he retired at age 29.

He was only in 45 games in 1962, but that was because
of his Army service.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
John Wade