Graded World Series Cards

In June 2012 I completed my GRADED set of Topps World Series cards.  It took me two years and one month to complete.  My goal was to collect every Topps World Series and Playoff card issued by Topps from 1960 (the first year they were issued by Topps) through 1981, which loosely marks the end of the Post War Era for baseball cards.  While I had collected dozens of ungraded World Series cards over the years, I decided in June 2010 to assemble a graded set.

My primary source would be eBay which provides a ready market for purchasing cards either through auction or straight purchase.  I also regularly attend baseball card shows in North Carolina that are held in Raleigh, Charlotte, Greensboro and Hickory.  As it turns out, I did not find any graded cards for my collection at these shows. First of all, I didn’t see very many graded World Series cards.  And when I did see them, they were usually something I already had. 

It was, for me, a no brainer to go with cards graded by Professional Sports Authenticators.  (www.psacard.com)  While there is nothing particularly wrong with the other grading services, PSA has been the market maker and over time has proven to be the gold standard for graded product.  You pay a premium for PSA grading, but I believe in the long run, it is a better decision. Of course, everyone has a reason for choosing a favorite grading service and here is a general guide published by eBay: http://reviews.ebay.com/Rating-Sports-Card-Grading-Services?ugid=10000000002580894

After deciding on PSA, the next decision point to consider was cost.  The price curve for cards is steep when you get to a grade of PSA 9 or 10.  This applies to common cards as well as star cards.  I have seen unheard of players from the 1950’s and 60’s have their cards sell for over $100 if they are a PSA 9 or 10.  In contrast, the curve for grades PSA 1 to 8 is relatively linear.  So, I decided that on the high end I would go no further than a PSA 8 unless there was an unusual bargain.  On the lower end I struggled.  I saw a number of cards that were graded PSA 4 that looked acceptable.  But I needed to set a standard and decided I would go no lower than a PSA 5. 

With that decided, I began my journey.  The first card I found was a PSA 8, 1978 Topps #413.  It is a card with Reggie Jackson commemorating his phenomenal three home run performance for the New York Yankees the 1977 World Series. This was the year that Reggie became known as “Mr. October” due to his ability to rise to the occasion when the pressure was most intense.  I remember where I was, and the joy I had as that third ball sailed into the bleachers.  I was 20 years old in the fall of 1977 and found myself in the local tavern (O’Brian’s – for those of you from Madison, NJ) with a few friends.  It was a raucous crowd at the bar, and I don’t know if I’ve ever had so much fun watching a baseball game.  

I think the year I remember most would be the 1968 World Series between the Cardinals and the Tigers.  These games were portrayed in the 1969 Topps set.  Topps teamed up with The Sporting News to give a newspaper headline feel to the card.  I had just turned eleven years old and was in my prime baseball card collecting years, little league years, and general “fascination with baseball” years.  Mantle had retired (one year earlier) and his last card was in the ’69 set.  But more than anything I remember my 6^th grade teacher, Mrs. Thatcher. I was held after school one day with a couple of friends for talking in class.  I was actually asking someone about the score of the game…..

Why my mother saved this "detention essay" from 6th grade, I will never know.  She passed away last year, three months before my dad died.  I didn't know she had it until a few years ago when she gave me a bunch of old stuff - reports cards and such.  It was stuck in my 6th grade report card, as if it were an explanation of my less than stellar academic performance that year.  I didn't like the 6th grade, or my teacher very much.  I felt like I was letting my parents down; that was when Dad was the president of the Board of Education.  But I just couldn't get interested - and seemed to be constantly distracted by....well, by just about anything. But I enjoyed baseball - it kept me focused on something positive.  Here's what the cards look like:

Note that Game 2 depicts Willie Horton's home run referred to in my essay.....

Collecting these cards pretty much ran through the years of my youth.  From 1960 to 1981, I went from 3 years old to 24 years old.  As the cards arrived in the mail, day by day, week by week I could think back to 1966 and 4th grade....or 1971 and the 9th grade.  All the way through college graduation and my first job as an accountant.  I remembered old friends, odd situations, girlfriends, and playing ball myself.  Sitting at a friends house after school watching the 1973 series between the Mets and the A's, I can recall the dark walls of the den, the way the autumn sun spilled through the windows, and the cackle of five boys as we yelled at the players on TV.  Without provocation, we'd start wrestling around - or perhaps start making fun of each other's girlfriend, or lack thereof.  Who can explain what is running through the mind of 16 and 17 year old boys? Nevertheless, there was always baseball to bring us together.  

Here is a sampling of the cards from the 60's and 70's.  It was a blast collecting them all: