On Friday February 7th I received an email from a member of the group that is profiled in my "What If......" series he reads my blog & recently shared with me a story at the last card show he attended in December. He told me about a deal that any set builder would kill to not pass up even if the stakes were very high. I for one know its one deal I wouldn't have passed up on so I told my friend that I would talk about the deal & see what my readers would do even if they aren't a set builder or not just to see what kind of readers do pay attention to this blog or not.
The story he told me has to do with Willard Ramsdell featured on top of this posting as well the other 406 subjects featured in the iconic set that Willard is currently advertising. What set you ask well....the iconic set I am referring to is that of Granddaddy of all sets the 1952 Topps set. My friend says he saw 4 dealers had passed on the offer before the seller left the show feeling disgruntled & he caught up with the seller to see what he was selling. The seller was in his Mid 70s & it seems the seller had about 406 out of 407 cards from a complete ungraded 1952 Topps set. The seller revealed to the dealers the only card that he was lacking due to the print run plus being a high number as well the legendary tale of what Topps did with them (Those who don't know the tale here's the 2010 Topps Insert card to explain what they did)
The seller went to explain he started making the set as a kid back in 1952 the only card he wasn't able to get was that of legendary #311. Yes you read that right the seller couldn't ever get #311 Mickey Charles Mantle's very first Topps card out of packs. The seller went on to say how always wanted to pull The Mick out of a pack. He collected most of his life but never was able to complete this set plus according to my friend he said this set was completely Immaculate with the only flaw being that Mantle spot empty. If he had the money he would have not passed on it my question for my readers would you have been like the dealers at the show passed on it or would you taken on the task on in completing the set by purchasing it & then find the Mantle sell it to a highly recommended Auction house or would ya keep it. Again there's no wrong answer to respond to this question.
Now I do apologize for not posting the last couple of days I have been under the weather as well working a lot of hours at my Dollar General job despite being under the weather I have still maintained working under the conditions I was dealt just when I get done working on my shift posting a blog entry has been the furthest thing on my mind & I am a firm believer that health issues come first over then posting about some rare set that a friend told me about.
So as I type this I am spending my Valentines night on the couch for the 5th night in a row so I can't spread my coughing spell to my girlfriend & make her sick. I now will publish this & wait to see what my readers think would you pass or make the deal you know my answer already.
So I see my quote master Rogers made the post hard to believe I'm only 15 cards away from completing this set plus he reminds me what he said about signing autographs for little kids "Any Ballplayer who doesn't sign autographs for little kids ain't an American, He a Communist."
I would totally make the deal. There are a ton of reprints of that Mantle card that would do just fine until I ever decided I wanted to upgrade it to the real thing. Too bad collectors couldn’t make a Go Fund Me page for that collector. They could fund him and he could purchase 1952 Topps packs until he pulls the Mantle. The non-Mantles could be sold or auctioned off for charity or something.
ReplyDeleteHow much was he asking for the 406 cards? Would definitely consider it.
ReplyDeleteHope you feel better soon!
If money wasn't an issue, I'd buy it and seek out a low graded Mantle.
ReplyDelete