March 30, 2023: Spring Auction
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 3/30/2023
Presented is a truly impressive partial set of 1954 Topps Baseball, an array that represents ½ of a complete set and boasts a roster loaded with eight Hall of Famers and a boatload of the biggest stars of the era. Along with seven PSA-graded examples, the lineup also features nine cards from the “Tough Series” from No. 51-75. Overall, it comes out to ¾ of the group being Excellent or better, a condition range markedly better than this classic issue is typically encountered in mature collections; 32 percent is Near-Mint to Near-Mint to Mint, 24 percent Ex-Mt, 20 percent Excellent to Excellent-Plus, 22 percent VG-Ex to VG-Ex-Plus and only a couple of cards below in a grouping that is very conservatively graded. The Hall of Fame lineup includes Monte Irvin, Warren Spahn, Duke Snider, Hoyt Wilhelm, Richie Ashburn, Billy Herman, Gil Hodges and Heinie Manush. The lot represents a great opportunity to launch on a complete set of a beloved Topps entry, or to upgrade an existing one with cards boasting wonderful color and gloss and the blessing of the “Father of Baseball Cards.” None other than Topps guru Sy Berger always insisted the design of 1954 Topps was his favorite of all the concoctions that he and Woody Gelman conjured up around his kitchen table for two-plus decades. Here’s the breakdown: Near-Mint to Near-Mint to Mint (40) – No. 24, 28, 46, 47, 48, 49, 78, 83 Collins, 95, 96, 108, 112, 118, 123, 125, 131 – PSA 8, 150, 152, 158, 162 – PSA 8, 172, 173, 178, 179, 180, 181 – PSA 7, 182 Manush, 188, 194, 197 Rowe, 200 – PSA 7 (mk), 207, 208, 212, 219, 220, 224, 225, 231 and 243; Ex-Mt (30) – No. 20 Spahn, 22, 31, 32 Snider, 33, 35 Gilliam – PSA 6, 42 Mueller – PSA 6, 56, 73, 77, 87 Face, 102 Hodges, 114, 122, 126, 140, 143, 145, 153, 171, 182, 184, 204, 213, 216, 228, 230 and 246; Excellent to Excellent-Plus (26) – No. 4 Sauer, 7 Kluszewski, 13 Martin, 14 Roe, 23 Easter, 40, 43 Groat, 45 Ashburn, 60, 66, 86 Herman, 109, 136, 149, 168, 169, 177 – PSA 5.5, 193, 198, 199, 217, 221, 227, 237, 248 Smith Rookie and 249; VG-Ex to VG-Ex-Plus (28) – No. 3 Irvin, 8, 54, 58, 69, 75, 79, 92, 97, 104, 105, 133, 144, 146, 147, 157, 161, 163, 170, 175, 190, 210, 214, 226, 229, 233, 234 and 238; and below (2) – No. 57 and No. 64.
1954 Topps Baseball High-Grade Group With HOFers, Seven Slabbed (126)
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