March 21, 2019: Sports & Americana Auction
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 3/21/2019
Presented here is a unique complete set of the iconic 1969-70 Topps Basketball “Tall Boys,” the 2 ½-by-4 11/16-inch pasteboards that represented the launch of the modern basketball era and remain a popular starting point for legions of collectors. As the first mainstream basketball issue in eight years, the set parlayed its unusual oversized format with a roster loaded with Rookie cards to create an important set that has remained popular for a half century. The Rookie card lineup includes the key to the issue, Lew Alcindor, along with fellow Hall of Famers like John Havlicek, Nate Thurmond, Bill Bradley, Earl Monroe, Connie Hawkins, Elvin Hayes, Willis Reed and Jerry Lucas, among others. This particular example has a relatively wide condition range and another unusual facet with a total of 32 autographs included, many of those from some of the biggest stars in the game, most notably Elgin Baylor, Reed, Thurmond, Billy Cunningham, Lucas, Lou Hudson, Monroe, Wes Unseld and Dave DeBusschere. The near set is pretty evening divided between Ex-Mt (26 percent), Excellent (35 percent), VG-Ex (19 percent) and Very Good (15 percent), with only seven cards below. For several of the players – most typically in instances with signed cards – there is a second card included, explaining why there are 106 total cards in a near-complete set of 99. The three missing cards from the set are No. 22, No. 30 and No. 74. The breakdown: Ex-Mt (27) – No. 11, 15 Hawkins, 17 (signed), 21, 28 (signed), 32, 34 (signed), 42, 45 Lucas (signed), 46 (signed), 50 Robertson m/c, 52, 58, 59, 62, 63, 65 Hudson (signed), 66, 69, 70 Williams, 71 (2), 72 Sanders, 76, 83, 84 Greer and 87; Excellent (36) – No. 5, 6 (signed), 7, 8 o/c, 9, 12Johnson, 14, 16, 19, 20 Havlicek, 21 (signed), 23, 24 Attles, 31 (signed), 33 (signed), 38, 48, 51 (signed), 53, 57 (signed), 61, 64, 68, 73 (signed), 73, 75 Hayes, 77, 79, 81, 86, 93, 94, 95 Bellamy, 96 and 97; VG-Ex (21) – No. 3 (signed), 10 Thurmond (signed), 10, 13 m/c (signed), 13, 26, 36, 37, 39, 41, 44 Wilkens, 49, 56 Unseld (signed), 60 Reed (signed), 67 (signed), 80 Monroe, 82 (signed), 85 DeBusschere (signed), 88 (signed), 90 West and 98 Frazier; Very Good (16) - No. 2 Goodrich, 4, 18, 27, 29, 35 Baylor (signed), 40 Cunningham (signed), 41 (signed), 43 Bradley, 47 (signed), 54 (signed), 55 Bing, 63 (signed), 78, 89 (signed) and 92; Good (3) – No. 2 Goodrich (signed), 5 (signed) and 24 Attles (signed); Fair (4) – No. 1 Chamberlain, 25 Alcindor, 62 (signed, with PSA Sticker) and 99 Checklist (marked).
1969-70 Topps Basketball Near Set, 32 Autographed (106/99)
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