March 25, 2021: Spring Auction
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 3/25/2021
Like adjacent lots from 1950s and 1960s Topps baseball, this is a genuinely unique auction lot, derived from a childhood collection and providing enormous value with the only stipulation that this lengthy listing requires a good deal of close examination to find all the pearls. Focused primarily from 1973-86 mainstream Topps Hall of Famers, there is also a significant component after 1986 from the major manufacturers, comprising perhaps another 200 Hall of Famers added to the large group from 1973-86. The lineup herein is truly remarkable in the number of regular-issue cards of Hall of Famers (170) from 1973-80, and largely all Hall of Famers or Specials from 1981 forward. The prevailing condition range is broadly Excellent to Ex-Mt, with some above and below the range, for 1973 and 1974, and then markedly better starting in 1975, and broadly Near-Mint or better after that. Included in the mix are some of the most iconic HOFer cards of the era, along with a number of important Rookies and Specials, including: Aaron (13 regular-issue cards, plus five 1974 Specials and five No.1 Record Breakers in 1976, Ryan (8), Rose (14), Jackson (8), Bench (9), Schmidt (13), Yastrzemski (5), Brett (6) and Ripken (3), to name a few. And it should be noted that the 160 figure for Hall of Famers is for their regular-issue cards; adding in appearances from All-Stars, League Leaders and other specials and it would likely double. As we said, this one takes a bit of reading, but is without a doubt worth the trouble. The chronological breakdown: 1973 Topps (37) - including Aaron (Very Good), Mays (Very Good), Jackson (2, Ex-Mt and Excellent), Rose (2, VG-Ex and Fair), Clemente (Poor), Bench (3, Ex-Mt, VG-Ex and Good), Yastrzemski, Frank Robinson (2), Carlton, Munson, Palmer, Brock, Jenkins, Morgan (2), Perry, Gibson, Santo and Perez; 1974 Topps (37) – including No. 1 Aaron (Good), Ryan (2, Ex-Plus and VG), Bench (VG-Ex), Schmidt (2, Ex-Mt), Rose (VG-Ex), Jackson (Ex-Mt-Plus), Yastrzemski, Carew, Brock, Palmer (2), Gibson (2), Carlton, Frank Robinson (2), Munson, Jenkins, Perry, Williams (2), Fingers, Gossage and five Aaron Specials; 1975 Topps (39) – mostly Near-Mint or better, a few Ex-Mt, including No. 1 Aaron (Nr-Mt), No. 660 Aaron (4, Nr-Mt-Plus), Ryan (VG-Ex), Bench (Ex-Mt), Rose (Nr-Mt o/c), Jackson, Schmidt, Yastrzemski, Stargell, Gibson, Brock, Munson, Carew, Palmer, Carlton, Rice Rookie, Carter Rookie, Frank Robinson, Fingers, plus eight Highlights, Bonds, Allen and Oliver, and a Rice Rookie Mini, Perez Mini; 1976 Topps (67) – Near-Mint to Mint, including No. 1 Aaron Record Breaker (5), No. 550 Aaron (7), Rose, Schmidt, Bench (2), Jackson (2), Carew, Yastrzemski, Brock, Carlton, Munson, Carter, Jenkins, Jenkins Traded (2), Williams (2) and Palmer, plus an outstanding run of (34) Sporting News All-Time All-Stars including Ruth (2), Cobb (4), Ted Williams (3), Gehrig (4), Hornsby (3), Johnson (4), Wagner (4) and Traynor (4); 1977 Topps (21) – Nr-Mt to Nr-Mt to Mt, with some below, including Rose (2), Brett, Jackson, Bench, McCovey, Schmidt, Carlton, Fisk, Rice (2), Morgan, Carter, Murphy Rookie, Munson, Lynn and Bonds; 1978 Topps (28) – Nr-Mt to Nr-Mt to Mt, with some below, including Murray Rookie (presents Near-Mint, but some small, barely visible scratches seen only upon close examination), Rice (2), Rose, Schmidt, Munson, Carter, Morgan, Fisk, Dawson, Seaver (2), Carlton, Carew, Perry, Yastrzemski, Whitaker Rookie (2), Parker, Lynn, Foster, and five Record Breakers and a League Leader; 1979 Topps (30) – Nr-Mt to Nr-Mt to Mt, some below, including Rose (3), Brett, Schmidt, Fisk, Bench, Rice, Morgan, McCovey, Yastrzemski, Brock, Carew, Seaver, Trammell, Murray, Carlton, Foster, Lynn, two League Leaders, Rose Record Breakers (2), and Record Holders (3); 1980 Topps (25) – Rose, Ryan, Seaver (2), Schmidt (2), Carlton, Morgan (2), Carew, Fisk, Brett, Rice (2), Yastrzemski, Fingers, Murphy, Lynn, Foster, Bonds and four Highlights (4); 1981-86 Topps (148) – mostly HOFers, including Ryan (4), Schmidt (4), Brett (3), Rose (2), Carew (4), Seaver (8) and Ripken (3); 1986-Modern Topps, Fleer, Donruss and Upper Deck (370) – almost all HOFers, rest stars and Specials, including inserts, All-Stars and boxed set cards, including Sandberg (29), Mattingly (32), Rose (14), Rice (11), Schmidt (9), Boggs (8), Brett (7), Henderson (7), Ryan (3), Ripken (2) and others (85); plus another (300) others mostly 1990s and forward from all manufacturers, including Upper Deck Heroes, modern inserts, parallels, Renatta Galasso, TCMA, Classic and Ted Williams Card Co.
Huge Group 1973-86 Topps Baseball With HOFers, Approx. 370 HOFers (1,140)
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