1953 Topps Baseball Complete Set, Big Four in SGC Slabs (274)

Bidding

This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/18/2021

Here’s a hobby treasure, a complete set of the elegant 1953 Topps Baseball issue, the company’s second mainstream effort in producing cards, with spectacular paintings depicting the major stars and players of the era. The complete set is headlined by slabbed versions of the Mickey Mantle (SGC 1), Willie Mays (SGC Authentic), Jackie Robinson (SGC 1.5) and Satchel Paige (SGC 3.5). The 2 5/8-by-3 ¾-inch cards feature either black or red panels on the front for the National or American Leagues respectively, adding a condition-sensitive element to the prized issue because of the susceptibility to chipping. The offered set is largely Good to Ex-Mt, a condition range not uncommon when this issue is encountered in mature collections. It comes out to 15 percent Ex-Mt, 29 percent Excellent, 35 percent Very Good to VG-Ex, 18 percent Good and only 3 percent below. The breakdown of keys: No. 1 Jackie Robinson – SGC 1.5, 27 Campanella – Very Good, 37 Mathews – VG, 41 Slaughter – VG, 54 Feller – VG, 61 Wynn – Excellent-Plus, 62 Irvin – VG-Ex, 66 Minoso – Poor, 76 Reese – Near-Mint, 77 Mize – Good, 78 Schoendienst – VG, 82 Mantle – SGC 1, 86 Martin – Good, 104 Berra – Good, 114 Rizzuto – Good, 138 Kell – VG, 147 Spahn – Fair, 151 Wilhelm – VG-Ex, 191 Kiner – Good, 207 Ford – Fair, 220 Paige – SGC 3.5, 228 Newhouser – Good, 244 Mays – SGC Authentic, 258 Gilliam Rookie – VG, 263 Podres Rookie – Ex and 280 Bolling – Ex.