Antique Shop Pickups - 1959 Topps Set Needs

I made quite a few purchases at the Columbia antique shop.  I'll break them up into a few posts, so keep an eye out for them.  This post will center around the set needs that I picked up for my 1959 Topps set.

This Al Kaline card is a little rough, but I like it nonetheless.  Kaline was one of the last big names that I needed, so I was happy to take it off of the list.

I didn't realize that I still needed Hoyt Wilhelm for the set.  This one is a nice card that I got for pretty cheap.  I'm pretty sure that I don't need any more Hall of Famers, but I probably should consult a checklist.  I've been wrong in the past.

Finally, here is a nice group card of the Cubs, including Ernie Banks.  I still need a few of these, and some of them carry a bit of a premium.

In all, I picked up 37 cards for my 1959 set.  This definitely pushes the set along for me.  I still need quite a few high numbers, but this set should be completed this year.  That is my goal, at least.

1969 Topps Hall of Famers From The Kinston Shop

Last Friday, when I picked up those 1959 Topps I wrote about, I found a bunch of 1969 Topps for my set.  The highlights are two Hall of Famers that I was able to get very cheaply.  The first is the below Hoyt Wilhelm.

I also got this Luis Aparicio.  It was an Aparicio day that day because I also got his 1959 card.  I thought I had grabbed an Orlando Cepeda as well, but I think I got mixed up between Aparicio and Cepeda.  that gives me a good reason to go back through his vintage offerings this week when I go in there to redeem my Prime 9 redemption.

It is still a long road ahead for my 1959 and 1969 sets, but I made a nice dent in them this past Friday.  I think I will attack them even harder at the upcoming card show on April 7th.

Hall of Fame Baseball - Hoyt Wilhelm

The third of three baseballs I picked up was this Hoyt Wilhelm signed baseball.  It was REALLY cheap on ebay, but was PSA/DNA authenticated.  The photo the seller had wasn't the best because it had looked like the signature was faded.  I got it yesterday and it looks really good.  I was very happy with it.

Hoyt Wilhelm is really cool in my mind in that he was from the area of North Carolina that I spent a lot of time.  He was born in Huntersville and went to High School in Cornelius.  We lived in that area for about ten years before moving out here to Greenville, NC.

Wilhelm was born in 1922 and died in 2002.  He played in the majors from 1952 to 1972 for the Giants, Cardinals, Indians, Orioles, White Sox, Angels, Braves, Cubs and Dodgers.  Whew, that's nine teams!  He was one of the original high profile relief pitchers, and the first of which to be elected to the Hall of Fame.

Wilhelm is my 62nd Hall of Famer.

Christmas Presents From Drew

Many of you who read this blog know that over the past three or so years, Drew over at Drewscards and I have become pretty close friends.  He is a really great kid whose passion for baseball and the hobby isn't matched by anyone else that I know.  He is also a very reliable friend when a lot of friends can let you down.

Drew surprised me the other day with a nice package that he sent as a Christmas present.  I knew about one of the cards because he got it at a recent card show, but went ahead and included it with his gift.  He also put some cards in to help with my needs list, which I have neglected over the past year as I have been pursuing more and more Hall of Fame autographs...

 Drew got this Jim Palmer 2008 Upper Deck Premier Manufactured Patch/Auto of Jim Palmer as the main part of the Christmas present.  This card looks so awesome.  Upper Deck did a good job designing the patch, and the auto fits nicely onto the card and doesn't take away from the design at all.

 Drew got this 2010 Topps Tribute Eddie Murray relic card from a recent card show.  He had told me about it because I had picked him up something cool from one of my shows (I wish I could remember what it was).  I like this card a lot as well.  I think Topps does a good job on Tribute, I just wish it wasn't so darn expensive.

 Drew also attacked my 1971 Topps want list.  Some of the cards are a bit rough, but are going to be used as set fillers until they can be upgraded.  There were several that will stay in my set, though.  The above Joe Torre and the below Hoyt Wilhelm highlight the cards that will stay in the set for sure.

This time of year, and especially this year since we had a death in the family, I try to make sure I let the ones I care about know that I am thinking of them.  It is always nice when you, also, find out that someone is thinking of you.  For Drew to think of me when he is browsing at a card show, or sorting his collection, means the world to me.

If you haven't yet visited his blog, I encourage you to do so.  he is definitely a great guy and an even better friend.

Thank you, Drew.

Merry Christmas!

Hall of Fame Spotlight - Hoyt Wilhelm

Plaque photo borrowed from www.baseballhall.org

Hoyt Wilhelm (b. 1922 - d. 2002) was one of the first great relief pitchers. He played in the majors from 1952 to 1972 for the Giants, Cardinals, Indians, Orioles, White Sox, Angels, Braves, Cubs and Dodgers. I have been working on a spreadsheet of Hall of Famers lately and what I liked the most about Wilhelm was that he was born in Huntersville, NC. I lived in Huntersville myself from 2001 to 2003 before we bought our house in Cornelius (which is where Wilhelm went to high school). We sold our house in Cornelius in December of 2009. Anyway, Wilhelm was considered a great knuckleball pitcher, which is why he was able to pitch as long as he did. He made his final appearance in the majors just 16 days prior to his 50th birthday. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1985 on his 8th ballot with 83.8% of the vote. He retired after 21 seasons with a record of 143-122, 1,610 strikeouts and an ERA of 2.52.

What makes him a Hall of Famer?

• Led the league in ERA in 1952 (2.43) and 1959 (2.19)
• His 2.52 ERA ranks 45th all-time
• Recognized as the first pitcher to save 200 games
• First pitcher to appear in 1,000 games
• His 651 games finished ranks 10th all-time
• His 1,050 games pitched ranks 5th all-time
• Threw a no hitter against the soon-to-be World Champion Yankees in 1958
• All Star in 1953, 1959, 1961, 1962 and 1970
  

Should he be a Hall of Famer?

• Never won a MVP or Cy Young award
• Played until he was 49; 16 days prior to turning 50
• A major influence on how the relief pitcher is used today
• Appeared on 8 Hall of Fame ballots (elected on 8th ballot) averaging 59% of the vote

The Verdict?

Being a player who sets the tone for how other players in your position are used definitely puts one in the running for the Hall. Wilhelm's numbers may not stack up with the greatest pitchers of all time, but I believe he definitely should be in. YES Hoyt Wilhelm is a Hall of Famer.

On average, a Hoyt Wilhelm autographed baseball can be had for $70.60 or a signed card can be found for around $39.99.