Jim Bouton PSA Basic Set

I mentioned a few posts ago that I started collecting the Jim Bouton PSA Basic Set after reading his book Ball Four, a classic baseball memoir. It didn't take me too long to gather the full 7-card run, Topps releases from 1962-1968.

 

The 1962 rookie card was the most expensive card in the bunch, even though I picked up a miscut example. Other than the centering the card looks pretty good, and the discount for the condition made the card attainable for my collection.

The 1963 and 1964 Topps Jim Bouton cards came in relatively low condition, because that's where they were cheap. I don't feel like I missed out on anything by getting them in a PSA 4 grade. I got the 1965 card in a 6.5 grade, and it's a pretty nice-looking card. Never thought I'd be chasing a full run of a Yankee, but that's how the collecting winds blow sometimes.

Here are the final three cards in the set, 1966-1968 Topps. The best value for the 1966 card came in a 5 grade, but I was able to get a 7 for 1967 and an 8 for 1968. All of that adds up to the worst complete Jim Bouton Basic Set in the PSA Set Registry. I don't really care about that, as I achieved my goal, a complete run of Jim Bouton's career Topps issues. This was a fun set to put together.

An Addition to the Wally Moon Master Set

One project that's received a little energy from me lately is my Wally Moon PSA Master Set, which is basically all of his card appearances from his career, encased in PSA graded holders. I already have his Basic Set, which is just a run of Topps base cards from his career. The Master Set adds other card appearances, team issues, stamps, things like pins and buttons, and food issues.

I am not worrying too much about condition for this collection, as higher grades on vintage cards command more money than I'm willing to shell out for this project. A PSA 5, like this 1962 Topps NL Batting Leaders card, is just fine by me. Especially for a card that features Roberto Clemente. Some of the tougher cards to get in this run are tough because Wally Moon shares them with another player, like Roberto Clemente or Brooks Robinson. I'd imagine those players have more competition than my Wally Moon project does. I currently hold the #1 Wally Moon Master Set in the PSA registry, mostly because no one else is chasing it. According to my checklist, I still need 12/36 items to complete the run, along with 2 items I have that need to be sent in for grading.