the27guy
01-14-2020, 12:00 PM
I haven't posted a mailday in a while, but yesterday I got one that, although not super expensive, is really a unique piece. I enjoyed going down the rabbit hole on this set and talking to a few collectors on IG about it, and thought some of you who like vintage might appreciate it as well.
First off the card. Or should I say bookmark -
https://i.imgur.com/BLHdVPeh.jpg
From Beckett's website - These bookmarks commemorate individuals who were elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame. The cards were probably issued year after year (with additions) by the Hall of Fame book store. They measure approximately 2 7/16" by 6 3/8". The top of the front has a blue-tinted 2 1/8" by 2 5/16 "mug shot" of the individual on paper stock. In blue lettering the individual's name and a brief biography are printed below the picture. The backs are blank and the cards are unnumbered. The last seven cards listed below were inducted in 1969 (47-48), 1970 (49-51), 1972 (52), and 1974 (53); there are some slight style and size differences in these later issue cards compared to the first 46 cards in the set.
There's a few reasons why I like this set. First off, it's not overly expensive. You can get most of the stars for less than $100. But also, the bookmark gives a fair amount of detail on each player, and is usually accompanied by a photo that you've seen many times before.
Another thing that I love is that although these aren't too expensive, finding nicer graded copies isn't easy. So it should provide a decent chase - especially if you just want to buy graded copies.
Last reason - and most interesting to me is the short printed cards that were printed after the original set was distributed via the bookstore. Those final seven cards include 4 all timers, in Schayes, Pettit, Cousy and Russell.
Russell's Hall of Fame Story is interesting... and if I'm being honest, I didn't know about it until a friend mentioned it to me on IG yesterday. Read the following article. It's a short read.
https://sports.yahoo.com/nba-icon-russell-accepts-hall-fame-ring-44-224131119--nba.html
So, although Russell wouldn't accept his Hall of Fame ring, he was the first African player inducted in the hall of fame, which explains why this set, printed by the Hall of Fame mostly in 1968 but added onto over the course of the next six years is comprised of 52 white guys and the last player added... Bill Russell....
Hope you guys enjoyed the post and learned something. I know I did.
First off the card. Or should I say bookmark -
https://i.imgur.com/BLHdVPeh.jpg
From Beckett's website - These bookmarks commemorate individuals who were elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame. The cards were probably issued year after year (with additions) by the Hall of Fame book store. They measure approximately 2 7/16" by 6 3/8". The top of the front has a blue-tinted 2 1/8" by 2 5/16 "mug shot" of the individual on paper stock. In blue lettering the individual's name and a brief biography are printed below the picture. The backs are blank and the cards are unnumbered. The last seven cards listed below were inducted in 1969 (47-48), 1970 (49-51), 1972 (52), and 1974 (53); there are some slight style and size differences in these later issue cards compared to the first 46 cards in the set.
There's a few reasons why I like this set. First off, it's not overly expensive. You can get most of the stars for less than $100. But also, the bookmark gives a fair amount of detail on each player, and is usually accompanied by a photo that you've seen many times before.
Another thing that I love is that although these aren't too expensive, finding nicer graded copies isn't easy. So it should provide a decent chase - especially if you just want to buy graded copies.
Last reason - and most interesting to me is the short printed cards that were printed after the original set was distributed via the bookstore. Those final seven cards include 4 all timers, in Schayes, Pettit, Cousy and Russell.
Russell's Hall of Fame Story is interesting... and if I'm being honest, I didn't know about it until a friend mentioned it to me on IG yesterday. Read the following article. It's a short read.
https://sports.yahoo.com/nba-icon-russell-accepts-hall-fame-ring-44-224131119--nba.html
So, although Russell wouldn't accept his Hall of Fame ring, he was the first African player inducted in the hall of fame, which explains why this set, printed by the Hall of Fame mostly in 1968 but added onto over the course of the next six years is comprised of 52 white guys and the last player added... Bill Russell....
Hope you guys enjoyed the post and learned something. I know I did.