Historical Hockey and Sports Memorabilia Auction Fall 2022
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/20/2022
One of the most formidable encapsulated 1962-63 Topps hockey card sets ever assembled is on the auction block here, with our consignor’s decision to pass along his labor of love representing a sensational opportunity for lovers of high grade vintage material to acquire gorgeous perfect and near perfect cards, their sharp corners and original colors leading the attributes. Remarkably, and as our title indicates, there are 20 out of 31 examples graded MINT 9 that carry “none-better-in-PSA-history” bragging rights, so let’s start there. And what a way to lead off a set, with Phil Watson’s #1 card indeed slabbed MINT 9 and the PSA Population Report informing of a Pop 9. The Hall of Fame lineup features 24-Glenn Hall (Pop 6), 28-Pierre Pilote (Pop 10), 46-Harry Howell (Pop 11) and Rod Gilbert (Pop 9). Other MINT 9s with no superior examples (and pop numbers indicated in parentheses), are 6-Mohns (13), 7-Green (7), 10-McKenney (8), 17-Spencer (14), 18-Connolly (16), 29-Turner (20), 31-Hillman (7), 32-MacNeil (7), 36-Balfour (10), 43-M. Hall RC (11), 47-Langlois (12), 51-Ingarfield (11), 54-Hebenton (9) and 55-Hampson (7), while the set’s most important/valuable player cards, 33-Bobby Hull and 34-Stan Mikita, headline the “other” MINT 9 contingent. Vic Hadfield’s rookie card (#60), 11-Bucyk, 44-Black Hawks Team and 52-Bathgate also merited MINT 9 recognition, as did 4-Godfrey, 21-Williams RC, 25-DeJordy, 27-Vasko and 42-Fleming. Meanwhile, Jean Ratelle’s second-year card and 65-Rangers Team highlight a group of 10 cards assessed at NM-MT+ 8.5, the others being 8-Stapleton, 12-Oliver, 15-Burns, 23-Pilous, 39-Wharram, 50-LeBrun, 61-Paice RC and 64-Hannigan. The rest (25 cards) are NM-MT 8s and include 22-Bruins Team, 45-Worsley and the (#66) Checklist, as well as RCs of 2-Perreault, 3-Gamble, 37-Maki and 49-Neilson. The stirring set in not part of the PSA Set Registry, but with its numbers, would rank 4th or 5th on the Current Finest list. The PSA holders (most of them the older varieties) exhibit what we rate not-drastic intermittent scratches/scuffs. Good luck with this special and infrequent opportunity to score a highly impressive Topps set, sure to provide an exhilarating feeling once it is secured. Please note that this lot may be subject to a silent reserve.
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