landing seven '57s

i picked the wrong time to make a move on my 1957 topps set build. having completed the 1965 set in june of last year, i turned my attention to '57 and started watching a few large lots that were offered for sale. by the time i pulled the trigger on one, i overpaid.  i had actually tracked the prices of complete sets a year or so ago, and considered going that route, but as everyone knows, the price of vintage has vastly increased in the past 11 months.

at any rate, i was able to add seven key cards (along with dozens of others, plus some upgrades) to my set build. perhaps the nicest of the seven key cards is this willie mays:

say hey!

the others are in not the best condition, but acceptable for my tastes.

yogi berra

this is the second "playing days" yankee yogi card that i own. the other is from 1955 bowman, and i don't really plan on keeping that one.

don drysdale

i have this card in my dodger collection, plus another copy in a different mini-collection. so this is my third big d rookie. i don't think i will add a fourth.

frank robinson

another key rookie in the set. unfortunately, i still need the brooks robinson rookie. cha-ching!

ernie banks

banks would post his second 40-home run season (he had five overall) as a shortstop in 1957. this is by far my oldest banks card, with his 1965 card being the next oldest. 

hank aaron

reverse negative uer! i first saw this card back in 1981 when the hobby was going crazy over the reverse negative cards in fleer and donruss. never thought i would own a copy. 1957 was aaron's mvp season, to boot.

yankees' power hitters

i still need the regular mickey mantle card (double cha-ching!), but i am glad to have this one. it looks like someone drew a 5 o'clock shadow on berra, but that's ok. there are six mvp awards represented on that card!

speaking of mvp's, here's an eighth card that was in the lot i purchased - card #1 in the set, ted williams

i already had this card, but this one is in better condition and is one of the cards i was able to upgrade last summer.

as i type this in mid-january, i am down to needing 82 cards to complete the set - here's my want list, by the way. my goal for this set would be to add the brooks and mantle cards this year and anything else will be gravy. if i decide to head to a card show, i'll look for singles that i need, but i probably won't bother with another lot. from here on out, landing 57's will take patience and perserverance!