Masterpieces and Uncommon Commons XXVIII
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on:
7/30/2010
“I would love to walk down the street one day with people passing me, stating….there goes the greatest hitter the game has ever seen” Such was the dream of a young Ted Williams as he pursued his place in baseball history with a steadfast persistence. Ted’s dream DID become a reality for most baseball experts agree that Ted Williams is the greatest hitter who ever lived. His .344 lifetime average, 521 home runs, and being the last player to hit .400 in that magical 1941 season all attest to this legacy. The “Splendid Splinter” as he was commonly called, not only handled the bat better than anyone who ever stepped into a batter’s box, but served two stints as a fighter pilot in World War II and the Korean War. It is, therefore, both his baseball iconic stature and wartime heroism that led to him being the true embodiment of a National hero.
With that in mind, we are proud to present a Ted Williams 1954 Topps #1 card that is synonymous with his incredible batting achievements. His representation on this spectacular PSA NM-MT+ 8.5 specimen sits near the top of the PSA “pop” chart with only 4 others at this lofty tier, and a mere 5 or 0.2% of the total 1900+ PSA examples graded higher! Furthermore, it is virtually unfathomable that a #1 card in any set portray the pristine qualities exhibited by this near flawless masterpiece.
As avid collectors realize, the first card in any set would be subjected to numerous damage including rubber band marks/edge wear, sunlight/fading, soiling or any simple surface defects as a result of the card situated at the top of the pile. Ultra popular with collectors, the 1954 Topps issue included two images, a larger sized color pose, and a smaller black & white picture. Fortunately for William’s enthusiasts, both of his images include the incomparable hitter holding his legendary bat with both of this offering’s image’s aesthetically flawless. A blemish free deep orange backdrop further projects Ted’s batting poses, and the entire image’s “side to side” centering is “dead-on”50/50 between bright white borders. A pristine like perimeter exhibits razor sharp edging and four scintillating square corners, and the reverse side color laden print contrast and clarity is un-improvable.
Bottom line is rarely does a #1 subject more than a half-century old surface with the museum worthy eye appeal radiating from this Ted Williams masterpiece.
One must wonder how any card can achieve a technical “mint” assessment if this card falls short of the hallowed “mint 9” level. This we do know……it is hard to imagine that any card over 50 years old, let alone a Ted Williams specimen that is a #1 card in the set, could equal or surpass the unequivocal eye appeal of this offering. The irony is that Ted Williams, whether hitting a baseball or shooting down enemy aircraft, was the best at his craft and this picturesque depiction of his 1954 Topps card compliments the notion of ‘Teddy Ballgame’ outdistancing the rest of the field. Now is the time for any elite PSA Set Registry collector to emulate “The Kid” by hitting their own home run with the final bid!
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