We have made the decision to break up an EXTRAORDINARY 1963 Topps set
- the #4 Master Set on the PSA Set Registry. The 1963 set is a
particularly difficult set to complete in high grade due to Topps' poor
quality control in the era which resulted in
considerable print defects. The large and colorful border at the bottom
simultaneously lends a distinctive design element and a condition
challenge, as they are extremely susceptible to
chipping and wear.
The example offered here is card #123, Frank Howard, graded
MINT 9. The Dodgers slugger won Rookie of the Year in 1960 and finished 9th in MVP voting in 1962, so how did he follow that up in 1963? By helping to lead his team to a World Series victory over the New York Yankees. Howard batted .300 with a home run in the 4-game sweep. Hondo is shot from the hero angle in the portrait adorning this card, with a gorgeous blue sky background behind him. A slight registration issue with the orange inset circle and minor snow in the green bottom border keep this card from grading at a 10.
You
won't find a nicer example of this card. And that isn't hyperbole. Not a
single example ever seen by PSA has received a higher grade than the
card offered here.