Lot # 357: Scarce 1955 Topps Salesman's Sample Panel w/Don Mossi

Category: 1949-Present

Starting Bid: $50.00

Bids: 13 (Bid History)

Time Left: Auction closed


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Lot / Auction Closed




This lot is closed. Bidding is not allowed.

Item was in Auction "Summer, 2013 Auction",
which ran from 7/31/2013 3:31 PM to
8/25/2013 7:55 AM



One of the sales aides given to Topps salesmen as a "leave-behind" for retailers to preview the upcoming year"s cards these three-card uncut panels are difficult to find and are an excellent companion piece for Topps collectors. The reverse of the panels contained a decal with selling information on that year"s card issue. In the case of the 1955 samples affixed to the bottom card in the panel was a 1955 Topps Doubleheader card (not included on this panel).Salesman"s samples often took a beating because they were transported from place to place utilized as display materials by retailers and otherwise beaten. This example featuring Jim Davis Ray Jablonski and Don Mossi is in better-than-average condition for the issue with reasonably well-preserved edges and surface but scotch tape marks on each of the four corners. The decal on the reverse peeling up in one corner is clean. The card is creased lightly across the top third a common issue with salesman"s panels.But let"s face it. It"s not the scarcity of salesman"s panels that makes this such an attractive collectible. It"s the presence of Don Mossi king of the hobby. Mossi entering into his second year in the majors was coming off an excellent rookie season with Cleveland where he posted a 6-1 record in 40 games mostly in relief and an outstanding 1.94 earned run average. Mossi who never received proper recognition from the press was described by none other than baseball genius Bill James as follows:"Mossi"s ears looked as if they had been borrowed from a much larger species and reattached without proper supervision. His nose was crooked his eyes were in the wrong place and though he was skinny he had no neck to speak of just a series of chins that melted into his chest. Don Mossi was the complete five-tool ugly player. He could run ugly hit ugly throw ugly field ugly and ugly for power."Don Mossi is also one of our favorite players someone we affectionately jab at but someone who represents all that is good - and we mean ALL that is good - about collecting vintage baseball. This salesman"s sample is an outstanding rare piece of Mossi-related memorabilia.

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