Achievement unlocked

Today, I reached what is sure to be one of the card collecting highlights of my year.

With the arrival of this 1958 Topps Sandy Koufax card, I have finished an almost 40-year quest to complete the career run of Koufax's cards in Topps flagship.

This is an accomplishment that I didn't take seriously for many years and didn't become a realistic goal for me until around 2015 when I obtained three Koufax cards that summer.

But, truthfully, I was working with some advantages early on.

First, and most importantly, I acquired Koufax's 1955 rookie card when I was in high school in the early 1980s. That card, even in the battered shape that mine is in, has increased in cost exponentially as Koufax's legend has grown.

Second, I became interested in Koufax vintage cards almost from the moment I started looking into vintage cards. And, at one or two of the first card shows I ever attended, I bought Koufax cards.

Finally, this wouldn't be possible without the generous gifts of fellow bloggers and collectors.

Here are some notables as it pertains to my completed Koufax quest and those cards:


FIRST KOUFAX CARD OBTAINED

It was Koufax's last solo card in the 1966 set. I don't fully remember how I wound up with this card, I believe it came cheaply at a card show when I was a teenager, which would make sense as I wouldn't have the cash back then for anything more pristine. But I've kept good care of it since.

It's interesting to me that you can barely see the hat logo on both the first and last Koufax cards I acquired.


FAVORITE KOUFAX CARD

If that black-and-white inset photo on the 1963 card was in color, '63 might move ahead of the 1965 card, but for me, 1965 Koufax is Koufax at his most supreme. He was on top of the world as far as ability in '65 and the pitcher's stare on a classic design clinches it for me.


SCHOOL TRADE KOUFAX

We sure were high-rollers back then, huh?

I can't for the life of me remember anymore what I traded to the kid to get this Koufax rookie card. He certainly didn't give it to me for free, I know that. For years, I undervalued this. Lots of creases and tape on the side to hold together a mangled edge. But in my years as a blogger, I've come to grow very fond of this card and realize how lucky I am to have it.


MY FIRST BIG-PURCHASE KOUFAX

That would be the signed 1961 Topps card. I've written about this card many times so I'm not going to go into why I'm certain it was definitely signed by him. I bought this for what was surely all of my newspaper carrier money from a card show dealer in around 1981 or 1982. When you make that kind of commitment at such a young age, I think you've GOT to become a lifelong collector.


OTHER KOUFAX'S I ACQUIRED MYSELF

The 1962 card came around 2011, the 1965 in 2013, the 1960 in early 2015 and the 1959 in late summer of 2015. The 1957 showed up in late 2019 and the 1958 card arrived today.

Interestingly, not one of these cards was purchased at a card show. Every single one came from online sources. When it comes to high-stratosphere players, like Koufax, I get a little intimidated negotiating with a dealer, and truthfully, I think I can find better prices elsewhere online. And that's what I did.


KOUFAX'S THAT WERE GENEROUS GIFTS

The 1963 came from R.C. and the 1964 from Commish Bob, like a month apart! I remember receiving the 1956 card unexpectedly in the mail maybe six or seven years ago, but I can't find reference to it on my blog right now.

Koufax remains one of my favorite players ever and this is an achievement that I would never dare to think possible even 10 years ago.

Although I do have many of Koufax's other playing days cards -- the league leader cards and the combo cards, the oddball issues and the 1963 Fleer -- there's still a little more work to do. I'm not a completist by any means on this. But I'd like to get a little more.

But, for now -- for quite awhile actually -- this will tide me over:

Yay!