Topps all time basic set.

[novakjr]

I've got a few questions. I've been slowly working on a complete basic topps and traded run.. I've still got a long way to go, I'm only at about 50%, with mostly everything 80-now, near complete sets from '73-79, and mostly HOF rookies earlier than that. Now I've run into two things that I'm not sure of. Should I count the '48 magic photos? And the other issue is with the 2002 traded set. Topps apparently short printed the entire first 110 cards of the set at a rate of 1 per pack. Should I count those 110 cards in a basic set?

Or should I ignore both the magic photos and the 110 '02 traded cards for now, and then maybe decide when I've completed, or at least come close to completing the run? Any thoughts?

That, and what are some good websites for getting affordable singles/commons?

[mintacular]

I've had some luck making some trades on Sports Card Forum, just post your wants and you should have people similar to yourself with duplicates to help fill some needs...You might also type in the set name and "U Pick" on eBay, I recently picked up a few '69 commons that I needed that way...

[bcbgcbrcb]

I would not consider the 1948 Magic Photos as part of a base set collection. I would include the Traded set however if you have included all other Topps Traded sets other than that one.

[novakjr]

I would not consider the 1948 Magic Photos as part of a base set collection. I would include the Traded set however if you have included all other Topps Traded sets other than that one.

Yeah, that's what I was leaning towards with the magic photos. I already have the standard portion of the '02 traded set, but was unsure of how to approach the SP portion of it.

Basically cards 111-275 were all the prospect cards and regularly printed, while 1-110 were the regular traded/stars cards, and were all short printed at a rate of 1 per pack, almost like inserts. This really pisses me off that Topps would do something as ridiculous as that. You figure at $2-3/pack it would've cost $220-330 to complete the set, assuming you didn't get doubles. Meanwhile, having 3 sets worth of prospects. I find that completely uncalled for on Topps part. Sh*tty cards that should be commons and pretty much worthless all sell anywhere from $1-3. That's why I'm considering not even bothering, because for some reason, I want to treat them more like inserts than standard cards, due to their gimmicky nature..

[bcbgcbrcb]

I agree with you, David, makes no sense to me either. My best guess is that was probably at the height of the insert/low serial number printing craze and Topps was trying to take extra advantage of that.

[vintagetoppsguy]

David,

We have similar goals. I, too, want to do a set run from '52 to present. I currently have complete sets from '74 to present and actively working on '56, '58, '61 and '71 to '73. I also have a '54 set minus 1 card (Hank Aaron RC), but hope to get that very soon. I have several of the traded sets, but not all and I am still up in the air as to include those or not with my set run.

Anyway, BBCE has the 2002 Traded wax boxes for $49 each (breaks down to about $2/pk. They also have jumbo boxes available for $60. I don't know if those provide better odds for the SPs or not? If you buy some, let me know. I may buy a couple of boxes and maybe we can trade dupes.

Good luck with your sets.

David

[D. Broughman]

I collected all the Topps Traded sets from 1974 to 1992 but stopped because of the changes Topps made. I liked the smaller sets from each year. Still have them in binders in my closet.

[novakjr]

David,

We have similar goals. I, too, want to do a set run from '52 to present. I currently have complete sets from '74 to present and actively working on '56, '58, '61 and '71 to '73. I also have a '54 set minus 1 card (Hank Aaron RC), but hope to get that very soon. I have several of the traded sets, but not all and I am still up in the air as to include those or not with my set run.

Anyway, BBCE has the 2002 Traded wax boxes for $49 each (breaks down to about $2/pk. They also have jumbo boxes available for $60. I don't know if those provide better odds for the SPs or not? If you buy some, let me know. I may buy a couple of boxes and maybe we can trade dupes.

Good luck with your sets.

David

Thanks David. Good to see someone a bit ahead of me, it kinda motivates me a bit and gives me something to shoot for. I don't think I'll be busting any of those boxes. 110 cards at 1 per pack. I'm not sure about the jumbos, but I imagine maybe 2 or 3 per at best. Even if I really put some thought into doing the SP's, it seems too expensive to do it that way.

[darrend505]

I am only about 10 cards shy from 1973 Topps from having a complete run from 1973 to current. My goal as well is to get from 1952 on, though I do not really count the traded set as part of the set itself. Especially the last few years where they make the 3rd series, the update series and pick up after the first 2, I compeltely disagree with that and thus they are not included in my collection.

[ALR-bishop]

I have a run, 1948 and 1951 to 2011. I can understand not including 1948, which is a subset of a larger set, and if it is included why not the 55 and 56 Hocus Focus sets ( I have 56 done but only 10 or so of the 55s).

But, I do think 1951 sets should be included....all 5 of them ;) ( less the 3 unissued Current All Stars...because I don't have them :()

I have done the traded sets as well...and the Heritage sets for fun....and those great big Total Baseball sets

And an unopened pack for each year and any variation listed in the SCD Big Book

[doug.goodman]

I am working on everything pre-1993

I aspire to be Al (ALR-Bishop), although I have no interest in the unopened packs.

For the purposes of collecting, I define the cards in 3 ways :

Regular Issues - those are the regular sets (and variations) from 1952 thru 1992

Inserts - these are the "misc." sets from 1948 thru 1992, and include anything that isn't a "regular issue". These include items such as the 1991 Desert Storm and 1992 Winners sets.

Impossible Sets - these aren't necessarily "impossible" to get (like the 1961 Dice game) but are sometimes just crazy expensive (like the Hocus Focus sets)


At this moment, I need 107 cards to complete my regular issue run. Unfortunately, this includes both Mantle variations from 1952, I also need both Jackie's. The 97 1982 blackless cards that I need kind of annoy me, because I'm still of the opinion taht these are glorified print marks, but the damned catalog lists them...

I refuse to look for the 1958 Herrera, because that one is a glorified print defect, too. I bought the 1958 blue backed Aaron on ebay last month, so I feel like I'm even.

I need 169 inserts. These consist of 2 1951 redback panels, 10 1951 teams, 17 1956 pins, 4 1961 stamp panels, 6 1962 stamp panels, 3 1964 tatoos, 19 1964 banquets, 1 1965 transfer, 2 1968 stickers, 6 1971 winners, 37 1971 greatest moments, 6 1972 cloth, 15 1974 emblems, and 41 1974 deckles

From the impossibles, I plan to eventually have (at least) one of each issue, so I'm looking for a 1951 ML Allstar, 1956 Hocus Focus, 1961 Dice game, 1963 Mantle plaque, 1967 standup, 1968 plak, 1970 cloth, 197 candy lid and a 1973 comic.

I'm sure that something else will rear it's ugy head, long before I finish (like the Hunt 1965 transfer variation), so I expect to be working on these for quite a while.

Happy collecting,
Doug

[frankhardy]

Al and Doug,

My impression is that David is just after the base Topps sets and not the inserts and test issues. You guys' collections are crazy!!! I'm having a hard enough time just working on Cardinals team sets from those inserts and test issues. I'm getting there, though.


Doug,

Regarding those Tattoos you got from me - does that finish your set up? If so, congratulations.


David and all,

I have complete Topps Sets and Traded Sets from 2010 down to 1974. I am working on 1973 and will go backwards from there VERY slowly. I agree with the others that I would not consider the 1948 Topps Magic Photos as a base set. However, I do consider the SP's in the 2002 Topps Traded Set as part of the set run. I think that the best way to get that set is to buy one already completed. That one is the most expensive Traded Set that Topps has ever produced. It will cost you between $100 (if you're lucky) and $200 (if you're desperate). It was the last Traded Set I got. I got it about one year ago, and I think I paid around $150 for it, but I can't remember for sure. Good luck in your quest.

Anybody ever tackled all of the Chrome Refractors from 1996 to present? I cannot imagine. That would be a daunting task to finish them all. I am having trouble just finishing my Cardinals team sets. The 3 Pujols' from 2001 and the McGwire HR card from 1999 are outrageous.

[novakjr]

Very nice Shane. Maybe I'll put a little more thought into the '02 SP's, but I probably won't make 'em a priority for now. I guess if I find 'em at the right price, I'll have to jump on 'em.

As far as Al and Doug. Holy Sh*t!!! Your collections are nuts. But then again, if I were that close to completing the run, I'd probably expand into the more obscure Topps stuff too. At least the '48 magic photos to start, or maybe the original Bowman and Goudey runs, or possibly put a little more work into the t206's, rather than just picking 'em up here and there when the price is right. I've also got a fetish for the old Harper's weekly woodcuts, but I'll only but 'em if the issue is complete.

Basically, I've got 3 focuses collecting wise. The basic/traded Topps run, HOF('48-now rookies, pre-'48 just career contemporary, when possible). And then the HOF autographs. I find having all 3 to work on, affords me the chance to jump around a bit, and keep my interests fresh. For some reason, in January I was on a pre-war HOF kick, february I was on the auto kick, and for some reason, so far in March I've been back focusing on the Topps run.. Who knows what April will bring!

[doug.goodman]

Yes Shane, you have helped me to complete my 1960 tattoos set, thank you very much.

I've started to get into the Bowman sets now, but the lovely wife wants to move, so I'm trying to slow down (a bit) so that when she finds a house she likes we can afford the down payment.

Doug