I'm done.

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Posted By: <b>barry arnold</b><p>I just want to take a moment of personal privilege to say that I have<br />completed my Monster collection. 2 decades ago, I decided that I would not<br />seek the Big 6(2 of which I now place in an ERRATA scetion). I have stood by this decision. All of the cards are graded---not because I think that they must be graded but because the holders have provided protection better than<br />I ever would or could. I have made a concerted effort to have a variety of<br />rare and common backs.<br />Just moments ago I received my last 206, a beautiful Ty Cobb bat off, from<br />Steve Yawitz who has been instrumental in my search for this Grail with favor after favor over the last 5 years or so. It was fitting that his card be the last in the quest for he was most helpful from beginning to end in this tremendous journey. This achievement is his as well as my own.<br />I also want to say thank you to many of you who gave your time,advice, expertise, and even CARDS along the way. The two gratis upgrades were very helpful at an important time, Ted Z. And the EPDG discussions along with your Primacy of Piedmont theorizing really helped the momentum continue.<br />Barry S., you helped at an important juncture when I decided to be singleminded about 206s. Thanks for selling some non-206s for me that I had a hard time letting go of. Thanks to Leon L. for some key recommendations along the way. Jon C. deserves a great thanks for opening my eyes to the wonderful world of 206 packs and then mentoring me along the way. Scot R.'s<br />scholarship deserves much credit for helping me to see the fascinating interweaving of vintage studies and my own world of academia; Jim B. also helped in this vein.<br />Scores of you, too many to be named yet very important nonetheless, provided trades and sales which made it all happen. Please accept my gratitude for your help and for being a top drawer community of vintage advisors and scholars.<br /><br />all the best,<br />Barry

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Posted By: <b>Jon Canfield</b><p>Barry - congrats my friend. Glad to hear you finished!

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Posted By: <b>Brian Weisner</b><p><br /> Hi Barry,<br /> Congrats on finishing the Monster!!!! Now you have to join me and go after the Superset... Be well Brian<br /><br />PS Only Ted is crazy enough to go after the Superset too... Rubber room time.

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Posted By: <b>barrysloate</b><p>Cool Barry, I remember those T205 well. Congrats on the set.

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Posted By: <b>Jantz</b><p>Nice job! Its got to be a good feeling. I fully understand your comments about acquiring T206s from other board members. I think it adds an extra dimension to your set. <br /><br />Congrats,<br />Jantz<br />

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Posted By: <b>Anthony S.</b><p>Your message title suggested something much more ominous. Congrats on your Monster.

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Posted By: <b>T206Collector</b><p>....I'm glad you ignored the bleating plaints of the Monster, willing you to quit.<br /><br />The Big 6 you mentioned are: Wagner, Plank, Magie, Doyle, Demmitt and O'Hara?<br /><br />Which two of those do you qualify as errata?<br /><br /><br><br>_ <u> </u> _ <u> </u> _ <u> </u> _ <u> </u> _ <u> </u> _ <u> </u> _ _ <br /><br /><a href="http://www.t206collector.com" target="_new" rel="nofollow">http://www.t206collector.com</a>

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Posted By: <b>Dan Bretta</b><p>Big Congrats Barry!!!!<br /><br />Are you now concentrating on the packs?

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Posted By: <b>Trae R.</b><p><i>Very</i> cool, Barry. Congratulations!<br><br> <br /> <br /> <br />---<br />"There ain't much to being a ballplayer, if you're a ballplayer."<br />-Honus Wagner

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Posted By: <b>JimB</b><p>Barry,<br />That is awesome! I am so happy for you. Congratulations on slaying the Monster!<br />JimB

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Posted By: <b>Frank Wakefield</b><p>Sincere congratulations, Mr. Arnold. Perseverance.<br /><br />Frank W.

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Posted By: <b>leon</b><p>Congratulations Barry. Job well done. Thanks sound like they are in order for Steve Y. for all of the help he provided...So "Thanks" to Steve!! <br /><br />And Barry- Back at you on the "thanks"...But this thanks is for the many private emails you have sent me over the last few years with words of encouragement when there were some tough times on the board. You always seemed to say the right thing. It's friends like yourself that make it all worthwhile and this hobby such a great place. With all of the negativity we see on a daily basis it's nice to see the good the hobby brings about too. best regards

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Posted By: <b>steve yawitz</b><p>Congratulations, Barry! And thanks for the kind words. I'm glad I was able to help - especially with the missing piece. But I gotta ask: What's next? <br><br><a href="http://imageevent.com/yawie99" target="_new" rel="nofollow">http://imageevent.com/yawie99</a>

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Posted By: <b>Fred C</b><p>So there's now another slayer of the monster. You belong to a very small minority of hard core collectors. Congratulations on your accomplishment!

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Posted By: <b>dennis</b><p>congrats on the completion of your set. set completion is a good feeling,but it is only good for a little while. as a collector you must continue.......but whats next!

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Posted By: <b>Ted Zanidakis</b><p>And, a great way to complete the Monster with......Cobb with his unusual batting grip (still don't understand how<br /> he ever hit the ball). <img src="/images/happy.gif" height=14 width=14><br /><br /><br /><img src="http://www.freephotoserver.com/v001/tedzan/cobbsov350.jpg"><br /><br /><br />So, tell us what was your very first T206 ?<br /><br />Love you buddy, your a great guy.<br /><br />T-Rex TED<br /><br />

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Posted By: <b>david poses</b><p>congratulations. the monster kicked my ass and i quickly gave up. that's a long time you spent for a great reward. i wish i had that kind of dedication. great achievement.

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Posted By: <b>paulstratton</b><p>Well done Barry.

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Posted By: <b>barry arnold</b><p>Just returned home from my counseling practice and am very grateful and moved by the outpouring of kind words of support.<br />Many,many thanks, everyone.<br /><br />In response to the questions---<br />I'm going to continue working on the 206 packs and more research on the<br />206 cards.<br />I will certainly support those seeking the Superset with research whenever<br />needed.<br />My first 206 was Matty dark cap---early 80's---still have it.<br /><br />What a great group of folks and great hobby!!!<br /><br />all the best,<br /><br />barry

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Posted By: <b>Bob</b><p>Congrats Barry! Welcome to the club <img src="/images/happy.gif" height=14 width=14>

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Posted By: <b>Richard Cline - RC</b><p>Cogratulations Barry! That's a great accomplishment and I can only imagine how it must feel.<br /><br />I enjoyed reading your thanks to all that have helped along the way, it shows how you are truly appreciative for their assistance and that is what this board is all about!<br /><br />Great job,<br /><br />RC

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Posted By: <b>Dave F</b><p>amazing accomplishment Barry. staying focused like that is really something <img src="/images/happy.gif" height=14 width=14>

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Posted By: <b>Matthew</b><p>Great job Barry!

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Posted By: <b>Scott L</b><p>Barry<br /><br />A sincere congrats, I realized the other day that I'm a little over half way to a graded T206 set. I'm sure it will be minus the Big 4 and maybe 6 although the plan now is to knock out a Demmitt and O'Hara. It's been a lot of fun and I can only hope to one day feel the same sense of accomplishment that you feel today.<br /><br />Best regards,<br /><br />Scott

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Posted By: <b>barry arnold</b><p>Thanks again!!!<br />This has meant a great deal to me.<br /><br />all the best,<br /><br />Barry

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Posted By: <b>Martin Neal</b><p>Congratulations Barry on completing your goal. You know there are other monsters out there to be slain. Some maraud around attired with gold trimmings (no pun intended).

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Posted By: <b>Joe Drouillard</b><p>Congratultions Barry. From someone who is only one quarter way up the mountain your accomplishment seems impossible. Its reassuring to know that some do make it to the top.<br /><br />Best wishes,<br /><br />Joe

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Posted By: <b>Steve</b><p>Congrats Barry.<br /><br /><br />Steve

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Posted By: <b>Ricky Y</b><p>Wow what an accomplishment. Congrats! <img src="/images/happy.gif" height=14 width=14><br /><br />Ricky Y

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Posted By: <b>Darren</b><p>Congrats Barry! Looks like my earlier post didn't make it.

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Posted By: <b>Dustan Hedlin</b><p>Barry, you do not know me, but congrats. It is posts like this one that remind me that this great journey that I have only recently begun will have an end one day. I have only 36 206's, but will keep plugging away as long as I am able. If not for having 2 of the Cobbs, I would probably have closer to 60. I've found when purchasing the "boring" commons (which are not really that boring at all) that purchasing 1 or 2 cards that I very much enjoy keeps the excitement alive. Another great thing about this set is that there are so many cards that are considered "commons" that just look so great, that even when I have bought some cards that might not be HOFer's or have the monetary value of some, they have a great sunset or other similar background.<br /><br />I'm rambling. Congrats.

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Posted By: <b>barry arnold</b><p>many,many thanks for the additional comments.<br />for those who mention their own gradual slaying of the Monster, i must remind<br />you that the Monster wants you to quit---don't listen to it.<br />all the best,<br /><br />barry

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Posted By: <b>Scot Reader</b><p><br />Great work, Barry!

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Posted By: <b>Rick McQuillan</b><p>Barry, I have been working on the set for 3 years and I have around 180 T206's. Many of these have been purchases from ebay, but the cards that are purchased from board members, even though I don't know any board members personally, always seem a little more special.<br /><br />Congratulations on your accomplishment. I didn't see any posts about the grades of the cards in your set. Did you try to stay with a certain grading company, or a certain range of grades, or do you have a mix of grades and grading companies?<br /><br />Good luck on your next adventure,<br /><br /><br />Rick

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Posted By: <b>barry arnold</b><p>many thanks for the very kind words of support, Scot and Rick.<br />best of luck in your search for the grail, Rick;<br />as you guessed, i do have a variety of companies involved in the grading primarily because i bought quite a few that were already graded and was pleased to have the protection of their slabs. If the card pleased me,<br />i didn't do much fretting over which company was at the top of the slab.<br />Admittedly, i did end up with the majority in sgc holders.<br /><br />all the best,<br />barry<br />

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Posted By: <b>Matt</b><p>Barry - congratulations - it's good to have stories of people slaying the monster every once and a while to balance out the remains of those the monster has eaten. You said above you will continue your T206 research, but any thoughts on what issue you will tackle next?

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Posted By: <b>Darren</b><p>Barry, May I suggest first series Coupons.

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Posted By: <b>barry arnold</b><p>many thanks, matt and darren.<br />i do appreciate very much your collection of coupons, Darren.<br />i just picked up my first coupon from Leon's auction.<br />i'm really dedicating myself to the packs and research for the next long haul, although i'll pick up beauts from various types here and there.<br />with respect to research, Matt, i'm wide open as i'm taking the time to reread a few of the key threads, particularly with respect to the rarity/scarcity of certain backs and the 'reasons' for a number of missing players in the T206 set.<br /><br />all the best,<br /><br />barry