How many team set collectors are out there?

[frankhardy]

Originally Posted by savedfrommyspokes

Nice run of "Cards" Shane....I took on another of the tougher team sets(due to some of the stars) to build...the Yankees. Minus a few Mantles from the early to mid 50s(52-58), a handful of mid 50s stars, and the 52 Hi #s, this run of Yankees Topps (regular issue/traded)cards is complete through 2010. Although most are regular issue, I have added some non regular issue cards to the run like the 77-79 BK cards of Yankees that were not pictured as Yankees in the Topps regular issue set. In a much less organized fashion, I collect any other Yankee cards from whenever to present....they are just not as organized as the Topps run I am working.

Ouch! Yankees team sets! I could not imagine. The Cardinals are tough enough. Not only are the Yankees stars in the base set expensive, but if you take the route I have taken and go with some of the harder sets..... boy oh boy...that will be tough!

Just a question for you guys - why are you stopping at 2000 Topps and 2010 Topps?

One thing that I have done to keep expenses down is that I am not too picky on condition for the older vintage cards. I do have some nice ones, but I don't mind a low grade vintage card to keep the price down. From memory, my 1948 Bowman Musial rookie and my 1965 Topps Carlton rookie are both in very low grade. I might upgrade one day, but I may not. I am more about completion than I am about quality.

[Beatles Guy]

I'm less than 10 away from a complete Topps and Bowman run of Cardinals from 1948-1985. Working on the pesky '52 high numbers now.

[frankhardy]

Originally Posted by Beatles Guy

I'm less than 10 away from a complete Topps and Bowman run of Cardinals from 1948-1985. Working on the pesky '52 high numbers now.

Alright! A Cardinals collector! Those high numbers are pesky! What about condition? Why are you stopping at 1985 and not going all the way to present? Just curious.

[Ksquared]

I collect Orioles Topps cards (regular set cards). I need about 7 to finish my 1954-2013 run (a few Brooks Robinson cards and a few Boog Powell cards that I just need to go out and get). I have about 150 graded and rest are raw. Just finished the 1971 and 72 sets graded by PSA, working on 54 set and thinking of starting 1970 and/or 1975. I also have the Orioles in T206 and a few other oddball sets but stopped short of collecting all the oddball/non-topps sets. I also started collecting Orioles players on racks and cello packs as well.

Jim

[Jim65]

Mets collector here.

I have a complete Topps, Donruss and Fleer run from 1962-1990, I have about 90% of the insert and oddball from 60's, 70's and 80's including coins, coke caps, stamps, stickers, ruboffs, Stand-Ups, Exhibits (except the damn Kranepool). I also have every Kelloggs, Hostess, Post, Jello, etc.

I am currently working towards getting some Transograms and both 1971 Topps Greatest Moments.

[Beatles Guy]

Originally Posted by frankhardy

Alright! A Cardinals collector! Those high numbers are pesky! What about condition? Why are you stopping at 1985 and not going all the way to present? Just curious.

Condition I am somewhat flexible with as I go back, average is Ex-Mt. No lower than VG though. As for modern Cardinals, I do the Heritage set every year, but most of the modern stuff does not interest me.

[toppcat]

I just don't have the patience to put together full sets anymore and the team sets give you some variety. I did the standard Brooklyn Dodgers Topps and Bowman runs (need a couple o'upgrades but all complete) plus the '56 pins. I also put together the Topps NY Mets run from 1962-66 (my complete sets start in '67) and need a couple upgrades there. I collect the Mets cards from the test sets when I find them but with my attempt to complete the Topps type run through 1980 this is not an active pursuit.

I also have some Mets team sets from Fleer (1963 and the 69 plaque), Salada, etc. and have debated starting the Post/Jello versions. I collect NY Football Giants team sets as well, especially (at the moment) the Bowmans.

I have started piecing together a checklist of Brooklyn Dodgers who appeared on Topps cards appearances from 1958-69 and may start working on that soon. I have some of these but don't have a working list yet.

[Rich Klein]

You might as well go to 1972 on the old Dodgers to get the last few cards with the final one being the 72 Bob Aspromonte. Why not just complete the old Dodgers run through the end of the playing career. After all, after 1969 you only need the 1970 Roseboro high number, the 70-2 Aspromonte which includes the 72 HI# Aspromonte. I understand why you would stop with 69 Drysdale/Podres but for the small extra $$ why not be a completist.

[toppcat]

Originally Posted by Rich Klein

You might as well go to 1972 on the old Dodgers to get the last few cards with the final one being the 72 Bob Aspromonte. Why not just complete the old Dodgers run through the end of the playing career. After all, after 1969 you only need the 1970 Roseboro high number, the 70-2 Aspromonte which includes the 72 HI# Aspromonte. I understand why you would stop with 69 and Drysdale but for the small extra $$ why not be a completist.

Quite right-I forgot about those 2 players. I was thinking Podres was the last in 1969 but I wuz wrong. Told ya I needed a checklist! I actually have all those in the full sets. Hmmm.....

[savedfrommyspokes]

Originally Posted by frankhardy

Just a question for you guys - why are you stopping at 2000 Topps and 2010 Topps?

Two words explaining the stopping at 2010...pure laziness. I started this run in 2010 and in the excitement of starting this, I completed the run on the recent end, but have been to lazy to come back and add to the recent end since all of my focus has been on the "tougher" end of the run. Some day I will come back and buy the team sets to finish the recent end(and keep up with it).

[jasonc]

Seriously thinking about starting a team set of the Orioles (Fav team)
I imagine the best way to tackle it would be just like complete sets, acquire a lot of the teams cards like for instance 80% of the cards from some of the years at first - and this would be more fun then buying the whole team set at once.

Another thing to consider is the for the O's, at least in 1954 and 1955 for example, it wouldn't be too bad buying them card by card (not too many high priced cards there, if they are mid-grade or lower)

I too agree with what was said here, I am getting kind of burned out trying to go for the complete sets of 4 or 500 cards, and it is not exciting acquiring the commons to me. This is something I am going to try.

So question for the OP and others, is a good way to tackle this is buying a "lot" of cards (80%) from a certain year? or buying a compete team set, also since collecting a team is more what you like, are you concerned with condition?

I do have some of the high priced cards out of the way (I have a lot of Brooks already, so this would be interesting. Also, I am going to about 1979, because after 1980, I have the complete sets anyway.