Player collectors -- Best player to collect

[gregr2]

I love this thread, thanks so much for starting it! As a new collector it really gives me some insight into the hobby/passion of collecting.

[Vintagevault13]

Originally Posted by gregr2

I love this thread, thanks so much for starting it! As a new collector it really gives me some insight into the hobby/passion of collecting.

Welcome to the hobby. I used to be a set collector, but it can get overwhelming. Collecting player sets can be less daunting and lots of fun. It is great to document a players career while also having an opportunity to collect cards from several years. Enjoy and be sure to post your cards.

[71buc]

I absolutely agree on Frank Robinson and think Spahn, Drysdale, and Bob Gibson are both affordable and very under appreciated. Unfortunately I lack the attention span to collect any one player.

[Samsdaddy]

Originally Posted by 71buc

I absolutely agree on Frank Robinson and think Spahn, Drysdale, and Bob Gibson are both affordable and very under appreciated. Unfortunately I lack the attention span to collect any one player.

I hear ya. I can't just collect one player...so I collect a few players, some are Hall of Famers, some are stars, some are commons but they all mean something to me.

[Samsdaddy]

Originally Posted by Vintagevault13

Welcome to the hobby. I used to be a set collector, but it can get overwhelming. Collecting player sets can be less daunting and lots of fun. It is great to document a players career while also having an opportunity to collect cards from several years. Enjoy and be sure to post your cards.

Totally agree with you.

[brian1961]

There really is no best player to collect. I've thought about it now and again. Forty years ago I collected what I could find of Mantle, Killebrew, Maris, Nellie Fox, Ernie Banks, Murcer, Drysdale, Mel Stottlemyre and Frank Howard. For some players there's just so few, such as Jackie Robinson. We all know about the problem with Mantle--the price, and sometimes just finding an example we really like that is available & affordable.

Aside from the above, a couple players with very interesting diversity in their master sets are Gil Hodges and Roberto Clemente, the latter of whom several have mentioned.

I admire the guy who laboriously and joyfully put together the finest PSA-graded master set of Ron Santo. He really went all out and has a simply amazing assembly of Ronnie's cards, coins, and other items. Great article on him in the SPORTS MARKET REPORT a few years back.

When the pickings are few, such as the aforementioned Jackie Robinson, it makes a lot of sense to go after the post-career cards from the last 25 years that are visually-stimulating--that move your collecting soul, so to speak. Market value? None--so what. Future value spike. I doubt it, but again, so what. A great-looking card, well-designed, anchored by a great pose is valuable to you as a fan. Of course, I refer not to issues where logos have been removed; don't waste your money on those. It's sad. These restrictions so reduce their visual impact, as a magnificent Bengal Tiger with its teeth pulled out. As an example of what is worthy, I love the late 80's Pacific Baseball Legends sets. Their Mickey Mantle is stunning, because they had the good taste to use an Ozzie Sweet portrait. There are many others in those Pacific sets that are fabulous. Same goes for some of the Perez-Steele cards, in particular their Greatest Moments. Ditto for several fantasy cards made by myself and a team, the '94 Upper Deck/Topps '54 Topps Mickey Mantle card that never was, and Bob Lemke's '53 Red Man Tobacco card of Mick. All simply elegant. They complement my period cards and other items beautifully because period vintage photos were used to create those post-career cards.

I mean, I still have items in my now small collection that would crack clear through any arrogance and superiority of the major player collectors [not referring to any of my fellow Net 54ers], but no big deal. If I love Clemente, I want his stadium pin from about 1970-71, the one with the matte finish and green background. If I love Mantle, the Topps are great, but what I really want are either of the Dormand postcards, the '59 Bazooka, and the '60 Post (the Drysdale in this set is flat out the best one of all of Big D), amongst a few others. I finally got the 1960 Post Mantle, though it took me well over 30 years. Of course, that doesn't mean I'll ever get some of them, but the mainstream are all so . . . . available, great-looking as they are. When the scarce and/or rare also happen to have devastatingly attractive eye appeal, they get put on a mental or paper want list. The wait can be long, and arduous the hunt for the rare game, but the fulfillment is wondrous.

With Jackie Robinson, I'm more interested in the tough Bond Bread regional than the Leaf. Black 'n white trumps this time, by far.

You have to factor in whether the player was photogenic, and of course if the card producer selected an excellent photo to go with an attractive design.

It comes down to collecting what or whom you love, and trying not to break your bank.

I want to say though regarding mainstream, where would we be without them? For player collectors, some of their best will always be mainstream. For Mantle, any of his gum cards are wonderful; Topps usually made sure Mick's cards looked smashing. Except in '62, where he honestly looks kinda smashed. To be sure, Jackie Robinson and Roberto Clemente Topps cards are all very moving.

We've had this discussion many times, but it's always nice to have one outstanding card of the player that is not easy to come by.

Finally, I think one nice twist is to aim for a favorite dozen of any number of players that you really like. The major benefit is you don't have to go mad trying to get every one ever done of the guy. Or, if you must have more, a 21-gun (item) salute. The ones to choose? What YOU like and can afford, regardless of what others say. Thus, you can have numerous player displays and arrangements in one or more All-State display cases, or a curio cabinet. I loved how a Jackie Robinson fan from Net54 used an ornate white shadow box built into a wall to display several of the very rare Bond Bread regional rarities and a '48 Leaf, with a gorgeous figurine of Jack stealing home as a centerpiece---well done! I never tire of looking at that when it happens to come up.

Research, your imagination, and following your heart and mind's aesthetic value.

Just ramblin--time to shush.

Salute. -Brian Powell

[mawitzi]

I have been collecting Willie Mays cards for several years. He had a long career, so his cards span from 1951 into the 70's. I also consider him to be one of the all time greats. I think his prices are reasonable, considering how good of a player he was. His cards can be had for a fraction on what Mantle cards cost. I also put together a Topps run of Aaron. The only expensive one was his rookie, but it is a classic and is worth the money in my opinion.

[7nohitter]

I love collecting Nolan Ryan BECAUSE there are so many cards! I've been collecting him since 1990 and STILL do not have every card. Granted, I have MANY multiples of all his Topps cards...but every year there are more!

[almostdone]

I have collected all of Clemente and Koufax's Topps cards and then built unique display cases for each of them (my other hobby).

I am slowly working on my other two favorite players of the era, Pee Wee Reese and Stan Musial. I just picked up a 49 Leaf Musial (see December pick up thread) and am only lacking a few Red Man, his Red Heart and 48 Bowman. I can't wait to make a case for my Musials as I also have an auto ball and a 1948 Sport Magazine that is signed.

I don't think I will ever get the 52 Topps Reese but will be happy to make a nice display for the rest of the ones I have.

Bottom line is I collect all the main cards I like and not too many of the regional ones and then start to plot my design for display. If I looked for every card I would never get to display them the way I want and it would be so big I couldn't find wall space for it anyway.

Drew

[gregr2]

Originally Posted by Vintagevault13

Welcome to the hobby. I used to be a set collector, but it can get overwhelming. Collecting player sets can be less daunting and lots of fun. It is great to document a players career while also having an opportunity to collect cards from several years. Enjoy and be sure to post your cards.

Thanks, and I will post some. I've been collecting 50s and 60s HOFers that are PSA graded. After doing some research on here, talking to a few folks, I have recently picked up some raw cards for a pretty good price. I picked up a 53 Whitey Ford the other day (its in the mail) and am looking forward to adding that to my collection. I really appreciate all the friendly and helpful folks on here!

[Vintagevault13]

Originally Posted by gregr2

Thanks, and I will post some. I've been collecting 50s and 60s HOFers that are PSA graded. After doing some research on here, talking to a few folks, I have recently picked up some raw cards for a pretty good price. I picked up a 53 Whitey Ford the other day (its in the mail) and am looking forward to adding that to my collection. I really appreciate all the friendly and helpful folks on here!

Nice pickup. The 1953 Ford is a great card!

[David W]

Well, I am putting my Lou Brock collection up now. I collect him primarily because I am a huge Cardinal fan, and in the 70's when I was a kid, he was Mr. Redbird. His cards are also fairly easy for the most part to attain, and affordable with the main exception being the 67 Punch Out.

I have thought about also doing an Ozzie Smith and Willie McGee collection, but frankly there are just way to many cards to collect as well as keep track of.

I also am collecting all time Cardinal players, having put my own lists together of the top 15 players at each position, plus top 50 starters and 20 relief pitchers.

[gregr2]

Originally Posted by David W

Well, I am putting my Lou Brock collection up now. I collect him primarily because I am a huge Cardinal fan, and in the 70's when I was a kid, he was Mr. Redbird. His cards are also fairly easy for the most part to attain, and affordable with the main exception being the 67 Punch Out.

I have thought about also doing an Ozzie Smith and Willie McGee collection, but frankly there are just way to many cards to collect as well as keep track of.

I also am collecting all time Cardinal players, having put my own lists together of the top 15 players at each position, plus top 50 starters and 20 relief pitchers.

I got this signed by Lou Brock back in the early 70s. Picture is a bit odd as I took it through the glass of my display case in my study.


IMG_2993.jpg

[brewing]

Popular usually equals expensive.

The must underrated popular player as far as prices is Stan Musial. His numbers are amazing, and his cards are reasonably priced. There is a limited number of years he had a card during his playing years.

Personally, the first player set I completed was Al Kaline. Very underrated, his numbers are on par with Clemente, but his cards sell for 1/2 of his.

Besides F. Robinson who is very underrated among collectors, the following are undervalued in my opinion. All are members of the 500 HR club too.
Eddie Matthews (only his hi# rookie is expensive)
Mike Schmidt (greatest 3B ever with all cards besides rookie available under $20)
Ernie Banks
Willie mcCovey