Set Collectors - Report in your progress!

[LeftHandedDane]

Larry, thats amazing - I'm sure your list of completed sets is pages long! Out of curiosity, where do you find your cards - especially from the more obscure sets? Are you trolling eBay, do you go to shows, or what? I am finding it harder and harder to find the stuff I am looking for on eBay (at reasonable prices) as I get towards more obscure/older sets.

[vintagebaseballcardguy]

'53 Topps set complete
'65 Topps about 60% complete
'54 Topps--I have the 3 big rookies, both Williams cards, and 32 commons.

I have other star cards from other sets that I think I might build around someday. However, I am getting a little bummed. I really love the idea of set building. In a sense, set building works for me because it allows me to spend a little here and there and not overspend in the short term and stay in budget. But, I know that over the long haul I am spending way more on commons and sets than they will ever be worth almost no matter how I go about it. I am not doing any of this for anything other than collecting fun, but my collecting pendulum is swinging back to just picking up selected cards from the sets that I find visually appealing. If I go this route, I can pick up a nice mid-grade or better star card/rookie every so often and probably eventually acquire most of the cards from the '50s and '60s that I want. It's just that when I am paying off one of the big cards over the course of a couple of months, I get to wanting to buy a little something. This leads me back to commons and the cycle starts all over again!

Can any of you guys who collect on a budget relate to this? If so, how do you handle it? Thanks.

[familytoad]

Originally Posted by vintagebaseballcardguy

'53 Topps set complete
'65 Topps about 60% complete
'54 Topps--I have the 3 big rookies, both Williams cards, and 32 commons.

I have other star cards from other sets that I think I might build around someday. However, I am getting a little bummed. I really love the idea of set building. In a sense, set building works for me because it allows me to spend a little here and there and not overspend in the short term and stay in budget. But, I know that over the long haul I am spending way more on commons and sets than they will ever be worth almost no matter how I go about it. I am not doing any of this for anything other than collecting fun, but my collecting pendulum is swinging back to just picking up selected cards from the sets that I find visually appealing. If I go this route, I can pick up a nice mid-grade or better star card/rookie every so often and probably eventually acquire most of the cards from the '50s and '60s that I want. It's just that when I am paying off one of the big cards over the course of a couple of months, I get to wanting to buy a little something. This leads me back to commons and the cycle starts all over again!

Can any of you guys who collect on a budget relate to this? If so, how do you handle it? Thanks.

I think the best approach is to just go for lower grade sets. You can still buy the nicer stars or the nicer cards that appeal to you if you please....but a card is a card is a card...who cares if your Arnie Portacarrero is in mint condition
Spend far less by not worrying about the tiny differences of a dinged corner or crease.
If you are not chasing NR Mint Art Mahaffey or Lou Klimchock for 10x the price of a well loved common, your budget will go much farther

Same with the stars...you either have a 1954 Willie Mays or you don't....the price between fair/good and NR mint is ridiculous if you are mainly interested in filling the set

[vintagebaseballcardguy]

Originally Posted by familytoad

I think the best approach is to just go for lower grade sets. You can still buy the nicer stars or the nicer cards that appeal to you if you please....but a card is a card is a card...who cares if your Arnie Portacarrero is in mint condition
Spend far less by not worrying about the tiny differences of a dinged corner or crease.
If you are not chasing NR Mint Art Mahaffey or Lou Klimchock for 10x the price of a well loved common, your budget will go much farther

Same with the stars...you either have a 1954 Willie Mays or you don't....the price between fair/good and NR mint is ridiculous if you are mainly interested in filling the set

I hear what you are saying. For the most part, I have been a mid grade collector who doesn't buy much of anything high grade. The graded cards I buy are usually in the 3 to 5 range and mostly crease and wrinkle-free , with something a little higher on occasion. This range has been about the same for commons (just ungraded). In the past, I have considered not being so picky with condition. I am not talking about beaters, but not thinking a light crease in a few cards was the end of the world. If I am going to build as many sets as I want, I will probably have to let go on condition somewhat. Otherwise, I would just limit myself to buying the cards I really want from the sets I really want, which might allow me to buy something a little better grade but still mid grade. I can enjoy it both ways I suppose. Thanks for your reply.

Robert

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[Gr8Beldini]

Originally Posted by familytoad

I think the best approach is to just go for lower grade sets. You can still buy the nicer stars or the nicer cards that appeal to you if you please....but a card is a card is a card...who cares if your Arnie Portacarrero is in mint condition
Spend far less by not worrying about the tiny differences of a dinged corner or crease.
If you are not chasing NR Mint Art Mahaffey or Lou Klimchock for 10x the price of a well loved common, your budget will go much farther

Same with the stars...you either have a 1954 Willie Mays or you don't....the price between fair/good and NR mint is ridiculous if you are mainly interested in filling the set

Nothing better than finding a well centered 1956 Clemente with amazing color... and a well placed crease at the bottom right. Great eye appeal, for a small fraction of the price.

[LuckyLarry]

Originally Posted by LeftHandedDane

Larry, thats amazing - I'm sure your list of completed sets is pages long! Out of curiosity, where do you find your cards - especially from the more obscure sets? Are you trolling eBay, do you go to shows, or what? I am finding it harder and harder to find the stuff I am looking for on eBay (at reasonable prices) as I get towards more obscure/older sets.

I am retired, so I have extra time to spend on eBay. eBay does seem to be drying up somewhat, but I still find cards from my list. Being a member of an active trading group (OBC) has always been the key. When I find bargains, (cards I already have), I upgrade my sets, and then send off my duplicates (eBay pick-up last night 1959 Topps #561 Aaron All-Star card $3.99) I probably get three envelopes a week from fellow OBC members.

I've attended 4 of the last 5 Nationals (stayed home from AC this year) and we have a great 40 table monthly show here local. I know most of the dealers who set up at our local show, but like eBay, it seems I see the same cards collecting dust in their showcases, but once in awhile I get surprised LOL! Almost every month one of my dealer friends will say "Hey I've got something for you". If I hear of a show within driving distance I will take the road trip.

I also have "mail order" contacts and have built trust with several dealers, it's not uncommon for them to contact me.

Like Brian just mentioned, I "go-low", and always have since I started back up in 1988. Over the years a lot of cardboard has rolled through here, and by constantly upgrading, I've built up a nice collection.

I spend a lot of time with my cards, but that's what a hobby is all about, right?
Larry