+1

I agree you should exclusively focus on getting that number up.

Buying and dropping
 

502.

Bought another card, dropped 3 more spots.

Now at 210
 

I'm up quite a few... now at 210.

Per the rules my Monster number is 14. :)

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-J...403%2520AM.jpg

Monster Number, and intriguing idea. Thanks for posting it.

1000 is a intrinsically pleasing maximum number; it's like batting a thousand. I agree with that back there about not counting zero, 1 to 1000 is 1000 possibilities, 0 to 1000 is 1001 possibilities. If zero were to count, then everyone on the planet would have a set, most of them zero sets... Methinks we begin the count at one, like Brother Maynard read from The Book of Armaments, Chapter 2...


Would a fellow with 80 common cards swap them for a Plank? Yes. Then the Plank should count more than 80, the commons less than 1, or both. Similarly, would someone swap 240 commons far a Wagner? Oh, Yes. Then that should be adjusted, too. And aside from dollar value, the Demmitt and O'Hara cards would limit the number of 1000 sets, they should have a bit of weight, too.

I figure this process is way too far along for folks to readily accept a recalibration of the process. But it is justified, don't you think?

I'll be Frank, Frank. The idea was to top out at 1000, reward the big four and keep it simple enough so that 85% of the people on this board could compute their monster number accurately in less than 48 hours.

Frank

Wow, you ARE Frank! The "Frank"ness of this board is astounding. But the "Frankest" Frank isn't even participating!

I like the number 1,000, but you can come up with that number easily by giving some of the variations weight, without straining anyone's brains.

Here's some PSA pop numbers:

Doyle - 10
Wagner - 32
Plank - 64
Magie - 92
O'Hara St. Louis - 113
Demmitt St. Louis - 125
Lundgren KC - 162
Dahlen Brooklyn - 177
Brown Washington - 184
Lundgren Chicago - 187
Smith Chicago and Boston - 188
Elberfeld Washington - 193
Dahlen Boston - 198
Kleinow Boston - 237
Cobb Green - 550

Scott <=== guest Frank

KISS - My Monster Number
 

Keep It Simple Stupid

What good is a Monster Number, if you can't Uzit?

Scott,

If you please, divide each of your cards by the inverse of the Pop and multiply by the square root of 2. Subtract .003483 for paper loss and multiply by 3 if your first name begins with S.

Touche.

Frank

It's just the El Principe of it. Broadleaf your horizons.

The post-count says it's working fine as-is - just ignore us disgruntled variation collectors.

520--since 1976. Sad thing is---then I only needed the big three. Doyle's been added since. Can you factor that into my monster number please .;)

Would you like a copy of my Neil Diamond CD "Sweet Caporal"?
Just trying to keep the post-count higher than the NYC Dinner Thread.

Brother Maynard
 

Excuse me, but thou err'est. Brother Maynard (Eric Idle) did not read from The Book of Armaments. He stood to the left of the reader (Michael Palin):
Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch

Five! :D

Right you are, Craig. Brother Maynard announced the chapter and verse, but he was not the lector. As best as I can tell, it was "Brother Maynard's Brother" that did the reading, Michael Palin, as you said. Thanks!!!

Just picked up this beauty http://www.ebay.com/itm/120727887564...84.m1439.l2649

My monster number went to 3! Hahaa. My signed monster number went from 50% to 33% :(

Brother Maynard's Brother
 

Excellent Frank! I've always wondered how the reader should be referred as. "Brother Maynard's Brother" does seem appropriate, in a Python-esque sort of way.

I believe we can further revise the verses from the Book of Armaments, Chapter 2 for the purpose of this thread:

"1000 shalt be the Monster Number, and the Monster Number shalt be 1000, no more, no less. 1001 shalt not be the Monster Number, neither shalt the Monster Number be 999. 1002 is right out."

:p

btw, my Monster Numbers are:

First Set - 600 (Magie)
Second Set - 518 (all are different backs than the First Set)
Third, Fourth, Fifth, etc sets - In progress with different backs than the First and Second Sets, but I haven't tallied them up (Brown Hindu Southern Leaguers are the toughies I'm trying to find to fill out the third set, so it's going to take a while!)

For back specific Monster Numbers I can break up the above into a Polar Bear set of 250 (Complete), a Piedmont 150 set of 233 (counting Magie, but lacking Wagner & Plank), a partial P350 set of 321, a partial SC350F30 set of 172, etc.

:cool:

Now if you'll excuse me, I'm feeling a bit peckish so I'm off to feast upon lambs and sloths and carp and anchovies and orangutans and breakfast cereals and fruit bats and ... perhaps I might just have some spam spam spam cheese and spam.

:D

Back specific monster numbers............
 

are an arse of a different color. Your first two monster numbers have been duly recorded, Brother Craig.

I'm pretty low....My Monster Number is 33 :D

Holy Hand Grenade, Batman, what's that?
 

I'm not sure, Robin, but it appears to be a "Full Monty".

Friendly bump for Frank. With my basic (514) set complete - my number now stands at 512 (plus 2 important reprints). Very low grade, but a number anyway. Happy collecting all.

New number
 

New number is now 574.

Shalt thy Monster Number Update be recorded?
 

Yes, indeed. dacubfan debuts in 27th place. I will maintain the master recording under my deck guarded by rabbits. The current list is posted forthwith. Updates will be recorded in perpetuity or forever whichever comes last.

1 920 Powell
2 680 wonkaticket
3 680 danmckee
4 670 Theoldprofessor
5 600 tedzan (1)
6 600 z28jd
7 600 White Borders (1)
8 587 Phillies*phan (1)
9 574 t206blogcom
10 520 ethicsprof
11 520 tbob
12 520 62corvette
13 520 Edwolf1963 (1)
14 518 martin neal
15 518 Scott L.
16 518 White Borders (2)
17 518 judsonhamlin
18 517 tonyo (1)
19 514 Scott T
20 512 jp1216
21 511 bbcard1
22 507 frankbmd (1)
23 503 BleedinBlue
24 444 tedzan (2-sov)
25 410 richieb315
26 407 Bpm0014
27 394 dacubfan
28 378 Kenny Cole
29 372 Texxxx (1)
30 370 Phillies*phan (2)
31 346 shaunsteig
32 340 T206DK
33 262 Jantz (1)
34 262 mullinsm
35 257 sreader3
36 245 Clark7781
37 221 t206hound
38 212 bunst
39 199 StuckInOmaha
40 184 jefferyepayne
41 147 Texxxx (2)
42 140 mrvster
43 123 g vezina c55
44 100 atx840 (1)
45 70 Jantz (2)
46 60 Gradedcardman
47 58 frankbmd (2)
48 46 thescooper
49 39 T206Collector
50 37 ullmandds
51 37 CW (1)
52 34 atx840 (2)
53 33 sandmountainslim
54 29 T206Collector
55 25 Texxxx (3)
56 23 Vegas-guy
57 17 Tao Moko
58 15 ArchStanton
59 15 Edwolf1963 (2)
60 14 Abravefan11
61 12 alanu (1)
62 11 Jayworld
63 5 Runscott
64 3 HOF Auto Rookies
65 2 CW (2)
66 2 frankbmd (3)
67 1 alanu (2)
68 1 tonyo (2)
69 1 sycks22
70 1 carrigansghost (1)
71 1 carrigansghost (2)
72 1 carrigansghost (3)
73 1 carrigansghost (4)
74 1 carrigansghost (5)
75 1 carrigansghost (6)
76 1 carrigansghost (7)
77 1 carrigansghost (8)
78 1 carrigansghost (9)
79 1 carrigansghost (10)

I have started my set since 2. Month arround
I have 44 cards for 123 pt total but this point will goes up in the next months...

Update: I'm now at 23..:D mostly HOFs..:)

T206 Set
 

I meant to respond to this around the holidays when I first noticed it. I have 520 (set minus big 4) completed, about 15 dupes left (sold and/or traded many), so 535 in total I guess. Took 2-3 years to complete - didn't get serious about it until I counted up that I had half.

* All are graded - mid-grade - most all are grade 4 (50) thru 6 (80), a few 3's
* Most all are SGC, PSA or BVG, a couple GAI's
* Mostly common backs, some tougher SOV 460's, Tolstoi, Cycle, AB, etc.
* No elite back Uzit, Broad Leaf, C-Brights, Drum, etc
* First Net54 purchase: Walter Johnson Port in a SGC60
* Last card: Demmitt STL (SGC40)
* Favorites: Elberfeld Wash Port w/OM back (PSA4 - looks much nicer)
* Dahlen Brooklyn in SGC60, Cobb Green (PSA3), any SOV 460 back
* Not Favorites: Bliss (looks like he just stole something), Spike Shannon

....zero.

Monster Numbers updated in Post #101
 

A couple of reminders for:

Marckus99 : Zero is not a valid Monster Number. See Posts #27, 37, 38 & 39.

EdWolf1963 : By definition you have two sets with Monster Numbers 520 and 15

Everyone else : Goodwin's current auction has a Monster Number of 920, I believe, if you want to go for broke (or go broke)

Once I realized that I would be at the bottom of the monster list for at least a year or so, I quit following this thread and missed the above bit of wit from you. Nice.

Here's something to make you and Barry scratch your collective heads. For those who have only one T206: "We're number one. All others are number two or lower."

My updated number is now 212.

The same as Cy Young's win total...511. a pretty weak 511, but 511 nonetheless.

Scott, I would respond that you are number one of many and refer you to Post #95, where the supreme Monster number is best defined. Barry is still scratching.

Another month, another card
 

503

Now that it's April it's time for another card. Damn if they aren't getting tougher and tougher to find though.

Sold the Plank, which definitely hurts in the rankings. So my current standing is:

- 29 Unsigned Monster
- 39 Signed Monster

1
54 times, but still just 1.

Rawn

I'm at 184 now.

jeff

hurts your ranking down, but hurts my ranking UP :)

I would like to see those 80+ point cards, I have seen g_vezina's, runscott's, Powell's, Phillies and Wonka's.

New Rule
 

Post #101 has been updated, but I am limiting each individual to 10 Monster Numbers.

Rawn, you are bringing up the rear in magnficent form as the first collector with ten Monster Numbers

Through a lot of buying and upgrading my new numbers are:
1. 372
2. 147
3. 25

I have a lot I need to trade for ones I don't have.

scott f and frank b
 

While you may choose to be number one, I prefer to choose to be first.
Number one has many numbers higher, while first by its very definitional nature holds the highest.
Now back to sloths and orangutans. The latter are much more expert at
scratching collective heads than Frank B or BA.
all the best,
barry

I'm at 518. Saving up for o'hara and the last Cobb. Only 170 are Piedmont or Sweet Cap. No points for diversity, tho...

I am at 514 of 524...mostly low grade (SGC 10 to 30 grade).

I was at 920 points when I quit the race. Did not see a Doyle happening, it is easily the toughest card in the set, variation or not.

Doesn't improve my rank, but I am now at 517.

still need Dahlen Brooklyn , then the big six :)

I like the '1000' magic number, but would still like to see the other two members of the 'big six' get some credit. Maybe shave a little off Wagner and give it to Demmitt and O'Hara - won't affect the Wagner-owners, as they would have all three.

I'm at 394

Any wagner t206 owner here on the board?

A Proposal - The Forrest Modification
 

Runscott has stated in a recent post

"I like the '1000' magic number, but would still like to see the other two members of the 'big six' get some credit. Maybe shave a little off Wagner and give it to Demmitt and O'Hara - won't affect the Wagner-owners, as they would have all three."

Scott, i will offer the following proposal named the Forrest Modification

Currently / Proposed

Wagner 240 / Wagner 200
Plank 80 / Plank 80
Doyle 80 / Doyle 80
Magie 80 / Magie 80
Demmitt SL 1 / Demmitt SL 21
O'Hara SL 1 / O'Hara SL 21

I am asking for feedback from those with posted Monster Numbers.

If you have reported 1 or more Monster Numbers, you get 1 vote.
(Rawn doesn't get 10 votes.)

Arguably this will lead to other suggestions, such as giving more weight to the Doyle card, giving additional credit for rare backs, autographs or grades.
i make this proposal with trepidation. I don't want to head down a slippery slope of endless requests for change. The success of this thread is its simplicity and my vote is "Leave It Alone" and I'm sure Scott's vote will be "Change It". Views of this thread are over 5000 and it is on the 7th page of over 1000 pages of total threads, based on total views. I say if it's not broken, don't fix it.

For the sake of this vote, if you suggest further modifications, your vote will be disqualified. Majority rules. Voting will end midnight Sunday CDT.

If this passes and I hope it does not, all Monster Numbers of 520 will become 560. Monster numbers less than 518 will remain unchanged unless a Demmitt or O'Hara variation is reported. Monster Numbers of 680 will become 720. If there is a doubt about these variations, notify me or the thread for clarification.

If this fails and I hope it does, no modification will be made. The polls are now open. Simply respond "Leave It Alone" or "Change It". Disinterest in this poll will be interpreted as favoring the "Leave It Alone" group.

The decision of the JUDGE will be final.:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D

I spy 5 Demmitt StL and 5 O'Hara StL on ebay at the moment - not much of a challenge. Leave It Alone.

Best Regards,
Craig

Perhaps you could slap with a fish anyone who choses "Change It" :D

interesting suggestion....

Hey! You have just biased the poll.

Well, out of respect for your effort and your opinion, I will not vote.

Scott <=== average monster size

A Proposal - The Forrest Modification
 

This is a duplicate post with the title corrected. Initially I couldn't figure out how to edit the title. Now i can't figure out how to delete one of these posts.
This post is identical now to the previous one.

Runscott has stated in a recent post

"I like the '1000' magic number, but would still like to see the other two members of the 'big six' get some credit. Maybe shave a little off Wagner and give it to Demmitt and O'Hara - won't affect the Wagner-owners, as they would have all three."

Scott, i will offer the following proposal named the Forrest Modification

Currently / Proposed

Wagner 240 / Wagner 200
Plank 80 / Plank 80
Doyle 80 / Doyle 80
Magie 80 / Magie 80
Demmitt SL 1 / Demmitt SL 21
O'Hara SL 1 / O'Hara SL 21

I am asking for feedback from those with posted Monster Numbers.

If you have reported 1 or more Monster Numbers, you get 1 vote.
(Rawn doesn't get 10 votes.)

Arguably this will lead to other suggestions, such as giving more weight to the Doyle card, giving additional credit for rare backs, autographs or grades.
i make this proposal with trepidation. I don't want to head down a slippery slope of endless requests for change. The success of this thread is its simplicity and my vote is "Leave It Alone" and I'm sure Scott's vote will be "Change It". Views of this thread are over 5000 and it is on the 7th page of over 1000 pages of total threads, based on total views. I say if it's not broken, don't fix it.

For the sake of this vote, if you suggest further modifications, your vote will be disqualified. Majority rules. Voting will end midnight Sunday CDT.

If this passes and I hope it does not, all Monster Numbers of 520 will become 560. Monster numbers less than 518 will remain unchanged unless a Demmitt or O'Hara variation is reported. Monster Numbers of 680 will become 720. If there is a doubt about these variations, notify me or the thread for clarification.

If this fails and I hope it does, no modification will be made. The polls are now open. Simply respond "Leave It Alone" or "Change It". Disinterest in this poll will be interpreted as favoring the "Leave It Alone" group.

The decision of the JUDGE will be final.:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D

HEY!!! Don't be a coward! :)

i am not sure what i will vote héhéh :)

it is why i changed my vote a couple time. I will think and vote tonight or tomorow :)

I think the demmitt and o hara command more point.... but i like the fact of the 520 card set is 520 point....

1 thing i don t like is the Magie have the same ranking than doyle or plank.. in my book, magie is not in the same categorie....

Frank, by naming this modification after me, you have further biased the poll - you have to remember: anyone who does not know me from the old days sort of hates my guts, simply for having a website with 'T206' in the name, regardless of the fact that it was started in 2002.

...and this is about T206's.

Yes, but to those of us who are going for 521, we are aiming for a monster number of 600, so the number '520' isn't all that magical.

And why you didn t vote scott ? :)

Now Scott, I think you're being too modest. I'm sure some of the people who know you from the old days also hate your guts. :p Just kidding.

Kenny

My answer is leave it alone and i explane my vote.

I agree with the fact to goes up in point demmitt and ohara but you take the 40pt at the wrong place. For me wagner must keep his 240 pt. Magie can be reduce at 40 and give 40 pt to demmitt and ohara.

So

Leave it alone

Don't make it to complicated. Leave it alone.



Thinking to self," I have both of those cards, I want the points".

haha! Yes, you are right. Holding a grudge for six years must really burn a hole in one's gut, and an even bigger hole when they realize that I forgot we ever disliked one another. When I realize that someone really and truly is burning up over an internet grudge that involves me, I honestly try to halt it as quickly as possible. If they insist, then screw them.

My Vote
 

Leave it alone.

No vote from me, Frank, my post was strickly a joke about my collection and quite possibly myself.

Rawn

Leave it Alone
 

I think this is a better proposal and would likely favor this one if suggested. I vote to kill the current proposal and my vote has nothing to do with my long held grudge of Scott.

Monster Number Update
 

Current Monster Numbers (4/12/12)

1 920 Powell
2 680 wonkaticket
3 680 danmckee
4 670 Theoldprofessor
5 600 tedzan (1)
6 600 z28jd
7 600 White Borders (1)
8 587 Phillies*phan (1)
9 574 t206blogcom
10 520 ethicsprof
11 520 tbob
12 520 62corvette
13 520 Edwolf1963 (1)
14 518 martin neal
15 518 Scott L.
16 518 White Borders (2)
17 518 judsonhamlin
18 517 tonyo (1)
19 514 Scott T
20 512 jp1216
21 512 bbcard1
22 509 frankbmd (1)
23 503 BleedinBlue
24 458 Merrillstoys
25 444 tedzan (2-sov)
26 410 richieb315
27 407 Bpm0014
28 394 dacubfan
29 378 Kenny Cole
30 375 Texxxx (1)
31 370 Phillies*phan (2)
32 346 shaunsteig
33 340 T206DK
34 262 Jantz (1)
35 262 mullinsm
36 257 sreader3
37 245 Clark7781
38 221 t206hound
39 212 bunst
40 199 StuckInOmaha
41 184 jefferyepayne
42 170 g vezina c55
43 146 Texxxx (2)
44 140 mrvster
45 100 atx840 (1)
46 70 Jantz (2)
47 60 Gradedcardman
48 58 frankbmd (2)
49 46 thescooper
50 39 T206Collector
51 37 ullmandds
52 37 CW (1)
53 34 atx840 (2)
54 33 sandmountainslim
55 29 T206Collector
56 25 Texxxx (3)
57 23 Vegas-guy
58 17 Tao Moko
59 15 ArchStanton
60 15 Edwolf1963 (2)
61 14 Abravefan11
62 12 alanu (1)
63 11 Jayworld
64 5 Runscott
65 3 HOF Auto Rookies
66 2 CW (2)
67 2 frankbmd (3)
68 1 alanu (2)
69 1 tonyo (2)
70 1 sycks22
71 1 carrigansghost (1)

A new feature is also being added with the current Monster number List being added to Post #1 at the being of this thread. You will no longer have to search recent posts to find the list. Thank you Bruce for this suggestion.

Thanks to all the Net 54 Members, who have contributed by sale or trade to my recent push to complete the Monster. I have reached 509 and may pick up another card or three, but realize fully that a Monster Number of 1000 is a fantasy for essentially all of us, hence the appropriate moniker "Monster".

As the sole creator of this thread, I accept full responsibility for both the simplicity of the MN and realize the imperfections inherent in any system that attempts to quantify anyone's monster. There does not seem to be a mandate for change or modification. It will remain as is.

I will continue to update results here on Post #144 as they are reported.
From time to time I will move the current list to the end of the thread as I am doing now, but only when it is on the first page. I will not bump the thread myself as I'm sure there are some who are tired of seeing it. But it will pop up again I trust.

One final observation that some of you have mentioned is the frustration of increasing your monster number only to see your ranking decrease, because of the addition of new sets above you. I share this frustration with you and would recommend The Myth of Sisyphus by Camus, an essay on the philosophy of the absurd. Sisyphus is a figure of Greek mythology who was condemned to repeat forever the same meaningless task of pushing a boulder up a mountain, only to see it roll down again. The essay concludes, "The struggle itself...is enough to fill a man's heart. One must imagine Sisyphus happy."

I'm happy and do not regret my efforts to slay the Monster. Keep collecting my friends.

frankbmd - Monster Number Rank - 22 and falling

Update for me

169 pt

Picked up one this week....512.

My number is 458

170! Now, i just buy a red cobb youppi :)

171 just bought Doyle

4!!!
 

My monster number is 4 now with these!:

now at 514

down to 16.

Now at 29..:)

I am at 306 (all SGC50 or better). I wanted to wait until after the Goodwin auction to update my number.

I'm at 103. That Flick has had a lot of love. The Cobb isn't centered too well, and has some rounded corners, but is at least free of creases.

Currently at 499, and having a hard time moving off of that number!

I'm at 518 and will probably never get above 520.

Currently at 79, but now only concentrating on HOF's (currently at 54) so the numbers will continue to climb slowly.

Sorry, Set 2 is 15 HOF's.

Monster Number
 

I am at 227, the second time around. Going for all Sweet Caps this time.