Anyone ever attempt a complete Topps vintage run?
 

Anyone ever attempt a complete Topps vintage run from 1951-1979 and a Bowman run from 1948-1955? That’s a whopping 17,890 vintage cards! Anyone ever attempt it?

TOPPS run
 

I know of a Los Angeles area collector who completed this run UNgraded.
Likely Spence and the big names (Crandall, Merkel, Louchis, etc) have done it all graded. I assume this can be checked out on the PSA Registry.

I know I have completed about 60% of the 60's in all PSA graded sets.
" " " 75% " 70's " "

Problem is, I have only completed about 10% of the 50's. Anyone wanna assist?

I'm doing it right now, 22 years into the project that I started with my Dad when I was 9 years old.

1948-1955 Bowman - 95.75% done
1950's Topps - 96.37% done (1952 highs are most of it)
1960's Topps- 96.11% done
1970-1975 Topps (+1974 Traded + 1975 Mini) - 94.05% done (mostly 1975's to go)
1976-1979 I'm not doing.

1973 is the end of 'classic' Topps in my eyes as the end of series distribution provides at least some significant change to draw the cutoff line at.

On top of these base sets I'm building all variations, stock varieties, and recurring print defects.

I will never finish because I'm unwilling to pony up $25K+ for a second year double printed Mantle card.

Yes. Not bragging, just old.

I should say I do not have the 1951 Current All Stars Konstanty, Roberts and Stanky...so I am not quite complete.

Ted Z. can confirm, but I think he has completed every major baseball set from 1933 to the late 1970s.

Jim Crandall used to be a frequent poster here. Wonder what happened to him and his quest for 100 sets in PSA 8 or whatever it was. It was pretty incredible.

That’s Awesome!

Also, what size binders do you guys recommend for storing vintage topps sets a 1” or 3” D ring binder? Thanks

I've got everything except the 1951 All-Stars. I still need about half of them.

Jay, Keep on Truck'in.....don't give up the fight

I have a 1951 to current Topps run of the Chicago Cubs. Takes up 3 binders and will be starting my 4th binder. Wonder what will happen since Topps has lost the MLB contract for cards in 2024?

Topps will continue. Fanatics bought Topps for $500 Million.

I had all the Topps and Bowman Sets but sold most of them years ago. Still have a few favorites ( 57-62 Topps ) + Detroit Tigers Team Sets of all the years of Topps and Bowman.

Probably not too much different since the company that won the MLB contract for cards (Fanatics) ended up buying and now owning Topps.

Run
 

Yea I have all the Topps baseball except 52 high which I don’t want. I do have a few…

And I have nearly all the Bowman I want… just a few more 1953 colors to go.
I don’t like 1954 or 1955 Bowman so I’ve never started them.

I’ve also been working on the Football runs in Topps , Philadelphia and Bowman. That’s a fun pursuit too.

These two sports take a lot of 3 in binders. I combine the smaller football sets as my card closet is pretty full:o

But I still fashion myself as a prewar collector primarily.

I have every Bowman and Topps set except '52 high numbers.

I came pretty close...
 

https://www.sportscollectorsdaily.co...comes-auction/

I hit up just about every card store in the country back when there were card stores all over the country.

Lots a fun to put it together, but as I mention in the article, the internet has made the "thrill of the chase" less thrilling.

Doug

Pretty sure Bob has them all Psa graded in his registry with the complete 52'T Master set. I'm sure he'll pop in at some time, lol.

I attempted it once. The ‘72 hi #s ruined it for me.

Finished the Topps run by completing my 52 Topps set in March 2021. For the Bowman run, I am missing 45 of the 48s (okay, I haven't started), nearly 200 of the 49s, 3 51s, 3 53s and 1 54. Unfortunately, the missing cards include the 51 and 54 Mantle cards and the 51 Mays card. It has taken me 20 years of buying and selling to be able to get as far as I have...based on current market conditions, I don't feel I will be able to finish the Bowman run.

Great Job you guys.. not me, but had complete sets 1967 - 1996 Topps & whatever Donruss or Fleer had. Got into memoribilia. I did have 1951 Topps Red & blue sets.. all Detroit Tiger sets 1952 & up. Lol

I'm complete back to '48. I always assumed there were lots of others but maybe not.

Great job

Jim's doing fine, We chat about music on Facebook quite a bit.

Rich

Glad to hear he’s well. Does he still collect and does he still have his amazing collection?

Are you including all the test sets and limited runs (like 71 greatest moments)? or just the flagship major sets? I know there's one board member here that has a nearly (if not fully) complete run including all test issues.

I've had complete Topps regular issue sets 1953-1987 but have sold most off. Never attempted '52 and never will.

Topps Run
 

I'm probably one of the odd balls here but I have Topps regular issue sets from 1969 to 2021. Also have a 1956 Topps and nearly done with 1961. Slowly working to finish off the 1960s and realize I will probably never finish the 50s sets.

I have a 'standard sized' vintage Topps run (1957 - 1976) that I completed, minus the 1958 set, of which I have a scant few.

Completed (or near completed) sets.....
 

Hi Bill

I will confirm......

In the past 40+ years....I have completed all these sets......

1887 ALLEN & GINTER N28
1888 ALLEN & GINTER N29
1888 GOODWIN CHAMPIONS N162 (2 sets)
E90-1 AMERICAN CARAMEL set
T201 set
T205 set
T206 (521-card set, plus MAGIE)
T206 (520-card set)
T206 (all PIEDMONT)(519-cards....missing Wagner, Plank, Joe Doyle)
T206 (all SOVEREIGN)(408-cards COMPLETE)
T206 (all SWEET CAPORAL Factory #30)(468-cards....missing only Wagner)
1927 W560 set
1933 GOUDEY
1934 GOUDEY
1939 PLAY BALL
1940 PLAY BALL
1941 PLAY BALL (2 sets)
1947 BOND BREAD
1948 BLUE TINT Set (R346)
1948 BOWMAN (2 sets)
1949 LEAF
1949 BOWMAN (24 sets)
1949 BOWMAN PCL (2 sets)
1950 BOWMAN (2 sets)
1951 BOWMAN
1952 BOWMAN
1953 BOWMAN (2 sets)
1954 BOWMAN
1955 BOWMAN
1959 FLEER Ted Williams set (2 sets)
1952 TOPPS....525-cards (need 30 Gray-backs to complete a Master Set)
1953 TOPPS > > 1965 TOPPS, 1966 TOPPS (2 sets)
1967 > > 1987 TOPPS

1981 > > 1987DONRUSS and FLEER sets.

Plus 1948 BOWMAN Football (108-card set), 1952 BOWMAN FB (near complete), 1948 LEAF Boxing (49-card set).


TED Z

T206 Reference
.

Holy crap Ted! Amazing.

THAT is awesome Doug. :)Good Luck with the sales!

Doug "I'm a sick sick man" Goodman

Very very awesome guys!

I always wanted to do a complete run but never got the balls to do it because I always thought what happens when I finish? Do I just stare at them in their albums! To me it would seem like a big money suck and a big time suck to just stare at them in their albums once I completed the sets.

However, I think it’s very cool that you guys have done. Super awesome!

Keep the posts coming guys! You guys are motivating me to grow a pair and attempt this topps run!

He sold most of it off. He’s got two new grandkids and is happily retired.

Thank you Chuck, I sold them all 8 years ago, and was quite happy with the outcome.

Now this is very cool!

Holy crap. That is an insane resume. Whenever I feel like my collection is entering bad-ass territory, there’s always someone here to cut me down a size :)

What’s sad is that this kind of collection will never be possible again for the non-billionaire. Whenever I see feats like this I have to remind myself that these collections were put together when cards were much cheaper than they are today.

Does anyone know if there is a list anywhere listing how many cards are in each years topps sets (without having to google search every single year one by one to find out) any help appreciated. Thanks

One of the Beckett guides ? I think Krause SCD might have gone the way of the Dinosaur.

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw...BoC1p8QAvD_BwE

Or maybe the PSA registry....
https://www.psacard.com/psasetregistry/

.

Still have all those, amazing

Wow I was happy to collect all the Detroit cards 1951 thru 1990

Had all the complete sets 1967 & up. At one time

Unreal
 

An amazing collection. I have a Topps run since 1955 but still working on the 63 and 66 sets. Have a 52, 54 and 55 bowman. Some of these collections are simply amazing. A "happy place" to go to...and we all need that some time.

https://www.tcdb.com/ViewAll.cfm/sp/Baseball?MODE=Years

click the set you want, it will tell you.

example:

https://www.tcdb.com/ViewSet.cfm/sid/29/1953-Topps

Thanks guys!!! I appreciate your help!

Does anyone remember a member here that had his own topps set collection website where he tracked his collection. I think it was Kevin’s topps cards? Or something like that

Great job Ted. Do you still own all of those? What a collection that must be!

I guess when I discovered this hobby in the early to mid 1970's at 14-15 years old and bought my first checklist book that started with 1948 Bowman, that was always the goal. Try go get all of them. My childhood collection started with 1966 Topps. Those first checklist books had me loving some of the older cards.

I mostly picked away at that for a few decades, kind of stepped away for about 15 years when I got married and had my son. I still went to the occasional show and tried to buy cards, but didn't actively search for them. About five years ago when my son graduated college I got a lot more serious about getting back in to the hobby.

At this point what I don't have complete are:

BOWMAN

1948 - never really tried. Only have a few. Don't even have a want list.

1949 - bought a huge lot at the National in 2021. Still need 47 cards including Paige, Doby and Musial

1950 - need Spahn, Jackie, Newk, Yogi, Campy and Ashburn.

1953 Black and White - need Stengel

TOPPS

1951 - need most of the Blues and have only one All-Star. Reds are complete.

1952 - finished the low number run this week (or will once Willie arrives). Have maybe 4 of 5 high numbers. Not sure I ever see this one getting done.

I've turned to the 1955 doubleheaders as my next challenge. Have always liked those cards. Need most of the 1964 standup single prints.

I don't think I would ever try to take this project on now, especially building all of them individually without buying any complete sets.

I was fortunate to graduate college in the early 1980's and was able to build my collection then (even off my starting salary of $15k per year), I could buy lots of 100 cards of most of the older sets at shows. I've told the story of needing to be convinced by a dealer at one of the Troy Hilton shows to buy a 100 card brick of 1958 Topps (wrapped in saran wrap) with Hank Aaron on top for $20.

Like anyone who has been this hobby for decades, I have regrets about not buying some of the star cards earlier, but I also recognize I got a lot of cards purchased for what are now bargain prices. Until I jumped back in the hobby in earnest 5 years ago, I had not paid more than $200 for any single card in my collection. That's changed since then - thinking rookies of Rose, Wilt, Bill Russell. 1951 Bowman Mantle, 1952 Topps Mays, 1954 Bowman Williams, one of the T 206 Cy Youngs (for my Cleveland collection) and I'm sure others I've forgotten.

Lately I’ve been think the id rather have four quarters versus one hundred Pennies theory might be the smarter move meaning I’d rather have maybe 100 really cool expensive HOF cards versus 48,000 topps commons!(collecting completed sets) example having a 1955 topps Clemente versus a complete 1970 topps set or having a 1954 topps Hank Aaron vs having complete sets from 1975-1979 or having a 1968 Nolan Ryan vs a 1968 complete set. You get the point! What do you think? Quality vs quantity wins?

I've been working on the base sets for well over 30 years (yes I'm slow). About 10 years ago I gave my daughter the master sets from 70-79, and I continued to work on the 48-69. Unfortunately, I sold my 51 Bowman set and my 52 #311 Mantle about 6 years ago. I wish I had kept them now, as I probably won't be able to ever afford another 52 Mantle.

Upgrading and set completion keeps me busy in retirement! I probably will never get them all done as I'm constantly upgrading and chasing commons. That's a GOOD thing!

Yes, I still collect a few of the newer cards as it kind of keeps me in touch; Pujols auto rookie, Verlander Auto Rookie, Molina, Cabreara, etc. I can't just live in a vintage bubble entirely as there are some fantastic modern players that could compete with anyone of any era.

I hate to post back to back, but I failed to ask a very important question. Did everyone keep their duplicates? I ask because I rarely sell a vintage card and kept all my duplicates, which I'm trying to organize now. Any suggestions other than just sell them?

I always sell mine to either upgrade or work on a new one. Like I'm doing with 57 baseball. Mickey below has got to go!!!!!

Sent from my SM-G981U using Tapatalk

No matter how much physical love that card gets the little guy in the background survives 😊

Hats off, that is awesome! And even cooler that you started at 9 as a project with your dad. I hope you compete the run

Very impressive fellas!

I was planning to finish a baseball run of vintage leaf, bowman, topps after completing my run of nationally distributed, mainstream football cards produced between 1888-1988 - 101 years of football cards - but got so addicted to pre-war and vintage football that I never got around to finishing the baseball run. I was probably 1/2 way there when I stopped.

At this point, I think I'll just live vicariously through you all on the baseball side of things.

jeff

I dipped my toe in pre-war set collecting, it's a brutal business. Hats off to any set collectors no matter the era.

For the Topps:

All of my '50s is complete, and the '70s complete (except for the '74). For the '60s, only have the '67. At some point I'll try to complete that '52 to '79 run.

For the Bowman, have the '48, '51, '53, '55 complete, and a big start on the '50. Might finish the rest too someday, but not itching to.

I have all the complete sets of Parkhurst, Topps and OPC hockey from1951-1990-91.

I think I'm probably going to bow out of the set collecting gig after finishing up a couple that I'm working on now. I'm just tired of paying up for common players that happen to be high numbers or SPs. Anyway, I've completed:

1952 low numbers (-2), 1956, 1957, 1960, 1961, 1964 (-2), 1965, 1966, 1967, 1970, 1971 (2 sets), 1972 (2 sets), 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977 (2 sets), 1978 (2 sets), 1979 (2 sets), 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989. And several other sets after that.

One day I'll get them all in color-matched binders and tucked away nicely in a bookcase like some of the photos I've seen on here.

Kudos to folks who have run the gauntlet and have the complete run.

If someone has a complete run of base Topps cards from 1951-2022 they have a total of 46,027 cards.

The more you know........

I think it’s great seeing and hearing what you people have accomplished, major kudos! Me? I’m turned off by set collecting for many reasons, I have a 1948 Bowman complete set only to my name. But my father.. I love the man, and thank him for getting me into this hobby but when it came to set collecting when I was a lad it was his way of the highway, I had no say. So I rolled my eyes at some of the vintage sets he put together back in the day where I would have attacked differently, and when I officially threw the towel in is back in 1992, I was grounded for whatever reason and he had me put together what seemed like 100 Topps gold winner sets. (My punishment) I’m serious.

Danny

Not as impressive as most people on this list -

Topps only 1952-2022 (Haven't done 2022 Series 2 yet)

1952 - 34.9% Complete
1953 - 50.4% Complete
1954-1959 - 93.5% Complete
1960's - 89.7% Complete
1970's-2020's - 100% Complete minus Alex Gordon's infamous rookie card whether or not some collectors count that one

Sets complete from earlier decades are 56,57,63,68 and I'm one away on 54 (Aaron RC).

Are you talking the guy in the dugout on the left or the 'ghost' (behind the end of the bat) that is still haunting him? :D

When I attended my first card show in 1973 I had complete sets from 1964 65 (needed 6 or 7 to complete 1966) 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972. My Dad had his cards from when he was a kid some 39's 40's Complete 1941 Playballs. He also had Complete 1948 and 1950 Bowman sets, but needed some 49 High numbers. By 1975 We were completed the Bowmans and all the Topps except 1952. We also had an E95 Set Tip Top Pirates complete 1940 Playball Complete ( purchased from Paul Pollard at First philly show at Spring Garden) 1934 and 1936 Goudey. By 1977 1935 Goudey 1938 Complete low with most High #'s, Diamond Stars and a couple hundred We kept a running total and in 1975 we had about 10,000 cards by 1977 we had 30,000 singles. At That point prices had risen to the point that insted of buying everything we focused on Type cards before 1900 and everything 1930's as I inherited his love for the players and the cards of that era. And about 98% of collectors we knew were all putting together complete Topps runs.