Question about approaching a new collection
 

I've decided to start an ambitious project, and am looking for input on how I should approach it. I'm trying to collect a complete 1950s Topps/Bowman run for a half dozen hall of famers (Mays, Mantle, Robinson, Williams, Musial, Aaron). Most of the cards are available on a regular basis, so I'm not dealing with a situation where certain cards only pop up every few years. I expect this will take me several years to complete, so price fluctuation may come into play.

Would you start with buying the most expensive cards? Go year by year (ie. complete the 1953s, then move on to the 1954s)? Go player by player? Leave double prints for the end? Just buy what's available at the moment?

I don't think there's a wrong answer, but I'm curious as to how you would approach this project.

Other important questions
 

There are many other things to consider before you begin and even after you are on your way. Is this collection for you to keep long term or is it something you are hoping to sell…. and if so at what point? You will have to decide graded and slabbed or raw…. and if graded, what service or services will you accept. In addition and maybe most importantly of all, what eye appeal are you seeking as well as what “condition” the cards should be in. Many a collector has started sets that ultimately were not making them happy as time went on with many cards needing to be upgraded. Even within each grade , some people really love centering ( like me) where others love those sharp corners. For some back damage isn’t important … even if it kills the technical grade. In closing I would go back to one of the more opinionated people ever involved with our great hobby ( and that’s saying a lot) …. Mr Mint Alan Rosen who stated years ago to always buy the very best you could afford and you will never be sorry. On this I’d say he was right on the money! Good luck and enjoy the chase!! Rock

Buy the most expensive one first
51 mantle/mays
52 mantle/jackie/mays
while right now there's a dip on the market. once it get strong, it goes up fast

I'm buying for my personal collection, not resale. Obviously I hope it appreciates in value, but if I'm just looking to make money, I'd buy stocks.
I have a good idea of condition that I'm looking for (it obviously varies with the scarcity of the card -- my 1952 Robinson won't be as nice as my 1956 Robinson). As long as it's consistent for any given year, it doesn't matter if the 1952s are 2 and the 1959s are 8s. I have enough confidence in my eye that I don't require graded cards, but eventually they will all be graded for the protection/preservation of the cards.

My 2 cents
 

I would definitely knock down the 52 Mantle first. The card has remained strong in a mostly flat market and I believe it will stay strong moving forward. After that - I think 52 Jackie and then 52 Mays. followed by 51 Mantle and 51 Mays

After those, I think it matters less, but would look at completing the player runs in this order:

Mantle
Mays
Robinson
Aaron
Williams
Musial

If it was me, I would start by making a list of all the cards I wanted, along with estimated conditions and costs. Then I expect it would make sense to have a general budget of how much to spend per month or per year. Howard makes a good point about getting the expensive cards early but I think I would want to mix it up, get some cheaper cards too so I could see the stack getting higher.

I think you will find that all of a player's cards will increase in price about the same but your six players will all move differently. For example over the last few years Mays and Robinson cards really took off, while Williams and Musial lagged behind. Over the next few years that may reverse. Or it may not. So I would mix up which players you buy too.

Sounds like a fun project, good luck.

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