Collecting and completing sets

[Bruinsfan94]

One of my favorite parts of reading post on this site is seeing people post about their set collecting adventures. I have been collecting slowly but surely the 1957 topps set, the 1960 set, and t206. I don't have any scans on hand, but I'd love to see some pictures and hear some stories of set collecting. Be it now or when you were a kid. Would love to hear stories about sets that took a long time to complete, must be quite a great feeling when you finish!

[kmac32]

I am mainly a subset collector. I collect E121-80 and E121-120 Giants and Yankees, 1912 T207 Cubs with all the different back types. The one set I do collect is the 1923 W572 strip cards. Have recently hit a road block and stalled at 107 cards out of the 121 listed.

Also have a complete run of topps from 1951 to current Cubs with all the errors and variations. Love collecting cardboard.

[Bruinsfan94]

Awesome set to put together! I love the Alexander in it.

[kmac32]

I am trying to just complete the W572 set with all players. Another challenge could be if you tried to collect a sepia set and a white card stock set. Another board member is doing just that so will take both of us a while.

The T207 Cubs with all the backs an variations is also daunting and expensive. Vic Saier and Ward Miller are expensive and there are 4 back types of both cards and the common Recruit backs come in different factory examples. Should be 32 cards when done unless you count the brown ink types which would make it 40 cards total if you can find them.

[Sean]

I've finished the 1965 Topps set. They were my first cards as a kid, so it was fun to put together again. My set was 2nd on the PSA registry the last I checked.

I've gone as far as I can with the T206 set: 522 of 524 cards.

I've been working on a back run of Merkle since 2008. I'm missing one card (T215 Red Cross), and also a Street back run (missing the Lenox, Red Hindu, and T215 Red Cross). More on this in a couple weeks...

So I will need to find a new subset in 2016. Maybe something Cubs-related?

[RaidonCollects]

I love set collecting!

I'm currently working on the 1955 Topps set, IMO it's the best postwar set.

I'm also working on the E90-1 set, but I'm not aiming to complete it, I don't want to spend ridiculous prices on the Wagner throwing, Duffy, Jackson, Mitchell etc. Here's a couple scans of my progress, I'll get the other one scanned soon:

~Owen

[rainier2004]

Here is my post of finishing my CJ set a couple years ago:

http://www.net54baseball.com/showthread.php?t=179326

I have since finished a straight 1915 set and sold the 1914 lower grade cards. I kept my 1914 subset of Matty, Pratt, Chance, Callahan, Lord, Cashion, Bresnahan no # and #60 Zeider finishing at 184 and I still don't the itch to go for the final 16 making a master. I am a set collector at heart and always have been.

[Sean]

Steven, I love that Mathewson. If I ever get tired of adding to my T206 set , that is the first card I'll go after.

[1952boyntoncollector]

I been working on a high grade PSA 8 average 1954 set for fun...and keep adding cards but always willing to sell all for one or two waterfront property cards..

I got about 60 more to go plus some upgrades..to be 'finished'

[Econteachert205]

Im a set collector by nature. My first sets collected as a kid was 1975 and 1968 topps which are still two of my favorites. I only finished the 68 set in the last few years. As an adult I focused on T205 and I'm 3-4 cards short of a master set, with no intentions of finishing. I'm pretty much done collecting/buying unless something smacks me in the face at an amazing price but it was great to relive the emotions I had as a kid of finding the perfect card to fill a set

[jfkheat]

I am working on the 1954 Red Heart Dog Food set in PSA 8 or better. I have a thread on the CU forum with pictures of the cards that I have now, see link below. As of now I need 7 cards to complete the set and need to upgrade the Musial. I am trying to be pretty picky about centering. I'm trying to keep all cards 60/40 or better.
James

https://forums.collectors.com/messag...hreadid=949248

[iowadoc77]

I am a set collector as well.
Finished the 1935 National Chicle football set in SGC holders
25 cards away from T205 gold borders
5 away from E98
Started and fizzled on the 1933 Goudey.
Need to stay focused and finish the E98 and T205, but I get distracted

[ALR-bishop]

I am a set junkie. Topps set and pack run, 1948 and 1951 to 2015. Bowman set run 1948 to 1955. Fleer run 1923 ( only pre war and not finished), and 1959 to 2007. Have also done all Topps insert and issued test sets through 1994. Working on unissued Topps Test sets. Also any SCD, Beckett or PSA variations listed for the above sets.

Been at it since 1957 with one break from 1971 to 1980. Running out of space.

[mechanicalman]

I only got back in the hobby a few years ago, so my focus has been largely on Hall of Fame subsets of T206, '33, '34, and '38 Goudey, Delong, and '41 Play Ball. I've probably spread myself too thinly with too many sets, but I'm having a hard time prioritizing. I love them all. I have respect for the guys that build complete sets; I'm not sure I have the budget or patience to go this route as it might drive my crazy trying to procure a rare common. It's hard enough finding reasonably priced Cobbs, Mattys, WaJos, Ruths, etc.

[darkhorse9]

I am most certainly a set collector.

I started off collecting the sets I knew as a child (1969-1977)

then expanded to sets since I was born (1962- 1968)
I then finished the 1960's and started on the 1950's

I then decided to get a set from every year 1940 - today.

Right now I have every Topps set (save for the 1952 high numbers) and I am working on a 1952 Bowman set to fill that hole.

The 1940's are on my radar now.

here's how my collection looks now.

[SMPEP]

107 is very impressive Ken! Those last 14 are going to be tough. I can't even find pictures of 4 of them!

Cheers,
Patrick

[bnorth]

To me set collecting was much more fun before eBay. Now if you have the $ most sets/cards are just a click away.

I am about 90% through the 55 Bowman set in near poor condition and just starting the 54 Topps set in the same condition. Figured the 2 Ted Williams cards in the 54 would make up for the lack of one in the 55. To make it more fun I am only buying cards from fellow members to build these 2 sets.

I still find it fun to look for cheap cards for my set needs but know it would be way cheaper to just buy them completed. Good thing for me is it is just a hobby and the resale value really means nothing to me.

[vintagebaseballcardguy]

I completed a '53 Topps set and then had trouble deciding what was next. I stopped and started a few sets. I then swore off set building several times and decided I would be happier focusing on singles and player collecting or team collecting. However, I have realized how much I enjoy set building. Though nowhere near as accomplished as many on this board, I still have the '53 Topps set and am about half way through with '56 and '65 Topps. I also have gotten interested in vintage football and have purchased a '69 set, which I am upgrading.

What I enjoy most about set building is going through lots, partials, and sets and just shuffling through lots of cards. It is enjoyable for me watching them come together and filling holes and seeing it fill in. The thought of spending money on commons and nobodys used to drive me nuts. However, the best stories and poses and backgrounds in some sets are found among the commons. They often help to tell the story of that particular year. I am absolutely hooked!

[jasonc]

Nice thread. I've enjoyed reading it thus far, and I am looking forward to seeing other's contributions.

Since I've rediscovered the hobby, I did complete a 1956 topps set, I would say off and on I was working on this for about 12 to 16 months. I still have that, it is in low to mid grade condition, only upgraded a few cards and will probably keep it and I doubt I'll upgrade it anymore. A really fun set to collect, that wasn't too hard on the wallet as long as you look for the deals. I spent building it through shows and ebay etc. picking up cards here and there.

I then focused my attention on some prewar, but due to budget, I doubt I'll complete them (The T206, 1933 Goudey etc.) Just collecting subsets of them and just a bunch of cards in general in lower condition.

As for what's next? The only set I might actually complete would be another post war, I was thinking maybe one of the other 50's topps sets. I've dabbled at a few like 1954, 1955, but keep changing my mind and trading away what I've built into something else. Of course, along the way I've had fun with collecting these.

Amazing on some of the set collections I've seen and heard in this thread and other threads on the board, keep it up.

[Econteachert205]

Those binders look awesome. Is it better to store them vertically? Some of my binders kind of collapse inside when stored vertically. Any advice?

[vintagebaseballcardguy]

Jason, I am enjoying this thread as well. Thanks for your post. I understand completely how it is to abandon projects and to trade off or sell off starts of sets. After completing '53, I stopped and started more than I care to admit. However, that is behind me. When you find something that you like and can afford in the condition you can live with, it will click for you. Btw, I am also building a low to mid-grade '56 set....about half done. It is on the back burner for now, but I will eventually finish. Good luck!

[mybuddyinc]

T206 -- 521/524
T210-1 -- 75/75
E90-1 -- 82/120 (really 119, no JJ for me )
T218 -- 153/153 (vg/ex to ex)
1921 Boxing Exhibits -- 58/58 (only one wrestler)

Used to have complete Boxing: E75, E76 (with Ketchell/Attell error), E77 (with five or six caption reversals), and E79. Had to sell them , wish I had them back.

[Touch'EmAll]

I am now 50 years old and have been collecting a long time. I have never put together a complete set. Even as a kid I never completed a set. I tried once with a Walter Payton set, but when it came time to purchase the rookie, I continuously just couldn't pull the trigger - I feel it is one of the most overpriced cards of all time. I don't want to buy something I don't really like. Same goes for pre-war oldies - all the commons in a set - I don't want the commons, so I don't get them. What I have collected is upper tier pre-war HOF'ers. If its not the big names, I will pass. Some years I only end up buying a handful of cards. But over the years the handfuls do accumulate into an eyebrow raising collection. I love collecting. Collect however makes you happy, there is no right or wrong.

[Bruinsfan94]

Originally Posted by darkhorse9

I am most certainly a set collector.

I started off collecting the sets I knew as a child (1969-1977)

then expanded to sets since I was born (1962- 1968)
I then finished the 1960's and started on the 1950's

I then decided to get a set from every year 1940 - today.

Right now I have every Topps set (save for the 1952 high numbers) and I am working on a 1952 Bowman set to fill that hole.

The 1940's are on my radar now.

here's how my collection looks now.

Awesome photo! I'm still in college right now so I haven't been as active but thats the way I want to collect. Must be a lot of fun to go through all the different years!

[Cozumeleno]

... my tastes getting older and older.

My first 'vintage' sets were 1948 and 1951 Bowman. I 'graduated' to 1933 and 1934 Goudey, before jumping into T206. I will continue to pursue those and have started passively going after T205s, but I'm really into the N-cards now listed in my signature below.

Based on the scarcity, I think there is a lot of value there. I'm surprised that there don't appear to be more people into the 19th Century waters, but I think that's due in large part to familiarity with the players, etc.

I'm almost entirely a set collector, though I pick up/deal OJs a little here and there.

[Tripredacus]

I recently decided to only do sets for baseball, maybe a year ago or so. I collected players and teams before that but never really sets. One exception was 2007 Bowman which I did since it came out but still haven't finished.

So far the only base set I have done is 1989 Topps. I don't keep completed sets in the binders due to not having enough pages to go around. They come out and go into a box in the closet. Just last weekend I expanded to a second shelf for the set binders.

[mawitzi]

I put together a 1934 Goudey set. It took me a few years to finish it, but it was a lot of fun. It went pretty quick at first, the Gehrig cards and the high numbers took a little longer.

I am currently working on a 1952 Red Man set and a 1964 Stand Up set. I also pick up 33 Goudey and T206 HOF cards, but I don't think I will do a set due to the cost.

[tonyo]

Originally Posted by Bruinsfan94

One of my favorite parts of reading post on this site is seeing people post about their set collecting adventures. I have been collecting slowly but surely the 1957 topps set, the 1960 set, and t206. I don't have any scans on hand, but I'd love to see some pictures and hear some stories of set collecting. Be it now or when you were a kid. Would love to hear stories about sets that took a long time to complete, must be quite a great feeling when you finish!

Don't really have any stories per se, but I'll relay my set building successes anyway.

Although by nature as an adult I like to collect complete sets of "anything" I never really had the urge to complete any of the sets I collected as a kid in the 70's. The first time I truly remember wanting to collect all of any set was in the early 90's with some of those silver signature parallel sets.

Anyway late 90's I took a few years off while my family grew and got back into collecting in 2009. Collected the 09 UD Goudey base and the '09 A&G base and mini set. This is when I discovered pre-war & net54 by searching for 09UD Goudeys on ebay.

Since then I've collected the following sets (all in F/G/VG condition):

1. t206 (520) took me about 4 years to get to 520, although I believe about a year went by between Monster number jumping from 519 to 520. Still working on replacing some of the cards with more interesting versions (less common backs, backstamps, writing, etc)

2. 1933 Goudey (minus Lajoie and 1 Gehrig) got all the hofers in 09 and 2010, then took me about a year and 1/2 to fill out the remainder of the set, upgrade a few cards, and sell off all by doubles in 2012/2014

3. 52 bowman. started this set in december 2010 and sold my last double in january 2012.

4. 72 topps. This was the first year I collected as a kid and I kept my cards from this set when I foolishly sold the rest of my collection around 1990. I think I needed about 100 cards mostly last series. So, I wrapped this one up in 2011.

5. 73 topps. I saw a thread on net54 about "favorite cards from the 70's" which prompted me to pick up a 73 Clemente. 73 was my second year collecting as a kid and brought back a lot of fond memories. So I decided to put this set together by buying lots on ebay. It was a whirlwind taking about 4 months from start to finish and probably the most fun I've had putting together a set these past few years. I won 38 auctions on eBay, 4 lots of greater than 350 cards. Bought over 2000 cards in those 38 lots then sold about 1400 doubles in one shot. I loved receiving the boxes of cards, flipping through them, remembering those I used to own, and stopping on those I knew I'd never seen before and studying them for an extra minute or two.



Those are the only true sets I've "completed" since I started collecting again. My M.O. over the last 2 or 3 years is: I create "subsets" to give me something to complete. Some are; Topps/Bowman regular issue HOFers 1949-1979 (still need 6); t207 Recruit series bat, glove, belt - got to within 1, then decided to sell some. Now I've narrowed my t207 pursuit to recruit 2nd series. Down to 13 needed on those; 1900 thru 1945 pre-war type set 100 different with all hofers represented at least once. Still need a Delehanty and Burkett; early e card clouds and sunset backgrounds - recently completed that one!


I've recently decided to go for the t205 set (one card per player - no variations). I got all the hofers a few years ago and have been slowly acquiring the others with a strict $$ limit. Since starting in July I'm plodding along slowly for me but have successfully stayed within my price limits! Currently at 67 commons, 1 short print, 1 minor leaguer, 25 hofers

That pretty much sums it up for me.

Thanks to anyone who read all that, it took me longer to type than I expected.

Have a great week and Happy Collecting!

Tony

[darkhorse9]

Originally Posted by Econteachert205

Those binders look awesome. Is it better to store them vertically? Some of my binders kind of collapse inside when stored vertically. Any advice?

Obviously most of the sets fill the entire binder up so there's no "slouching"
My binders for 1952-1955 also include the Bowman sets in them so that fills up as well.

To make up for any room left in the binders I have taken thick black backing boards cut to the size of the plastic sheets and punched three holes in them. I then placed them in the binders behind the set sheets to fill up any remaining gaps with however many boards are needed. As a result, all the binders have cards that fit tightly when stored vertically.

[SAllen2556]

Also a set collector. Like many, I got back in the hobby and finished all the sets I had started as a kid, then got into the history of baseball in general, and specifically, being a Detroiter, the history of the Tigers.

The 1934-35 Tiger teams were probably the best all-around teams they ever had, so I found a set that covered those years: Diamond Stars. Very reasonable, and easy to find. Along the way, however, I discovered that I'm a terrible crack-addict. I understand and appreciate graded cards, but I also despise them. For some weird reason I really enjoy setting a card free. It seems so wrong, but it feels so right! Complete sets belong in binders, raw!

Now working on the '34 Goudey set, but it's tough to spend the money on those damn high numbers. I seem to be drifting toward just collecting the Tigers instead of complete sets. I love the t205 Tigers and just got the Cobb, but I really only like the look of the AL cards, so I doubt I'll finish the set.

[smtjoy]

I have been working on an exhibit run for 10 years, down to only 4 sets, completed one set this year, 1938. Happy to get this last card-

[Jacklitsch]

I'm a set collector as well. Sets I've worked on and pretty much completed over the years:

T206 (-4)
C46
1911 Zeenut (-2) still working on
48B
53B both color and black and white
Zeenut run
E100 San Francisco (-1) guess who
1959 Topps ( favorite post war set)
33 Goudey
34 Goudey

Sets I'm currently working on:

53 Topps raw set
60 Topps raw set

[Leon]

I was a type "set" collector. Now I won't go for the set but I think many of us are wired to collect the way we do. This collection will be "some" type cards this time.

[bbcard1]

I almost always have a putter around set...it's 1955 Bowman football right now. It's fairly low grade and just for fun. I have a long term 1961 Topps set that is pretty high grade and I am knocking it out a few cards at a time. I have a duplicate set of 1969 Topps Set and a 1955 Bowman that I'll trade once they're done. My big set I finished this year was 1941 Play Ball.

At some point this year I'll look for a buy of opportunity...something I feel is a good buy that i can work on.