E98 Master Set

[Tim Kindler]

After 12 enjoyable years of buying, selling, trading, and collecting E98s; I have finally arrived at my collecting goal of a Master Set - All 30 players in all 4 colored backgrounds - 120 in total. The "Hunt" has been the most enjoyable part of the entire project. It all started about 12 years ago, when Jeff Doll (a lurking board member) and I took a trip to Indianapolis with my wife who was job training. We spent the day searching for card and antique shops and came across a sports auction house by the name of Slater's Americana. I registered for thier next auction and won a Green Background Connie Mack. It was my first card to the set. I still have that card in this set. OF course it is now graded by SGC along with the rest of the set. My Master Set is on the SGC registry and I will slowly post scans of all the cards tonight. Forgive my scanner. It's not very good, and it leaves hair lines down the page through the cards. Anyway, Jeff and I have been vintage collectors ever since and have ventured to the National almost every year since. Another really enjoyable part about putting this set together is learning so much from others and getting to know many fellow collectors whom I call friends. Unfortunately, there ARE bad people in our hobby, but the overwhelming number of great people whom you meet is outstanding. I wish to thank the many fellow board members and dealers who have sold or traded E98s with me over the years. I want to thank many people tonight with helping me reach my goal. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE forgive me if I have left you off this list or spelled your name wrong! There are so many of you! I know I will leave somebody off. (You can remind me if you want!) The following have helped me either by selling, trading, or just being great fellow collectors with help. Thank You Pete Costanzo, Rob Adesso, Jeff Doll, Leon Luckey, Scott Brockelman, Brian McQueen, Mike Healer, Mac Wueben, Andy Garden, Matt Pienta, Bill (Spartan!), Gary Nuchereno, Bob Marquette, Ed Hans, Jimi Thayer, Richard Masson, Tim Newcomb, Michael Peich, John Spano, Lee Behrens, Richard Wong, Rob Gordy, and MANY MANY others. Thanks you to the Auction Houses. I love it when I see E98s up for auction. Again, sorry if I forgot you...12 years is a long time.
I especially want to thank Pete Costanzo for being such a great guy. We have bought and sold to each other many E98s over the past few years and it has benefitted us both on our quest for the Master Set. Pete even sold me the last card I needed for the set, a green Young, from his near Master Set! Thanks again Pete.

I hope you enjoy looking at my Master Set as much as I do. It is in lower grades, but I collect what I enjoy and can afford at my budget. To me, these are 102 year old treasures and it's alright if they look 102 years old!

Statistics: 1st Card - Green Mack
Last Card -Green Young
Favorite Pose- Hal Chase
Favorite Cards- Cobbs; My son, Tyrus, is named after him.
Easiest Foursome to Complete - Mullin
Best Condition Card - Red Bender SGC 70
Worst Condition Card - Orange Mack Dog Chew Toy Condition
Favorite Background: Blue
Special Cards: 4 Old Put Backs - Red Young, Red Dooin, Red Brown, Blue Dooin
Blue Meyers has 2 checklists on the back. 1/2 of one 1/2 of another
4 E98s of me made by my daughter as a Birthday gift this year.

[Tim Kindler]

Scans

[Tim Kindler]

Scans 2

[freakhappy]

Congratulations, Tim...a great feat indeed! I am closing in on a completed set as well and I know the feeling will be great when I can say it's done!

I think it's cool how you did the write up for this thread...the story and thanking the people along the way. You're a class act, Tim and thanks for sharing!

Enjoy!

[Tim Kindler]

Scans 3

[Tim Kindler]

Scans 4

[tbob]

Tim- Let me be the first to offer my congratulations on a job well done!!! As a set collector, I know the patience and trying times that go through trying to put a set together, much less a master set, card by card. Your last card, the green Young looks fantastic. What a great card to end up your master set on.
tbob

[Tim Kindler]

Scans 5

[Tim Kindler]

Scans 6

[Tim Kindler]

Scans 7

[Al C.risafulli]

Whoa.

That's a pretty amazing accomplishment, Tim. Congrats - I know what a great feeling it is to nail that last card when the set is super difficult to complete.

The last four uncatalogued ones are my favorites, though.

Congratulations!

-Al

[Rob D.]

Outstanding!

[gnaz01]

Congrats Tim, glad I was able to contribute.

[Tim Kindler]

Bob,
Thanks. It is an honor to be congratulated by the King of Caramels!
Al, Thanks. A few of these have come from your auction, and Rob....Thanks...See I told you I would forget somebody on my list that I have bought from over the years.
That's right....Greg... you too Thanks!
Anybody else, please remind me.....it brings back great memories of when I purchased a particular card.
Thanks Guys!

[Tim Kindler]

Mike C.,
Thanks for the compliments and good luck on completing your project as well. I apologize that I didn't see your post earlier. Sorry it was hidden amongst my many scans
Tim Kindler

[Harliduck]

SO COOL. Congrats...I just love the organization and pursuit of a complete set. To have a complete set from 1910 is simply amazing to me, and the cards are beautiful. Some of the poses could have taken place last week, something I love about Baseball. The journey those cards were on until they all came together...and the fact it took you 12 years. Crack a beer...you earned it...

[Mikehealer]

Very nice.

[sbfinley]

Why I come here. Congrats!

[caramelcard]

Congrats Tim! It's been a long time coming...glad you stuck with it! I think I like the 4 Kindler poses the best. Awesome that she got the colors right.

I (almost) know how difficult it is to stay the course on this set and I'm not sure it's been done before...so again, very nice job!

Rob

[freakhappy]

Originally Posted by Tim Kindler

Mike C.,
Thanks for the compliments and good luck on completing your project as well. I apologize that I didn't see your post earlier. Sorry it was hidden amongst my many scans
Tim Kindler

I'm sorry I posted in the middle...I wasn't aware of what I was doing!

I think what I value the most amongst my collection is the story in which every card holds. I could tell you how I received almost every card I own, the memory that each one holds, the friends I made along the way...all so special and carry a lot of meaning with me. I know most everyone knows what I'm talking about and some feel the same way as well.

It seems like you have a similar experiences with your collection as I do...they really do hold a special place within us. Outside of collecting, most people don't understand, but they are treasure to each collector. Congrats again on this monstrous feat...may your next quest be just as special and fun!

Mike

[timn1]

Hi Tim,

Tremendous accomplishment! Now you can do the same with the E94s -- check with Tbob on that, he'll tell you how easy it is, .
I'm glad to have made your list-

Tim N.

[CaramelMan]

You can almost feel the pride you have in completing this difficult set....
Great how your kids appreciate your set also!

Well done sir!

[atx840]

Wow, very impressive feat and beautiful cards. What a great feeling that must be to see them all together.

Congrats!

[AndyG09]

You made it! Congrats brother! Glad I had a small hand in helping you. I look forward to more good times at the national next year! Ok, what's next?

Best,

Andy

[Ladder7]

Sensational work!

[calvindog]

Pretty amazing feat especially adding the Old Puts (and your daughter's contribution).

[WillowGrove]

Just met you at the National Tim when you only needed the Green Young so to me your accomplishment was super fast!

Great job Tim. Enjoy them.

[tiger8mush]

Congrats Tim! Thanks for sharing the story and scans and especially the custom Kindler pose, very neat!

Rob

[g_vezina_c55]

Wow
Congrat !!

[ullmandds]

Congrats Tim...this has been a long time coming!!!!! Here is my E98 "master" set...of jennings's in your honor...which was a task in of itself for me!!!!!

You are the MAN!!!!!

[Leon]

Congrats Tim. Glad I too made the list though I don't think I helped too much. The big questions is ....now what?

[Danny Smith]

Congrats! Proud to say I sold you one card! The beat up blue mordecai brown. Awesome set.

[toppcat]

Well done Tim-quite impressive!

[3-2-count]

Very impressive Tim. Congratulations on a really tough feat!!

[edhans]

Fantastic accomplishment,Tim. Couldn't happen to a nicer guy. Best of luck in your next endeavor.

[Kzoo]

Tim.......I enjoyed looking at your freshly graded ones in person a few weeks back in Chicago and don't mind the low grades, as they have great character.
Matt

[smtjoy]

Congrats thats awesome! Thanks for sharing.

[Bosox Blair]

Great job, Tim!!!

Cheers,
Blair

[ThoseBackPages]

Mega awesome!

[mybuddyinc]

UNREAL ----- The "smile" on Ed. Walsh makes me, ........ well, ........

[Tim Kindler]

Thank you all for the compliments and well wishes. I appreciate hearing from some of you who I forgot that have sold me some of the cards from this set like Danny, Steve, and others that I had forgotten about. I think Mike C, (freakhappy) summed it up best when he talked about that each card in a set like this has a memory of the time that they were purchased and the fellow collector, dealer, or auction that it came from. Purchasing these cards has built a personal relationship/friendship with many of you with me. I think I am most thankful for that in itself. For example, when Leon mentioned why he made my list, it is because if it weren't for his Net 54 and going to his dinners, I wouldn't be enjoying this hobby near as much as I do.

As for the BIG question of what is next????????????? I really have no idea. In one way, I'm glad that I really stuck to my goal and completed it. Unfortunately, I basically have sold off everything else that I have ever owned over the years to finance this set. On the bright side, I have nothing holding me back or extra misc. baggage of cards to hold me back from starting something new. I'm going to be spending the future nights going through Lew Lipset's Encyclopedia to make a decision about what is next. Sounds like more collecting fun to me!

Take Care Everyone,
Tim Kindler

[T205 GB]

Congrats!!!! A very massive accomplishment. Glad to see you this yr at dinner and hope you are able to make Cleveland next yr.

[jimivintage]

Wow!!! So proud of you, man! I'm jealous, but very happy that I was able to help you along the way, especially near the end once your list got tricky. I think one of the great things about this is the fact that we've now all learned it CAN be done! I mean ALL 30 cards actually had ALL 4 colors, and even though it took 12 years, you now own one sexy museum of a set!

Now if only I could pick ONE project and STICK to ONE project like you!

[HRBAKER]

Tim,
Impressive feat!
Best, Jeff

[cdn_collector]

Just wanted to echo what everyone else said -- congratulations!

Huge accomplishment indeed. Thanks for sharing all of the scans, too.

Regards,

Richard.