Any Topps Post War Completionists out there?

[Harliduck]

Just wondering if among all the set completers if anyone's ultimate goal is to have ALL the Post War cards and have a complete run? I end my run goal at 1990, but I guess everyone would have their own opinion on what they want to collect, but for the sake of my curiosity, say 1952-1979 as outlined in this forum.

I know Al has a complete run through current, and yes, Al is my hero. My ultimate goal IS the complete vintage run although I do not care about variations. Maybe when I am done it might be fun to go back and do that. Also, I do plan on completing a Bowman run when Topps is done. I have started chipping there, but nothing serious.

Here are my percentages -

1950's - 31.2%
1960's - 55.8%
1970's - 96.9%

Total Topps Post War (1952 - 1979) - 69.3%


Would be interested in knowing if there are others out there, and where you are at percentage wise?

[vintagebaseballcardguy]

What grade of card are we talking? VGEX, EX, or better?

[Harliduck]

Just in general really...I think everyone has their own standards based on their own standards. For me personally my goal is everything EX. I have plenty that are NrMT-MT and I have plenty that are VG - VGEX. The latter goes on my "upgrade" lists working towards the goal of EX.

What I like about this site is you have the "collect in any grade" folks and you have the PSA 8-10 guys...and to me ALL of it is pretty cool. I don't collect for investment at all, just pure fun and passion.

[vintagebaseballcardguy]

Originally Posted by Harliduck

Just in general really...I think everyone has their own standards based on their own standards. For me personally my goal is everything EX. I have plenty that are NrMT-MT and I have plenty that are VG - VGEX. The latter goes on my "upgrade" lists working towards the goal of EX.

What I like about this site is you have the "collect in any grade" folks and you have the PSA 8-10 guys...and to me ALL of it is pretty cool. I don't collect for investment at all, just pure fun and passion.

This is an awesome site!!! I hear ya, I am not an investment guy either. I am simply addicted. My goal is about like yours it sounds like. I try and build centered mid-grade sets in the ex-exmt range. Most of my cards are ungraded, but quite a few of my stars are graded. The graded ones largely fall in the same ex-exmt range, with a few sneaking up to nm.

As for what I'd like to build from '52 Topps forward, I would like to build all of the 50s Topps sets. That being said, '52 will not happen for me. I have a nice mid-grade '53 set, and I am working on '57 now. IF I ever complete '53-'59, I would jump into 1960 and work to about '65. I really do not have much interest past that.

[bobsbbcards]

Originally Posted by Harliduck

Just wondering if among all the set completers if anyone's ultimate goal is to have ALL the Post War cards and have a complete run?

That pretty much sums up my ultimate goal. Every baseball "card" from 1948 through 1991 (it gets tiresome post '91.....not sure how Al does it). I'll never complete the run, obviously, as mid '50s meat issues and one-of-a-kind test issues will drive me insane, but it should be a fun ride.

[brewing]

While it would be nice some day to make a run at completing the Topps run.

My pocket can't afford it, so I'm shooting for all Tiger and HoF basic cards and complete sets from 1969.

[savedfrommyspokes]

For a few years, before I got married and had two great kids, I made tremendous progress on my sets and finished the Topps sets from 53 on up. The 53 is my lower grade set at about VG-EX, while the rest of the 50s sets are in EX to EX-MT, the 60s sets are EX-MT to NM and the 70s sets mostly all NM or better.

However, over the last 8 or so years, my progress has been significantly slower (for 3 very important reasons). I am now within about 80 or so cards (all hi #s) on the 52 Topps set(about 105 needed if including all BB/RB cards), I need less than 5 on each the 54 and 55 Bowman sets, and I am about half way on each of the 50-53 Bowman sets. I am in no hurry to finish these sets...I have the time.

Going back and collecting all of the variations (or print defects as some like to consider them) for these sets has been my most recent goal, while still picking up a few cards I need for the incomplete sets and upgrading the completed sets round out my current efforts.

It is amazing the shift in priorities that a family can bring about.

[ALR-bishop]

John-- Bob (bobsbbcards) is my personal collector hero. Best post war collection out there. When he says everything between 1948 and 1991, he means everything.

Not a bad bridge player either

http://www.cincybridge.com/2012AwardsWinners.html

[Volod]

Originally Posted by Harliduck

Just wondering if among all the set completers...Would be interested in knowing if there are others out there, and where you are at percentage wise?

Took me about a decade - the 80's - to "virtually" complete the Topps and Bowman sets I recalled from my childhood. Reacquired every card from '51 to '55, with the exception of course of the impossible three from the '51 Topps MLAS set. Had no interest in going any further, and my resources were severely restricted by a marital split that saw the ex taking everything of value, including our son. Oddly, she was unaware of the cards - or maybe thought of them only as some insignificant hobby interest and not worth anything, so I was able to hang on to them, though would have gladly disposed of them to keep my son, if that were an option. Sorry about the downer tale, but the two histories are intertwined in my memory.

[campyfan39]

My goal was topps 52-80.
I actually had all of the 50's sets except 52 and only lacked a few in 57. Plus I had 62, 69 and most of the 70's but I recently gave it up and busted up several.

2 reasons:

Realization that 52 was a pipe dream. Mantle is out of reach and no way I could afford $100+ for mangled commons.

Couldn't see paying the high price for (my opinion) ugly cards in 61, 63 and 67

I am an all or nothing guy haha

[ALR-bishop]

Chris....you need to take a closer look

[Zach Wheat]

My original goal was to complete all Topps sets '51 to '95 onward without regard to most variations. I have most sets completed and am missing perhaps 18 or so '52 high numbers. I have been fairly picky with high numbers trying to pick up most in ex-nm so it has been a long road. I am missing the Saige/Pain variation but have two of four Campos variations. I do not have any mid-series glossy gray back variations and do not intend to pursue. The recent Super Set listed for auction recently did not even mention these as legitimate variations, although I would include thes additional 59 or so cards in the Super Master Set.

Along the way I got sidetracked by questions with the t201 (compete), t200 (missing Cleveland AL), t206 (78%), and t205 (45%) sets. I have also completed the Whiz Bang set, and well on my way towards V100 and V61, and several W sets. I've enjoyed the ride but find my obsessive compulsive nature makes it imperative at I find the answer to small questions which not many people know the answer to and I get sidetracked.

[ALR-bishop]

" I think there should be something called the Reindeer effect. I do not know exactly what it would be, but someone would say that this is all a tragic result of the Reindeer Effect".... Jack Handy