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#1
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Putting together vintage sets
Have many collectors on this board stop trying to complete sets in the past few years because the cost of doing so got so ridiculous due to the rapid rise in card prices (especially certain HOFers)?
For example, if you started to put together a 33 Goudey set 20 years ago but figured on picking up the Ruths a little later (rather than 10-15 years ago), are you still trying to complete that set or have you just said no way. Many of the 1950s and 1960s sets are still somewhat reasonable. Which sets are still within reason to collect when you compare them to 5 years ago? I still laugh when I think about the 1964 Topps Giant set. I can still remember when people were trying to get rid of them for $5 a set.
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fr3d c0wl3s - always looking for OJs and other 19th century stuff. PM or email me if you have something cool you're looking to find a new home for. |
#2
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Historically, I am not a set builder. But in the past two years I have built (although not card by card), several sets, including 1914 Cracker Jack, T3 Turkey Reds, and D304; regarding the CJ set, luckily I already had most of the big boys, acquired a few years ago.
About a year ago I stated building the 1933 Goudey set, but I have 100% slowed on the project due to the costs of Ruth and Gehrig, specifically. There are just other things I would rather spend that kind of money on than 1933 Ruths and the same Gehrig with two different card numbers. But there are some very doable sets notwithstanding recent price spikes. Many of the E sets from 1909-1911 are small in size and relatively affordable. The T204 set, a gorgeous set in my opinion, is small enough to do and still somewhat economical - and hell, you can get a Walter Johnson rookie for the same price as a lower grade 33 Goudey Ruth. The 33 Delong set is very doable. I guess the point is that some sets, especially the smaller ones, are fun and still somewhat economical. But yes, the bigger ones have become a mighty financial beast often no longer worth conquering |
#3
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I've been quietly putting together a higher-grade PSA 1952 Bowman Baseball set. It's my only toe dip into post war vintage. It's a very beautiful set IMO, small and still affordable but challenging to some degree in high grade. 2nd year Mays and Mantle and some real star power in Berra, Feller, Campanella, Spahn, Doby, Musial, etc.
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#4
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I'm not a set guy, but I decided to casually put together a lower/mid-range graded 1933 Tattoo Orbit (R305) set in 2015. I picked up a random good looking one every now and then with a focus on the Cubs (9 of 15 snagged).
I put it on the shelf in 2020 when prices spiked. I had 26 out of 60 in hand. I had some of the HOF'rs, but I didn't have any of the heavy hitters...no Foxx, Hornsby, or Dizzy. I sold off or traded all but 3 in 2022 because prices got insane and I had hadn't added any to my collection (aside from an upgrade) for a couple years anyway. Weighing the potential cost of the 34 I still needed, especially Foxx/Hornsby/etc...I folded. If I already owned the big cards it may have been a different story. Last edited by BioCRN; 11-03-2023 at 09:44 PM. |
#5
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T201’s are a great set that you can still snag for a decent price.
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#6
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I enjoy building sets but slowed down the past few years due to overall price increases in the hobby. I had to pick and choose more what I collect. Basically narrow down my focus with what I collect. Ultimately, I decided quality over quantity and to pick up fewer cards that mean something to me. If prices go down to level I'm comfortable with I'd enjoy getting more aggressive with set building.
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#7
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Set Building
I would still consider it set “ish” building, but I have narrowed my focus into just going after the hall of famers in the T206 and 1956 Topps set. That eliminates the “fluff” and cards I care less about.
I was solely focused on T206, but 56 has been a nice change up due to costs being a lot more manageable. I picked up two graded SGC hall of famers yesterday at the Dallas card show for very reasonable prices. I’m also collecting the 1924 W.D. & H.O. Wills Golf Courses set, which is another fun change of pace. To summarize- what I’m learning is that collecting is fun no matter if it’s a $500 card or a $5 card. I’m really enjoying the process!
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__________________ M@tt G@lvin (formerly LarsHoneyToast) T206 HOF'ers: 5/76 1956 Topps HOF Portraits: 2/30 M116 Blue HOF Background: 1/11 Instagram: @StraightRaceCards |
#8
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Old habits die hard. As a kid in 1969, when I bought my first pack, I assumed the goal had to be the whole set. That's why they've got numbers, right?
So I am working on every Topps base card 1951 to present (except for the 52 Mantle). My dream as a boy. Living the (pursuit of) the dream and loving it. Getting much closer than I ever thought possible. It lets me make a little progress on a regular basis. And I've added the goals (set-building on a more affordable scale) of all Bowmans, getting to 500 in T206, all N172 St Louis Browns and pre-war type cards of Cardinals. Broad-focused collecting, I call it, but set-building at heart. LOL Sent from my SM-G970U using Tapatalk |
#9
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As primarily a set builder, the answer is yes. I have always liked 1954 Bowman, but when I look at the prices for Mantle, Mays, and Williams I decided to not build the set. I've built 1955, 1956, 1960, 1965, and 1968 through 1979. All of the sets in the gaps have expensive cards, but not three huge ones like '54 Bowman or any of the Topps sets between 1952 and 1954. My plan is to fill in the gaps in what I have completed and pivot to focusing on non-baseball sets that I think have interesting designs.
Last edited by carlsonjok; 11-04-2023 at 07:18 PM. |
#10
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I am primarily a set collector as it just makes sense to me....always has. Right before the huge price boom I finished my '56 Topps baseball set and I calculated it cost me just a little over 2 grand to do so. I was able to get my mantle with a discovery of a Trout Heritage rookie I didn't know that was packed away in a box. I had the Trout graded and it came back a SGC 10 which was a very easy flip for my Mantle at literally no cost to me.
Every time I think of starting a new set I stop in my tracks and realize I cannot afford even some of the lesser star cards. Even the sets I am attempting to rebuild from my childhood, '73-'76 Topps baseball are outrageously priced on many of the stars. I find myself just sitting on the sidelines right now hoping prices come back down to reasonable levels at least for the 70's sets. |
#11
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Quote:
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"Ty Cobb, Spikes Flying" Collecting Detroit 19th Century N172, N173, N175. N172 Detroit. Getzein, McGlone, Rooks, Wheelock, Gillligan, Kid Baldwin Error, Lady Baldwin, Conway, Deacon White Positive transactions with Joe G, Jay Miller, CTANK80, BIGFISH, MGHPRO, k. DIXON, LEON, INSIDETHEWRAPPER, GOCUBSGO32, Steve Suckow, RAINIER2004, Ben Yourg, GNAZ01, yanksrnice09, cmiz5290, Kris Sweckard (Kris19),Angyal, Chuck Tapia,Belfast1933,bcbgcbrcb,fusorcruiser, tsp06, cobbcobb13 |
#12
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It’s tougher but I now limit myself to sets I can complete.
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#13
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I'm only actively collecting two sets, although I'll also pick up other cards along the way.
T206 is a set I'll likely never actually complete; however, each and every card is a joy to acquire. So, I'm collecting them without the expectation of putting together a set. Let's leave T206 aside and talk about the other set. I will complete 1956 Topps Baseball. That's 342 cards, including the two checklists. I'm a little more than halfway there. I've got Mantle, Jackie, Mays, Aaron, Koufax, Berra, and Kaline, among others. So, from a cost perspective, I'm even closer to being done. At the beginning of this journey, I only had the Mantle. Not a bad start, to be sure, but that was only one card. It got me thinking, though. I've got the most expensive card. Why not pick up some other '56 Topps and see where it goes? I started picking up some small lots and a few cheaper singles. Before too long, I had well over 100 cards...but Mantle was still the only major star. Right at the beginning of the pandemic, I shifted my focus. Rather than "checking off boxes" by buying more commons and minor stars, I decided to go after the HOFers. In the spring of 2020, before the boom, I bought a Jackie Robinson. My next purchases were Berra, Aaron, Koufax, and Mays and Kaline. I've also picked a few other HOFers (like Warren Spahn) along the way. So, it has been quality over quantity lately. Best decision I've ever made, from a card collecting standpoint. Once I've got the Hall of Famers and checklists, I'll fill in the rest of the set. This is definitely the best way (for me) to build a set.
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Eric Perry Currently collecting: T206 (132/524) 1956 Topps Baseball (193/342) "You can observe a lot by just watching." - Yogi Berra |
#14
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Hey, Matt, me too. For years, I've not bothered with commons.
I am close to the T206 portraits of HOFers (obv. not Wags or Plank and no green Cobb either), just two lower tier guys to go and I am in no hurry.
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Read my blog; it will make all your dreams come true. https://adamstevenwarshaw.substack.com/ Or not... |
#15
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I started working on a 1940 Play Ball set about 40+ years ago. I'm down to less than 10 cards (out of 240). I kept telling myself I'd get the Jackson and DiMaggio cards but never did. Now those are the two that are going to be a pain in the rear to find a decent deal on them. I'm going to complete the set because at this point, it just doesn't make sense not to. The set is nice because it has players from earlier eras (Matty, Wagner, Jackson and others) and the current era (at that time).
T201 is probably the easiest set for T-cards and if you would like to have a set that's over a hundred years old. I'll guess that E91 shouldn't be too bad. One set that's over 50 years old that is easy is the 1969 Deckle Edge set. Overall, I think set collecting for some of the vintage sets is not economically feasible for a lot of "collectors/hobbyist", these days.
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fr3d c0wl3s - always looking for OJs and other 19th century stuff. PM or email me if you have something cool you're looking to find a new home for. |
#16
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T200 Fatima Team Cards
I also have been working on a T200 Fatima team card set over the past 2 years. I love this set as it's only 16 cards and is packed with plenty of HOFers and is like collecting a 250 card set from 1913. And because every thread needs a card...
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#17
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Or 544 cards if you want to use the checklist I used...
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