New football collector here

[Footballdude]

Didn't see a specific forum for new user intro's for this football forum so thought I'd park it here.

My name is Richard and I've been collecting cards for the better part of 40 years, starting out with baseball and gravitating to football specific about 20 years ago.

My main focus is set building and my goal, hopefully before I die, is finishing sets of most major issues from 1948-1988, ungraged. So far, I am at around 80% complete overall. My sets will include all variations of cards, such as the "purple sky" color variations from the 1963 Topps set.

Some sets I am not worrying about, as they will be too cost prohibitive for me, such as the 1952 Bowman Large. And some sets just don't do it for me like the '55 All-Americans.

For now, I will just snoop around this forum.

[CowboysGuide]

Hi Richard. Welcome to the forum!

[tuckr1]

Welcome and good luck lots of great people on this Forum!!!

[Jim65]

Originally Posted by Footballdude

Didn't see a specific forum for new user intro's for this football forum so thought I'd park it here.

My name is Richard and I've been collecting cards for the better part of 40 years, starting out with baseball and gravitating to football specific about 20 years ago.

My main focus is set building and my goal, hopefully before I die, is finishing sets of most major issues from 1948-1988, ungraged. So far, I am at around 80% complete overall. My sets will include all variations of cards, such as the "purple sky" color variations from the 1963 Topps set.

Some sets I am not worrying about, as they will be too cost prohibitive for me, such as the 1952 Bowman Large. And some sets just don't do it for me like the '55 All-Americans.

For now, I will just snoop around this forum.

Welcome.

The 1955 Topps All Americans is one of my favorite sets

[jefferyepayne]

Welcome Richard! Good luck on your set run and let us know what you need so we can help. Some people on here have, er, a few doubles ...



jeff

P.S. I couldn't resist!

[Footballdude]

Thanks alot guys!
Regarding the '55 All Americans, I know I'll probably make some mortal enemies with my views. I've always viewed the set as something similar to the 1960/61 Fleer Baseball Greats sets. More along the lines of a commemorative set, highlighting players from the past. They are kind of neat, I'm just not willing to pay the money for them. I've got a few that I found here and there cheaply enough however.

jefferyepayne - I'll keep that in mind because I have about 60 multi-level wantlists.

My problem is that I am just getting back into collecting after an 8 year layoff (marriage, family, etc...) and have very limited, sometimes non-existent, hobby money to play with. Collecting now is alot harder for me compared to when I was single and had relatively few responsibilities. But I am determined to meet my goal.

[TanksAndSpartans]

Originally Posted by Footballdude

Regarding the '55 All Americans, I know I'll probably make some mortal enemies with my views. I've always viewed the set as something similar to the 1960/61 Fleer Baseball Greats sets. More along the lines of a commemorative set, highlighting players from the past.

This is a very reasonable point. To me the key cards are:

ERNIE NEVERS
DON HUTSON
WILBUR (FATS) HENRY
MEL HEIN
BENNY FREIDMAN
FRANK (BRUISER) KINARD
CLARENCE (ACE) PARKER

Without AA, you'd have to settle for an even later commemorative issue to get a card into your collection.

Welcome to the Forum!

[Footballdude]

Originally Posted by DezHood

This is a very reasonable point. To me the key cards are:

ERNIE NEVERS
DON HUTSON
WILBUR (FATS) HENRY
MEL HEIN
BENNY FREIDMAN
FRANK (BRUISER) KINARD
CLARENCE (ACE) PARKER

Without AA, you'd have to settle for an even later commemorative issue to get a card into your collection.

Welcome to the Forum!

I'll assume that list represents All Americans who went on to greatness as pro's, who never had a regular issued card? If so then that's kind of along my thinking as well. In fact one of the few I do have is Ace Parker, for that very reason.

[jefferyepayne]

Originally Posted by DezHood

This is a very reasonable point. To me the key cards are:

ERNIE NEVERS
DON HUTSON
WILBUR (FATS) HENRY
MEL HEIN
BENNY FREIDMAN
FRANK (BRUISER) KINARD
CLARENCE (ACE) PARKER

Without AA, you'd have to settle for an even later commemorative issue to get a card into your collection.

Welcome to the Forum!

While perhaps not mainstream, many of these guys ARE available on older items than the 1955 AA set. Check out

1926 Spalding
1928 Star Player Candy
1930s Wheaties sets
1930s Diamond Matchbook Cover sets

Off the top of my head at least Nevers, Friedman, Hein, and Hudson are in at least one of these sets.

jeff