Completed my childhood set build - 40 years on

[UKCardGuy]

It's taken me 40 years but I just bought the last card that I needed for my 1960 Topps set build.

As best that I can remember, I started collecting the 60T in 1981 (though it might have been 1980). A baseball card store opened in the Prestonwood Mall in North Dallas and they had trays of cards going back to the 50s'. I chose 1960 because I really liked the look of the cards (and probably more importantly because I could afford the commons with my $2 per week for mowing our yard).

Over the 4 years or, I'd completed 485 out of 572 cards in the set with almost all the stars and high value cards. (I know because I still have my checklists from back in the day.)

The set has a special place for me. My Dad coached me on the players in the set and despite him grumbling about it, he drove me to 2 or 3 card shows a year.

Then I left the hobby - got car, grew up, got married...

I re-discovered the cards at my parent's house in 2004. With a young family to raise, I took the cards to a LCS near their house and sold most of them. The dealer happily bought them but really wanted the stars and high numbers.

I was left with about 60 mid-grade commons. These came back to the UK with me and resided in my attic until late 2019 when I re-discovered them and re-started my collection.

I managed to add a lot cards through Net54 members. Thank you.

Today, I placed the orders for my last 2 cards.

• The penultimate card - a very nice NM #28 Brooks Robinson that I picked up at Clean Sweep Auctions
• The final card - #539 Gene Baker that I bought off eBay.

I don't think I ever envisaged that Gene Baker would be the last piece of this puzzle. But, he's a favorite now.

I've completed other sets but this one's a bit special for me.

[Piratedogcardshows]

Great story and congrats on completed a childhood set. That last card always has a way of becoming a favorite doesn't it!

[Cmvorce]

Congratulations! Love the backstory.

[Tyruscobb]

Great story. How much for the Mantle? You don't really want the journey to end do you? In all seriousness, congratulations on reaching your goal.

[rjackson44]

Love this

[AGuinness]

Congrats! Great story, thanks for sharing. And one question... what's next?

[UKCardGuy]

Originally Posted by Tyruscobb

Great story. How much for the Mantle? You don't really want the journey to end do you? In all seriousness, congratulations on reaching your goal.

I'll trade you the Mantle for a 55T Koufax or Clemente

[MuncieNolePAZ]

Congrats! Great story.

[BillyCoxDodgers3B]

Originally Posted by UKCardGuy

[*]The penultimate card - a very nice NM #28 Brooks Robinson that I picked up at Clean Sweep Auctions

Long live the Dorskii!