What’s the cut-off year for your collection

[skelly423]

I think most collectors reach a point where new cards stop being interesting to them. A lot of people point to 1980, the last year before the junk wax era begins. Some people point to the last year the remember collecting as a kid. Personally my cut off is 1956, the last year of Topps producing larger sized cards.

What’s your cut off year, and why?

[jingram058]

Pre-war (all the way back to OJ n172) to 1972. I stop at 1972 as that was the last year I bought cards as a kid. But I confess I have a binder of mix/match junk wax, just because 2 of my nephews gave me their cards when they realized they are not worth a fortune.

[vintagebaseballcardguy]

As a baseball history nerd, I drew my line in the sand at 1957 because that was the last year the Dodgers played at Ebbets and the Giants played at the Polo Grounds, and I just like reading about that world. Lately, however, I have become increasingly interested in cards from my birth year (1973) extending into my own childhood.

[JollyElm]

Traditionally, my cut-off date was anything after 1973, when Topps stopped releasing the sets in series, as I am a high numbers junkie. Relatively recently, though, I've bought a few stars, RC's etc., from 1974 to 1976.

[carlsonjok]

There are a few modern sets I have built, but the main part of my collection is limited to 1955 through 1979.

[Bestdj777]

I don’t have one. I’m a player collector so stick to 1951-69 for Mantle, but I love the history of the game and enjoy some current players. So, I have some prewar cards and a few modern rookies. I won’t buy either era in any great quantity, but it’s nice to be able to walk someone through the history of the hobby and to have rookies of my favorites from the 1980s-present.

[Casey2296]

100 years of baseball for me. 1888 - 1980

[Vintagevault13]

1979 for me simply because that is when I stopped seriously collecting. I dabbled with a few packs in 1980-82, but quickly became bored with the multiple offerings once Donruss and Fleer joined the game in 1981.


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[rats60]

I collect mostly prewar and like Howard, Roberto Clemente. I really like the design of the 1975 Topps set, so that is my cutoff.

[HOF Yankees]

I am mostly a 50s 60s collector will also collector some pre war and 30s and 40s plus some 80s so 1800s-1980s but it really varies to players in those 1980s sets.

[mikemb]

I stopped getting Topps sets arount 2009. Still buy a pack or two each year.
Fleer and Donruss ended a few years earlier.

No particular reason. The new cards didn't thrill me. More fun getting a vintage card.

Mike

[UKCardGuy]

My main focus is 1951-1980 though I've started dabbling in pre-war.

My cut-off is 1984 - that's when I stopped collecting as a boy. In my last year of collecting, I bought a case of 1984 Topps from a wholesaler. When I got back into collecting, I still had 10 complete and partial 84T sets from that case. Thankfully, I've moved most of them now.

My 1980-83 sets (Topps, Fleer and Donruss) were mostly complete from my childhood. I've been slowly filling the gaps. But I have no plans to go beyond 1984.

[DaveW]

My cutoff is 1970 - the last year I collected as a kid. Funny how we get frozen in time on some things.

[todeen]

Approx 2006. A couple odds and ends since then.

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[Empty77]

1973.

Like Howard indicated, the world had changed the first day of '73.

[wdwfan]

My main focus has been 1957-62. I'm not a fan of the larger cards (early 50s Topps) and not a fan of the smaller cards (early 50s Bowman). But, I do love the 1956 Topps. Just love the asthetic and looks of the set. Other than that, not a big fan of the larger cards.

But I started collecting in 1987 and collected heavily through 1992. Then took some time off for my junior and senior years of high school and first few years of college. I started again around 1998 and collected through 2000. Then started and stopped from them until now.

But I've grown to absolutely love vintage. I am not a big fan of modern stuff as it's too volatile. If a player gets hurt, his stock goes down. Mantle, Williams, Jackie, Jeter, Maddux, Griffey are never going to get hurt. So I still like to open 1980s-90s wax from time to time when I can find it at good prices. But not a set builder of that stuff. Mainly set build 1950s.

[cardsagain74]

Main focus:

'48 to '87 baseball

'57 to '89 basketball

'50 to '89 football

Naturally there are some exceptions. But not many.

On a side note, I'd never label '81 to '85 as part of the junk wax era (in any sport) as the OP did.

[Exhibitman]

I've gradually narrowed my focus to about where it was as a kid when I stopped with each sport:

Baseball: 1981

Basketball: 1976

Football: 1975

Hockey: 1976

I have later cards in all four sports but I don't care about them: no childhood memories.