Any Topps Post War Completionists out there?

[steve B]

I suppose I count as a completionist, I plan on eventually finishing all the topps main sets. I'm fairly close on the 1970's, finished with 74, 77-83 and really close on 73 and 75-6 Fairly close on 68-72. The rest I've made a decent start but wouldn't say I'm close at all, maybe 20-25% on most of the mid 60's and a bit better on the older sets, maybe as good as half on a couple.

I don't really work at it, if I see a nice card at a good price I'll probably pick it up. And a small lot I can afford is something I'll go for if it's right there.

Oddly the way things happen for me is that if I go to a show looking for something in particular I won't find much that I want. But I usually do find some fun stuff.

So I usually describe myself as an opportunist collector. Not really completionist, since I seldom make a serious effort at finishing a set(I usually do once I realize I'm within about 10 cards or so) But also not a type collector since I don't limit myself to only one card from a set. I don't really pursue HOF or rookies, or a particular team, or anything although I have preferences.

I haven't really found anyone else that collects that way.

Steve B

[ALR-bishop]

Steve---do you have a sign in your front lawn warning your neighbors about your status

[steve B]

No, the random projects and other stuff warns them off. Bicycles, a couple bits of antique lawn furniture waiting for when I can get to the sandblasting place, some wood I need to cut into small boards for wood working.....

Some have urban chic, I have urban hick.

Steve B

[62corvette]

I guess it can be an advantage to be older. In the early 70's, ( I was in my mid-20's) I completed 48-55 Bowman and 52- up Topps (except for high numbers), Post Cereal 61-63, etc. I did that by reselling my duplicates. I can remember selling extra 58-62 sets through the Trader Speaks for $35/set and making money at that.

[PowderedH2O]

I would love to work the 52 Topps, but I am a school teacher married to a school teacher, so I am never going to convince my wife that we should drop the equivalent of a house into a baseball set. I will settle for 53 Topps up. I am also doing the same for the 56 Topps up for football. I don't have a percentage, but baseball from 1970 to the present is almost complete in Ex-Mint or better, and the football is the same. I am now bouncing around with baseball sets. I am working the 53 Topps (about 20% so far) in Vg/Vg-Ex, 54 Topps (down to Aaron, Banks, and Kaline) in Vg/Vg-Ex, 1956 Topps (20% through), 62 Topps (85% done), 63 Topps (about the same), and 67 Topps (also about the same). I just can't do one set at a time. It drives me nuts. So, working on 8-10 sets keeps me interested, and if a set starts to bore me (like when I can't find cards I need to finish), I can just switch to the others.

Sam

[darkhorse9]

I'm definitely a completist, but my goal is to have a set from every available year back to 1941.

Right now my run goes from 1954 to today with only the 1957 set (4 cards) and 1958 set (43 cards) unfinished.

Before those years I have a 1951 Red Back and (mentioned in another thread) I just completed the 1943 M.P. & Co. set.

I'll probably work on the 1940's for a while That should keep me occupied

1941 Play Ball
1939-46 Salutation Exhibit
1947 Bond Bread
1948 Bowman
1949 Bowman

[ALR-bishop]

So, one set per year from 1941 to 2013, and beyond ?. Why 1941 ?
What is your criteria for picking which set for each year ?