Player collectors -- Best player to collect

[Bestdj777]

I collect Mantle, but price can definitely be prohibitive. I think Yogi Berra may be a decent way to go, and he was up next on my list. In whoever you collect, I think the key is to avoid anyone with a career that lasted into the 80s/90s. I love Nolan Ryan, and he would have been my natural first choice, but the number of card he has is astronomical. On the other hand, Mantle is right around 230-300 cards which is a bit more manageable.

[brob28]

My vote would go to Clemente. He certainly passes the popularity test. IMO he is as or more iconic than any player of the last 50 years with the possible exception Mantle. Price is manageable to the average collector and his cards cover most of the iconic sets of the 50-70's.

LOL, Just posted and remembered my avatar photo - from the hall of fame.

[bnorth]

Not pre-1980 but I player collect Wade Boggs. I collect him because he is my all-time favorite player. After he retired I quit collecting till very recently. The good thing about his cards being from the junk era is they are cheap as chips. The bad part is there are an amazingly large amount of cards to hunt down.

[Vintagevault13]

Originally Posted by Bestdj777

I collect Mantle, but price can definitely be prohibitive. I think Yogi Berra may be a decent way to go, and he was up next on my list. In whoever you collect, I think the key is to avoid anyone with a career that lasted into the 80s/90s. I love Nolan Ryan, and he would have been my natural first choice, but the number of card he has is astronomical. On the other hand, Mantle is right around 230-300 cards which is a bit more manageable.

100% agree about avoiding players that play into the 80s. The chase just becomes almost unmanageable.

[vintagebaseballcardguy]

I have been a set guy, but eventually I will be a player collector. When I do, I will probably start with Ted Williams and then my other favorites like Ernie Banks, Hank Aaron, Clemente, Mantle, Koufax, etc.

[quitcrab]

I collect brooks robinson from 1957 to 1978. I managed to get every card except for the 61 dice game , 68 3d prototype, and a full 65 bazooka box, it was a great way to discover issues that you didn't even knew exist it also sparked my interest in completing sets that brooks was in like the beautiful 64 stand ups,70 pictures of champions , and the 63 fleer set

[smtjoy]

I have been collecting Clemente for a long time, my favorite player (I was born in Pittsburgh). I love player collecting because of the variety and exposure to sets you almost never see. You get a real feel for scarcity in that some cards are a dime a dozen and other you can go 20 years waiting to see one, the chase is so much of the fun. Player collecting is not like collecting the main street sets of the 50-70's in that its for the most part not about money as you can't just buy a set like you can on the topps/bowman sets. I have been working on my Clemente set for over 20 years and im still looking for about 10 cards.

I also collect a couple pre war players which is fun too. I have considered working on a Jackie Robinson and a few other players like Spahn.

Good luck, you will have fun with any player you choose.

[bcbgcbrcb]

The only player collection that I ever considered doing was Dave Parker ("The Cobra") as he was my favorite baseball player growing up as a kid in the mid-late '70's. In the early '80's, I really liked Lloyd Moseby of the Blue Jays and then Eric Davis of the Reds in the late '80's. During the '90's & '00's, Vlad Guerrero was my guy, even got to do two private signings with him in 1996 when he played for Harrisburg at Trenton, NJ.

Peter Edward Rose is another one to collect

[midwaylandscaping]

Don Mattingly. But only up till 1993. After that there's just so much product it's tough.
Lawrence Taylor. UNC guy. Argument as the greatest LB ever. Argument as a top 5 all time player. I know he has his faults but when I was 10 LT was a God. Plus, his stuff compared to many is quite reasonable.
Scott Stevens/Chris Chelios. Basically for fun. Too much product to even contemplate being a completionist. I pick and choose.
Clyde Drexler. Same as Stevens/Chelios.
I dabble with a few others like UNC's George Lynch. Darryl Strawberry. Chris Doleman.
I like collecting guys that I liked growing up. Personal feel to it.

[Mark70Z]

Just to weigh in...

1. Popularity - I believe if you go with popularity you'll have Mantle, Clemente, Williams, Ruth, Gehrig, Cobb, etc.
2. Price (accessibility to the average collector) - then you'll have great players such as Willie Mays, Frank Robinson, Aaron, Bench, B. Robby, etc.
3. Any other pertinent factors - personally I don't take into consideration resale, so I would collect who my favorite all time player is. If you do this you'll never get tired of who you collect even if you take breaks from collecting.

Like others have said you'll learn all about other items that are out there of the player you're collecting. I thought when I started single player collecting that it wouldn't take me to long to get everything, but found out relatively quick that I'll "never" have everything (and that was before all the 1/1 and #'d cards).

It looks like you're a Braves fan so I'd go with Aaron, Sphan, Matthews, Jones, Murphy or one of their great pitchers.

[Exhibitman]

I collect Hank Aaron because he was a childhood idol. I collect Sandy Koufax because he was a legend in my community. Collect who you like...

[cardsfan44]

I am a huge Cardinals fan and my focus is autographs and game used items. However, I wanted to start a player collection of either Gibson or Musial. My question to you veterans is, do you only consider the cards that were made while they were playing as part of your collection? Probably a dumb question
Thanks for your guys' responses

[Bestdj777]

Originally Posted by cardsfan44

I am a huge Cardinals fan and my focus is autographs and game used items. However, I wanted to start a player collection of either Gibson or Musial. My question to you veterans is, do you only consider the cards that were made while they were playing as part of your collection? Probably a dumb question
Thanks for your guys' responses

Not a dumb question at all, particularly given that the online set registries vary in their approach--PSA does not include these cards, and I believe SGC does. I generally only collect career contemporary cards. You have to collect what you like though, so if you like the newer stuff, go for it.

[Vintagevault13]

Originally Posted by cardsfan44

I am a huge Cardinals fan and my focus is autographs and game used items. However, I wanted to start a player collection of either Gibson or Musial. My question to you veterans is, do you only consider the cards that were made while they were playing as part of your collection? Probably a dumb question

Thanks for your guys' responses

Great question and really not a wrong answer. I personally only collect cards that were issued during the player's career. For popular players like Mantle, Aaron, Clemente, etc., the amount of modern cards issued post-career can be overwhelming.


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[JoeyF1981]

I would say Hank Aaron