Question for Team collectors

[steve B]

Being more of a generalist collector I don't really have rules or limits besides budget. I collect pretty much everything, just not in an organized or aggressive fashion. In other words, I'm "working" on all sets, but I don't get hung up on completing a set.

While I prefer RedSox cards, if there's a card of another team that's the better deal I'll buy it. For T206 I think I need two poses, and loads of front/back combinations. Neither of the ones I need are all that hard to find, I just haven't come across a good deal at the same time as having the money for it.

I handle the inserts/paralells the same way. If I get them in a pack, cool. If I find some at a bargain that's cool too. But I'm not scouring shows and Ebay for all four colors of printers plate for the front and back of every RedSox card.

I consider all that stuff to be its own set, so for instance my 2011 Topps second series set was "complete" at 330 base cards. All the other stuff I got is stored with it, and I have a spreadsheet I use as a checklist, but haven't checked off a spot since probably early 2012.

Steve B

[philliesphan]

I'm a big Phillies Phan, like Joshua, but I try not to be a completist.

It really wouldn't be hard for me to pick up many of the "mainstream" Phillies cards, if I had the time, money and space. Alas, probably short on all three.

Thus, I focus on the rare and esoteric. I have a T206 Phillies proof card, a handful of E104-III Phillies, an E107 team set (less one basically impossible team name variation), some postcards, etc. And a few Mike Schmidt cards.

But I stopped many years ago trying to collect too much "stuff", because it really took up a lot of space and ultimately become unenjoyable to me. I once had 200-300 different Steve Carlton cards, for instance. Now I have between five and ten. They're all cool ones, though, and I really enjoy them (1972 Topps Candy Lids, 1973 Topps Comics, 1973 Topps Poster, 1972 Topps Traded, 1974 Deckle Edge, 1985 Topps Mini)

[cardswin53]

This Cardinal collector has now heard from team collectors of the Braves, Red Sox, Phillies, Tigers, Orioles, White Sox and Cubs on this issue of what accommodations (if any) a team collector is willing to make to collecting all cards from his/her favorite team. Any team "completists" out there ?

[dabigyankeeman]

Yankee team collector here. I collect Yankee cards from their start in the early 1900's thru current, but i do put some limitations on that.

I dont worry about whats on the back, i will go after front variations for sure, but not different backs.

Yankee collecting is hard financially due to the incredible number of superstars from years ago, so i dont hold the line on condition. I buy what i can afford, and to me its way better to have a Goudey Ruth in PSA-1 condition than not to have one in nicer condition because i cant afford it. I do though try real hard to get good eye-appeal on my lessor condition cards, it takes some work, but all low graded cards are not equal on the eye, some are so much better looking than others, and those are the ones i go after.

I try to get every Yankee card i can from 1980 and older. Starting in 1981 when multiple sets started being produced, i collect a representative sample of Topps cards each year and also any other cards that i really like, but no way do i try to get them all.

In 35 years of collecting, i have a tremendous amount of Yankee cards, and love when i can complete a team set from any year, particularly the old ones like T205, T206, T207, Goudeys, Diamond Stars, etc.

I think being a team collector is a fantastic way to collect as it gives you an enormously varied collection full of great old cards and really nice newer ones too.

[markf31]

I've dabbled occasionally in being a Pirates collector, but it's always been a side interest for me. I usually target 1 particular set/issue at a time and make a run at it. I have never completed a team set in this fashion though as invariably I'll stumble across something that I want for my other endeavors which I place a higher priority on for my collection and the Pirates become sacrificial victims.

I still have some stranglers around that I'm sure I will pick back up on that include a T206 Pittsburgh master set (minus the obvious one) and N172 Pittsburg master set.

[aelefson]

Hi-
While I do not collect every Red Sox card, I collect one image from every player who played for the Sox. It can be a card, a photo, or a newspaper clipping. Pretty much anything with the player's image wearing a red sox uniform, from their Red Sox years. I downloaded an all-time roster a year or two ago, and I add the new players every year. I think there are about 1700 total players, and I only have about 500, so this will take a long time.

Alan

[JLange]

Among other things, I am trying to obtain the first Cleveland Card or Collectible from every player that ever played for the Cleveland Indians from 1901 to present. I, too, started with the all-time roster and I am slowly working my way through all known cards and updating the list as new guys arrive or are called up from the minors. There are plenty that are known that I may never obtain due to price or scarcity, and there are plenty more for which a 'card' or collectible by any definition is unknown at present (unknown to me at least). When you throw in owners, coaches, GMs, and Managers' there are more than 2,100 to deal with thus far. I also include many players pictured on an Indians card that may not have had a professional plate appearance or inning pitched with the team (yet), but who have cards recognized as belonging to the team (distinct from cards with their minor league affiliates), such as recent Bowman draft picks, etc.. For each player I start with the oldest and nicest condition card I can find, then 'upgrade' where I can until I have an item from the first year possible for each. Then I am done with that player. In most cases this means I am opting for the first known card, such as the 1947 picture pack card of Larry Doby or the 1957 Sohio card of Roger Maris, over their more conventional and popular cards (i.e., 1949 bowman Doby and 1958 Topps Maris). There are more than 700 players on my list of unknown cards, but even that is something I hope to whittle down as I identify RPPCs, etc. that are readily available but not all catalogued. I am in it for the long haul or until I reorganize the whole thing for another project.

[kmac32]

Originally Posted by dabigyankeeman

Yankee team collector here. I collect Yankee cards from their start in the early 1900's thru current, but i do put some limitations on that.

I dont worry about whats on the back, i will go after front variations for sure, but not different backs.

Yankee collecting is hard financially due to the incredible number of superstars from years ago, so i dont hold the line on condition. I buy what i can afford, and to me its way better to have a Goudey Ruth in PSA-1 condition than not to have one in nicer condition because i cant afford it. I do though try real hard to get good eye-appeal on my lessor condition cards, it takes some work, but all low graded cards are not equal on the eye, some are so much better looking than others, and those are the ones i go after.

I try to get every Yankee card i can from 1980 and older. Starting in 1981 when multiple sets started being produced, i collect a representative sample of Topps cards each year and also any other cards that i really like, but no way do i try to get them all.

In 35 years of collecting, i have a tremendous amount of Yankee cards, and love when i can complete a team set from any year, particularly the old ones like T205, T206, T207, Goudeys, Diamond Stars, etc.

I think being a team collector is a fantastic way to collect as it gives you an enormously varied collection full of great old cards and really nice newer ones too.

In a certain way, I collect cards from E121-80 and E 121-120 of the Yankees and Giants. This is my 1921 World Series collection. My great great uncle was the center fielder for the Yankees is the reason for this collection.

[jimtigers65]

As a Detroit Tiger collector since the 1970's I have been able to obtain a complete run of 1948-1955 Bowman Tigers and only missing 2 cards to have a 1952-2014 Topps base set. I enjoy trying to get earlier subsets (1964 Topps Stand Ups, 1971 Greatest Moments, Supers, etc.) but am laying off of the newer subsets. Now, I'm working my way back and just starting to pick up Goudeys, Play Ball and Diamond Stars. I love the artwork from this era.

[Mungo Hungo]

Sorry to add on to an old thread – hope I’m not breaking the forum rules with my first post.

But I was interested in seeing others’ descriptions of their team sets. I’ve been compiling one since the early ‘80s, in a different way than what I’ve seen from other posters. My goal has been to collect just a single card of every Royals player and manager, in chronological order, since the start of the team in ’69.

Beyond needing a card of everyone to play in or manage a game, I set things up so that the card has to both show the player in a Royals uniform and identify him as a Royal if such a card exists. Next best is one of those two. If that isn’t possible, I look for him on a Royals minor league card. Last priority is to get a card of the player on another team. At the moment, it appears that the set is “complete,” but of course I can’t ever know for sure that I have every player at the highest possible category as I’ve defined them.

I’ve actually been very lucky in that every Royal has had a card—and that’s not counting other collectibles like postcards and team-issued photo cards (which I do not include). For one player, it took me 20 years to find the existence of a card for him, but it was a real thrill when I did—the alternative would have been an eternal hole in the set…

Anyone else doing this sort of thing with their favorite team?

[jimtigers65]

Originally Posted by jimtigers65

As a Detroit Tiger collector since the 1970's I have been able to obtain a complete run of 1948-1955 Bowman Tigers and only missing 2 cards to have a 1952-2014 Topps base set. I enjoy trying to get earlier subsets (1964 Topps Stand Ups, 1971 Greatest Moments, Supers, etc.) but am laying off of the newer subsets. Now, I'm working my way back and just starting to pick up Goudeys, Play Ball and Diamond Stars. I love the artwork from this era.

In addition to collecting Detroit cards I've been hoarding Tiger autographs as well since the mid 1970's. I'm currently up to 965 different Tiger players.

[glchen]

Originally Posted by kmac32

... My great great uncle was the center fielder for the Yankees is the reason for this collection.

Hi Ken, was this your uncle (Norm McMillan) or someone else?

[dabigyankeeman]

Originally Posted by kmac32

In a certain way, I collect cards from E121-80 and E 121-120 of the Yankees and Giants. This is my 1921 World Series collection. My great great uncle was the center fielder for the Yankees is the reason for this collection.

If I can ask, who was your great great uncle?

[LEHR]

I'm a Pirates collector. To keep a more narrowed focus I "try" to stick to higher grade pre-war material of just about any Pirate player and high grade post-war HOF'ers. I do collect pretty much anything high grade and baseball related but my main focus is definitely the Pittsburgh Pirates.

[MartyFromCANADA]

Being a Blue Jays fan, the team collection for me is quite easy. I do narrow the collection to just Topps Series 1,2 and Update. So, I have all Topps Blue Jays from 77' to 2015. With all the garbage produced in the 90's, I think going for every card is a bit too much.

[Mighty Casey]

Another Cardinal collector on the board. T206 with as many different affordable backs.

Same with the T205s. Working on a T205 display of 22 cards. 12 different fronts and 10 different backs. With the backs representing as many different brands as affordable.

Hornsby as a Cardinal

1931 Metropolitan Studios (My favorite Cardinal cards)

Musial cards

1951 Bowman

1957 Topps

Gibson & Brock

1967 Topps