Question for Team collectors

[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?

[Leon]

Welcome to the forum and good luck in your quest. There won't be a lot or Royals talk on the main forum but there are other sections of our board too. It sounds like you have had a very fun journey so far. (and the journey is a lot of the fun for a lot of us)

Originally Posted by 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?

[Beatles Guy]

As a Cardinals/Browns collector myself I started out trying to get every different card I possibly could. That task was overwhelming, so I backed off of that and now just collect cards of the HOF's or very good players.

[Collectorsince62]

Great thread. Another Cardinals collector here. I have always been a set collector at heart, but would go after Cardinals as a second passion. Once I finished completing all the key sets back to '48, I turned up the dial on my Cardinals quest. Finished off most of the post-war cards (still need a few '62 Jello and Hunter Wieners) then went after the pre-war. I'm fairly condition conscious except for certain sets (CJ). I've learned to be patient and not go after my needs if I consider the price too high.

The Redbird Club seating area at Busch Stadium has a large concession area with walls decorated with large renditions of hundreds of vintage Cardinals cards. Very well done and really a cool place. I love walking through that section knowing that I have the real things at home.

[jasonc]

Wow, sounds like some major team collectors on here. For those who collect everything or as much as they can from one team, approximately how many cards does it consist of, several thousand?

Also, do you guys keep all of the cards in binders and pages, if so, I imagine that is a lot of binders and pages.

Personally for now, I am sticking to Topps team sets, and maybe getting into other mainstream sets like Bowman, Fleer, Donruss etc., whether I tackle other cards, I don't really know. It looks like it would be fun and quite a journey!

[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?