Set-Builder Thread

[mikemb]

I have Topps complete sets from 1963 on up. Some were purchased as complete sets but I put together sets from 1963 to 1971, 1976-1979 and 1981-1984. It is more fun, although more expensive, building sets.

I'm slightly older than you (8 years) and when I was completing my sets back in the late 1970's and early 1980's I did not have spreadsheets available. I would write on a pad numbers 1 to 600. Then I would go to the store and make copies (at 5 cents a page). Then went through the set card by card crossing off the numbers I had to see what I needed.

My current project is the 1966 Topps Rub Off set. I gave myself 3 years to complete it but that was 6 years ago! Still need 14 more.

Next project is the 1962 set including green tints. I have about 35% of the set with some stars already.

[Vintagevault13]

Originally Posted by mikemb

I'm slightly older than you (8 years) and when I was completing my sets back in the late 1970's and early 1980's I did not have spreadsheets available. I would write on a pad numbers 1 to 600. Then I would go to the store and make copies (at 5 cents a page). Then went through the set card by card crossing off the numbers I had to see what I needed.

Mike,

I definitely remember using the handwritten lists as well. I used to take them to card shows to reference as I flipped through the commons boxes. Good memories.



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[Econteachert205]

Recovering set builder here. I've sold some of the sets I've built but my favorites are the 1968 topps (started at age 8 finished at age 31) and my first older set build (I'm 34) 1975 topps baseball, my favorite all time set. I've also built a t205 set, which is something I'd never do again but am glad I did. Set building is the essence of baseball collecting.

[Vintagevault13]

Originally Posted by Econteachert205

Set building is the essence of baseball collecting.

I feel this way also



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[Harliduck]

Great thread...it's been hard to participate here lately... Hello, my name is John Otto, and I am a set collector.


Almost everyone's feedback could be mine as well. I was born in 1970, and when I was a kid old cards were hard to come by. I was obsessed with 1969 Topps because it was OLDER than me. Started the set around 11, finished with Jim Northrup by mail (all the way from Boston to Seattle! A big deal then...HAHA) when I was 20 in 1990. I lost touch with cards during junk era, and sold my childhood set to a shop for $1000 and it broke my heart. Whats funny is that set was P-VG at best and the shop was thrilled to see a vintage set. I thought I got raked over the coals back then, and that shop went under about a month later. Be lucky to get $500 for that set on Ebay now... EDITED TO ADD - To be fair, the Nolan Ryan was NM, a beauty I picked up at a Portland card show, and Ryan was going through the roof at the time.

Started up a few years ago collecting 1969 to get that set back for nostalgia, and I haven't looked back. In my continual quest to upgrade my 69 set, I am now 20 cards (all commons) from completing my 3rd 69 set with my first now NM. My wife laughs because I now have a stack of about 200 left over and she is convinced it is the start of my 4th set....it's a sickness!!! (I do have some upgrades on my 2nd set needed!)




My signature is current on what I am building now. I did have the 1954, 1955 and 1957 sets complete, but sold them to fund other projects...and I do regret that. I hate selling, although I did make a nice profit. Good project though, they completely paid for the adoption of our 5th kid as I have mentioned here before, which forever gives me card credibility with the wife, which is priceless...



Love reading about everyone's set collecting adventures!!! There is nothing better as mentioned then looking though a stack and finding the numbers you need!!!! I also love the simplicity of putting cards in a sheet where needed, especially when working with a new set and working those lots. Love it!!

[familytoad]

I posted another thread about my milestone of 99 cards to complete my version of the Topps run 1952-1980.

I have often talked about (internally I guess lol) de-emphasizing set collecting and going strictly for HOFers, but I keep getting pulled back in!

There is something magical about set collecting. It's the way it's "supposed" to be!

Since I swore off starting new sets, I have only started 4 (maybe 5) new sets.
You are welcome, OCD.

[ALR-bishop]

Topps 1948 and 1951- 2016
Fleer 1923 and 1959-2007
Bowman 1948-1955

Also do variations and packs for Topps and Fleer sets, variations and wrappers for Bowman

Also any Topps insert and test sets through 1994

[Collectorsince62]

Set collecting is just more fun. For me, it takes me back to the early 60's when my friends and I would hold trading sessions on our front porches. The goal was to get all the Cardinals first, then work on the whole set. No flipping, no selling, and certainly no investing. Just pure collecting. Everyone in the neighborhood collected cards, so there was always someone with a dupe you needed. And the older guys had these amazing cards we had never seen before. As soon as they turned their attention to cars and girls, we would swoop in and relieve them of their "kids stuff" cards. Some were given to us but some required us to spend our umpiring and lawn mowing money to pry them loose. I still remember the first time I ever saw a '58 Musial, from an older neighbor who gave me his shoebox of cards, rubber banded in teams with cut up inner tubes.

Collecting sets requires a lot of patience. I have all the Topps, Bowman and Fleer sets back to 1948. Many cards took me years to find in the right condition at the right price. And when you finally land that elusive short print or that variation to finish a set it's that much more enjoyable. I am a stickler for condition and am always looking for upgrades to NM, so it's not like I finish a set and just put it away. Everything is in binders and sheets and the first sheet is always a wrapper from that set. Still need some of the early wrappers, but like I said, I am willing to be patient to find what I want.

[gemmint77]

I am slowly working on building a T206 set. I also want to start a 55 or 56 Topps set.

[vintagebaseballcardguy]

Originally Posted by familytoad

I posted another thread about my milestone of 99 cards to complete my version of the Topps run 1952-1980.

I have often talked about (internally I guess lol) de-emphasizing set collecting and going strictly for HOFers, but I keep getting pulled back in!

There is something magical about set collecting. It's the way it's "supposed" to be!

Since I swore off starting new sets, I have only started 4 (maybe 5) new sets.
You are welcome, OCD.

I understand, believe me. I have fought the set urge for quite a while and did a little Ted Williams graded card run, bought a couple of football cards, etc. I then thought I would just cherry pick some stars out of sets I like. However, none of that was enough. I now have a complete set of '53 Topps and am about half way through with '65 Topps. I am already starting to think about '61 Topps being next.

For a while, part of my resistance was the fact that I didn't want to spend money on commons. Others have said that is their objection, and I totally respect that. In dealing with sets it occurred to me that some of the best looking card images turn out to be those of common players which I might never have known about if I wasn't building that particular set. Also, for me at least, the story of that particular year or era can sometimes best be told by those common players.

So, I am hooked. I freely admit it.

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