Baseball Card Binders

[scottbdoug]

When I decide to collect a set, I research the number of cards involved. The base set, inserts, sp's, errors, advert cards etc. etc. I then go buy 9-pocket sheets to cover the number of cards involved. I put the sheets into binder/s.

The base set I leave blank and fill in the cards in their designated pockets as I get them. The inserts etc. I identify either individually or as a group with either a card-size piece of paper with the ID on it, which I slide into the pocket, or a label i stick on the surface of the pocket.

Then I collect the set through trades and purchases. I know the complete set because of the binder/s. I don't need to go and research the set again because everything is labelled/ID'd. When I receive cards I open the binder, find the appropriate pockets and slide the cards in after they are put in penny-sleeves. I can then, if I wish, flip through the pages and see which cards I'm still missing.

It gives me a sense of accomplishment seeing binders fill up which I don't get if I just put them in order in monster boxes.

As for parallels of the sets, I wait until I have collected a large number of them before I go buy pocket pages and another binder for them, usually once I get around 50% of the cards involved.

This I find the most enjoyable way to collect. As you move forward in time, sets start to expand in size, where you will need multiple binders to cover all the cards. My 1985 Topps set I can fit into one large binder, or two average-sized binders. My 2007 Topps set, which I am still collecting, Has 5 or 6 binders involved so far.

All doubles, triples of cards go into monster boxes for trade.

I think if you have the money, pocket sheets aren't cheap, although putting every card in a top-loader instead would be expensive as well, is the best way to collect. You get to see the cards as you want, you see how the set becomes completed as you put cards in their pockets, and Putting binders on shelves rather than having stacks of monster boxes is much easier in terms of adding cards or finding where cards go.