Set Collectors: anyone arrange cards differently?

[JollyElm]

It's funny, what you call subsets my friends and I called "junk" cards. All the junk (checklists, leaders, World Series and such) went to the back. When you're a kid, it's so natural to set all of your cards apart by teams, because you are all about your team and who they're playing. My brothers and I hoarded Mets cards, because that was our hometown team. The Mets went in front. And if they were playing the Cubs that day, we'd grab our Chicago cards and 'scout' the team. When the game was going on we'd follow the players as the team made its way through the lineup and check out things like, "Hey, how did José Cardenal hit last year?"...or..."What happened to the guy on this card? Was he traded?"...or..."Hee hee, Pete LaCock. Don't let Mom hear you say that."

The older you get, your childhood teams vanish into the ether and you begin arranging your sets in numerical order...as you come to realize your innocence is lost. Whoa...that took a dark turn there. Too much?

[Vintagevault13]

Originally Posted by JollyElm

It's funny, what you call subsets my friends and I called "junk" cards. All the junk (checklists, leaders, World Series and such) went to the back. When you're a kid, it's so natural to set all of your cards apart by teams, because you are all about your team and who they're playing. My brothers and I hoarded Mets cards, because that was our hometown team. The Mets went in front. And if they were playing the Cubs that day, we'd grab our Chicago cards and 'scout' the team. When the game was going on we'd follow the players as the team made its way through the lineup and check out things like, "Hey, how did José Cardenal hit last year?"...or..."What happened to the guy on this card? Was he traded?"...or..."Hee hee, Pete LaCock. Don't let Mom hear you say that."

The older you get, your childhood teams vanish into the ether and you begin arranging your sets in numerical order...as you come to realize your innocence is lost. Whoa...that took a dark turn there. Too much?

Haha, good stuff Darren. Definitely not too much. I also began putting the cards “in order” as I got older. Love the “junk cards” part. I recall call them “special cards”; not sure why 🤔.

Cards in numeric order in binders all the way. I just completed 1972 and am about to start 1971 myself. I have been fearful of the black borders. Hopefully, I will not drive myself crazy.

[commishbob]

I enjoy hearing folks ideas and experiences in set building/storing. Growing up I had my cards in cigar boxes that I got both from the corner store/soda fountain where I bought 90% of them and from my uncle's pharmacy. They were rubber-banded in number order. Dupes went with me to school for flipping and trading.

Nowadays I put sets into binders when I get past the 50% mark. We should form a '71 set chasers club it seems. I just got back from several hours at the Houston TriStar show banging away at my wantlist for that one. I'm not real fussy on condition generally which is good because finding NM '71s would be the death of me (and my hobby budget). Decent corners, no creases and no writing is all I require.

[Vintagevault13]

Originally Posted by commishbob

I enjoy hearing folks ideas and experiences in set building/storing. Growing up I had my cards in cigar boxes that I got both from the corner store/soda fountain where I bought 90% of them and from my uncle's pharmacy. They were rubber-banded in number order. Dupes went with me to school for flipping and trading.

Nowadays I put sets into binders when I get past the 50% mark. We should form a '71 set chasers club it seems. I just got back from several hours at the Houston TriStar show banging away at my wantlist for that one. I'm not real fussy on condition generally which is good because finding NM '71s would be the death of me (and my hobby budget). Decent corners, no creases and no writing is all I require.

Count me in on the “1971 club”! Fun set but it can drive you crazy if you let it. Sounds like you and I are building similar sets.

[TheNightmanCometh]

Back when I collected sets, I always put them together by team; it just seemed natural to me.

I'm a binders guy, all the way. I'm a little torn, though. When I first started my Braves goal, I thought putting every card in a binder would look great, but now I'm a little concerned about the idea of $1000+ cards being put in a binder.

Anyone out there said, "Screw it!" and did exactly that; i.e. putting $1000+ cards in a binder?

I'm thinking of just buying reprints, and keeping the originals in a safe. That's probably the smart thing to do.

[rkrolewicz]

Originally Posted by commishbob

I enjoy hearing folks ideas and experiences in set building/storing. Growing up I had my cards in cigar boxes that I got both from the corner store/soda fountain where I bought 90% of them and from my uncle's pharmacy. They were rubber-banded in number order. Dupes went with me to school for flipping and trading.

Nowadays I put sets into binders when I get past the 50% mark. We should form a '71 set chasers club it seems. I just got back from several hours at the Houston TriStar show banging away at my wantlist for that one. I'm not real fussy on condition generally which is good because finding NM '71s would be the death of me (and my hobby budget). Decent corners, no creases and no writing is all I require.

I’ve been collecting ‘71 for several years. I have definitely lowered my condition standards especially for the higher numbers. I put them in a binder, but the pages I used are side loaders which are very tight. If I were to do it again I would use top load pages. The sensitive borders and corners make it challenging to get the cards in the side load pages tight slots without “flipping over” the black layer of the paper on cards with corner issues. I’d love to help other to complete or start their sets, maybe this week I can publish my list of the hundreds of extras I have accumulated. .

[JollyElm]

I'm looking to upgrade my '71 set, so I'd be up for trading, too. I have a good amount of nice shaped lower numbers, and my high number extras in pretty decent shape can be seen in the vintage high numbers album in my flickr bucket. I'd be glad to trade some of those for similar looking high numbers that I could use as upgrades.

[nolemmings]

I started collecting postwar again several months ago, and definitely enjoy sorting the cards by team rather than random sequencing assigned by Topps. Like many others, I have vacillated between card holders and binders over the years, and still have some in each, but presently I prefer the binders. I have even cracked out several PSA 8 commons--only non-valuable ones thus far-- since quality raw cards seem to command decent interest these days, and who knows where grading will be in a few or several years.
I really like the 8 pocket sheets, stored flat. I place each card in a vintage card penny sleeve (larger Topps/Bowman size), that fits snugly in the pocket and allows me to remove the card for individual viewing with minimal handling/risk of damage.