Bigger lifetime project: '52 through '85 Topps and '51 Bowman sets

[Nick55]

cardsagain: good luck with your sets. I built ungraded '71 through '81 topps baseball and bought complete ungraded '82-'87 topps baseball sets. For the 1950's and 1960's, I built one favorite topps baseball set from each decade. I chose 1957 and 1969 (both ungraded).

I kicked around the idea of building other sets from the '50's and '60's (e.g., 1959), but could never pull the trigger; too many expensive commons of too many players I never heard of. Instead, I bought the book, "The Complete Picture Collection - a 40 Year History 1951-1990 topps Baseball Cards" which has every card front pictured for those years. The book is big and heavy, but cheaper and takes up way less space than having the actual cards from those years. And for me, it sufficiently scratches the itch. I love that book as do my kids who pull it out to look at from time to time.

I am also building a "type baseball set" for each year for the years 1952-1968, excluding 1957, to put in a binder. I chose 9 cards for each year to fill one, 9-pocket page per year. I've "completed" 1958-1960, and 1968. Each 9 pocket page has a few HOF'ers, a checklist, team card, world series card, league leaders card, and/or other "insert" or "all star" card. I pick the cards with the goal providing a sample of cards that gives a good feel for the particular year. I also pick players that I've heard of.

There's many ways to do it, of course, depending on one's interests, financial situation, storage space, and time, among other things.

Again, I wish you the best building those sets!

[darkhorse9]

What a great project. I accomplished most of that recently.

I have all Topps sets 1951-2020 complete except 52 high numbers
All Bowman sets 1948-1955 complete except for 1949 (about 1/2 done on 49)

Now I'm working on oddball set runs like Hostess, Kellogg's, Post, Red Man etc.

I have no clue how much I've invested and I don't care. I'm keeping it all until I'm gone and my son can sell it for whatever he wants.

[kailes2872]

I decided to get back into in 2012. My goal was to buy all of the sets that were just pipe dreams when I was a kid. Within a week, I bought 73-85. Over the next month, I was able to find a near complete '68 and '71. I quickly bought the cards to complete them. A month later, I ran into a guy selling '72 and '66. I then bought '69 and '70 online.

A couple of months later, decided to start on '67. That was a journey. I didn't realize what I was in for on the high numbers. I spent way too much money for just mediocre conditioned lower numbered cards. By the time I upgraded those cards plus found the high numbers, I was very deep into that set. I learned a lot about set building and paid a pretty big stupid tax.

In 2013, I bought '65, '64, and 63. I then bought '60, '58, and '59. I got the '58 at a show and needed to upgrade Williams, Mays, Mantle, and Maris. I got them all in PSA 6. '59 I bought cheap on EBay and it was in pretty poor condition. I spent the next year upgrading about half of the set including the majority of the hall of famers. Nearly all of those HOFers are in PSA 6.

2014 brought '57 (from a Net 54 member), '62, and '61. Similar to other sets, I upgraded a lot of the HOFers into a higher grade but kept the raw cards in the binder. In late 2014, I bought a lot of '56's and proceeded to build that set card by card over the next year. All 34 HOFers are in PSA 6 and I was able to get pretty solid ExMt on everything else. I have most of the team card variations. It is definitely my favorite set as I have the most time and energy into it. I can look at that set for hours on end.

I was able to find a '55 Topps set missing 7 key HOFers including Clemente, Mays, Aaron, Williams and a few others. It had a Koufax and Killebrew but they were both pretty rough. Over the next year, I bought and upgraded all of the HOFers to PSA 6. It is a solid Ex+ all the way through. I enjoy looking at that set but not nearly as much as my '56.

In early '15, I bought a '54 set missing Aaron and Banks. I was able get those two in PSA 6 at price that was market at the time, but about 1/2 of what they would cost me today. I upgraded the rest of the HOFers to PSA 6 as well and I have the #7 or #8 PSA HOF graded set on the registry. It was as high as #4 but it has been overtaken a few times. I really enjoy that set. I like the colors and I really like the green backs. It does irritate me in the binder that some cards are upside down based on how they were cut on the sheet.


After that, I found a nice '53 Bowman with an SCG 70 (5.5) Mantle. I upgraded several cards in that set and it is a real beauty now. Shortly after, I got the B&W set and keep it in the same binder. A few months later, I found a '50 Bowman for a decent price, however, I had to upgrade Robinson and Williams. In '17, I got the 59-63 Fleer sets (with a PSA 6 #68), a '52 Red Man set, and I was able to track down a '54 and '55 Bowman - both from Net 54 members. My '54 Bowman came without Mantle and Williams and I was able to find a nice PSA 6 Mantle and a PSA 5 Williams that collectively cost more than the rest of the set.

In 2018, the same Net 54 member that sold me the '55 Bowman sold me the '53 Topps. He had opened most of those cards from the pack. I have really enjoyed looking at that one.

In 2019, that same friend sold me '52 Bowman with a nice PSA 5 Mantle and several very nice cards that came out of the pack. In late 2018, I found a very nice '48 Bowman for a good price on Heritage and made some upgrades to make it nice mid-grade - probably VG-Ex to Ex level on the whole. It has a very sharp Musial - I actually took it to my local card store to see if I was missing something - i.e. was it short? He told me that it measured out and he would put it at a 5 or 6 depending on the mood of the grader that day.

Next up will be '49 and then I will do '51 without Mantle and Mays before tackling '52. I have lost some steam recently, and I know that I will probably be more into these next 3 sets than what I have into everything combined. I am trying to decide if I have the energy to pursue over the next few years or if I just want to liquidate and put the proceeds into 10-15 oceanfront property cards like doing all 4 Cobbs from the T206 set, all 4 Ruth's from '33 Goudey, etc. I do enjoy looking at them on occasion and I really did like building them - especially '56. They do take up a lot of space and fill out my entire safe.

Enjoy the journey. I have learned so much in the last eight years and met many friends on this board. The boys have been mildly interested and my oldest has put together a pretty nice pre-war collection that he has on display!

[cardsagain74]

Originally Posted by kailes2872

I decided to get back into in 2012. My goal was to buy all of the sets that were just pipe dreams when I was a kid. Within a week, I bought 73-85. Over the next month, I was able to find a near complete '68 and '71. I quickly bought the cards to complete them. A month later, I ran into a guy selling '72 and '66. I then bought '69 and '70 online.

A couple of months later, decided to start on '67. That was a journey. I didn't realize what I was in for on the high numbers. I spent way too much money for just mediocre conditioned lower numbered cards. By the time I upgraded those cards plus found the high numbers, I was very deep into that set. I learned a lot about set building and paid a pretty big stupid tax.

In 2013, I bought '65, '64, and 63. I then bought '60, '58, and '59. I got the '58 at a show and needed to upgrade Williams, Mays, Mantle, and Maris. I got them all in PSA 6. '59 I bought cheap on EBay and it was in pretty poor condition. I spent the next year upgrading about half of the set including the majority of the hall of famers. Nearly all of those HOFers are in PSA 6.

2014 brought '57 (from a Net 54 member), '62, and '61. Similar to other sets, I upgraded a lot of the HOFers into a higher grade but kept the raw cards in the binder. In late 2014, I bought a lot of '56's and proceeded to build that set card by card over the next year. All 34 HOFers are in PSA 6 and I was able to get pretty solid ExMt on everything else. I have most of the team card variations. It is definitely my favorite set as I have the most time and energy into it. I can look at that set for hours on end.

I was able to find a '55 Topps set missing 7 key HOFers including Clemente, Mays, Aaron, Williams and a few others. It had a Koufax and Killebrew but they were both pretty rough. Over the next year, I bought and upgraded all of the HOFers to PSA 6. It is a solid Ex+ all the way through. I enjoy looking at that set but not nearly as much as my '56.

In early '15, I bought a '54 set missing Aaron and Banks. I was able get those two in PSA 6 at price that was market at the time, but about 1/2 of what they would cost me today. I upgraded the rest of the HOFers to PSA 6 as well and I have the #7 or #8 PSA HOF graded set on the registry. It was as high as #4 but it has been overtaken a few times. I really enjoy that set. I like the colors and I really like the green backs. It does irritate me in the binder that some cards are upside down based on how they were cut on the sheet.


After that, I found a nice '53 Bowman with an SCG 70 (5.5) Mantle. I upgraded several cards in that set and it is a real beauty now. Shortly after, I got the B&W set and keep it in the same binder. A few months later, I found a '50 Bowman for a decent price, however, I had to upgrade Robinson and Williams. In '17, I got the 59-63 Fleer sets (with a PSA 6 #68), a '52 Red Man set, and I was able to track down a '54 and '55 Bowman - both from Net 54 members. My '54 Bowman came without Mantle and Williams and I was able to find a nice PSA 6 Mantle and a PSA 5 Williams that collectively cost more than the rest of the set.

In 2018, the same Net 54 member that sold me the '55 Bowman sold me the '53 Topps. He had opened most of those cards from the pack. I have really enjoyed looking at that one.

In 2019, that same friend sold me '52 Bowman with a nice PSA 5 Mantle and several very nice cards that came out of the pack. In late 2018, I found a very nice '48 Bowman for a good price on Heritage and made some upgrades to make it nice mid-grade - probably VG-Ex to Ex level on the whole. It has a very sharp Musial - I actually took it to my local card store to see if I was missing something - i.e. was it short? He told me that it measured out and he would put it at a 5 or 6 depending on the mood of the grader that day.

Next up will be '49 and then I will do '51 without Mantle and Mays before tackling '52. I have lost some steam recently, and I know that I will probably be more into these next 3 sets than what I have into everything combined. I am trying to decide if I have the energy to pursue over the next few years or if I just want to liquidate and put the proceeds into 10-15 oceanfront property cards like doing all 4 Cobbs from the T206 set, all 4 Ruth's from '33 Goudey, etc. I do enjoy looking at them on occasion and I really did like building them - especially '56. They do take up a lot of space and fill out my entire safe.

Enjoy the journey. I have learned so much in the last eight years and met many friends on this board. The boys have been mildly interested and my oldest has put together a pretty nice pre-war collection that he has on display!

All of that upgrading is fantastic, but I've never had the patience or been that focused on that part of expanding my collection (unless something is severely awful or out of place).

Some people enjoy the challenge of getting rid of their castoffs after the upgrades too. I see it as extra effort....the horror

[hcv123]

Outside of when I was a kid I have never been much of a set builder/collector. The focus of my collecting has been Roberto Clemente and finding, buying and selling rare and obscure post war issues. When my 2 boys were about 5 and 7 I wanted to introduce them to card collecting and had a desire for them to be exposed to vintage Topps cards - came up with the idea as an extension to the Clemente collection to collect Pirate team sets - started with the goal of the Clemente years 1955-1973. Soon decided that 52-54 Topps "needed" to be added. A bit later decided it wouldn't be 'fair" to leave out 1948-1955 Bowman. So we were on our way - decided to start with 52 Topps. Set a condition bar of cards that were well centered, no surface damage like creases and nice eye appeal. Decided to do mostly raw so we could touch and smell them! The 52 Low numbers got knocked out in pretty short order - then we ran smack into the high's!! All 10 of them for the Pirates - decided to do these mostly graded. Still need 3 to finish that one and started moving on. When my older son was about 10 he asked why we weren't collecting "the really old small cards", that he liked the way they looked. So the goal expanded. Also added all the Pirates Venezuelan issued team sets tying into my fascination with obscurity. My boys are now 11 and 13. I have gained a deep appreciation for pre war and am learning more all the time. So where the project stands today:

T 206 - (Trying to get a different back on each of a complete pirate team set of fronts -Wagner) - we have 12/18
T 205 - Once again trying to get different backs and all variants- we have 10/16
T 207 - We have a single card so far
T3 - complete at 4 - These cards are SOOOO cool
1914 Cracker Jack - We have 1 card
1915 Cracker Jack - We have 7 cards
1933 Goudey - 12/12
1952 Topps 29/32
1955 Topps complete
1973 Topps complete
1959 Venezuelan - 8/13
1960 Venezuelan - 13/13
1962 Venezuelan - 9/9
1964 Venezuelan - 18/18
1966 Venezuelan - 17/18
1967 Venezuelan - 8/11
1968 Venezuelan - 13/16
We have a smattering of cards from 1953-1973 but have a long way to go - for me/us its the joy of the process, sharing a hobby and spending time together- not necessarily getting to "the end".

[brewing]

Originally Posted by hcv123

The 52 Low numbers got knocked out in pretty short order - then we ran smack into the high's!! All 10 of them for the Pirates - decided to do these mostly graded. Still need 3 to finish that one and started moving on.

10!!! Ouch. I'm glad there are only 2 Tigers.

You're definitely doing a more difficult team chase than me with all those Venezuela team sets.

[hcv123]

Originally Posted by brewing

10!!! Ouch. I'm glad there are only 2 Tigers.

You're definitely doing a more difficult team chase than me with all those Venezuela team sets.

I like working on stuff that if I had an unlimited amount of money I STILL couldn't go out and find on a given day of the week. The Venezuelans are definitely that. The 59's are mostly available - just not at a price level I'm willing to buy. Some of the 67's and 68's are INSANELY hard to find - then in any semblance of halfway decent condition - I LOVE IT!! Still WAY under appreciated in this hobby imho.

[rats60]

Originally Posted by hcv123

Outside of when I was a kid I have never been much of a set builder/collector. The focus of my collecting has been Roberto Clemente and finding, buying and selling rare and obscure post war issues. When my 2 boys were about 5 and 7 I wanted to introduce them to card collecting and had a desire for them to be exposed to vintage Topps cards - came up with the idea as an extension to the Clemente collection to collect Pirate team sets - started with the goal of the Clemente years 1955-1973. Soon decided that 52-54 Topps "needed" to be added. A bit later decided it wouldn't be 'fair" to leave out 1948-1955 Bowman. So we were on our way - decided to start with 52 Topps. Set a condition bar of cards that were well centered, no surface damage like creases and nice eye appeal. Decided to do mostly raw so we could touch and smell them! The 52 Low numbers got knocked out in pretty short order - then we ran smack into the high's!! All 10 of them for the Pirates - decided to do these mostly graded. Still need 3 to finish that one and started moving on. When my older son was about 10 he asked why we weren't collecting "the really old small cards", that he liked the way they looked. So the goal expanded. Also added all the Pirates Venezuelan issued team sets tying into my fascination with obscurity. My boys are now 11 and 13. I have gained a deep appreciation for pre war and am learning more all the time. So where the project stands today:

T 206 - (Trying to get a different back on each of a complete pirate team set of fronts -Wagner) - we have 12/18
T 205 - Once again trying to get different backs and all variants- we have 10/16
T 207 - We have a single card so far
T3 - complete at 4 - These cards are SOOOO cool
1914 Cracker Jack - We have 1 card
1915 Cracker Jack - We have 7 cards
1933 Goudey - 12/12
1952 Topps 29/32
1955 Topps complete
1973 Topps complete
1959 Venezuelan - 8/13
1960 Venezuelan - 13/13
1962 Venezuelan - 9/9
1964 Venezuelan - 18/18
1966 Venezuelan - 17/18
1967 Venezuelan - 8/11
1968 Venezuelan - 13/16
We have a smattering of cards from 1953-1973 but have a long way to go - for me/us its the joy of the process, sharing a hobby and spending time together- not necessarily getting to "the end".

Have you ponied up for the 52T Bartirome? I have been doing t201, t202, t207, 1934-36 Goudey, Batter Up, Delong, Diamond Stars and 1939-40 Play Ball for Pirates, just missing a few commons. I have t206, t205, 1933 Goudey and 1941 Play Ball sets done. I might do Turkey Red (have Clarke) and Cracker Jack (have Wagner). I don't really have any interest in post war cards outside of Clemente, but I do have team sets from 1960 and 1971-72 Topps.

[hcv123]

Originally Posted by rats60

Have you ponied up for the 52T Bartirome? I have been doing t201, t202, t207, 1934-36 Goudey, Batter Up, Delong, Diamond Stars and 1939-40 Play Ball for Pirates, just missing a few commons. I have t206, t205, 1933 Goudey and 1941 Play Ball sets done. I might do Turkey Red (have Clarke) and Cracker Jack (have Wagner). I don't really have any interest in post war cards outside of Clemente, but I do have team sets from 1960 and 1971-72 Topps.

The 3 we have left are Bartirome, Merson and Meyer. I am after likely a graded 4-6. I am also being particular with centering which eliminates most of the ones that come up(similarly so for the other 2). I have been under bidder on the Bartirome about 6 times since we started the project. I know I have to "pony up" if I want it - no problem with that, just been going 1 bid higher than I was willing to - 6 times! I'll get it when I get it. Having more fun with Prewar right now - been under bidder on a couple of CJ Wagners as well - beautiful card. Happy collecting!

[cardsagain74]

Originally Posted by Nick55

I chose 9 cards for each year to fill one, 9-pocket page per year. I've "completed" 1958-1960, and 1968. Each 9 pocket page has a few HOF'ers, a checklist, team card, world series card, league leaders card, and/or other "insert" or "all star" card. I pick the cards with the goal providing a sample of cards that gives a good feel for the particular year.

That was very similar to one of my goals when I first got back into the hobby last year (having a small example of every year).

Apparently that didn't nearly take care of the collection building itch