How many team set collectors are out there?

[BaltOrioles]

I'm a Baltimore Orioles collector from 1954 to present. I've put together most of the team sets, along with many oddball issues, but collect more than just cards.

I really enjoy the Orioles team issued player postcards, team issued 8x10 photos, and programs (regular season, post season, spring training and exhibition games).

My current passion are programs/scorecards from all the Orioles minor league affiliates from 1954-2021. About 90% complete, but some really obscure 1950's programs still to find.

[tschock]

Mostly a set collector here, and it depends whether that is with or without variations. However I also have a few players I collect as well as more of an 'open ended' pursuit on pre-war cards.

I like the Heritage cards, but after the first year of Heritage I wasn't about to pursue a bunch of intentionally short printed cards to complete a set. So I resigned myself to collecting just the Giants cards for each year, which might have just a couple of SPs (to complete the 'base' team set), picking up any parallel or variations whenever without really 'pursuing' them (my 'open ended' approach). Doing a team set for the Heritage cards gives me a flavor of the product without the financial impact, which I can then use to focus more on vintage.

[frankhardy]

I just looked over my original post and it included my want list from back then. I have made some great progress as many of the want list has been filled. I certainly still need some of the more rare cards.

Here is what I have picked up since then from that list.

1955 Topps Hocus Focus - Wally Moon (maybe it wasn't impossible after all)

1967 Topps Discs - Orlando Cepeda

1968 Topps Plaks - Orlando Cepeda

1969 Topps 4-in-1 Stickers - Steve Huntz & Mike Torrez Rookie Stars (with Carl Yastrzemski)

1970 Topps Candy Lids - Richie Allen

1972 Topps Candy Lids - Lou Brock, Bob Gibson

1973 Topps Comics - Joe Torre

1990 Topps Folders / Sport Shots / Portfolio / Duo-Tang Pedro Guerrero

1997 Topps ProShooters Marbles Ron Gant

2001 Topps Retrofractors 146 Fernando Tatis

1967 Fleer Logo Emblems & Cloth Patches (tallboys; test) - Cardinals Logo Emblem (1966 w/l record; save all 19 cards), Cardinals Cloth Patch, Cardinals Trio Cloth Patch

1968-70 Fleer Cloth Patches - Cardinals (orange; blue bordered logo)

1969 Fleer Pennants & Stamps - Cardinals

1970 Fleer Iron Ons - Cardinals

1970 Fleer Team Logo Decals - Cardinals

1973 Fleer Team Logo Decals - Cardinals

1976 Fleer Iron Ons - Cardinals

That's been my progress since 2013, plus keeping up to date with modern (variations and SP's)

[homerunderby]

Yankees collector here, I collect any Yankees (including minor league affiliates) any era, and any set. Have over 51,000 different. Topps team sets back through 1964 (plus 1962) and loads of weird stuff including Yankees cards from 7 countries.

[frankhardy]

Originally Posted by homerunderby

Yankees collector here, I collect any Yankees (including minor league affiliates) any era, and any set. Have over 51,000 different. Topps team sets back through 1964 (plus 1962) and loads of weird stuff including Yankees cards from 7 countries.

Why don't you collect all the way back to 1952 Topps?

[homerunderby]

Originally Posted by frankhardy

Why don't you collect all the way back to 1952 Topps?

I do, and even before...it's just what fits my budget. An EX 1952 Don Bollweg yes, an EX (or even P) 1951 Bowman Mantle not so much. For what its worth I've got Yankees cards that are harder to find than the Mantle rookies. All you need is money to buy Mantle rookies, I've got some that you just can't find that book 50 cents.

[frankhardy]

Originally Posted by homerunderby

I do, and even before...it's just what fits my budget. An EX 1952 Don Bollweg yes, an EX (or even P) 1951 Bowman Mantle not so much. For what its worth I've got Yankees cards that are harder to find than the Mantle rookies. All you need is money to buy Mantle rookies, I've got some that you just can't find that book 50 cents.

Just kidding. I understand what you mean. I remember searching for seven or eight years for a Cardinals card that was literally worth $3.