New here, Please help with Topps set

[doug.goodman]

No offense meant to any specific person, apologies to Nico for using his numbers :

$4 for the card and then $4.50 to some hack at a grading company to make up a number. Yep, that's why I collect cards.

Best regards,
Doug


PS - I'm 11 cards away from a master set with variations of Topps baseball 1948 thru 1981. All raw. My kitchen knife is prepped and ready, should one of the cards I need come graded.

[geor952]

No argument from me Doug, crack away. I don't pay for grades, but don't crack them either. I'm afraid I might ding up my kitchen knives. No, I really just enjoy the cards and understand the excitement that comes with getting graded cards. To each his own, as long as they enjoy the hobby!

[toppcat]

Originally Posted by doug.goodman

PS - I'm 11 cards away from a master set with variations of Topps baseball 1948 thru 1981. All raw. My kitchen knife is prepped and ready, should one of the cards I need come graded.

A) Very impressive Doug-what do you still need?

B) My philosophy on graded cards seems to match yours as I bust 'em out for my sets too. I will only buy graded pre-war on Ebay, but they mostly get cracked out (except for the E cards). Been burned too many times with trimmed raw pre-war cards on the 'bay. I'll take my chances with post war but pre war is a magnet for card doctors even in the lower grades I trade in.

[Leon]

Welcome aboard Net54baseball.com Niko. Always good to have more vintage collectors hanging out with us. I think over time you might mosey on back to Pre-War, but it sounds like you are enjoying '55s in 5-6 grade for now. Good luck in the quest and keep us updated. Also, if you ever have any questions about our board, or want to check a reference, you can PM or email me. take care

[doug.goodman]

Originally Posted by toppcat

A) Doug-what do you still need?

B) My philosophy on graded cards seems to match yours as I bust 'em out for my sets too. I will only buy graded pre-war on Ebay, but they mostly get cracked out (except for the E cards). Been burned too many times with trimmed raw pre-war cards on the 'bay. I'll take my chances with post war but pre war is a magnet for card doctors even in the lower grades I trade in.

Thanx, Dave.

From the 1952 Topps baseball set I need both Mantle variations, both Jackie variations, Campy, Joe Black, Mathews and that darned Campos black star (which I'm a bit leary of, but it seems to have a space in my binder) From the 1956 white backs I need Trucks, Killebrew & Willie Jones.

As for pre-war, I still haven't really gotten into cards of that era. I am however fascinated by large sized issues, so they keep me busy. Baseball magazine M113s & M114s, Police gazette supplements and pages, Harpers and Leslies woodcuts, Tip Top Weekly baseball covers, TSN M101-1, 2, 7, 8 & 9s, etc, etc.

One of the nice things about the larger sized issues is that many of them have eluded the grading companies so they are relatively inexpensive. Also, while I agree that "mint" tends to attract me more than ripped / dirty / creased etc, the issues are often so infrequently seen that after the chase, even catching a lesser quality specimen is lots of fun. They why we do it, right? Because it's fun.

Doug

[ALR-bishop]

Doug--you are one of the few people I know who intends to add both Mantles, Robinsons and, I assume Thompsons to your set. Even though the differences in the 3 are recognizable ( particularly in the Mantle which also has front differences), I assume any publication that actually adds a Mantle variation to the "master" set list will risk a lynching. I have a graded Mantle ( 8) , but my older, ungraded "variation" card is likely only a 2, maybe a 3 on a lucky day

[doug.goodman]

Originally Posted by ALR-bishop

Doug--you are one of the few people I know who intends to add both Mantles, Robinsons and, I assume Thompsons to your set. Even though the differences in the 3 are recognizable ( particularly in the Mantle which also has front differences), I assume any publication that actually adds a Mantle variation to the "master" set list will risk a lynching. I have a graded Mantle ( 8) , but my older, ungraded "variation" card is likely only a 2, maybe a 3 on a lucky day

Well, if you're going to play the "master" set game, you get stuck with the cards that exist.

It's not a "master" set if obvious variations are left out, not listing the Mantle variations don't change the cold, hard and EXPENSIVE facts.

There is a reason that I only have both variations of the cheap card. Insert smiley face here.

It would make my collecting a bit easier if the 1952 high number variations that I'm missing were of Walker and Wilson, instead of Mantle and Jackie, but I console myself with the knowledge that the 1953 back print variations don't include Mantle, Mays, Paige and Jackie.

Doug