Name your collection

mintacular · #1 02-22-2011, 08:22 AM

I've sort of moved away from set building for the most part, why spend big $ on commons/high #'s just to finish a set?

So besides a few sets that I do want to complete and upgrade ('57, 60, 71) I am focused on picking up classic cards, HOFers, and rookies. I'm also picking up cards that I just "like" for whatever reason, usually having to do with the pose/action/color combined with the design. I'm also wanting to pick up a few mid-grade 50s Mantles.

So in summary, I am picking up a few cards from each base set mostly Topps and Bowman that I like 1952-75. Also, have been working on a couple T206/T205 Team Sets of Cubs/Pirates, not to mention upgrading my Clemente master set. Good luck.

Jmad · #2 02-22-2011, 08:37 AM

You guys have some incredible collections!!! I look forward to being one of you someday answering a thread in the same manner!

ChiefBenderForever · #3 02-22-2011, 09:09 AM

League Leaders are a great idea, always great players on the card ! I love to look at the backs and see how many people just missed being on the front of the card, usually many by just a fraction of a point or two and you see how many years the superstars just barely were at the top and sometimes just missed it, and then you have the surprise year by some unknown who had one great year and you never know what happened to them again. Can't go wrong with the All-Star cards. Team cards are also really cool, especially if you have a few favorite teams, or just get as many as you can. Another project could be getting the first and last card of each set, although some will be tough and more expensive especially in the 50's !

Jmad · #4 02-22-2011, 11:09 AM

Anyone with an idea of when the LL and team cards started and more importantly ended (if they have)?? Sorry, I don't have a guide with me at the moment.

Another intriguing set may be the '59 Fleer Williams. Those are some great looking cards IMO and seem like they can be had fairly reasonably

David Bender · #5 02-22-2011, 12:29 PM

I'm a player collector (see sig) and focusing now on oddball items contemporary to their careers. Agree with the above - I'd rather collect something I can't find, rather than something I can't afford.

ChiefBenderForever · #6 02-22-2011, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jmad

Anyone with an idea of when the LL and team cards started and more importantly ended (if they have)?? Sorry, I don't have a guide with me at the moment.

Another intriguing set may be the '59 Fleer Williams. Those are some great looking cards IMO and seem like they can be had fairly reasonably

Well I know they had league leaders in 1961 and up so maybe that was the first year. And yes 59 Fleer Ted Williams is classic, I wish the prices were what they are now when I put my set together, one of the coolest sets ever made, more like a comic book and great time to buy them is right now !!

Jmad · #7 02-22-2011, 01:14 PM

I think that may be the way to go- 59 Fleer Williams set it is. Crazy how exciting this is!!

scmavl · #8 02-22-2011, 01:16 PM

My longest running collection has been getting one signed Topps from each year (52-modern) of a HOFer. '52 of Ashburn, '53 of Spahn, '54 of Ford, etc... I've got maybe 25 or so, on up to more modern ones like an '83 Ripken. But the whole auto/forgery industry is getting so nasty, I've kind of lost heart.

Now, I'm just trying to get a nice card from most of the "legends" from the Ruth era on up. So far, I've got Ruth, Gehrig, DiMaggio, Mantle... wait, am I done?

I am also grabbing RCs from recent HOFers or likely HOFers while they're still "cheap". Pujols, Blyleven, Glavine, Raines, etc.

I also collect Harmon Killebrew, mainly because he is such a decent person. Musial too.

Jmad · #9 02-22-2011, 01:45 PM

Jarrod- picking up RC's of future HOF'ers is a direction I am going as well. Half the fun in that is going to be finding out if we were right or wrong in our guessing game!

bsuttonosu · #10 02-23-2011, 09:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnnyHarmonica

Well I know they had league leaders in 1961 and up so maybe that was the first year.

I've been collecting the Topps League Leader cards for awhile. Almost have the whole run. I highly recommend this as a collection. It's a relatively inexpensive way to get a ton of great players and to learn about guys you never realized had such great statistical seasons. '61 was the first year and I consider the master set to run through 1984. Topps ran a LL series every year for those 24 years. After that they didn't do it on a regular basis or didn't do it in the base product.

Obviously these aren't difficult cards to find so I try to keep the hunt fun and I'm in no hurry. I don't buy these on-line, only at shows. There are always plenty around so it gives me something to look for and talk about when I'm at a show.

My other major collection is a George Brett master set (from his playing years only). This one will keep me busy forever. Some of the oddball cards are tough to find. I have about 350 of the 700 unique cards that I've been able to identify. And yet I constantly come across new cards I didn't know about and aren't catalogued.

Jmad · #11 02-23-2011, 10:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bsuttonosu

I've been collecting the Topps League Leader cards for awhile. Almost have the whole run. I highly recommend this as a collection. It's a relatively inexpensive way to get a ton of great players and to learn about guys you never realized had such great statistical seasons. '61 was the first year and I consider the master set to run through 1984. Topps ran a LL series every year for those 24 years. After that they didn't do it on a regular basis or didn't do it in the base product.

Obviously these aren't difficult cards to find so I try to keep the hunt fun and I'm in no hurry. I don't buy these on-line, only at shows. There are always plenty around so it gives me something to look for and talk about when I'm at a show.

My other major collection is a George Brett master set (from his playing years only). This one will keep me busy forever. Some of the oddball cards are tough to find. I have about 350 of the 700 unique cards that I've been able to identify. And yet I constantly come across new cards I didn't know about and aren't catalogued.

Great info on the LL set. I like knowing there is a beginning and end as it relates to continous production. I'm just not a fan of the new cards and want to stay away with the exception of a few RC's.

ls7plus · #12 02-24-2011, 01:26 AM

I think Exhibitman is right on concerning his comment of looking for rare and/or unusual items (and add significant, in the best grade you can afford) before they rise in notoriety and price. The first sale of the quite rare 1914 Baltimore News Babe Ruth minor league schedule card I am personally aware of was the 1989 Copeland auction, in which it brought $6,000.00. Try to get your hands on one now for less than $200,000.00! And the Copeland example may or may not have been the higher grade one (VG-EX?) which later fetched $500,000.00 in what I believe was a REA auction several years ago. If so, that's an appreciation of over 20% compounded annually.
John Jay Pittman followed essentially the same approach (with an emphasis on esoteric items of true rarity) in coins in the mid to late 40's through the mid-fifties, reportedly spending approximately $100,000 or so total during that time period. His collection was auctioned off in the '90's following his death for over $25,000,000.00, and he wasn't especially rich when he was collecting (he was an employee of Eastman-Kodak for many years, but apparently not a really high level exec).
Plus, it's quite satisfying to find a very scarce to quite rare item you've been seeking for years!
Happy hunting!

Larry

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