Post-War Collecting Strategies

[markf31]

Since I got back into the hobby almost 5 years ago I have been a pre-war card/autograph/memorabilia collector. I have been thinking about starting into post-war collecting limited mostly to the 1950s and 1960s.

With my focus on the pre-war side, specific examples of cards that fit my collection goals might pop up once every couple weeks at the most, but more often than not I can go a couple months between specific acquisitions for a particular set, player, etc.

Given the relatively higher populations of 50s and 60s issues like Topps and Bowman, Berk Ross it seems a little overwhelming as most auctions, eBay listings and even BST listings here, I can find at least a handful of examples of a particular card I may be interested in at a given moment.

Anyone care to share some of your strategies for post-war collecting? Maybe focus on 1 specific set or player at a time? Do you look to upgrade condition often?

Maybe its just my collecting OCD that I find I like to have specific goals and strategies in place, and that I just need to jump in the deep end.

[ALR-bishop]

As a set collector who grew up with Topps cards, my first dilemma was whether to expand to other manufacturers. I eventually decided to do Bowman and Fleer as well. Next decision was whether to stick to base sets or do variations and packs. Next decision was whether to do insert and issued test sets. Next was whether to do unissued test sets. The last one will be a never completed project.

For a long time I managed to hold the prewar line, but finally started on the 1923 Fleer set because it was part of my Fleer "run"

OCD can take on many forms

[Peter_Spaeth]

Maybe not a great time to do it at least at the upper end, but I am focusing on RCs of HOFers, and have also bought a few Mantles. I only had the urge to build a set once and got over it pretty quickly.

Baseball cards from other countries, containing U.S. and U.S. Territory born players in H. O. F. in the U.S. and in other Countries.

Wally Yonamine born in Hawaii, and is in the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame

[pokerplyr80]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

Maybe not a great time to do it at least at the upper end, but I am focusing on RCs of HOFers, and have also bought a few Mantles. I only had the urge to build a set once and got over it pretty quickly.

This has been my strategy as well. I actually tried to build a set twice but didn't follow through. I am almost finished with a Mantle run though. Only three cards to go. I would say just start by adding a few cards here and there of your favorite players, or from your favorite set. Then decide if you want to put a run or whole set together.

Edit: I don't upgrade cards I already often but have a few times. If I see a nice card at a reasonable price I'm always open.

[DBesse27]

I highly recommend player collecting.

[bobsbbcards]

Originally Posted by DBesse27

I highly recommend player collecting.

Me too. Problem is, I couldn't decide which player to collect.

[ALR-bishop]

And because he can not decide which players to collect he collects them all. He is a closet set collector. Admit it Bob.

[Volod]

I admit to obsessively building sets back in the '80's, but after completing most of the Bowman and Topps issues of the early 50's, kind of lost interest in the hobby for about twenty years. In retirement, needed something to keep me off the streets, so hauled out the old stash, and realized that it contained small numbers of cards from sets never attempted, so, despite much higher per-card costs, decided to return to the obsessive-compulsive hoarding days of yesteryear, and have been feverishly working on completion of sets I never imagined I ever would want to finish. This third-childhood phase of my collecting is not nearly as gratifying as the second, which dealt only with cards actually remembered from the first, but at least it may keep me from being fitted for a straight jacket.

[Exhibitman]

I like to focus on the cards I wanted when I was a kid. I was an obsessive Aspergers collector so I had great depth of collecting knowledge even as a child. I've been getting the cards I coveted then. All four sports.

I also collect certain players. Al Rosen Sandy Koufax Hank Aaron.

I like oddball and regional stuff too. Keeps the collecting juices flowing.

I've never enjoyed set building. I am currently working only one set, the 1968 Atlantic Oil.

[bravos4evr]

When I collected before i was a set guy , a superstars of the present day guy and chasing all the fancy inserts...etc Now that I've gotten back into it, I have decided to focus on my favorite team (Braves) from their origins until their heyday of the mid/late 90's one card or lot at a time. I will still grab a rookie card of minor league prospects I think have promise, but trying to do it all is just too much.

Looking forward to digging into the pre-war era though. Already the ebay hunting has been fun as hell!