What Card Runs are you Collecting?

NGS428

Obviously PSA has their defined sets we collect. Are there card runs which you collect that don’t mirror any of the PSA sets?

Maybe instead of the Topps base set a Bowman, Fleer or Upper Deck Base set? How about any creative parallel sets which don’t mirror a PSA defined set? All star only cards?

I am looking for something new and want to see what ideas this great community has!

As always, thanks!

LarkinCollector

For my Larkin Master set, I'm tackling it from some different directions since it's getting rare to find cards on eBay that I don't already have and are priced reasonably. Current focus is two-pronged, completing the remainder of all 86-90 issues (all the Star sets are making this a beast) & Bowman Master (since I had them sorted in binders by brand and Bowman was the first major one).

Some interesting golf runs I'm working on:

• Auto'd index cards of the 13 LPGA Founders (https://www.liveabout.com/lpga-founders-the-women-who-created-the-lpga-1565961)
• Michael Jordan cards that show him golfing (90 Skybox #41, 94 CC #204 w/all the foreign/signature variations, lots of unlicensed, not to mention all the cards in the UD golf sets)

• All the SIFK golfers + the 'other' Babe in PSA 8 or better, currently just over 100 available.
  ETA:

• pre-2001 Tiger Woods + select oddballs that catch my eye

swish54

Being a Cubs fan, I'm going after a run of Ernie Banks playing days cards '54-'71. Have about 70% of them so far. Also, halfway trying for a run of Nolan Ryan up until '80. Got a good deal on his rookie a number of years ago so decided since I had the most expensive one out of the way why not! I'm taking my time on both runs, just picking them up here and there when there's a good deal to be had.

DBesse27

My 1974 Topps Red Sox team set doesn’t fit on the registry because it’s a mix of signed and unsigned. The goal is to get a lot of them signed, but not all. For instance, I don’t like a multi-player card that’s only signed by one guy, but on the other hand I definitely don’t care enough about the Dick Pole RC to get 4 guys to sign it. Don’t collect signed team photo cards either. I am collecting the whole team set in PSA slabs, but the registry folks said my team set had to be ALL signed, or NONE signed. Doesn’t work for me, so I created this showcase:

https://www.psacard.com/psasetregistry/showcase/teams/dan-bs-74-topps-red-sox/2971

erikthredd

My main Jordan run that I've been slowly chipping away at is collecting every 5x7 Nike Poster Card of his from 1983-1991. The tough part is there is no accurate checklist for these so after many hours over the past couple years I've managed to find images of 29 different MJ poster cards. I currently have 16 of the 29 and some of the ones I haven't found yet very rarely show up on ebay.
I've also been working on Jordan's Kenner Starting Lineup run in PSA 8 or better,I'm about 3/4ths of the way done that one.

@LarkinCollector said:

• Michael Jordan cards that show him golfing (90 Skybox #41, 94 CC #204 w/all the foreign/signature variations, lots of unlicensed, not to mention all the cards in the UD golf sets)

He's got a 1989 Kos Yugoslavia #129 sticker with him golfing on it in case you haven't seen or heard about it. I have his 8 stickers from that set but they're unfortunately album cuts because the unpeeled copies rarely show up for sale. If you haven't seen it I can post a pic for you.

LarkinCollector

@erikthredd said:
If you haven't seen it I can post a pic for you.

I'd love to see a pic, that one wasn't even on my radar.

Estil

Well I've always been into doing runs of sets, like 1974-2014 Topps baseball (yes I know it needs updating), Topps football (1980-2000), Donruss (1981-98), Fleer (1981-95), and many others. But those are the kind of things you can reasonably do in PSA (I do have the top several 1970s cards in my sets as PSA 7 to ensure against trimmed/compromised cards)...that's okay it's much more fun to look through them in albums (binder/pages) anyway.

I would say the rarest of all my set runs would have to be my 1995-2001 Ultra Gold Medallion sets and YES all the SP's are included. And yes for 1995 I also have all the GM insert sets except for the ones I'm missing listed on my sig. Now that would sure be one heck of a master set to own (for that year the GM's are 10x rarer than the regular cards), now wouldn't it?

lahmejoon

In addition to trying to finish the 1994 Proline autograph set, the oddball thing I'm working on completing is a complete run of Wild Card stripes from the 1991 draft set. I have the Favre 5, 10, and 20 stripes, but am afraid the remaining ones may be cost prohibitive. I'm only 8 cards short of the 1000 stripe set. Actually, 9 cards if you count the three redemption cards - I have 2 of the 3.

Estil

Oh yes that was a really really big deal back in its day, the Wild Card stripes set, right? I don't know what people did back in those pre-Internet/Ebay days to try to get anywhere close to finishing the 1000 (or even 100?) stripe set though...

erikthredd

@LarkinCollector said:

@erikthredd said:
If you haven't seen it I can post a pic for you.

I'd love to see a pic, that one wasn't even on my radar.

Here's that #129 and then a pic of all of them. From what I've seen from these that I own and the very few that end up on ebay is the centering is horrible.

Stone193

I never tire of reading what people are collecting.

I just picked up another 52T card - will never get the lo series done - but it's fun to work on it.

PROMETHIUS88

Besides 62 Jell-O and a raw, NM or better 1961 Topps set, I'm buying all the 1962 Topps Bob Uecker rookies I can find at a good deal. So, I guess I have a Uecker run of all mixed grades. Sitting on about 20 of them right now. Might stop at 50?!?!?

1951WheatiesPremium

One of my ongoing self created, PSA abated sets is to get the true rookie card for the Yankees who have had their number retired. I have repeatedly tried to work PSAs Set for this while also injecting reason. So for Phil Rizzuto, for example, I have the 48 Bowman but also:

So it’s sort of PSAs Set and a ‘first card’ type set.

And I hope to complete both, honestly.

lahmejoon

@Estil said:
Oh yes that was a really really big deal back in its day, the Wild Card stripes set, right? I don't know what people did back in those pre-Internet/Ebay days to try to get anywhere close to finishing the 1000 (or even 100?) stripe set though...

Yup, the stripes sets. It would have been impossible to complete those sets back in the day. Plus, the story goes that many of the larger stripes escaped out the back door when the company went belly up, which is why they are a bit easier to come by.

ahopkins

@PROMETHIUS88 said:
I'm buying all the 1962 Topps Bob Uecker rookies I can find at a good deal. So, I guess I have a Uecker run of all mixed grades. Sitting on about 20 of them right now.

Get 'em together and take a pic. Post it here. I'd love to see the collection. Really cool.

msubearfan

Currently working on 85,87, and 91 Topps Tiffany complete sets preferably all 9s or better. I don’t know why I’m working on this. I collected these base Topps cards when I was young and had never seen or even heard of the Tiffany sets until I got back into collecting a couple years ago and I’ve gone crazy buying sets ever since. I think 85 will be impossible to complete in 9 or better because I just can’t find a copy of certain cards that don’t have a very light thin line going across them. Would also like to do 1990 as that was my favorite design from my youth, but those sets have some major centering issues in certain sections.

doubledragon

I'm working on the Joe Louis set. I have got a lot of them, but he has a lot of rare cards that are just impossible to track down. I got a better chance of convincing Warren Buffett to transfer all of his money into my bank account.

lawnmowerman

Emmitt Smith PSA graded
Troy Aikman PSA graded
Michael Irvin PSA graded
History of the Dallas Cowboys Running Back position PSA graded
Dallas Cowboys Offensive Linemen PSA graded
1976 Topps New York Mets PSA graded (just started)
1994 Pro Line Live Autographs (manufacturer & ttm) self slabbed

PROMETHIUS88

@lawnmowerman said:
Emmitt Smith PSA graded
Troy Aikman PSA graded
Michael Irvin PSA graded
History of the Dallas Cowboys Running Back position PSA graded
Dallas Cowboys Offensive Linemen PSA graded
1976 Topps New York Mets PSA graded (just started)
1994 Pro Line Live Autographs (manufacturer & ttm) self slabbed

T's and P's brother!

NGS428

@swish54 said:
Being a Cubs fan, I'm going after a run of Ernie Banks playing days cards '54-'71. Have about 70% of them so far. Also, halfway trying for a run of Nolan Ryan up until '80. Got a good deal on his rookie a number of years ago so decided since I had the most expensive one out of the way why not! I'm taking my time on both runs, just picking them up here and there when there's a good deal to be had.

I am a brewers fan, but I will still give you a thumbs up. Good luck on the Ryan cards. Heck of a player.

NGS428

@DBesse27 said:
My 1974 Topps Red Sox team set doesn’t fit on the registry because it’s a mix of signed and unsigned. The goal is to get a lot of them signed, but not all. For instance, I don’t like a multi-player card that’s only signed by one guy, but on the other hand I definitely don’t care enough about the Dick Pole RC to get 4 guys to sign it. Don’t collect signed team photo cards either. I am collecting the whole team set in PSA slabs, but the registry folks said my team set had to be ALL signed, or NONE signed. Doesn’t work for me, so I created this showcase:

https://www.psacard.com/psasetregistry/showcase/teams/dan-bs-74-topps-red-sox/2971

Nice Cooper in that showcase!

NGS428

@Estil said:
Well I've always been into doing runs of sets, like 1974-2014 Topps baseball (yes I know it needs updating), Topps football (1980-2000), Donruss (1981-98), Fleer (1981-95), and many others. But those are the kind of things you can reasonably do in PSA (I do have the top several 1970s cards in my sets as PSA 7 to ensure against trimmed/compromised cards)...that's okay it's much more fun to look through them in albums (binder/pages) anyway.

I would say the rarest of all my set runs would have to be my 1995-2001 Ultra Gold Medallion sets and YES all the SP's are included. And yes for 1995 I also have all the GM insert sets except for the ones I'm missing listed on my sig. Now that would sure be one heck of a master set to own (for that year the GM's are 10x rarer than the regular cards), now wouldn't it?

Those GM are a tough find! Best of luck with that!

NGS428

@PROMETHIUS88 said:
Besides 62 Jell-O and a raw, NM or better 1961 Topps set, I'm buying all the 1962 Topps Bob Uecker rookies I can find at a good deal. So, I guess I have a Uecker run of all mixed grades. Sitting on about 20 of them right now. Might stop at 50?!?!?

In Milwaukee we love our Uecker, Usinger sausage and Miller Lite of course. Nice choice!

NGS428

@1951WheatiesPremium said:
One of my ongoing self created, PSA abated sets is to get the true rookie card for the Yankees who have had their number retired. I have repeatedly tried to work PSAs Set for this while also injecting reason. So for Phil Rizzuto, for example, I have the 48 Bowman but also:

So it’s sort of PSAs Set and a ‘first card’ type set.

And I hope to complete both, honestly.

Type sets are one thing I wish PSA would create on the card side. They are very big on the PCGS coin side. Variety is the spice of life!

NGS428

@lawnmowerman said:
Emmitt Smith PSA graded
Troy Aikman PSA graded
Michael Irvin PSA graded
History of the Dallas Cowboys Running Back position PSA graded
Dallas Cowboys Offensive Linemen PSA graded
1976 Topps New York Mets PSA graded (just started)
1994 Pro Line Live Autographs (manufacturer & ttm) self slabbed

I had a feeling you collected Emmitt
I have seen some real gems from you.

Good luck on the 76’ Mets!

stwainfan

1987 Fleer Michael Jordan.

PROMETHIUS88

@NGS428 said:

@PROMETHIUS88 said:
Besides 62 Jell-O and a raw, NM or better 1961 Topps set, I'm buying all the 1962 Topps Bob Uecker rookies I can find at a good deal. So, I guess I have a Uecker run of all mixed grades. Sitting on about 20 of them right now. Might stop at 50?!?!?

In Milwaukee we love our Uecker, Usinger sausage and Miller Lite of course. Nice choice!

Ueck was such an icon as I was growing up in the 70's and 80's. I would love to get a chance to meet him or at the very least get an auto on his rookie card in person. I have a PSA/DNA rookie(that is ugly), but it's just not the same. I hear he doesn't do many public signings and even sending cards to Miller Park doesn't work much anymore. I know he's getting up there in age, but he still looks like he is in really good shape. Baseball will lose a true legend when he is gone.

Estil

@NGS428 said:

@Estil said:

Those GM are a tough find! Best of luck with that!

Boy I'll say! I'd like to maybe get the regular sets to go with them...and for whatever reason the 1996-99 ones hardly ever show up.

JakeR2234

Payton on top/bottom cello packs

ahopkins

Several player runs in Topps (moderately high grade and heavy on centering): Ryan, Bench, Rose, Yaz.

Two player runs in OPC only (high grade and emphasis on centering): Bobby Clarke, Gretzky

One player run in PSA 10 only: Mike Greenwell. This one may take a lifetime. I'm okay with that. I'm not in a rush. I still remember checking newspaper sports sections when I was 11, 12, 13 for Greenwell's stats the night before, marveling at his ability to go 2-4 or 3-5 virtually every night. I'm lucky thus far to be the owner of the only PSA 10 of his 1985 TCMA Red Sox minor league card.

Anticipated player runs in not-too-distant future: Schmidt, Koufax, Ashburn, Brett. I already have a good start on these.

Two runs I've always thought about doing but haven't committed to: MVPs, CYs, and ROYs for the years the players won them. Also, I want to do a Phillies team card run, which spans like 1955 to 1981.

tulsaboy

I am trying for a different type of run, one of unopened. I am trying to obtain an example of each of the different ways that 1986 Topps was distributed at retail. So a pack, box, and case each of wax, cello, jumbo cello, rack, grocery rack. For the rack, that includes both the 3 box and the 6 box. So far, I have the pack and box of every type, plus the case of wax and 3 box rack. I only lack the case of cello, jumbo cello, and grocery to be complete! If I can do this for 1986, I will probably try for another year just for fun.
kevin

krisd3279

All the graded sets I'm working on are pretty standard.

Besides these I'm working on 71T in raw. I need 16 more cards for that, but there are about 20 that need upgrades due to creases or other serious condition issues. I'll probably be upgrading for centering for the rest of my life.
I'm also working on a run of Topps base sets from 1979 to current. Still a lot to go there.
1979-1995 complete
1996 series 2 complete
1998 complete
2000 series 1 complete
2007 complete
2016-2018 base sets complete, most inserts done with a few exceptions
I need to update my profile pic. There are a lot more binders and a lot less empty shelves now.

AFLfan

I've got a handful of different football sets that I collect. Some are company sets, others are self-curated, and all are in autographed form:

1960s AFL Company Sets
1968 Topps Test Teams (AFL teams only) signed by a HOF
1964 Topps team cards (as many different ones as I can acquire)
AFL All-Time First & Second Team
AFL's 10-Year Players
1961 Golden Tulip Chargers
1969 Tresler Comet Bengals

I am also collecting lacrosse cards at a rapid rate. I am kind of running the full gamut there, with single cards from various sets, company sets, and team/league issued sets. I am still digging around to learn what all has been produced over the years, so it is a learn-and-locate process.

NGS428

@AFLfan said:
I've got a handful of different football sets that I collect. Some are company sets, others are self-curated, and all are in autographed form:

1960s AFL Company Sets
1968 Topps Test Teams (AFL teams only) signed by a HOF
1964 Topps team cards (as many different ones as I can acquire)
AFL All-Time First & Second Team
AFL's 10-Year Players
1961 Golden Tulip Chargers
1969 Tresler Comet Bengals

I am also collecting lacrosse cards at a rapid rate. I am kind of running the full gamut there, with single cards from various sets, company sets, and team/league issued sets. I am still digging around to learn what all has been produced over the years, so it is a learn-and-locate process.

Todd, Lacrosse cards, huh... Guess I have never even considered that they have cards for Lacrosse. Quick google search, sure enough..

Packerjohn

@JakeR2234 said:
Payton on top/bottom cello packs

Have you got 1985 Topps cello? I can help

JakeR2234

@Packerjohn said:

@JakeR2234 said:
Payton on top/bottom cello packs

Have you got 1985 Topps cello? I can help

PM Sent

sayheywyo

As a sub-set I'm sort of working on Rookie cards of the starters and significant players from the undefeated 1972 Miami Dolphins. Some cards like Wayne Moore and Curtis Johnson weren't issued until 1977 and others such as Bob Heinz or Mike Kolen may not even have a card. Haven't pursued this in a while but this op made me think about it again and I thought I'd share...….

Kid4hof03

I've got a lot I'm working on. I'm currently finishing up a PSA 1-8 run of Roger Staubach rookies. I've got a few more cards I need for the Staubach PSA Master Set Registry, I also collect rack and cello packs with Staubach showing on top. I also collect any 1979 packs rack, cello, super cello or wax that have a Dallas Cowboy showing on top, this is a fairly new venture so I don't have a ton yet. I've been collecting ungraded cards of Curtis Martin and Bernie Williams for years, I try to get everything from their playing careers. I'm at about 70% for Martin and 75% for Bernie. I've got a bunch of other stuff I dabble in, but those are the things that get the majority of my hobby time and budget.

JakeR2234

@Kid4hof03 said:
I've got a lot I'm working on. I'm currently finishing up a PSA 1-8 run of Roger Staubach rookies. I've got a few more cards I need for the Staubach PSA Master Set Registry, I also collect rack and cello packs with Staubach showing on top. I also collect any 1979 packs rack, cello, super cello or wax that have a Dallas Cowboy showing on top, this is a fairly new venture so I don't have a ton yet. I've been collecting ungraded cards of Curtis Martin and Bernie Williams for years, I try to get everything from their playing careers. I'm at about 70% for Martin and 75% for Bernie. I've got a bunch of other stuff I dabble in, but those are the things that get the majority of my hobby time and budget.

I had a Payton RC PSA 1-8 run for a while, but recently sold off 1-6 to fund some Payton Cellos. We think alike!

Kid4hof03

@JakeR2234 said:

@Kid4hof03 said:
I've got a lot I'm working on. I'm currently finishing up a PSA 1-8 run of Roger Staubach rookies. I've got a few more cards I need for the Staubach PSA Master Set Registry, I also collect rack and cello packs with Staubach showing on top. I also collect any 1979 packs rack, cello, super cello or wax that have a Dallas Cowboy showing on top, this is a fairly new venture so I don't have a ton yet. I've been collecting ungraded cards of Curtis Martin and Bernie Williams for years, I try to get everything from their playing careers. I'm at about 70% for Martin and 75% for Bernie. I've got a bunch of other stuff I dabble in, but those are the things that get the majority of my hobby time and budget.

I had a Payton RC PSA 1-8 run for a while, but recently sold off 1-6 to fund some Payton Cellos. We think alike!

I would do the same thing if I came across a Staubach pack I needed to fund. I really like the run and who can have too many Staubach rookies? But if it came down to selling the lower grade ones that can be replaced any time to buy a pack that rarely comes up, I'd be right there with you.

I've toyed with the idea of grabbing some Payton packs, he has some of my favorite cards of all time, especially 1979 and 80.

JakeR2234

@Kid4hof03 said:

I would do the same thing if I came across a Staubach pack I needed to fund. I really like the run and who can have too many Staubach rookies? But if it came down to selling the lower grade ones that can be replaced any time to buy a pack that rarely comes up, I'd be right there with you.

I've toyed with the idea of grabbing some Payton packs, he has some of my favorite cards of all time, especially 1979 and 80.

'78 and '79 are alluding me... and '77 I believe he can only be found on bottom. I got funds ready if either one pops up. Your Staubach run of cellos is awesome. Great looking packs.

VoteDizzy

I'm working on a history of Seattle hockey. Especially anybody who also played in the NHL.

Kid4hof03

@JakeR2234 said:

@Kid4hof03 said:

I would do the same thing if I came across a Staubach pack I needed to fund. I really like the run and who can have too many Staubach rookies? But if it came down to selling the lower grade ones that can be replaced any time to buy a pack that rarely comes up, I'd be right there with you.

I've toyed with the idea of grabbing some Payton packs, he has some of my favorite cards of all time, especially 1979 and 80.

'78 and '79 are alluding me... and '77 I believe he can only be found on bottom. I got funds ready if either one pops up. Your Staubach run of cellos is awesome. Great looking packs.

Thanks, I've got a long way to go and I don't know that I will ever be able to afford the 1972 if it ever comes up, but I'm OK with that.

BaltimoreYankee

I just recently completed a run of regular issue Topps Hank Aaron cards (1954-1976). Once I finished the 1954 and '55 Topps sets, I realized I had most of his cards so I filled in the blanks.

NGS428

@BaltimoreYankee said:
I just recently completed a run of regular issue Topps Hank Aaron cards (1954-1976). Once I finished the 1954 and '55 Topps sets, I realized I had most of his cards so I filled in the blanks.

Impressive! Do you have any scans of them?

vintagefun

Dodgers ROY RCs is my latest.

Only need a few. All Modern. Guys like Nomo, Hollandsworth and Mondesi. Just trying to decide which to get since most of the early ROYs are all either Bowman or Topps I’m trying to stay in that realm, but it’s also during an era with a lot of options.

PROMETHIUS88

@ahopkins said:

@PROMETHIUS88 said:
I'm buying all the 1962 Topps Bob Uecker rookies I can find at a good deal. So, I guess I have a Uecker run of all mixed grades. Sitting on about 20 of them right now.

Get 'em together and take a pic. Post it here. I'd love to see the collection. Really cool.

The last one pictured, raw, is a blank back proof that was a fairly recent pickup. I need to get it holdered. I have 2 more at PSA right now and one in my raw set. I guess that puts me at 18.....for now.

DBesse27

Amazing!

NGS428

@PROMETHIUS88 said:

@ahopkins said:

@PROMETHIUS88 said:
I'm buying all the 1962 Topps Bob Uecker rookies I can find at a good deal. So, I guess I have a Uecker run of all mixed grades. Sitting on about 20 of them right now.

Get 'em together and take a pic. Post it here. I'd love to see the collection. Really cool.

The last one pictured, raw, is a blank back proof that was a fairly recent pickup. I need to get it holdered. I have 2 more at PSA right now and one in my raw set. I guess that puts me at 18.....for now.

Be careful, you are tempting me to do the same thing with the 89 UD Griffey...

ahopkins

@PROMETHIUS88 Awesome stuff, Tim. I've often thought about doing this with certain players. I kinda see Uecker in Milwaukee as Ashburn in Philly.

DBesse27

@ahopkins said:
@PROMETHIUS88 Awesome stuff, Tim. I've often thought about doing this with certain players. I kinda see Uecker in Milwaukee as Ashburn in Philly.

Or Schoendienst in StL or Pesky in Boston.