Could you help me Vargha?

Wayne8348

David,

I joined the forum about a year ago and I was just curious how you managed to complete your 51 Bowman set, where you bought most of your cards, and how long it took you? It's amazing the collection you put together and I would be really interested in hearing the story if you don't mind sharing it. One other thing - any anticipated start date on your next set? Still thinking about 48 leaf? Thanks in advance.

Wayne

Vargha

Wayne -- Right now I'm probably laying low for a year or two until I get a better grasp of what my overall financial direction is and until I can get (in my own mind) a better handle on the card market.

I got back into collecting about four years ago when a friend turned me on to eBay. He was collecting die-cast tractors of all things. I began buying ungraded vintage cards of Hall of Famers. After purchasing a few altered cards, I decided that I would try the graded route. Being unfamiliar with who was who, I bought many CSA and SGC cards in the mistaken belief that they were equivalent to PSA (which I thought was both elitist and overpriced at the time). Having bought large ungraded lots of 1939 Play Ball, 1949 Bowman and 1951 Bowman cards, I decided to try to complete and update them in PSA 7 or better condition.

The funny thing is, when I first started collecting, EX seemed sufficient to me. Eventually it was "upgraded" to EX/MT, NM and finally NM/MT as the minimum standard. As the realization that I couldn't collect everything in the condition I wanted dawned upon me, I began to sell off my sets in order to pursue higher grade material in my remaining sets. Eventually, my Play Ball set (missing only 5 high number commons) in all PSA 7 and PSA 8 as well as 30+ letter variation cards and about 80 of the "Sample" back cards was sold. Next to go were my 1949 Bowman, complete with variations, and 1949 Bowman PCL sets (I won thePCL set on MastroNet). I was only left with the 1951 Bowman set.

I had originally completed it (minus maybe 5 or 6 cards) in all PSA 7+ condition. I then began upgrading to PSA 8's, actively pursuing PSA 9's in the last year or so. All told, the collection that I amassed (on the All Time list) took only about two and a half years to complete. It was extremely time-consuming, searching eBay several times a day as well as regularly combing Dealer sites and getting on their mailing lists. The people I bought from were many. I apologize for leaving anyone out in advance. the single biggest contributor was Criag Roehrig, who probably sold me 70+ cards in that set, including the Mickey Mantle and Whitey Ford rookie PSA 8's. Chris Porter at Superior was instrumental in getting me the last half dozen upgrades. Others included Jay at Quality Cards, Mile HighCard, WIWAG and Sportcards Plus. JP Cohen was great in fulfilling my wantlist (although he is no longer in the business). Andy Madec helped too, as well as board members Marc Schoenen (Preacher Roe PSA 8) and Jim Crandel (Several PSA 9's). I also won cards from Teletrade and Superior auctions. There are many more that I know I am leaving out

I diligently tracked prices for PSA 7+ for the entire time as well as how often they were coming up for sale so I could know how to bid effectively without getting caught up in the frenzy of the moment. The POP Report (once I found out it existed) was instrumental in helping me be aggressive where I need to while backing off on cards that were more plentiful.

I found everyone to be most helpful and was pleased to sell many of the cards to people on this board as well as former set building competitors on eBay. The funny thing is, I look back and am amazed that I, a relative "nobody" in the collecting world, was able to assemble such a fine set as I did. I could not have done it without the gracious help of dozens of people, many of which I have never met. Thanks to PSA and the Set Registry, it is memorialized along with the 200+ jpegs I uploaded. I hope people can get a fraction of the enjoyment I have gotten from building the set.

Thanks for asking. If you or anyone else have any other questions, please feel free to ask me here or via e-mail.

Davalillo

Good story David,

David is one of the best guys on the boards. Not many guys would sell you nearly $20,000 worth of cards and say it was okay to pay in 4 plus months when bonus time comes...but David did.
David is kind enough to cite me in selling him some psa 9s to help him with his set but obviously at the time I thought I was getting a big price or I wouldn't have done it. David, you probably sold them to John or Charlie at a premium to what you paid--is this right?

Davalillo(Jim)

Wayne8348

Thanks David,

I had always wondered how you put together such an awesome set without having the far reaching collecting contacts of folks like Merkel and Fogel. I appreciate you sharing the story. I think its great how you prioritized and focused on one main set. Many times I tend to spread myself out too much and don't get anything accomplished. Thanks again,

Wayne

uniship

This goes down as a damn good post. Thanks Vargha, and oh by the way, your signature images are classic.

brucemo

<< <i>After purchasing a few altered cards, I decided that I would try the graded route. Being unfamiliar with who was who, I bought many CSA and SGC cards in the mistaken belief that they were equivalent to PSA (which I thought was both elitist and overpriced at the time). Having bought large ungraded lots of 1939 Play Ball, 1949 Bowman and 1951 Bowman cards, I decided to try to complete and update them in PSA 7 or better condition.

The funny thing is, when I first started collecting, EX seemed sufficient to me. Eventually it was "upgraded" to EX/MT, NM and finally NM/MT as the minimum standard. >>



I wonder how many of us have gone this exact route. I started '53 Bowman Color, intending to do EX or better, and was bothered by the raw cards I got. Eventually I bought cards in various slabs (CSA, SGC), and settled on PSA-7.

bruce

acowa

<<< After purchasing a few altered cards, I decided that I would try the graded route.>>>

<<I wonder how many of us have gone this exact route.>>

Count me in...I did it with a 1953 Topps baseball set.


Regards,


Alan

rw2win

In keeping with the burned once, now graded route. Count me in. Got taken BIG TIME on a 52 Bowman Musial from a 'big time dealer' from St. Louis.

BTFNDGUY

I am also in that group photo ! Give me the PSA graded cards and I can sleep better. Many years ago I bought a 1953 Bowman Musial advertised as Mint ( this was in 1988). I later sent it in for grading and it came back with a much lower grade since there was a minute wrinkle on the back that I had not noticed. Such is life !

Vargha

David, you probably sold them to John or Charlie at a premium to what you paid--is this right?

John already had the PSA 9's that I got from you. I sold a few to Charlie for a slight mark-up as well as a few to him and others at break even or a slight loss. All told, I probably broke even or made a slight profit on my last few PSA 9 purchases. Thanks also for the kind words Jim. In a continuation of the lovefest, I will also say that Jim is a class guy and has been nothing but a pleasure to deal with, both as a seller and as a buyer.

Skycap

rw2win:

When you speak of a big-time dealer in St. Louis, I think I know who you’re talking about. Many times during the late 1980’s and very early 1990’s I bought 1950's/1960's cards listed on his full-page ads in SCD. I always wondered how he continually obtained such great cards -- always NM-MT or MT. The results this year of the PSA submissions of cards purchased from this dealer many years ago were not pretty. Many had been trimmed or altered, and I had been “had.” No wonder the corners were so perfect! (Is there a statute of limitations for card buying?!). Anyway, I no longer buy from this dealer, and for that matter I haven’t bought an SCD in years; the internet and PSA have made it obsolete. I guess most or all of us have been burned this way in the past.

Davalillo

I have had approx. 80-90 cards in total that have come back as altered including some expensive ones. There are dealers that stood out as having sold me a lot of altered cards but most(not all) are not in the business anymore. I got refunds on some, sent some to another grading service where about half of them graded and sold the rest at a loss. Now I only buy PSA graded cards.

Davalillo

mrichards

David,

That was a great story and I too traveled the same path. I am actually on that path right now. I finally finished my 52 Bowman set in 8's and higher and I had to break lesser-graded sets to afford the bigger dollar cards. Charlie is my nemesis too. He is #1 on the 52 Bowman set and I am about 70-80 9's away. It takes alot of time (and a hell of alot of money to accomplish my task). You did it with 51 Bowmans which are a hell of alot more expensive than 52's. The good think is I can afford to keep my 52 set. As for the rest of my sets (we shall see). It took me 2 years (to the month) to finish my set. I got stuck with many Pro cards, CTA, CSA in the beginning. I believe it is a learning process that all of us must go through. Some of my fellow collectors ask me if I am ever going to sell it. I believe everything has a price and my set is no exception. In the mean time I am enjoying looking at the scans. The other problem with building a really high end set is you have to protect it. Whenever I get upgrades to the set, I visit my set in the vault. Your story is very close to mine. I wish you much luck in what ever you pursue in the future. You are an all around great guy. Merry Christmas/Happy holidays.

Mike