Congratulations to Mike Castaldi's 75 Completion
AnthonyB
Posts: 4 ✭✭
We applaud you for your completion of the 1975 Topps set in PSA 8+. Only third member to do so.
We know that you have been resourceful and persistent on this two year plus journey. Also, we appreciate the knowlege that you transferred to other 75 Topps collectors during your run. Any final
comments on how the strategy changed during the journey? What are your plans now?
Anthony
If you want to succeed, you should
strike out on new paths rather than travel the worn paths of accepted success - John D. Rockefeller
strike out on new paths rather than travel the worn paths of accepted success - John D. Rockefeller
0
Comments
I didn't even know you were doing 75's
For those of you unfamiliar with some of Mike's budget-minded set building here's a couple of things I've learned about him over the past few years...
As with any set he builds, he "beats the bushes" for raw cards. He is discriminating to a fault and is left with very high-end of the grade sets. I would match his set up against any set of higher GPA on eye-appeal. He also tends to bottom feed on eBay and weed through the sleepers. This guy is a first-class collector. It is refreshing in an age where more collectors purchase another man's opinion or a certification number than the image on the card. Great job Mike on a truly difficult set!
dgf
Website: http://www.qualitycards.com
Congrats on your set.When can we look forward to seeing it in all psa 9?
Lets not beat around the bush - rather than use the term "budget minded" lets just come right out with it - Mike is cheap... With all of his own submissions and his wheeling and dealing his 75 set cost him a little over $100. He makes dealers cry when he buys cards and buys $8.00 PSA 9's on eBay!
And I've learned a lot from him since we met while building the 72 sets....
Since I too submit a lot on my own, I gotta love and appreciate someone willing to put in the leg work and get a thorough understanding on the sets that he's working on.
This hobby doesn't have to cost an arm and a leg - usually, just an arm and a foot will suffice...
Sets - 1970, 1971 and 1972
Always looking for 1972 O-PEE-CHEE Baseball in PSA 9 or 10!
lynnfrank@earthlink.net
outerbankyank on eBay!
Congrats on the set. I am right behind you at 85%. I took your practice and used it. Ended up with a tigers team card psa 9 for 9.99. That was cool. Good luck with what you do next.
Dave
Congratulations on completing the set. Are you going to be at the National this year? I would like to catch up with you if you're planning on attending.
Regards,
Alan
I do need to thank 3 people for their help with the 75 set -
-- Frank Smith has been instrumental in my progress on the 75 set - but more importantly, he's a good friend.
-- Steve Eberhardt was, and still is, one of the heavyweights in the set. It takes a lot of courage to complete the set, then decide you want to take it to a totally different level. I know he'll finish the set in a ridiculous GPA.
-- Steve Hart at BBC Exchange twisted my arm and really got me started with the first 10% of the set and it just grew from there. One of the true class acts among the dealer community
As for what's next. . .
Some of you know the story and some don't. The first set I put together was not the 1975 set, but 1972. After getting to about 94% on the 1972 set about a year ago, I decided to sell off the 1972s so I could devote more energy and resources to the 75 set. Well, as the 75 set climbed over 95% and the remaining cards got tougher I had to think about which set I should do. Crazy-low eBay prices and the lure of revisiting the old friend that was the 72 set became too strong. In late February, I restarted the 72 set from scratch. I set a goal of an 8.10 GPA and figured between the market being down and a different approach, it would cost me considerably less than my first attempt even with a higher GPA. So in five months, I've gotten to 60% complete. I've tried to be very aggressive on the low-pop and tough cards and bottom-feed everything else. Otherwise, I'm still beating the bushes, submitting my own when I can, and trading when it makes sense.
Dakota> Upgrades will be at my convenience and discretion - and generally doesn't necessarily mean moving to a 9 of a particular card. A set of cards that I'm happy and proud to own is much more important to me than the GPA.
Stump> You'll get there. The earlier you chase the low-pop stuff, the easier the rest will seem.
QualityCards> No way. A set of 71s that I'd be happy to own would be beyond my budget - especially with over 300 cards left on the 72s
Alan> Sorry. . .no National for me this year. This summer, I had about $600 to put to raw cards and figured I could either spend it on airfare and hotel and such at Atlantic City - or - I could stay home and go to SportsFest. As it turned out, SportsFest was probably my best show ever in terms of finding raw 72s. I came out of there with 150-175 submitable 72s. 70 of those are on their way to Newport Beach today
Again, thanks for all the kind comments and good luck with each of your sets - whatever they may be.
Mike
The most popular set on the registry, and you got a 100% complete beauty. Nice going Mike. At that sportsfest show we attended, I picked up about 15-20 submittable 1973s, not as much perseverance, expertise, luck, or cash, as yourself, I guess. Fine show, was also great to have met several other board members.
Glad to see within a couple weeks you finally made it to the finish line of another fine set and group of cards,that must be an attractive group of cards you gathered.
My Auctions
Great Job on finishing the 1975 set....and finally getting those last two cards. Best of Luck on the 1972's!!
John B.