Impossible to complete a modern Master player set

bengineno9

This is why! I'm at 90% and i doubt it will get done. I thought it was too high at $100 earlier today. Anyone else having the same problems? And i thought the Topps refractors were ridiculous.

once in a lifetime!

ArnyVee

Wow...now that's overpriced.

I mean, Ozzie is one of the greatest...but, not an impossible card to obtain and in PSA 9? Maybe a 10 would go for a few hundred, but a 9? Wow.

sagard

That was a great price for one of the ultimate Ozzie inserts. I used to collect Pucketts and that Mirror Gold never came up for sale. "juanfan" did have a Puckett listed, but someone made him an offer he couldn't refuse.

ldferg

the nomo went for over $1k....

A761506

The underlying problem with any modern master set is not really the completion, it's how much you're willing to put into what is essentially a labor of love that will ultimately wind up being a financial loser in most circumstances. Impossible is the wrong word in this case because if you wanted to complete the set badly enough, you would have entered a bid in the stratosphere to insure you would win the card. Sensibility seems more like the proper theme from the way you described it.

Axtell

I can't imagine trying to put together a master set of anyone modern...just so many cards, I would think it would be impossible and like the above poster mentioned, it's definitely a financial loser.

I am working on a wade boggs basic set, and I cringe in spending 5 or 6 dollars for a card that's essentially worthless.

ctsoxfan

I don't care how you spin it - spending $334.00 on an insert from 1996 (probably worth a dollar or so raw) is just crazy.

imafishinnut

IMO, you have to look at your master set strictly as a labor of love. Currently, I am doing the Wade Boggs and Bo Jackson Master Sets. Since the careers of both players ended before the advent of the low population insert cards (I don't know of any inserts for either numbered less than about 25), both master sets could be completed in theory. However, I still don't figure that I will ever reach 100% completion in either of the sets because my guess is that the total number of cards for Boggs will be around 1000 and for Jackson will be about 500. But, I continue because I enjoy collecting even the oddball cards of both of the players. I probably drive the other Boggs and Jackson set collectors nuts because I am constantly adding cards and driving their completion percentage down... LOL

With players who have played or are playing during the insert card era, completing a master set will really be impossible. There are just too many 1 of 1 and lower numbered inserts that go for big bucks. At least with Boggs and Jackson, I can at least hold out hope that it will someday be completed. I don't ever foresee me trying a master set for a modern player like Roger Clemens even though I like him as a player.

My two cents worth,
Mike

helionaut

The premium on this card isn't from the grade, it's from the fact that there were only 30 copies made 9 years ago. The Certified Mirror Golds from 1996 and 1997 (which also had red and blue parallels) have been some of the most sought-after cards for player collectors since the day of release, and almost all of them that have been found are locked into collections.

One of ones make the complete player set a thing of the past, though.

MajorDanby

<< <i>. I don't ever foresee me trying a master set for a modern player like Roger Clemens even though I like him as a player. >>



Im a big greg maddux fan and attempted the master set....after a few weeks, i gave up. Too many cards....just very difficult to collect. I've ended up making my own master set list using PSA's and my own interests.

Virtualizard

Personally, I collect a few players, but my cutoff is 1990. I won't ever attempt a player set that includes cards from 1991-present.

Check out the #1 set on the Don Mattingly Master Set. Now that guy has a serious passion about his specific collection! Although he's at 100% completion right now, I assume the set could nearly double in size - I find 1008 Mattingly cards up to 1996 (the last year eligible for this set). Granted, some aren't graded by PSA, so the total could potentially be in the 900+ range. Still a daunting task!


JEB.


***Edited to add link***

NickM

helionaut is right.

Personally, I think the sets #/25 that would be the hardest to complete are the early Upper Deck MVP Super Script parallels - this was a product that was very much mass market (lots of boxes sold at retail stores), so I'd guess that a significant percentage of the cards are held by casual collectors and may never come up for sale.

As far as modern player sets, I think PSA has put in a cutoff on how many of a card must exist before it will be included in the Master Set, but I'm not sure what that is.

Nick

theplasticman

I got the PSA 9 Will Clark for less than $100 and just missed getting the Murray (went for $301). These are VERY tough

Wabittwax

These 1996 Mirror Golds were HUGE back then. That's why they carry such a premium today. Problem with that set though is that they have a stated print run of 30 sets but they aren't serial numbered so as the years go by, people will look at them as any regular $1 insert card when in reality they are super rare.

I was working on a 1997 Totally Certified Football Gold set a while back. They are the same concept, rare parallel set, except that they are serial numbered to 30 on the back. The prices were all over the map on them but none were this high (except maybe the Corey Dillon RC). I spent 2 years working on the set and I only reached 35% complete. I got to a point where the ones I found for sale were ones I already had or the seller wanted way too much money for them. So, I finally sold the cards. It was fun but I didn't want to spend 10 years making it.

bengineno9

Well put A7.
I agree with you 100% and worded my thread totally wrong. I didn't want this thread to spinoff in a negative way.
Ozzie by far is my #1 favorite and i think it surely shows on both my registry sets but there are a few cards that are just overkill when it comes to price. The 93 refractor is a pain also.
In my opinion for the money a 79T RC PSA 9 is much more appealing.
I'm not collecting for financial reasons. I've always said plastic and cardboard is for fun. The mirror gold is a total reality check when your picking up cheap, basically worthless PSA 10's from 4 SC's

rlankhaar

Doing a set like this really is a labor of love, and you really have to look at the money spent as disposable entertainment (to a certain point). I'm working on a Master Set of the 1996 Select Certified Cards (In Football), and they can be very tough to find at times. Bigger name players can still go for quite a bit-especially when you have two rabid players collectors up against each other. Helio brings up a point I've often thought about-how many cards out of the /25 are really out there and available? But putting a large modern insert or player set together can put a strain on the patience, as I've found you can go weeks without even seeing a card from your set.

ledsters

B9,

Not to offend you, as I have always kept an eye on your Registry set. I too, collect Ozzie. But I have always wondered why you haven't just spent the money you have already spent on a "bunch of worthless PSA 10's" - as you put, on a nice PSA 9 Smith Rookie. That card, I believe is one of Ozzie's most important and most valuable. You have the highest rated set, yet no Topps Rookie????

Ledsters

rlankhaar

<< <i>or the seller wanted way too much money for them >>



Good point-I've found a handful or dealers who have some cards I'd like, but since they have the "limited" reputation their prices reflect that. I have a hard time paying $50 for a card that might hit $10 on ebay.



<< <i>I was working on a 1997 Totally Certified Football Gold set a while back. They are the same concept, rare parallel set, except that they are serial numbered to 30 on the back. The prices were all over the map on them but none were this high (except maybe the Corey Dillon RC). I spent 2 years working on the set and I only reached 35% complete. >>



Steve, intetesting set. Those golds are some of my favorite cards, although they are both hard and can get really pricey. I run into the same problems with the Premium Stock Mirror Red set I'm working on.

bengineno9

Led,

I know it's really sad and somewhat embarrassing.

I plan on picking one up sometime soon. I've actually looked at getting an affordable 8 but the ones i find don't have that great of
centering. And it always seems when a 9 pops up i don't have the cash. It's probably keeping me from winning an award.

When its all said and done, and i get my 9 i'll consider it the icing on the cake.

gregm13

I have the same problem w/ several of the "rare" Marino parallel and oddball cards. I recently spent $250 on a 1990 Pro Set Cincinnatti card that is absolutely impossible to find. $250 was a ridiculous price to pay - but sellers can name their price on tough to find cards. I wanted it badly enough to pay the money (the seller wouldn't budge on the price) but having the card in my collection lessens the sting

Regards,

Greg M.

theplasticman

yeah, you gotta love the chase!

Wabbitwax - Im working on a single player trying to get as many 1997 Select Certified Mirror Golds and the 1998 Totally Certified Mirror Golds. Ive got about 7 of the 30 each. Ive found that the 1996 Mirror Golds are infinitely tougher to find. I can count the times on one hand that Ive seen a 96 Will Clark pop up.

I do think the 1997 Select Certified Mirror Golds had more than 30 printed. Or it could just be that Im finding them easier. Hmmmm