37 Down--1963 Stancraft Playing Cards Completed in psa 8 or Better

Davalillo

Some sets I scratch and claw to get to an all psa 8 or better set. Some sets just appear out of thin air. This one comes thanks to the extraordinary generosity of Mike Tavenner(shouldacouldabeena) who gave me his set of 1963 Stancraft. I'm not sure if Mike was trying to get an invitation to my forthcoming collectors party or he just felt sorry for me after seeing how badly I was trailing the Evil Empire and Fuzzdude in the 60s Olympics but he has given me his set...and what a set it is...an all PSA 10 set--10.0 set rating. This will put me first and ahead of the evil one who Mike also sold a set to(I've forgiven him for that though).
In all my years of collecting and going to shows I have never seen a 1963 Stancraft set before.

This brings me to 37 completed sets in psa 8 or better. My goal is 50 nvintage or semi-vintage sets in psa 8 or better by year-end and over 100 ultimately..

Completed sets in psa 8 or better are as follows:

BASEBALL(20):
1936 S&S
1954 Topps
1956 Topps
1959 Fleer
1960 Fleer
1961 Golden Press
1961 Nu-Card Scoops
1961 Topps
1961-2 Fleer
1963 Fleer
1963 Topps
1964 Topps
1964 Topps Giants
1965 Topps
1967 Topps
1968 Topps
1969 Topps Super
1970 Kelloggs
1970 Milton Bradley
1970 Rold Gold

FOOTBALL(10):
1950 Bowman
1951 Bowman
1954 Bowman
1955 Topps All-America
1959 Topps
1960 Mayrose
1960 Topps
1961 Nu-Card
1963 Stancraft Playing Cards
1976 Wonder Bread

BASKETBALL(5):
1948 Bowman
1961 Fleer
1970-71 Topps
1972 Icee Bear
1976-7 Topps

Hockey(1):
1962-3 Parkhurst

MULTI-SPORT(1):
1933 Goudey Sport Kings

I appreciate all the help from fellow collectors on my sets. All sets are open on the registry--please e-mail Brian or me with cards you have that I need.

Jim

mikeschmidt

That's an amazing assortment of sets, Jim. Many of us will continue to watch your progress in getting to 50 sets [perhaps even by year-end]!

Cheers

tkd7

Congratulations Jim. Another one down.

CON40

I always look forward to your next proclamation of progress in your prodigious quest.

RonBurgundy

Congratulations. Keep on big timing us. It's great.

dalew

I too am quite impressed with the sets that you have registered and myself have tauted a few sets that I put together, although quite limited in scope and quality, but still proud.

I guess what upsets me, and please understand that this is a diatribe on my part, that some of us are limited in funds and can only afford a certain player, set, year or grade and we do the best that we can.

If you had a million (and obviously you do) and I had a million (of which I don't) , lets see what we can come up with for those dollars.

I know that this is "the" place to list such milestones, and again you should be very proud of what you have done. I look forward to seeing your posts.

Mantlefan

Great going Jim. I should note that Jim does not have millions. His refusal to overpay for cards that he really needs [eg 1957 Hank Bauer on EBAY Jan 27 that went for a ridiculous $768] displays the kind of patience that I, personally, have never had.

ironranger

Congrats, Jim!

Davalillo

Frank,

You hit the nail on the head and Marc has pointed this out on several occasions too. I am not just pouring money into cards. I collected raw sets when I was younger and started collecting graded cards witgh pre-war. Thus I had a lower average cost on the ungraded and bought most of my pre-war stuff at a fraction of its current value. I have selectively sold some pre-war cards to fund my push into sets I can realistically compete. Also, With doing over 100 sets, I can always back off certain ones where I feel the prices are getting too high or on certain cards where the price is high. The 57T Bauer is a good example. I need only 3 cards in psa 8 to complete the set but I felt that this card was too high so I stopped bidding. Patience is the best virtue one can have in collecting. Another example is tghat for at least the past 2 years I have just needed the checklist to complete the 1969-70 basketball set in psa 8 or better, After passing twice with different dealers at $4000 MintState offered me one this week at $3,000. While that is still a lot, I view it as a $1,000 savings. I also just boughty a 54 Red Heart Erskine at a much lower price than recent auctions to complete that set.


Marc.

Thanks and good to talk to you the other day.

Tom,

Been busy but will call you soon--many thanks.

Keith,

Thanks--why the nasty words about me on LTS?

Ron,

I will keep truckin'-thanx.

DaleW,

I've been fortunate to be able to collect a lot of sets but it can be rewarding to collect one set or player sets as well-hang in there.

Ironranger,

Your kind words are always appreciated.

Jim

CON40

Thanks--why the nasty words about me on LTS?

I've been told I get nasty when I drink.

[edited to say I tried to PM you but you have that feature turned off.]

Davalillo

Keith,

jdc122@aol.com

Jim