Which set should I pursue next? Here are the candidates........

RonBurgundy

1) 1961 Topps. I have about 115 of these in NM or better, including a PSA 8 Mantle.

2) 1956 Topps. I have about 90 of these in NM or better.

3) 1972 Topps. I have about 150 of these in NM-MT or better. Many should be 9's when graded.

4) 1973 Topps. I have about 120 of these in NM or better. About 50 of these should be 9's and maybe a 10 or two.

5) 1975 Topps. I have over 400 of these in NM-MT or better, including about 60 graded PSA 8's or better (incl. Brett and Yount).


Any thoughts or suggestions would be appreciated.......having just finished a 1957 set, my inclination is to do a 70's set for a little variety and a lot less money.



Stay classy,


Ron

Wabittwax

Late 70's Burger King cards. Small sets that are a super challenge. Unless you like the big sets.

Griffins

What is your ultimate goal?
If you're trying to just build a collection, then do you want to have a run of sets from a favorite era, or mix eras in order to have a variety of players?
If you're trying to build to sell, then you might be better chosing one that you have a decent head start on already, like the '75's.
Do you tend to want to build something fast or do you have the patience to sometimes make little progress without getting frustrated?
Is money a factor (it's always a factor, but is it an overriding one?)? If so, have you realistically caculated the cost of these sets and the time involved and factored that in to your decision?
And most importantly, what set do you like most? And why?

ArnyVee

Of course you realize that '72 is going to be my first choice on this list, right?

But, I really feel that the '72s have both a great challenge with some low pop commons and tough to find IA cards along with lots of stars and HOFers to boot.

So, here's my list....

1) 1972 Topps
2) 1956 Topps (Fairly affordable for the year and is a nice compliment to any collection)
3) 1975 Topps (Love that set!)
4) 1973 Topps (I've actually started warming up to this set a lot more and it could end up being a very nice set for the money)
5) 1961 Topps (Aside from a few key cards, I'm not very fond of this set)

Good luck Ron and...thanks for stopping by.

glossycrazy

Go with the 75's! You already have a great start and I love the vibrant colors of these cards!
Paul

markj111

My advice is to go with whatever appeals to you. My personal favorite is 61, and it is really fairly easy except for a few cards. There have been a lot graded, and the high pop 8s can be had in the $10-15 range. Good luck with whatever you decide.

RonBurgundy

To answer Griffin's question, my ultimate goal - which will take several years - is to have complete graded sets in NM or better from 1951-80! It doesn't matter to me the order in which I do it (the '52 set, if I can ever afford it, is light years away!!). As far as personal favorites go, I like the 75's (always have) and the 61's. I am warming up to the '72 set......high grade examples are just beautiful. Out of the 5, the '56 set is probably my least favorite, but I have a nice head start on those. What I might do is finish the '75 set and and at the same time work on either 61 or 72 high numbers.


Stay classy,



Ron

mosaic

I'd go with the 1975 set.

The design sums up everything that was good and bad about the 70s...
You already have a bunch of 'em...
They can pose a modest challenge in terms of condition, what with centering issues and easily dinged corners...
As you said, the price is a nice change of pace from 50s and 60s sets...
Getting them graded will cost less than pre-72s, especially if you submit under club specials...

bobsbbcards

I'd suggest you do the '56 set in slabs because 8-pocket sheets are useless.

Griffins

Ron- based on your response then, I'd go with '56 Topps.
This won't be too popular here, and I mean no ill will, but I just don't see the point of collecting graded sets from the '70's. It's easy to find them in high grade raw, and the slabbing is a high % of the cost of most of the set. If your goal is to complete a full Topps run you'll get there a whole lot quicker picking up really nice raw sets from the late '60's on- and can use the money saved for those sets that are both harder to find raw and won't be deflated by the next pallet coming out of Larry Fritsch's warehouse.

1954

Ron,
I would go after the 56 set. It is small, you have a good start on it, and the value of this set should be higher in a year to collect. I would continue working on the 75 set raw and take advantage of the new grading special this month.

Shane

fiveniner

56 would be my chioce by far with the 75 topps being next.I have a 61 in EX+ condition however it is by far the most boring set I own.

RonBurgundy

Wow, a lot of support here for the '56 set. I'm going to have to look through mine to see what I have, as it's been awhile since I've worked on them. I know I need a lot of stars - Williams, Mantle, Mays, and Clemente - but I've got some gorgeous cards in PSA 8 and plenty of nice 7's. I like the fact it's only 342 cards (if you don't double up with white backs and green backs).



Ron

rbdjr1

<< <i>1) 1961 Topps. I have about 115 of these in NM or better, including a PSA 8 Mantle.

2) 1956 Topps. I have about 90 of these in NM or better.

3) 1972 Topps. I have about 150 of these in NM-MT or better. Many should be 9's when graded.

4) 1973 Topps. I have about 120 of these in NM or better. About 50 of these should be 9's and maybe a 10 or two.

5) 1975 Topps. I have over 400 of these in NM-MT or better, including about 60 graded PSA 8's or better (incl. Brett and Yount).


Any thoughts or suggestions would be appreciated.......having just finished a 1957 set, my inclination is to do a 70's set for a little variety and a lot less money.



Stay classy,




Ron >>







Do 1975, as you have over 460 in NM-MT or better! A nice base to build on!

rd

Elemenopeo

If you've just finished the '57 set, I'd say pick one of the '70s sets to go after so you'll have some new faces to look at. And the prices will be a nice change of pace, too. I recommend the '75 set.

fsjeter

I say do the '61 set or the '75 set. '61 because you already have the key (Mantle) out of the way. Hopefully Maris & Mays are among the 115 NM or better. '75 because you have a huge base to start with (including a couple of the key cards in the set) and it's not too terribly difficult to find high grade examples (aside for a few that are nearly impossible in Mint 9 or better). I would flip a coin on those two.

Scott

viking7

Your first inclination is to do a 70's set, so pick the year you like and your good to go. Whatever you decide, good luck to you and enjoy the ride!

GDM67

<< <i> What I might do is finish the '75 set and and at the same time work on either 61 or 72 high numbers. >>

That sounds like a plan. Working from your stated starting points, I would think that concentrating on the 75 and doing the 61 as a side thing is probably your best bet. That's a span of some of the best years in the game's history and you'll be getting mostly players from two seperate eras (although there are several people in both sets, just enough to make it interesting.)

lostdart58

72 set is tough....tough...tough...................2 years and four days and I am still one card away................I reached 95% over a year ago.

robr1967

Well, I will add my 2 cents here.

I am in the process of building a somewhat decent quality 1964 Topps BB set

I have been thinking of getting into other things, most notably a set from the 50's or dumping the money back into my house.

The set that I have so far, and I am still working on it follows:

360 cards total which is 61.33% of the set. Many of the cards are graded PSA 8. Of those 360 cards 65 of them are PSA 9's

So as you can see, I do try to build a somewhat decent quality set.

If anyone would be interested in more information about the set, please feel free to drop me an email.

Thanks
Rob Ruth

My email is following: rruth@comcast.net

Stingray

I might be in the lone here, but I would say do the 73 set, underappreciated and underpriced. Great action shots on a ton of cards all around. Just check out the Bill Freehan card. That is just a great one!!

Davalillo

Agree with Anthony--if you want to lose money do a set from the 70s--1956 Topps is the obvious choice.

WinPitcher

I'd do the 75 set. The colors are fantastic. ......raw


i'd do the 56 set.............in psa 7 and 8 with a few 9's sprinkled if possible.


Steve

RonBurgundy

Good suggestion on the '56 set, Steve. My 57 set is like that........7's and 8's with nine 9's mixed in (want to get that up to 10).

Love this thread...........keep the opinions coming and I'll let everyone know what I decide,


Ron

Carew29

56' set hands down!!

braves72078

I love the 75 set and the 61 is a nice clean looking set too.

Bill

Elemenopeo

<< <i>Agree with Anthony--if you want to lose money do a set from the 70s--1956 Topps is the obvious choice. >>



If you would enjoy putting together a set from the '70s more than you would the '56 set, do that set from the '70s. That's the obvious choice.

Kurtman9

Ron:

If you want to get in during a buyer's market, 61s are the way to go. I have and am selling a bunch of 61s in PSA 8s and most are only going for about $10-$15 as Mark stated (excluding some of the tougher cards of course).

Kurt

RonBurgundy

Let me add a wrinkle to this thread. I have about 150 different dupes in 1957 Topps, some graded, some raw, all near mint or better. Love the set. Do I sell these to fund one of these sets or do I hang on to them and gradually build myself a second set? I am going to upgrade the '57 set I've completed so if I wind up replacing about 100 cards or so from that set, all of a sudden I have 250/407 and I'm almost 2/3 to a second set.



Ron

Griffins

I work off Dav's plan. Figure the sets you are reasonably going to work on in the next few years, and work on them all at the same time. You don't complete any one as fast, but you're able to stay away from a set when it gets hot and 2 guys start going at it. Plus as you get down to those last few you don't get frustrated, since you're making progress on one of the other ones. And it enables you to find better deals since you're more patient.
It's worked great for me for the last few years, and I believe it's saved me a lot of money.
Maybe the answer is a '56, '57 and '75 set. Yes, you can have it all

Griffins

Stingray- are we talking about the same '73 set

NickM

I agree with Anthony.

Nick

benderbroeth

i like the idea of doing more than one set as i am trying like 238947848754 sets...lol i might get one set done..lol

benderbroeth

you know what might be fun do 3 sets at once and work on one set a month...and switch each month that way you dont get bored with one set...

mealeworm

Let me add a wrinkle to this thread. I have about 150 different dupes in 1957 Topps, some graded, some raw, all near mint or better. Love the set. Do I sell these to fund one of these sets or do I hang on to them and gradually build myself a second set? I am going to upgrade the '57 set I've completed so if I wind up replacing about 100 cards or so from that set, all of a sudden I have 250/407 and I'm almost 2/3 to a second set.


Sell the dups to me and do the 56 set.

themetalsign

1956 Topps . It's a beautiful set in NrMt and better. I need 12 till completion. Awesome set. My all time favorite.

perkdog

You got to enjoy the action shots from the '56 set, the artwork is beautiful. A great selection of all-time greats as well so thats what I suggest.

I might get yelled at here but out of the 70's sets I like the '73 the best, I dislike the '75 and '72 set's but thats just me. Best of luck and have fun.

GDM67

My appreciation for the '73 set has been raised by the enthusiastic advoctes of it here. I'm still not wild about it, but I see it's upside much more clearly, now.

shouldabeena10

Ron,

Take a deep breath, load up some snipes, and jump head first into that 52 set.

If it hurts a little bit, ... well ... rub some dirt on it.

MeteoriteGuy

I would go with the 1975 Topps set, while trying to buy some 1956 Topps at low prices on ebay.

Gotta like the 1975 set.....of course I grew up in Kansas where we have adopted the Kansas City Royals.....which happens to be in Missouri, so I am likely a little bias because of the Brett rookie.

Mark

RonBurgundy

Leaning towards the '56 set while snatching up 61 high numbers for variety's sake. I need a few more days to think this over.




Ron