2 long-term projects complete!
AlanAllen
Posts: 1,530 ✭✭✭
Within the past 2 months, I've completed 2 sets that I began about 4 years ago.
1989 Score PSA 10 set
1962 Fleer PSA 8 set
The Score set was the third to be completed in PSA 10, behind Frank Mazzaro and Dave Jacobs' sets. The last card I added was #55 Andre Tippett, which is a pop 3 (in other words, all are spoken for in the complete sets). Most of it was bought off-ebay in bulk lots, but the stars and last 10 or so commons were bought on ebay. I only submitted a couple myself... the prices of PSA 10s was in most cases not much more than my submission fees, so it didn't make sense to submit. When I started the set in January 2003, the majority of cards in the set had never been graded and only about 3% of graded cards were 10's. I thought the set would take me a decade to complete in straight 10. Behold the power of bulk submitters!
The Fleer set is the second to be completed in PSA 8 or better, along with (but well behind!) Wolfbear's incredible set. Two other sets are or were 1 card away. The last 2 cards I added were #1 Billy Lott and #3 Gino Cappelletti. Both are low pops (4 and 8 respectively) and I had to pay accordingly. Paul (Wolfbear) helped me immeasurably in building the set, he's a great guy and a real asset to the hobby. When I started building the set in December 2002, Wolfbear was the only one with a registered set over 5% and not every card in the set had seen even 1 card graded.
Both sets were a challenge and a joy to complete, and both have a spot in my permanent collection. But, both of them soured me to some extent on building completely graded traditional sets. I have no problem with the time frame, I've spent more time building my marcus Allen collection than I spent on these two sets combined. And I have no problem paying for high grade HOFers. But when I have to spend as much for Andre Tippett's 4th year card as I paid for Barry Sanders' rookie card just to complete a set, it leaves a bad taste in my mouth. Or when I pay more for Billy Lott than for all of the HOFers in the set combined! You might argue that I could have completed the sets smarter or cheaper, and I might agree with you. But the bottom line is, I don't think this type of set building suits me. For the forseeable future, I'll be pursuing stars and key RC's graded, and commons raw. I can finish more sets that way too
.
Joe
1989 Score PSA 10 set
1962 Fleer PSA 8 set
The Score set was the third to be completed in PSA 10, behind Frank Mazzaro and Dave Jacobs' sets. The last card I added was #55 Andre Tippett, which is a pop 3 (in other words, all are spoken for in the complete sets). Most of it was bought off-ebay in bulk lots, but the stars and last 10 or so commons were bought on ebay. I only submitted a couple myself... the prices of PSA 10s was in most cases not much more than my submission fees, so it didn't make sense to submit. When I started the set in January 2003, the majority of cards in the set had never been graded and only about 3% of graded cards were 10's. I thought the set would take me a decade to complete in straight 10. Behold the power of bulk submitters!
The Fleer set is the second to be completed in PSA 8 or better, along with (but well behind!) Wolfbear's incredible set. Two other sets are or were 1 card away. The last 2 cards I added were #1 Billy Lott and #3 Gino Cappelletti. Both are low pops (4 and 8 respectively) and I had to pay accordingly. Paul (Wolfbear) helped me immeasurably in building the set, he's a great guy and a real asset to the hobby. When I started building the set in December 2002, Wolfbear was the only one with a registered set over 5% and not every card in the set had seen even 1 card graded.
Both sets were a challenge and a joy to complete, and both have a spot in my permanent collection. But, both of them soured me to some extent on building completely graded traditional sets. I have no problem with the time frame, I've spent more time building my marcus Allen collection than I spent on these two sets combined. And I have no problem paying for high grade HOFers. But when I have to spend as much for Andre Tippett's 4th year card as I paid for Barry Sanders' rookie card just to complete a set, it leaves a bad taste in my mouth. Or when I pay more for Billy Lott than for all of the HOFers in the set combined! You might argue that I could have completed the sets smarter or cheaper, and I might agree with you. But the bottom line is, I don't think this type of set building suits me. For the forseeable future, I'll be pursuing stars and key RC's graded, and commons raw. I can finish more sets that way too
.Joe
No such details will spoil my plans...
0
Comments
Kind of depressing to see that 1989 Score set and think how the market could have been without all the mass production that started around that time. I know it's not that rare but it's such a nice set compared to the 1989 Pro-Set.
Two amazing accomplishments. Nice going!
Always looking for Topps Salesman Samples, pre '51 unopened packs, E90-2, E91a, N690 Kalamazoo Bats, and T204 Square Frame Ramly's
Abe
Joe
I can understand your feeling on the A. Tippett card. My "White Whale" was the J. Taylor card. But I think that's the beauty of collecting. Every set has it's own nuances and you really can't determine what they are until you there is a large enough sample graded.
I'm sure you'll be hearing naysayers post "Oh, it's a modern set, no big deal". I know I heard those comments when I completed my set and I was the first to do it.
I truly believe this is a landmark set. Not just for its RC selection, but for it's impact in the resurgence of football card collecting.
Ironically, it would be much more difficult to start and complete this set today in PSA 10. The bulk guys haven't been submitting this set as the once did. Probably because the main guys building it in PSA 10 have completed their goals, but also because prices had dropped. Anyone trying to do this set today in PSa 10, would need to submit most of the cards themselves.
Bottom line, collect what you like and you'll always be happy.
Congrats! To complete a set in all PSA 10's is incredible. To finish them back to back in a four month period is amazing. I realize that it took you many years, but now you can enjoy your success.
Shane
I know they are modern cards, but those 89 scores could be worth something down the road. Just think of all the chipping and edge wear that will show on them. They are nearly like black boardered cards with the full color boarders.
Collecting cards is suppose to be for fun. PSA/BGS etc just allow people to take it to the next extreme level. Collecting a perfect/near perfect set is a complete challenge to a experinced collector. Now the real challenge would be only to allow people to submit only an few of each card to see how good they are at eyeing those 10's.
For me I am happy with mainly 9's even some 8's, for sets that I am working on. My feeling is that if you submit 100 cards that are roughly in 9 condition you should/would probably get about 10 come back as 10's. That has been my experince lately. I dont eye them that hard. Just dont have the time to do that. And for my Favre master set its no big deal if they come back 8, 9 or 10.
Collecting:
Brett Favre Master Set
Favre Ticket Stubs
Favre TD Reciever Autos
Football HOF Player/etc. Auto Set
Football HOF Rc's
Bosox1976
Congrats on the finish of those two sets. My last card was the 276 Carter card. It took me almost two years to find it. I agree with Frank and that it will be alot harder to finish now that the three of us are done. Anyway good luck with the rest of the sets.
Dave Jacobs
Joe
Congratulations. I admire a collector that aims at collecting any set in PSA 10.
Tom
Website: http://www.qualitycards.com
Mark Bostick
www.meteoritearticles.com
Raw: Tony Gonzalez (low #'d cards, and especially 1/1's) and Steve Young.
Hall of Famers from all 4 sports
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