What kind of card collector are you (set builder, team/single player collector, etc)? And why? (pas

Estil

Here's a list of the major collecting types I know of (in alphabetical order):

Error Collector: Sure, it's way past its peak from the late 1980s/early 1990s, but there's still plenty of collectors (such as our resident Bill "FF" Ripken collector) who love to collect error cards or even try to find new ones no one else has discovered!

Factory Defects: While most vintage set builders seek to avoid miscut cards, others try to look for the most severely miscut cards possible (like a whole 1/2 or 1/4 of another card visible) or if one side is miscut and the other side is not. Blank fronts/backs or one side printed upside down would also qualify.

Last Card Collector: The complete opposite of the rookie collector. These collectors love to collect the final card of a player, or perhaps both the rookie and last card of each player together. Such as Yaz's 1960 Topps rookie and his last card in the 1984 Fleer set.

Player Collector: This collector tries to collect all the cards they can (not all the 1/1's obviously) of their favorite player. Usually the collector picks not some superstar everyone loves (like Jordan or Mantle) but perhaps their favorite player from their favorite team (more on team later) or from their hometown. For example, my wife's favorite player is Carl Yastrzemski so she might try to collect all the Yaz's she can. When I first got into collecting, I collected all the Don Mattingly cards I could since he's from nearby Evansville, IN.

Poor condition collector: Most collectors try to collect the finest condition cards they can find/afford. But would you believe there are people who love to collect cards that are in really bad shape? No joke; check it out: WARNING: Not for the condition sensitive.

Rookie Collector: Tries to collect players' rookie cards. Need I say more?

Set Builder: This collector loves to build sets the old fashioned way, one pack and/or card at a time. Sometimes they prefer to make the set as close to totally mint as possible (or even collecting an all PSA set), others don't care about condition (or can't afford top grade) and just try hunt down all the cards in that set.

Master Set Builder: The standard issue set doesn't cut it for this collector. This collector wants to collect either all the variations (older sets) or all the insert sets (newer sets). The Topps Heritage sets are the most popular targets for these kind of collectors.

Set Run (or Company) Builder: This collector is like a set builder, but tries to make a run of sets, typically in the same sport and company. For example, lots of collectors love to build a run of Topps from their birth year. Others try to start from the start of that brand's run up to its end or perhaps after a certain year they believe that brand was at its best.

Team Collector: This collector tries to collect all the cards they can of their favorite team. This can however, be difficult unless they happen to know a dealer who specializes in team sets. For example, my wife's favorite team (being that she's from Boston) is the Red Sox, so she might start by getting all the Red Sox Topps sets she can, and then go for the other companies.

Topical Set Collector: This collector tries to collect all the cards they can that fit a unique or unusual theme. For example, they may try to collect cards with really ugly players. Or they might collect cards that are commons but have superstars/HOFers in the background. Still another example would be cards showing players not in uniform and/or outside the sports world in general. Obviously the possiblities in this category are infinite.

Type Card Collector: This collector tries to collect one card from each of as many sets as they can. For example, they may try to have one card each of all Topps sets 1951-present.

Unopened Pack Collector: This collector loves to collect unopened packs, wax boxes, and other unopened material. Some (like set run builders) try to make a complete run of packs from a company/brand, others like to collect packs with blue chip cards (rookies, HOFer, etc) on the front or back.

Obviously I fit the set run builder most, along with Master Set Builder (Fleer/Ultra sets) and unopened collector to a somewhat lesser extent. as I like to collect complete sets and try to assemble together as many complete runs as I can, all in binder/pages. More in detail here. In the past, I collected Don Mattingly cards (single player) as I couldn't afford to buy sets back then. I wouldn't be at all surprised if someday my wife starts to become a Red Sox team collector or Carl Yastrzemski collector.

So which category do you fit in most, and why?

PS: If anyone can show categories I've missed I'll add them here as well.

storm888

Sets do not appeal to me.

I like:

1. Team Cards.
2. Star Cards.
3. Players who mean something "to me."
4. Oddball Cards and Paper Items.

Estil

<< <i>Sets do not appeal to me.

I like:

1. Team Cards.
2. Star Cards.
3. Players who mean something "to me."
4. Oddball Cards and Paper Items. >>



Which ones? I'm curious.

Darin

I mainly like 1975 topps baseball. I also like 1975 rack packs, because when I was a kid I never saw a rack pack, only wax packs. Also have started a Willie Stargell basic set, and will someday do a George Brett PSA (Topps only) set.

bjork73

All your Shaqs are belong to us

elsnorto

I have been a number of types over the years. When I started out collecting, I collected baseball, football, and hockey sets... Topps. Because that was all there was.

As the other players entered the market and started producing multiple brands it was impossible to collect it all, so I focused on my true passion, football, and completing most sets every year.

As more and more releases hit the market and inserts drove up box prices, I started moving away from football as a whole and focusing on my favorite player, Emmitt Smith.

Then with so many one-of-one, extremely low numbered parallels / inserts, and pricey autos and game used I pretty much sold off a lot of my stuff and quit the hobby for a while.

Now I tend to collect oddball items of my favorite players and football (and some baseball) autographed HOFers. Oddball stuff tends to be relatively cheap, even for tough to find items, and they display very well compared to binders and binders of cards.

Although I find myself increasingly toying with the idea of chasing the 1935 National Chicle set, or 1955 Topps All American set, or the 1965 Topps tallboys set. Were it not for the Bronko card being so expensive, I would already be (trying) to put together the National Chicle. 1955 Topps AA seems to be a far easier and inexpensive goal, at least in the PSA 5/6 I would be looking at.

So collector of all, to a collector of football sets, to a modern player collector, to a vintage (or at least older) player / vintage set collector.

I am sure anyone who has been collecting longer than 10 years or so has had to adjust their habits as well as the hobby changed so much.

El Snorto~

Griffins

Set run builder, and to me that incorporates unopened pack collector. Basically looking to collect as much of any given year, manufacturer, or era as possible. Basic set, variations, and when possible (post war) a pack, box, wrapper, and panel and/or full press sheet of each issued set.
For vintage (pre WW2) packs and boxes are usually impossible, but wrappers are usually available, or whatever empty container held the card at one time.

samsgirl214

player collector brett favre, joe montana
just started bart starr game used and oddball
always looking for packer game, auto's, oddball and cheap psa 8, 9, 10's to set up at shows

bri2327

In days past I was heavily into set collecting. I had topps sets from 1960 (2), 64, 65, 68, and 1970-90. A couple of yrs ago I sold off most of them to concentrate on player and team sets. Its been tons of fun for me narrowing my collection down to stuff I really enjoy, especially when it comes to graded cards. It seemed I was frustrating myself more than anything compiling graded complete sets...chasing after so many low pop commons that I really had no interest in in the end.

Now, focused almost exclusively on several player sets and graded team set runs Ive had a great time. Though jumping into the 2007 heritage has given me a new addiction that wont die anytime soon !

TNP777

Player Collector: I'm definitely one of these. I am trying to collect a copy of every single card produced of Brett Butler. The Fleer Flair and Fleer Ultra masterpieces from '97 & '98 will most likely never surface, but I think all others are attainable. I'm currently over 95% of all know issues. I also finally jumped into graded cards, starting a Butler registry.

Poor condition collector: I am not ashamed of being a poor condition collector. Collecting cards in P/F/G/ condition fits right in with being a vintage set collector and team set collector on a budget. I'm not at all concerned with condition, with the only exceptions being horribly off-centered cards and trimmed cards. Rips, writing, holes, creases, paper loss - no biggie to me at all. In Estil's link, my '55 Sandy Koufax RC is the last card featured. It was given to me by a friend in OBC. To this day I am blown away by that card, and it remains the favorite card in my collection.

Set Builder: With sets, I'm a Topps guy. For baseball, I've completed the '57, '74, '75, '76, '77, '78, '79 & '80 sets, and am working on '65, '66, '68, '70, '71, '72 and '73. From '81 on up, I've got complete sets including traded with the exception of '83, '84, '95 & '99. I'm a few cards short from those years, but they're low priority.

For football, I've completed '71 and '74, and am close on '69, '70, '73, '75, '76, '77, '78, '79 and '80. The '72 is an impossible set - those high numbers are a beast!

The vast majority of my vintage set collection grades VG or lower.

Master Set Builder: I'm a master set collector for Topps Heritage, otherwise I'm not so concerned with vintage variations. The lone exception is '74, where I'm doing the Washington variations.

Team Collector: This is what got me back into collecting. I joined OBC in 1996 with the intention of filling out my 1970s Dodger sets. Wasn't long before I branched out to the '60s, with no intention or hope of doing the '50s. The generosity of the OBC guys blew that notion away! I've got a complete run of Topps Dodger sets from '53 to present, and a complete run of Bowman Dodger sets from '48 to '55. I've started the '52 Topps Dodgers, not thinking I had much of a chance to complete it, seeing as how 16 of the 32 cards in the set are high numbers (including Jackie, Campy and Pee Wee) and the #1 Pafko is also hugely expensive. I've managed to nail down all the toughies except the Jackie, so it looks like the '52 Topps set is attainable after all. I'm also going after a '33 Goudey Dodger set, and T-205 & T-205 Superbas. Being a Dodger fan is another big reason to collect P/F/G - lots of HOFers, lower expense. I can only imagine how expensive it would be to be a Yankee collector!

I'm also doing Ram team sets from Bowman & Topps. My Topps run is completely done from '56 to present, and my Bowman run is close. '48s are tough, and the '52 large & small sets are slow going too.

Stingray

Right now, collecting 84 Donruss set and 97 Topps baseball(star cards). Though as of lately I have really been interested in starting a collection of the 1976 Discs (Crane, Towne Club, and others).

MuckyMutt

I don't really fit into any of the types you have listed. I like to collect examples of all issues of cards from 1880's to 1980's. I buy a card that I like the look of. What does that mean? Well, I like Warren Spahn, but I hate his 1953 Topps card - it just is an ugly picture. Likewise, I picked up a T207 last month - didn't matter which player, I just liked the picture as being a "nice" baseball picture (good pose and background). Unfortunately, my budget doesn't let me buy high $ cards, but I've been able to pick up some nice bargains on Ebay. I'm not real condition sensitive. I used to be even less so, but by reading this forum I've become much more selective. I also like issues like the M101-2, that I think are really undervalued and are really nice representations of old time baseball.

Seraph

Player Collector: Ichiro (building a 2nd nostalgic collection)
Topical Player Collector: 1909-11 T206 Bill Bergen back variations
Topical Team Collector: Bengals multicolored patches (I just like the color contrast), 1977 Yankees WS (my 1st nostalgic collection)
Team Collector: 1909-11 T206 Cardinals

Yankeeefan

1- Set builder
2- would like to build sets of my favorite teams in baseball, football, hockey (random years) at some point.

MS70Dreams

Team Collector: I collect any and all Cincinnati Reds cards. I prefer sets like Topps that have all of the players of that year. I also like the throwback sets such as Allen & Ginter, Heritage, Cracker Jack ect.... just because they look nostalgic. I am very condition concious and once a team set has all of the cards marked off the checklist it is not done but ready to be upgraded if a better card is located. I am a little more forgiving on condition dependant on the cards age, for instance the T206 Reds cards I have are in PSA1 & PSA2.

Player Collector: Pete Rose and Johnny Bench were two of my boyhood hero's and I collect PSA graded examples of both in the best condition I can afford.

Set Collector: Not a Set Builder. Although I have built a couple of 80's sets back in the 80's most of the sets were either purchased as a finished set or given to me as a gift. In the early 80's my parents started buying the factory Topps set for me every year for Christmas and have continued the trend to this day. I opened the first few sets and put them in binders but after that I just left them in their original plastic wrapped boxes and stored them in the card closet where they are still kept to this day. I have the Topps Run from 1972 to 2006.

Vintage HOF/Star Collector: Even though I am not still actively seeking these cards I could not part with some of the 60's and early 70's HOF/Star cards that I had purchased or traded for years ago. Its nice to have a couple of Mantle and Aaron cards among others still in the permanent collection.

Wow, I thought I was really focusing my card collection before typing all of this out. I guess I have to a certain extent. I am only actively seeking Reds cards and the Rose and Bench copies I get for their respective team sets just happen to be PSA graded. If my parents ever quit buying my yearly Topps set will I buy them myself? Well probably. Anyhow, thats what and how I collect.

Thanks
Mike

Barfvader

What kind of card collector are you

An all over the place kind of collector.

Promo Cards. Have a lot of Star Co promos and some odds and ends of others.

Factory Defects Miscuts-Wrongbacks-Bad Tilts-Blank Backs-Weird Creasing




Poor / Low Grade Condition I love lower grade stuff as each card has it's own distinct character and shows how well it was loved by the previous owner.






I have no focus and really don't care to. I collect what I like and could care less about what it's worth and when I get bored with one thing I can always go onto something else in my collection.

Here is the latest item to my mess.



Goes nicely with the the 40 year old Guyatone amp that was given to me a couple of months ago.






So to answer what type of collector I am I guess I am the type that is just having fun and not taking any of it seriously.



Jeff

Estil

I once had a 1970 Topps common that looked like it was stapled at some point. Perhaps at one time it was stapled to a school bulletin board or some other school project? So I can certainly understand where some low condition cards get their charm.

Brian48

My main hobby is actually PCs and other related geek stuff, when I'm not messing with the computer, I'm primarily a player collector (Roger Clemens and other Red Sox players). I used to collect a lot of Hockey and other sports memorabilia a long time ago, but lost heart in it when the core of my collection was stolen.

markj111

I am a set collector, although I have thought about collecting Braves from years prior to when my sets begin. I have complete Topps sets from 59 on until I gave up in the early 90s. Only 1961 is completely graded. My (very) long term goal is to have graded sets from 59-72. I am aiming mainly for 8s, though I will accept nice 7s (particularly on the low pops) in the earlier years.

ROCKETMAN

Hey Brian! I also am a big collector of the ROCKET! LMK if you might be interested in trading our dupes!

Rocketman7_8@msn.com

larryallen73

I am mostly a random collector.

Have all my sets from 1974-1990 which I will keep.

Have large player sets of Rod Carew and Larry Allen.

Beyond that I have PSA cards of all types. Mostly HOFers but also players I liked growing up (Dodger's for the most part) and cards I deem cool or memoriable (i.e. '76 Oscar Gamble traded card).

I have opened all of my unopened boxes I used to have so am not a collector of those anymore.

1989FleerBillRipkencollector

Barfvader-pm sent. I have 3 2006 UD Baseball miscut with white border showing you can have. Those 89 Fleer miscuts,backdoored or pulled? Dont see too many of those. I have 2 89 F blank backs.



Im a error/master set/player collector.

Bill Ripken 89 Fleer-Master set collector (2 more !!!!) and various/rare showing on racks. Why? Making up for never getting one as a kid in 89? I would like to figure out what was really made and be able to share this info with others and many enjoy the hunt.

Started a side project on obtaining all 89 F variations. Theres 16 cards with one or more corrections !!!

Russ Martin-Player/set collector- 2005 Bowman Draft/Chrome Only. I have 3 of the plates 4 patch cards all the paralells and buybacks and a picture of one of the 1/1 paralells. All in all I have 23 different cards of him. Why? My family saw him hit his 1st HR at our 1st Dodger game so I decided he's the one I'll stalk er collect.

Star Wars-unopened single carded unopened "Troopers" Vintage to present. Why? They look so damn cool.

Other errors/variations-dont collect too many-lack of funds-but I enjoy learning about these and helping others.

hotmush

Set collector and unopened pack collector, but only for O-Pee-Chee Baseball 77-94.
I have sets from when I was a kid, but I didn't care about condition back then.
So now I buy boxes (or lots) of cards from that set and upgrade conditions.
So I'm actually working on 2-3 sets per year right now at varying stages of condition and completion.

Barfvader

<< <i>Barfvader-pm sent. I have 3 2006 UD Baseball miscut with white border showing you can have. Those 89 Fleer miscuts,backdoored or pulled? Dont see too many of those. I have 2 89 F blank backs. >>



Thanks Donovan.

The miscuts came from a wax pack. I have never seen an 89 Fleer blank back.




Jeff

Morgoth

Hey Barfvader, nice amp. I love the wacky amps and guitars of the 60's - 80's. I started a Westone collection recently. I have had my Les Pauls and Fenders but nothing is as smooth as Westones. I also am a big Guild guy (I had a M80 and 65 Starfire at one time). Note, you cannot skimp on acoustics though, thats why I have a Martin.

I collect team sets, T206 HOF's, player sets and HOF's in general from any sport.

1989FleerBillRipkencollector

My boys (ages almost 5 and 11) collect...........

sport and non sport cards

stickers

those fake credit cards you get in the mail. Why? I dunno they just started wanting them. They wait for the mailman like I do now except they want the junk mail !!

Barfvader

<< <i>Hey Barfvader, nice amp. I love the wacky amps and guitars of the 60's - 80's. >>



This old amp is what got my interest stirring again to try and learn how to play. It had been given to my father-in-law who had no use for it and I talked him into giving it to me. He was told that it might need work when he got it and he kept it a few months and never even plugged it in to see if it was any good.

Well upon my getting it I plugged it in and turned on the old switch with caution and the tubes lighted up. Didn't have a guitar at the time so I plugged in a keyboard, and no sound. Turned it off and a week goes by and I was thinking this over and hook everything up again but this time hook up a set of headphones to the output on the back and viola, had sound. Well it just so happened that many years ago I had bought some Jensen loud speakers that had come out of another amp (It's that collecting everything bug I have) and replaced the ones in the cabinet and now have a really old but usable amp. It doesn't produce the sound I want but it is fine to learn on for now.

And Donovan, my five year old son likes those fake credit cards to.



Jeff

1989FleerBillRipkencollector

<< <i>

And Donovan, my five year old son likes those fake credit cards to.
Jeff >>



Whao !! I would have never guessed theres others. I guess I'll pull them out of therapy. Do I smell a fake credit card collectors (FCCC) message board in the future? Or are our kids prepping for a lifertime of credit debt. lol

Munson15

I guess I am an Scatter Collector....

I do PC

I do some sets

I do team sets

Then I pick up any card pack and figure I like those too, for awhile.....

A card store owners nightmare/dream. I always buy but he can not figure me out....

kylehess10

I'm what's known as a "random" collector. I collect game used but of the most random pieces and the most random players. If I see something from a player I like, and it's a neat piece, then I buy it. I don't really have any focus on my collection, just random buying.

Estil

Any other really unusual topical collectors? So far I find Barfvader's factory defects topical set the most interesting.

jskirwin

Sets '67-78, and now 2007.

Couldn't afford 'em as a kid; now I can, thanks to my parents instilling a strong work ethic in me (and forcing me to go to college).

Jdurg

I'm a set collector and a master set collector. Growing up I only got Topps cards as the stores around me only seemed to carry Topps brand baseball cards. In addition, my neighbor across the street is a HUGE Topps fanatic and has one of every set Topps has ever put out. (I still drool looking at the 1951 and 1952 sets as a kid. This guy collected back when he was a kid and never stopped. I have to say that he is the one who got me really going on baseball cards).

Anyway, I collected Topps cards and soon my father began to buy me the factory sets each year for Christmas. (I think 1988 was the first year that he got me a factory set). If he couldn't find a factory set, he'd get me a complete hand collated set. It kind of became a tradition. Knowing that we could NEVER financially afford to collect every set from 1951 onward, we decided that I'd try and get complete sets from 1980 (my birth year) onward. A few years ago I picked up the 1982 Topps Set and that completed the initial part of my collection.

I then decided to go and get the traded sets in order to say that I had one of every base issue that Topps had made. (This excludes any of these "new" sets like finest, heritage, stadium club, total, opening day, etc.). My Collection would only include base sets and traded sets. I finally completed this portion of it earlier this year when I got the 2001 and 2002 Traded sets.

In addition, I noticed that for a while Topps was putting out variation sets. Things like the 1992 Gold and Gold Winners, the 1993 Inaugural Sets, etc. etc. As a result, I decided to include parallels in my quest for completion as well. This is proving VERY difficult, if not impossible, now that Topps has put in the printing plate parallels, the VERY limited Copper Parallels, and the almost non-existant Platinum Parallel sets. There are some that I'll just have to not consider as a part of my collection. Still, things like the Limited and Tiffany sets are readily available so although they can be very expensive, they'll become a part of my collection one of these days.

Lately, I've also been trying to collect the inserts that went out with these Topps sets. As daunting a task as this is, I would like to put together complete runs of insert sets for each of the years. Items like 1/1, or limited number, relics and autographs are not included in this quest since many of these are damned near impossible to put together on a budget of less than $10,000. Plus, even though they say that the cards are inserted into packs I've never in my life pulled a relic or autograph from a regular pack of cards so I consider them to rare and to expensive to include in my collection. Plus, it cuts back on the number of cards I need by a great deal.

I'm also an unopened pack collector, but that collection is virtually done. I decided to have a parallel to my card sets and get unopened packs for each of the years from 1980 onward. This way I can have one pack of cards, unopened, that is similar to the packs used to potentially complete my sets. 27 years of packs is a lot of packs of cards, but it's neat to see them all again. Perhaps when I am older and wealthier I'll add full boxes to my collection as well.

Other than cards, I have modest collections of coins which were in circulation during my lifetime, coins minted 100 years before I was "minted", and my pride and joy is my collection of the elements on the periodic table. If an element has a stable isotope, I have a sample of it. If it has multiple allotropes, I have a sample of it. I even have some elements which are radioactive, but these elements are rarely viewed and typically kept in thick lead boxes. It's a neat collection of the ingredients of existance.

1989FleerBillRipkencollector

<< <i>Any other really unusual topical collectors? So far I find Barfvader's factory defects topical set the most interesting. >>



I used to collect those. I know a few collectors who collect the obscure printing defects (ink), miscuts,wrong back/front, blank back/front,Ghost images,Double Die (same as ghost??),factory discards etc. I know a few that used to collect missing ink but those cards have seem to become more common.

Recently I wanted to start collecting racks that have 2 sports in them but due to $$ issues I cannot. I have seen 2 racks sell recently that have FB and BB in them. The racks were different years. Kinda neat.

twoinar

Not sure if anyone has mentioned it, but I like to think of myself as a low #'d modern set parallel collector. I only collect basketball, and since sets are small, it's made finishing the sets in my sig a possibility. I have also had a great time seeing how many of the Platinum/1 parallels I can get ahold of from the 05-06 and 06-07 Topps sets. It's fun to know you can never complete a set, but to see how high you can push your completion %.

ryaneversole

TEAM - Cincinnati Reds. I'm looking to collect the highest grades I can of anything from late 1800's to 1994 + Heritage issues.

SET - I want to manhandle most of the basketball sets.. at least 1971-1988. Baseball.. not sure. 500-700 cards is a TON when it's graded. Although I side with 1953, 1954, 1959, 1963, and 1975 Baseball... not sure what I'm going to do.

PLAYER - Going to be touching on the big red machine sometime in the near future + .44 Magnum.

MISCUT - I recently pulled a widly miscut Nate McMillan basketball card and fell in love with this miscut. I just saw a sweet '71 Nolan Ryan go for like $15 on ebay.

ROOKIE - I plan to hit on all of the important rookies that I can in the major sports, Rusty Kuntz included.

Brick

Mostly sets of Topps 1952 - 1963. Only need one card to complete 1955. Working on it about 17 years. Just under 90% in PSA holders. Also have 1960 half way there in PSA. I have the more expensive cards in lower grades. I'll be sending in about 30 cards for the April pre-1954 special, expecting mostly PSA 5 & 6.
Ralph

Estil

<< <i>Mostly sets of Topps 1952 - 1963. Only need one card to complete 1955. Working on it about 17 years. Just under 90% in PSA holders. Also have 1960 half way there in PSA. I have the more expensive cards in lower grades. I'll be sending in about 30 cards for the April pre-1954 special, expecting mostly PSA 5 & 6.
Ralph >>



Wow, you must be really rich to get to do that. Myself, I'll be VERY fortunate if I can even get back to 1970-present (at least 1974-present is within my grasp).