Changing Your Collection Focus

Morgoth

I have been pretty narrow minded as a collector but have started changing some of my habits. Some recent changes I have started.

1. I used to collect only Pirates & Steelers players but now I am into RCs and key cards from the 50s thru 70s of anyone any sport.

2. I used to say I would never collect a full regular issue set graded, but now I am at almost 60% on my 1971 Topps Football set.

3. I never really collected newer sets but now I am addicted to 1999 Bowman's Best and Matt Holliday RCs. I also am putting together a 2008 Topps Chrome FB Copper Refractor set.

4. I used to only collect graded cards in PSA holders. I really like prewar in SGC holders and look at SGC for value as I have had good crossover success with them.

5. I used to only collect PSA 8 or better. Now if its prewar PSA 4 will do, 1950's PSA 7 to 7.5 if centered are fine, Key 60s cards 7.5 to 8s are good with me. If its the 70s PSA 8 or better normally unless its for my 71 Set which I will put 7s in. I find PSA 7.5s good value.

6. I am much more interested in putting together autographed team sets now than just PSA 8 team sets.

Anyone else dramatically change their collecting style or focus over the years? My dad used to change every month it seemed, no focus.

yankeeno7

Yeah, I have really switched gears to auto'd cards. Im addicted to them. Im still going to do my 70s sets but those have really been put on the back burner.

I love vintage auto'd cards...my favorite by far!

Ahmanfan

I'm with Barry, except I'm not as into the Harry Potter cards.
John

fattymacs

I'm all over the place and nowhere at the same time. Last month it was all unopened stuff, this month some 64 Giants, 51 Bowmans, 33 Goudeys, some 70's HOFers. Going to a show Sat. will be looking for a few 56 Topps Reds Players I need and a 56 Aparicio or a 51 Nellie Fox or a 66-68 Perez or a 51 Rizzuto or some 33 commons or some unopened or some 51 commons, or some 64 Giants, or you get the picture.

digicat

I was working on player sets for all the SF Giants HoFers, but once I got there, I turned around and sold off all the non-rookie cards and started focusing on my Award Winner rookie card set, with an emphasis on HoFer rookie cards.

1989FleerBillRipkencollector

I have changed a few times.

Pack buster as a kid and collected what I pulled. Grew older and went to...
Unopened packs
vintage
Modern Graded RC's
Dodgers

Those and now all pretty much gone and for 4 years now the FF and for 2 years the 2005 BDP Martin have been my only focus. With teh occasional box bust.

I highly doubt I'll ever change again. Might add a new focus but never fade from those 2 as they both are fun for me to collect and give me a feeling of accomplishment.

perkdog

I started off by collecting 1950's baseball HOF'ers and Stars which then turned into focusing on Brooklyn Dodger players. After seeing Ryan ( BigDaddyBowman ) posting those sweet early Bowman Football cards I decided to halt my Baseball and innocently pick up a few Bowman Football, my first pick up being a 1952 Bowman Large Sammy Baugh, that did it and I was hooked.

Moving along I began to just by alot of Hof'ers and Star players until I decided to sell all my Baseball except a few "Keepers" well after going on a serious buying spree I sold even my BB keepers and then I had a bunch of 1950-1957 Football and was loving how my collection was going. Late Summer hits and I decide to make an effort to primarily focus on the 52 Large cards which at the time were difficult to find even on Ebay. About a Month and a half ago a MAJOR break- a pair of entire 52 set's are being busted up to be sold individually! The Alarm was sounded and I sold off all my football except my 52's ofcourse and here I am at 41% on the set.

Lots of changes for me in this hobby, but you got to creep before you crawl and at this point Im more happy with my Hobby focus than ever before.

TheHun

I have collected on and off for a long time.

I stopped buying any new cards (in packs) about 1990 but have acumilated newer cards from trades and buying group lots or garage sales.

I will always have a taste for nostalgic sports cards - especially pre-war.

I've started to trade my football away for hockey and soccer. I actually will trade for historical cards, presidents or cards with women.

So, yeah ... things change.

Morgoth

Nice to see others have changed drastically as well.

I think I will never complete my 61 Pirate team set in all PSA 8. I am almost tempted to sell it off and focus on other sets. The PSA 8 Team Card I have will bring alot of money.

I have been one card short on my 72 Pirate Team set for 2 years.

I also really started liking 61 Post cards until I saw you have to have both hand cut and perforated for the basic set.

justmichael

I was building vintage Topps baseaball sets.I am now doing alot of TTMing and Topps baseball and football HOF'ers run.I just can't justify spending $15 on a high number of a guy who barely had a cup of coffee in the bigs.
Mike

Morgoth

A big relief came to me once I realized that no one cares about your commons and I was able to put 7s into my sets. I want all my HOFS to eventually be 8s but I am living with 7s and 7.5s. The cards are not that different as long as you are selective in what you buy.

fattymacs

I get more excited when I pick up a few 33 beater-commons than when I get a PSA 8 / SGC 88 HOF card.

neenish

I have A.D.D. when it comes to collecting. I just collect things on a whim. I just spent over $10k on comic books this past month, now I'm back to picking up more raw Brooklyn Dodger cards....who knows what I'll be collecting next week.

Brian

VitoCo1972

My collection unfolds like reading an encyclopedia. Once you read one thing it leads to another and another. I started collecting Yaz players set cards that led to Carlton Fisk player set cards which evolved into 70's Red Sox sets which evolved into Red Sox HOF Rookies. On the basketball side I started with 61 Fleer, which led to 57 which led me to have most of the Cletics HOf rookies which led me to buy the more modern ones too. Add all this to the annual Topps, Co Signers, Bowman and Allen and Ginter sets that I put together and I have a lot of different stuff. This all started right around the point that I picked up almost every guy who is alive on a signed golf ball over a 4 year span and it became fruitless to wait for that elusive Ralph Guldahl signed ball that was offered up for sale once a year. Now I have to choose between Johnny U rookies for my 57 set or Craig Wood signed golf balls. I'm completely lost...but at least I'm unemployed so I have not bought a thing for 3 weeks!

HighChopper

Yes! Am dumping some vintage HOFers as we speak on eBay.

Focusing on '85 Topps Football in 9/10 and '77 Twins also in 9.

1972-'74 raw baseball sets.

Still lots of graded Minnesota cards ... Vikes, Twins, North Stars. Hard to part with these.

sfmays24

Stopped collecting graded for the most part... collecting raw '70's Topps Baseball with my Boys instead.

Brian, 10k on comics? ...I once spent over $20 on comics back in 1978.

HighChopper, we have close to 600 1974 Topps duplicates if you need any raw.

Mike

Morgoth

Neenish I would love to see what you bought for 10K in comics. They are truly condition sensitive.

I used to have a hard time parting with Clementes but have been doing it much easier recently.

neenish

I bought some Original Art, slabs and auto comics. I'll try to post some scans soon. Some I'll post after I get them back from CGC (getting slabbed).

WinPitcher

Focus? what is that?

Darin

I was working on building a high grade 1975 topps set, but then I realized, when my brothers and I were kids ripping open early 70's packs all we wanted was to find star cards. Of course we always ended up getting way to many Ed Brinkmans' and way to few Hank Aarons'. So now I've refocused and decided to...................

TheHun

Neenish - post the cream of your comics

I've probably worked with a few of those artists ...

I did my internship with Dick Giordano (Batman, Dracula)

yankeeno7

<< <i>I'm with Barry, except I'm not as into the Harry Potter cards.
John >>

PowderedH2O

I've been collecting since the early 70's. I think I have sold my collection and started over three or four times. I restarted about four years ago and I have a full run of Topps baseball and football from 1970-present, ungraded. Now I am focusing on some fifties and sixties sets in those sports that I specifically enjoy, but I am getting the PSA cards. I'm not as picky as some of you. I am realistic that there are some sets I will never be able to get in 7 or 8. So, I am content with 4's and 5's if it is the only way I can afford it. Other sets, like 62 and 63 I have decided that PSA 6 is as low as I can go. I enjoy the commons as much as the stars, sometimes more. But I also collect autographs and it seems like as one interest wanes the other kicks up. Who knows next month?

StopYurWhining

I quit cards, I now collect used celebrity band-aids

MBMiller25

Changed my focus about 6 months ago from all Modern era BGS 9.5 graded Rookie cards 82+ to the following:

Post War HOFer's in PSA 8 and PSA 9

Paul Oneill Basic and Master Sets in PSA 9 or PSA 10

1986-87 Fleer Basketball Set in PSA 9+
1987-88 Fleer Basketball Set in PSA 9+ Retired at PSA 9.16

I have 5 BGS modern cards left:
David Wright Gold Auto BGS 9.5
Ryan Braun Bowman X-Fractor BGS 9.5
Ichiro SP BGS 9.5,
82 Topps Traded Cal Ripken BGS 9.5,
93 SP Derek Jeter BGS 9 2 9.5 and 2 9 subs
94 SP Arod BGS 9 with 2 9.5 and 2 9 subs

I will be sticking with the old stuff going forward with a few exceptions. I do want to pick up a couple Pujols cards!

Morgoth

Anyone ever keep the vow to finish their current sets before starting new ones? I know I can't.

RonBurgundy

Yeah, I change focus every 6 months or so. I'm trying to put together mostly raw, some graded sets from from 54-77, but I've actually been able to limit that "focus" to 62-67 for the time being. (Hint: I am on a 62-67 kick. If you have NM or better raw cards, PM me. ) Another focus is high grade 60's stars and RC's. That's what I want in my collection.

And I've sold way more this year than ever before. Some of that was to buy more cards, some of it was to finance other non-card projects. That will probably continue as long as I can find stuff at reasonable prices that I can sell at fair prices.



Ron

perkdog

<< <i>Anyone ever keep the vow to finish their current sets before starting new ones? I know I can't. >>




Im in the process of doing that right now, I have been chomping at the bit to buy other higher priced cards but am holding out strong until I finish my 52 Football set- its going to be very tough as Im only 41%!

Stone193

I was always envious of those who had a true focus and captured a little "niche" in the hobby.

Well - I'm there and very pleased - it's also easier to stay on budget.

Having a true focus and budget makes the hobby more fun IMO - unless you have unlimited funds? Then, go for it!

Happy Holidays!
mike

TheThrill22

I used to be all over the place too, mostly baseball collecting beginning as a 9 year old in 1974. Now my baseball is limited to Seaver, Fisk, Will Clark, Jose Cardenal for the most part. What my daughter and I concentrate on now is hockey and have done so for the last 10-12 years.

julen23

aloha 76 & 77 topps

aloha (meaning hello) 74 & 75 minis topps

j

mcolney1

<< <i>I have been pretty narrow minded as a collector but have started changing some of my habits. Some recent changes I have started.

1. I used to collect only Pirates & Steelers players but now I am into RCs and key cards from the 50s thru 70s of anyone any sport.

I'm always on the lookout for Sonics, Mariners, Seahawks - not much value, but they're my teams.

2. I used to say I would never collect a full regular issue set graded, but now I am at almost 60% on my 1971 Topps Football set.

Too bulky to collect an all graded set, but I am collecting masters sets graded of Payton and Largent. I have raw sets beginning in 1964 (football), 1969 (Basketball & Hockey), 1970 Baseball.

3. I never really collected newer sets but now I am addicted to 1999 Bowman's Best and Matt Holliday RCs. I also am putting together a 2008 Topps Chrome FB Copper Refractor set.

The only one I really like is the 2003 Topps All-American Football, don't know why because I don't collect modern. Got a box for Christmas to open with my kids and bought another box. Will probably get one more for this year.

4. I used to only collect graded cards in PSA holders. I really like prewar in SGC holders and look at SGC for value as I have had good crossover success with them.

Have all PSA - obsessive compulsive issues with wanted all my graded cards to be in the same holder for display purposes. I do have one GAI card - HOF Turk Edwards National Chicle.

5. I used to only collect PSA 8 or better. Now if its prewar PSA 4 will do, 1950's PSA 7 to 7.5 if centered are fine, Key 60s cards 7.5 to 8s are good with me. If its the 70s PSA 8 or better normally unless its for my 71 Set which I will put 7s in. I find PSA 7.5s good value.

I've purchased down to PSA 3 and have many nice ones. Yes, there is some corner wear, but they display so well. I've had many non collector fans look at my cards and not one of them has said anything about condition, but sure go on and on about how cool it is that I have a Tom Fears or Jim Brown from the 50s.

6. I am much more interested in putting together autographed team sets now than just PSA 8 team sets.

Never go into autographs, but have seen many great auto cards on this CU board that I'm envious of.

Anyone else dramatically change their collecting style or focus over the years? My dad used to change every month it seemed, no focus. >>



Moved from raw sets from my birthday to HOF football cards 1935 to 1963. No have put my energy into HOF rookies from 1935 to 1963. PSA 2 Nation Chicle Nagurski just sold on ebay for 2K, ouch!

scotgreb

I started on the HOF baseball complete set a while back. This run is a great cure for boredom as it does not require specific cards -- just one card from each HOFer's playing days. You can go cheap or expensive -- or focus on completion % or rating. I'm focused predominantly on finishing -- rather than building a high grade set -- presentable PSA 1 T-206s or 'PSA 2-3 '33 Goudeys are good enough for me.

I also don't get caught up in my rating because I dont want to be tempted to add junk. In other words, I'd much rather have PSA 5 1958 Brooks Robinson than a PSA 10 1975 SSPC -- just my preference. I also routinely swap out one card for another; often a lower graded card just because I like it better.

I also like this set because it presents well in my basement and provides a visual history of baseball and the card collecting hobby. My only knock is that many HOFers do not have an eligible card -- so my set will never be truly complete.

Scott

Best In Grade SportsCards

Morgoth

scotgreb, in those sets they should really weight those cards so differently that a 1958 B-Rob in a 5 should still give a higher rating than a PSA 10 75 SSPC. My rating would be like this a 1958 B-Rob weight 5, grade 5, rating 25, 1975 SSPCS weight 1, grade 10, rating 10.

In this scenereo a PSA 2 1958 = a PSA 10 75 SSPC. Its about right to me.

I admire Perkdog for keeping the faith on his 52 set. I have scaled down to the 71 FB set in the last month.