1952 Topps set build

vettfanatic · December 4, 2010 1:05AM

I know other threads have been started for building the 52 Topps set, but they usually fizzle out for some reason or another. I don't plan on letting that happen. I'm not saying i'm going to be putting this together at a record pace either. I will pick up cards as I have extra money available. I'm not a wealthy man by any means and don't plan on building a very high grade set. I'm going to stick with PSA 5's and 6's for now. I'll be posting pictures of cards as I recieve them so follow along if your interested. Here's the first card that I just got in the mail.

Thanks for reading
Jeff

KeepItWarm · December 4, 2010 1:14AM

I'd like to ask: what does anyone building this set do when 'Mantle time' comes???

Will you actually drop $10-15K for the card?

WalterSobchak · December 4, 2010 1:24AM

Nice card to start your journey, and best of luck. The longer it takes, the sweeter it will be when you get that last card!

I am doing the same thing with the '56 baseball set. I have gotten a good start on it this year, but the pace will now slow down dramatically. I'm looking at it as a 10-year project, so I have to average a little over two cards a month from here on out.

(Also, yeah........ what is your Mantle strategy??)

Dboneesq · December 4, 2010 1:41AM

Jeff,

Good luck with the set. In addition to the "Mantle Strategy", what's it going to cost for the high numbers in that condition? If you don't mind asking, what did that high number cost you? I'm sure you have looked into it ... WITHOUT the Mantle, what do you think the set is going to cost in that grade? To me a '52 set in 5/6 IS a HIGH graded set.

Edited to add: OK, I see it cost $200.00 for Pellagrini

Pigs · December 4, 2010 2:12AM

Good luck with your search, and have fun with it. It is one of the great sets ever. As far as the Mantle goes, cross that bridge when you come to it and just keep on working on other cards in the set in mean time.

baseballfan · December 4, 2010 4:23AM

good luck

i'm doing it in raw condition low's between psa 4-6 condition and a little less for hi's. my mantle is going to be PSA graded, i think it has to be, probably a 1-2 what ever i can afford at the time. i'll need to upgrade a couple i have but i'll do that as the cards pop up. i have some graded in PSA 5-6-7 so if you need some let me know if you have raw to trade

good luck with yours

pdub1819 · December 4, 2010 5:00AM

This thread on the Set Registry Board might be a little helpful on your journey. Here's the link: "Official '52 Set Thread"

vettfanatic · December 4, 2010 6:54AM

As for my Mantle strategy I havn't put a ton of thought into it yet. Like pigs said i'll cross that bridge when I get to it. Most likely I will get a lower grade one. Probably a PSA 3

I figure the set will cost somewhere in the range of $60,000 to complete. If anyone can help out with some cards feel free to contact me. Thanks Jeff

vettfanatic · December 6, 2010 8:58AM

A couple more commons arrived today.

benderbroeth · December 6, 2010 9:49AM

mine will be in the psa 1-2 range lol

Dboneesq · December 6, 2010 11:33AM

Very nice Coogan. I assume that's a hair on the scanner.

Dboneesq · December 6, 2010 11:39AM

Looking at this tread made me go to THE REGISTRY to look at some of the '52 sets. Marshall Fogel has the Mantle in a "TEN"!! Amazing ... he has a picture of it as well.

yankeeno7 · December 6, 2010 1:59PM

I have a PSA 5 Curt Simmons if you are looking for that one. Just take a look in my photobucket under "Graded Cards"

vettfanatic · December 7, 2010 6:39AM

<< Very nice Coogan. I assume that's a hair on the scanner. >>

Yes thats a hair from my dog on the scanner. No matter what the dog hair seems to get everywhere.

Very nice Curt Simmons Yankeeno7. I'm definitely interested. Could you please PM me your price. Thanks.

canjond · December 7, 2010 6:52AM

It's interesting to see your approach. Around Thanksgiving, I decided I was going to do the '52 Topps set so started with a "2" Mantle but haven't really gotten past that point yet. My strategy will be to pick up a "lot" of the high numbers, as the basic set seems pretty easy to me.

canjond · December 7, 2010 6:53AM

Here was the Mantle I started with... nicely centered IMO.

5714Ks · December 7, 2010 6:55AM

good luck on your set!

Dboneesq · December 7, 2010 7:06AM

Good Luck to ALL you guys who are attempting to put together THE SET! Keep us in the loop.

BTW ... I agree, that's a nice looking "2". Centering on that card is important, IMO.

vettfanatic · December 7, 2010 7:12AM

<< Here was the Mantle I started with... nicely centered IMO.

>>

Nice Mantle! If you don't mind me asking how much did you pick it up for?

fiveniner · December 7, 2010 7:22AM

<< Good Luck to ALL you guys who are attempting to put together THE SET! Keep us in the loop.

BTW ... I agree, that's a nice looking "2". Centering on that card is important, IMO. >>

I fully second what my good freind Doug Sez.If I were 20 years younger I would start the set even if they were all Poor.I kringe when I think of how many times I ran across 52 topps for a buck a piece or less in the early to mid 70s.All I bought were 1952 Tiger Cards at that time and never considered the entire set.Now I wish I had.I was single then and had money to spend.

bobbyw8469 · December 7, 2010 9:43AM

PWCC seems to have some '52 Topps that are really cheap according to VCP averages......they are selling on Ebay now.....

canjond · December 7, 2010 12:27PM

<< Nice Mantle! If you don't mind me asking how much did you pick it up for? >>

No worries. A tick under $5k. I purchased it online and when I got it in hand, I was quite pleased. It was actually much nicer than the scans appear. All in all, I am quite happy with it.

vettfanatic · December 12, 2010 9:30AM

Well I recieved a couple more cards this last week. Unfortunately I havn't been able to add them to my set yet because someone still has them listed in their inventory. The Joe Rossi is a little farther off center then I would like, but it will do for now.

KeepItWarm · December 12, 2010 9:59AM

Very cool looking cards. Keep posting them as you add them...

vettfanatic · December 13, 2010 6:44AM

Just got my first big card from the postman today. It has the black back which has a much lower pop then the redback, but that just might be because there hasn't been a lot of them relabeled.

Downtown1974 · December 13, 2010 8:34AM

Great looking Pafko!

vettfanatic · December 24, 2010 10:59PM

Another one added to the set. I'm loving the high numbers!!!

vettfanatic · January 15, 2011 9:27AM

I noticed there's another member that just started this set doing a similar thread as this one. I think its awesome!! Keeps me motivated seeing his progress. Well here's another couple of beautifully centered high numbers that I recieved. Please feel free to leave comments or critcisms.

Thanks for looking
Jeff

vettfanatic · January 16, 2011 3:01AM

As i've been registering all the cards purchased on the PSA website i've also been keeping track of what each card cost me. I've now added that total to my sig line and will edit it with every card purchased so that anyone interested can see what this beast cost. I'm only 10 cards in and the number is already pretty high. Have a great day.

vettfanatic · January 22, 2011 5:08AM

A couple more added to the set. I'm still intrigued by the high numbers.

SidePocket · January 22, 2011 1:16PM

That's a great set to go after and I like the way you're paying attention to centering (although the Yvars bothers me with the diamond cut). It's also cool that you're tracking the cost since we're always to polite to ask. Keep it up and good luck!

vettfanatic · May 25, 2011 3:53AM

After a bit of a break from this beast I just picked up a couple more. I said this wasn't gonna be a fast mover, but I won't give up no matter how long it takes.

YogiBerraFan · May 25, 2011 4:06AM

Nice additions. Keep it going

Sean1125 · May 25, 2011 5:16AM

Actually looking for a mantle in psa 3-7 lmk if you find one...

KbKards · May 25, 2011 5:43AM

You could knock the whole thing out in tonight's Legendary auction.

vettfanatic · July 2, 2011 10:52AM

Added 2 more high numbers to the set. Boy these high numbers sure get expensive.

vettfanatic · July 28, 2011 7:05AM

4 more cards added to the set. My first HOF and 3 more high numbers.

Piggs · July 28, 2011 11:33AM

You have a nice set going Jeff. I also have been collecting the '52 set (among others) for years now. You are much more advanced in the high numbers than I. Just got this Post in the mail today. Very difficult to find a centered left to right card of him. Keep up the good work, it looks like you are plugging right along. Nice George Kell by the way. Take care. Doug

vettfanatic · November 15, 2011 8:14AM

Long overdue update. Still plugging along slowly. 2 more cards added.

pclpads · November 16, 2011 3:03AM

Jeff - scans sent.

Dboneesq · November 16, 2011 4:31AM

Thanks for the update. Always nice to watch someone building a '52 set. Don't see it too often.

yankeeno7 · November 16, 2011 4:48AM

Awesome quest! After this, you can do the T206 set

jeff8877 · November 16, 2011 4:56AM

Jeff...love those centered copies. You probably outbid me on them...lol. Enjoy the ride!

Jeff

benderbroeth · November 16, 2011 9:52AM

i plan to bulid a horizontal signed set...

Piggs · November 16, 2011 1:20PM

Keep it rollin. That Seminick looks better than a 5 IMO. Doug

vettfanatic · November 22, 2011 8:53AM

Some more beauties just came in the mail. Thanks to fellow board member pclpads (Dave) for selling me these. On the advice of an earlier post from piggs I picked up the well centered Wally Post and some other hard to find centered cards.

Dboneesq · November 22, 2011 9:06AM

Very nice pickups. Love the centering.

TmbrWolf22 · November 22, 2011 9:31AM

I am a football collector, and know virtually nothing about this set, or any other baseball set for that matter. I have a question though. Do all the black backs have the name of the player offcenter in the box on the front? eg.Pafko. Good luck with this monster. You look as though you are moving right along with it.

pclpads · November 22, 2011 12:09PM

Jeff - thanks for the pub. They all look so good posted, almost wish I'd kept them! LOL! Great luck on your pursuit!
Dave

vettfanatic · November 24, 2011 12:20AM

<< I am a football collector, and know virtually nothing about this set, or any other baseball set for that matter. I have a question though. Do all the black backs have the name of the player offcenter in the box on the front? eg.Pafko. Good luck with this monster. You look as though you are moving right along with it. >>

Interesting observation. To answer your question the blacks and redbacks are the same in regards to there names on the front. I dont know what determined the placement of names in those boxes. Maybe someone with more insight can chime in and answer that question.

Piggs · November 24, 2011 1:31AM

Really nice cards. The Crandall is even tougher to find centered left to right than the Post, so you did very well on both. Keep it going. Doug

1952 Topps set build

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