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The incredible baseball card collection of Don Spence

DavalilloDavalillo Posts: 1,846 ✭✭
in PSA Set Registry Forum
This has got to be the best baseball card collection in the world. I am used to being behind Don in virtually every postwar set I collect so it was not a big surprise to me when I looked it up that Don had complete graded sets for 59 postwar baseball sets(excluding the basic/master set breakdown).

What shocked me is that he now has 62 complete graded prewar sets!! Another 19 are on the way toward completion. That is a staggering accomplishment.

Don won the top set award for 428 sets in 2010!!

Incredible accomplishment Don. Keep it up.

Jim

Comments

  • QUITCRABQUITCRAB Posts: 1,017 ✭✭✭
    How can we view his collection/checklist?
  • firedawg45firedawg45 Posts: 1,251 ✭✭✭
    when your a millionare you can buy everything you want.
    # 2 Pete Rose Master Set , also
    collecting 1977 topps baseball in psa 9 and psa 10
  • theczartheczar Posts: 1,590 ✭✭
    when your a millionare you can buy everything you want

    i think billonaire may be closer to the truth.

    he is every dealers dream and registrants nightmare.

    bottom line he is good for the hobby and SMR made him out to be a very decent man in a recent issue. my question is where does he store all of that stuff? no matter how large his home is he would need security similar to fort knox and the secret service to make sure no one robbed him or some sort of fire, tornado etc.
  • DavalilloDavalillo Posts: 1,846 ✭✭
    To check his sets, hit one that is open and then click an icon that says to view all his sets click here.

    While no doubt he has money, what comes through in the SMR article is his love of the game, love of the hobby and how he shares the collection with his family. I have met him a couple of times but I don't know him well. He seems like a great guy.

    Jim
  • StoogeStooge Posts: 4,665 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Here is a link to his sets:

    Donald E. Spence - The lone Star Collection

    I noticed he stopped at 1975 with the Topps sets...I wonder if he will continue through to some of the late 70's, early 80's sets!

    Later, Paul.

    Later, Paul.
  • PowderedH2OPowderedH2O Posts: 2,443 ✭✭
    Seems like a good guy. But kinda depressing to know that I can work on a set for a decade and he could wake up and decide he is interested and finish it in a week (or less).
    Successful dealings with shootybabitt, LarryP, Doctor K, thedutymon, billsgridirongreats, fattymacs, shagrotn77, pclpads, JMDVM, gumbyfan, itzagoner, rexvos, al032184, gregm13, californiacards3, mccardguy1, BigDaddyBowman, bigreddog, bobbyw8469, burke23, detroitfan2, drewsef, jeff8877, markmac, Goldlabels, swartz1, blee1, EarlsWorld, gseaman25, kcballboy, jimrad, leadoff4, weinhold, Mphilking, milbroco, msassin, meteoriteguy, rbeaton and gameusedhoop.
  • Mickey71Mickey71 Posts: 4,250 ✭✭✭✭
    Awesome collection.
  • hhmag70hhmag70 Posts: 2,107
    He has a great collection and the SMR story made him seem like a great guy. I do not really sell high end items but was shocked when I seen he was a buyer of an item I had, paid right away, left positive feedback, and I got a kick out of something I had was of interest to him for his collection.
  • jradke4jradke4 Posts: 3,573 ✭✭✭
    he has a great collection. i would love to be able to see some scans of a few of his key cards. to me its the scans that make the registry sets even better. with that i understand that it would probably take him the rest of his life to get all the scans done. then it would take another lifetime just to upload them all to the registry. they more than likely once he has it done, the registry would crash and he would lose most of them. i wish psa could come up with an easier way of uploading photos. having to do each one, one by one is quite time consuming.

    i would assum that he has gone past 1975. he has modern cards and sets in his collection as well.
    Packers Fan for Life
    Collecting:
    Brett Favre Master Set
    Favre Ticket Stubs
    Favre TD Reciever Autos
    Football HOF Player/etc. Auto Set
    Football HOF Rc's
  • MBMiller25MBMiller25 Posts: 6,057 ✭✭
    Quite impressive, i'de appreciate scans as well, but certainly understand that will the sheer volume he purchases, he can't get it done.
  • calaban7calaban7 Posts: 3,003 ✭✭✭
    Don Spence has a tremendous collection . It takes the means and also the vision to do what he has done .

    image--- Sonny
    " In a time of universal deceit , telling the truth is a revolutionary act " --- George Orwell
  • scotgrebscotgreb Posts: 809 ✭✭✭
    Great collection -- great guy -- great for the hobby

    Scott
    Focusing on baseball “playing years” HOFers. My HOF Set; https://psacard.com/psasetregistry/baseball/hall-fame-sets/hall-fame-players-managers-owners-executives-pioneers-commissioners-umpires/publishedset/77755

    Always plenty of PSA-graded cards in my ebay store -- https://ebay.com/str/thelumbercompanysportscards
  • dcaudle70dcaudle70 Posts: 124
    Just my opinion but having unlimited funds would change my game plan. It would no longer be any fun to buy already graded cards. The only way I think I would still enjoy graded cards would be buying unopened and then submitting myself. Building my 1975 Topps set within a dollar constaint is part of the fun/challenge for me and that would be taken away. But I could still have lotsa fun opening raw cards image
  • jradke4jradke4 Posts: 3,573 ✭✭✭


    << <i>Just my opinion but having unlimited funds would change my game plan. It would no longer be any fun to buy already graded cards. The only way I think I would still enjoy graded cards would be buying unopened and then submitting myself. Building my 1975 Topps set within a dollar constaint is part of the fun/challenge for me and that would be taken away. But I could still have lotsa fun opening raw cards image >>



    well if you have the funds it is probably more economical to buy the best looking high grade cards (buy the cards not the holders) then to do rips. that where are you going to get the supply of all those unopened t206's, '52 Topps etc?? even for modern your better off buying graded cards in most cases. how many case of 86-87 fleer bkb do you think you would have to rip to get 132 10's. then how many times to psa to get those 10's. i would say the fun of those rips just for the high grade cards that he goes after isnt there. imagine what you would think after you bust a case of 86 bkb and dont get a PSA 10 Jordan out of the lot??
    Packers Fan for Life
    Collecting:
    Brett Favre Master Set
    Favre Ticket Stubs
    Favre TD Reciever Autos
    Football HOF Player/etc. Auto Set
    Football HOF Rc's
  • calaban7calaban7 Posts: 3,003 ✭✭✭


    << <i>

    << <i>Just my opinion but having unlimited funds would change my game plan. It would no longer be any fun to buy already graded cards. The only way I think I would still enjoy graded cards would be buying unopened and then submitting myself. Building my 1975 Topps set within a dollar constaint is part of the fun/challenge for me and that would be taken away. But I could still have lotsa fun opening raw cards image >>



    well if you have the funds it is probably more economical to buy the best looking high grade cards (buy the cards not the holders) then to do rips. that where are you going to get the supply of all those unopened t206's, '52 Topps etc?? even for modern your better off buying graded cards in most cases. how many case of 86-87 fleer bkb do you think you would have to rip to get 132 10's. then how many times to psa to get those 10's. i would say the fun of those rips just for the high grade cards that he goes after isnt there. imagine what you would think after you bust a case of 86 bkb and dont get a PSA 10 Jordan out of the lot?? >>



    Agreed on your point.---- Sonny
    " In a time of universal deceit , telling the truth is a revolutionary act " --- George Orwell
  • dcaudle70dcaudle70 Posts: 124


    << <i>

    << <i>Just my opinion but having unlimited funds would change my game plan. It would no longer be any fun to buy already graded cards. The only way I think I would still enjoy graded cards would be buying unopened and then submitting myself. Building my 1975 Topps set within a dollar constaint is part of the fun/challenge for me and that would be taken away. But I could still have lotsa fun opening raw cards image >>



    well if you have the funds it is probably more economical to buy the best looking high grade cards (buy the cards not the holders) then to do rips. that where are you going to get the supply of all those unopened t206's, '52 Topps etc?? even for modern your better off buying graded cards in most cases. how many case of 86-87 fleer bkb do you think you would have to rip to get 132 10's. then how many times to psa to get those 10's. i would say the fun of those rips just for the high grade cards that he goes after isnt there. imagine what you would think after you bust a case of 86 bkb and dont get a PSA 10 Jordan out of the lot?? >>



    I'm speaking strictly on what I collect which is 1975 Topps. I would much rather bust and submit my own but due to cost really can't. I have no doubt busting rack cases looking for 9's and 10's would be much more fun than going to ebay and knowing I can outbid anybody for any card I want. Again that's just me. I understand for older stuff the unopened is not available.
  • PSASAPPSASAP Posts: 2,284 ✭✭✭
    Regarding the topic of unlimited vs. limited funds, is it more fun to be Billy Beane or Brian Cashman?
  • RipublicaninMassRipublicaninMass Posts: 10,051 ✭✭✭
    For the right price, I will scan all his cards image
  • waverleewaverlee Posts: 104 ✭


    << <i>Seems like a good guy. But kinda depressing to know that I can work on a set for a decade and he could wake up and decide he is interested and finish it in a week (or less). >>



    He can wake up one morning and he has made more money in his sleep than most people make in a decade.
  • theczartheczar Posts: 1,590 ✭✭
    He can wake up one morning and he has made more money in his sleep than most people make in a decade.

    that must be a long nap he has taken.
  • PSASAPPSASAP Posts: 2,284 ✭✭✭
    The same goes for Elvis and Michael Jackson. image
  • tyweb1tyweb1 Posts: 528 ✭✭
    Does anyone know his ebay id by chance?
    Link to my #1 Ron Santo Master Set
  • MCMLVToppsMCMLVTopps Posts: 4,823 ✭✭✭✭✭
    DES1728

    If you want to have a truly EYE-POPPING experience, go to the Registry and find 1955 Topps. DES has the #1 set by a long, long stretch, it's almost sick to see the cards he has in this set. Now, click the upper right corner DES1728's sets...it'll take a while to load, but you will truly be in awe.
  • greencrowgreencrow Posts: 867
    It surprised me to see that when Mr. Spence upgrades a card, he sell the lesser conditioned one. It would be cool to buy a card that he owned.
  • relaxedrelaxed Posts: 569 ✭
    A little over a week ago I saw a 1955 topps Mike Higgins PSA 9 for sale and I though this card isn't going to last to long since the price seem right. Sure enough it was picked up 4 hours later by Mr. Spence. The numbers he has for the set are truly off the charts.
    Collecting 1955 Topps BB
  • mexpo75mexpo75 Posts: 1,931 ✭✭✭✭
    I feel sort of honored that he purchased a card from me.
    PackManInNC
  • fattymacsfattymacs Posts: 2,579 ✭✭✭
    He has several very nice pre-war sets in the SGC registry as well.
  • tyweb1tyweb1 Posts: 528 ✭✭


    << <i>DES1728

    If you want to have a truly EYE-POPPING experience, go to the Registry and find 1955 Topps. DES has the #1 set by a long, long stretch, it's almost sick to see the cards he has in this set. Now, click the upper right corner DES1728's sets...it'll take a while to load, but you will truly be in awe. >>




    Thanks. He just outbid me on the 1975 Topps PSA 10 Ron Santo yesterday. I had a feeling it was him.
    Link to my #1 Ron Santo Master Set
  • theczartheczar Posts: 1,590 ✭✭
    I feel sort of honored that he purchased a card from me.

    i do not feel that way when he jacks up the price of a purchase that i made.
  • WalterSobchakWalterSobchak Posts: 2,096


    << <i>It surprised me to see that when Mr. Spence upgrades a card, he sell the lesser conditioned one. It would be cool to buy a card that he owned. >>



    I bought a 1956 Topps Campanella PSA 8 from him last year. It's absolutely beautiful. I'd sure love to see the card that made him decide to kick the one I own now to the curb.

    image
    'Sir, I realize it's been difficult for you to sleep at night without your EX/MT 1977 Topps Tom Seaver, but I swear to you that you'll get it safe and sound.'
    -CDs Nuts, 1/20/14

    *1956 Topps baseball- 97.4% complete, 7.24 GPA
    *Clemente basic set: 85.0% complete, 7.89 GPA
  • thehallmarkthehallmark Posts: 1,332 ✭✭✭
    How did Spence make his fortune?
  • greencrowgreencrow Posts: 867
    Oil
  • MintMoondogMintMoondog Posts: 969 ✭
    Dear Topps,
    thank you for not selling the 1975 Minis in Texas...MI and CA were just fine
    75 Minis - GET IN MY BELLY!
  • waxman2745waxman2745 Posts: 751 ✭✭✭
    His Nolan Ryan basic set has the highest graded cards for every issue except for 69 Topps and 88 Leaf...thought it was interesting that he is missing the Ryan 88 Leaf PSA 10 (a $60 card). I guess he just hasn't found one yet
    Adam
    buying O-Pee-Chee (OPC) baseball
  • SDSportsFanSDSportsFan Posts: 5,127 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>His Nolan Ryan basic set has the highest graded cards for every issue except for 69 Topps and 88 Leaf...thought it was interesting that he is missing the Ryan 88 Leaf PSA 10 (a $60 card). I guess he just hasn't found one yet >>



    Lucky for me he didn't bid on the '88 Leaf PSA 10 I got late last year on ebay image

    Steve
  • mbothnermbothner Posts: 761 ✭✭✭


    << <i>Seems like a good guy. But kinda depressing to know that I can work on a set for a decade and he could wake up and decide he is interested and finish it in a week (or less). >>



    I put alot of effort into my 1972 Topps Pirates set which includes the World Series cards. I worked my way up and finally had all 9's and 10's and had the number one set. Don Spence added his set one day and my set is now a distant second.
    My Registry Sets
  • aconteaconte Posts: 2,053 ✭✭✭
    I'm surprised he has not done a 1953 red man set. That is a favorite from the 50's!

    aconte
  • ahkmedbinladenahkmedbinladen Posts: 494 ✭✭
    Yes, his collection certainly dwarfs Davalillos.
  • HoofHeartedHoofHearted Posts: 2,537 ✭✭


    << <i>Quite impressive, i'de appreciate scans as well, but certainly understand that will the sheer volume he purchases, he can't get it done. >>



    I think it would be safe to assume that he can afford to hire someone to search for and display (scan) the cards for him...

    Museum quality stuff, for sure!
    imageimageimageSenators/Twins Type Collection
  • MiniMasterMiniMaster Posts: 505 ✭✭
    Truely a remarkable collection. It's missing an "iconic" 75 Topps Mini Set....lol. I see he has the #1 75 Topps (standard) set on the PSA Registry.
  • bkingbking Posts: 3,095 ✭✭
    While his stuff is amazing in it's scope and quality, I've just never considered this as collecting. Somehow, I just never picture him pouring over auctions/raw lots. etc. trying to assemble a set. I'm probably way off base, but that's just the visual I get.
    ----------------------
    Working on the following: 1970 Baseball PSA, 1970-1976 Raw, World Series Subsets PSA, 1969 Expansion Teams PSA, Fleer World Series Sets, Texas Rangers Topps Run 1972-1989
    ----------------------

    Successful deals to date: thedudeabides,gameusedhoop,golfcollector,tigerdean,treetop,bkritz, CapeMOGuy,WeekendHacker,jeff8877,backbidder,Salinas,milbroco,bbuckner22,VitoCo1972,ddfamf,gemint,K,fatty macs,waltersobchak,dboneesq
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