Looking back on 2012

Foo3112

Looking back at this year, its crazy to think that we are already in November. My how time flies. With that being said, how has your collection changed from this time last year? Did you stay on path and continue to collect what you intended to? Did you sell off most of your collection off? Did you pick up your whale? Did you dabble in other sports?

For me, it was a little of everything listed above. I sold off a lot of my raw cards that I didnt intend to send in for grading in order to save up funds to purchase graded cards that I thought would make a better fit for my collection. I also did happen to pick up my white whale this year. I dont really collect raw cards anymore unless I plan on submitting. I also focused more on vintage. I did have some graded BGS/BVG cards that I cracked open and sent in to PSA so that all my cards would match. This time last year, I was all about raw cards. Today, I consider my graded cards as the main attraction in my collection.

How has your collection/collecting habbits changed within the past year?

BaltimoreYankee

For me, the past year has also seen a shift away from raw. My collection has always been primarily raw vintage (late '50's - 1975) HOFers. I have subbed a bunch of those to PSA, sold some other raw and now I primarily buy PSA graded cards. I just figure if and when the time comes to sell, it's much easier to sell graded.

fur72

Great topic.

This year I did some cleaning out, cut back a bit on collecting current releases and refocused on ongoing collection.

1. I got rid of all game used, autographed, relic/patch cards I didn't think would fit in my collection.

2. Cut back on collecting modren sets this year. I really only went after Topps Heritage and Topps Archives (Feel like I am missing one).

3. Trying to get focused on Sandberg set registry again. I made a mental note to buy one card a week and have pretty much keep to that rule.

4. Organization - this was a feat in itself but it helped me move all the game used / auto cards I didnt want to keep in my collection and gives me a good idea of what I still need to purge (Almost complete duplicate modren sets). It also showed me I still have sets I need to finish off as far back as 2004.

5. One regret I have is not keeping up with TTM at all. My goal is to get all 1985 Topps Chicago Cubs (1984 Team members) cards signed. Some of these guys are getting old.

BaltimoreYankee

Some of us changed our avatar too this year. I still can't get past the '61 Maris, Marc.

fur72

<< <i>Some of us changed our avatar too this year. I still can't get past the '61 Maris, Marc. >>



Me too, changed from Cubs to Bulls. No explanation necessary.

johnckhall

Ironically enough, I've only been back in collecting since Christmas of last year. My 11 yo son received several boxes of cards from "Santa" and the rest they say is history. We've been fervently searching and buying ever since. Take a look at our set registry link below at everything we've picked up just in the last year. Our goal in the next year is to keep working our way up on the PW rookie registry. We can't quite afford the 8-9 range, but nice mid grade cards are OK with us. I look forward to see what 2013 brings and thanks for the wealth of info we've learned here.

God Bless!

John Hall

PS: The '84 Donruss in our registry was always a favorite of mine back in the day. We'll try to upgrade the rest of those HOFers to 10's this year too.

Juggs

I've decided to focus mostly on HOF stars in PSA 5-8 for the 60's-70's-80's. I've done a decent job of that this past year, but after changing my mind a thousand times about how I wanted to manage my collection, I admit I've strayed from time to time. I feel pretty good about this moving forward and will probably begin selling some stuff to finance my collection.

BaltimoreYankee

Juggs - I'm very much into those grades too. Many bargains to be had!

Juggs

<< <i>Juggs - I'm very much into those grades too. Many bargains to be had! >>

Awesome, now I know who is bidding against me

It was funny, but I decided to do this about a month before the article in SMR came out about the guy who has the killer collection of this exact stuff. I was inspired by it.

If I ever double up on anything good, I'll let you know.

bighurt2000

2012 for me was the year I desided that from here on out I was only going to work on my Frank Thomas
Graded #1 Master Set. Have added nearly 100 PSA 10's to my Frank Thomas Set this year with two months to go.

I have started to sell off my extra graded and raw Frank Thomas cards as well as the rest of my
none Frank Thomas collection that I have picked up over the years to help pay for my Thomas cards.

James

jmmiller777

This year, I have been more confused than previous years. I am continuing my Topps Heritage run, started and stopped the Topps base set, GQ, and A&G. I also started Bowman Platinum, want to start Bowman Chrome. I started and completed (well almost) my Kelloggs HOF members run in PSA 9 or better (1970, 1972-1983) and started my Willie McCovey graded set (bought about 20 cards). I also started a real neat project. I purchased about 40 cards of HOF im combo cards from 1958-1969. These are multi player cards, all HOF in PSA 6-8. I collected only the ones I really liked and still need about 10 more from the same years. I also started my run of Homerun Leader cards in PSA 7 or above. These started in 1961 and I am focusing on getting them all up to 1980 and then will go forward. I have continued my hoarding of old 60-70's score cards and programs. I love that old stuff. I hope I settle down and can get more focused in 2013 than I have been this year. I'm starting with a case of 2013 Heritage and will prolly just buy complete Topps sets to keep the run going. I don't know, I need help. Really, I need help.

PhilG

This year I added 199 – 93 Finest Refractors to the hoard. Spent $3121.90 doing it. Largest single lot was for 75 refractors.
Phil

handyman

Ive started to like more Nm cards over Nm-Mt and Im almost completely done with buying MINT 9 Pre 1976 stuff.
Im like a little loved but good color and centering more and more.
I used to be Mint to Nm-Mt back in the day.

So back to the point. Ive become a Nm guy at this point.

MattyC

Great thread. Interesting to read how we all collect and change course.

2012 saw me change my focus of the past 7 years.

I was putting all my money into the highest-end 1975 Mini Registry Set I could build...

Then in December of 2011, I bought a 1952 Topps Mantle (PSA 3, nothing insane).

That card hastened my epiphany; I felt the Registry had led me astray like a drug, and so I kept my favorite key stars from the set, sold the rest through Rick, and put it all into my dream cards: namely the hobby's top cards (such as the top 250 in Orlando's book). I just went for what I loved most as the strongest examples surfaced, from Mantles to Jordans. I have stayed with that theme all year (and am pretty much tapped out budget wise for a hot, hot minute, lol).

I strayed from slab uniformity only when I felt it was smartest financially (BGS 9.5 Jeter with all 9+ subs vs the more expensive PSA 9s), when I preferred the card in a BGS slab (I wanted a Fleer Jordan RC that had the best centering possible, with that aspect quantified on the holder), or when it was the only option (BGS for Star Jordan RC).

So pretty much a year ago today my collection was entirely different.

I am also happier holding cards that have deeper and broader resale markets, in case I ever need to sell some to get another, or sell to raise cash in an emergency.

mygotta

This was my "come back year" since being on a hiatus for about 20 years. So basically it was all fresh for me, so I went head first in the waters. Did not come up with much, but I learned a lot! But since I began collecting this year, I have been more interested in collecting sealed boxes. I love opening packs, but as far as just getting cards, I have focused on reprising my Dale Murphy collection, but in a new light. I have not been taken by any new players to follow at the moment but there are some prospects. I started building a 1974 set which is at the moment one of the most satisfying projects of collecting right now. It has focus and organization more than my hoards of random cards that I have difficulty figuring out how best to organize. So I think I am gonna go into set building in the coming year (in addition to collecting boxes). I really like the Heritage sets which I am also collecting sealed boxes, but currently have only invested in 2012.

ThoseBackPages

2012 saw me at a crossroads. i am coming to the end of my card collecting road. Eight years ago i re-entered the hobby after a very long layoff. My Focus (one of many, like everyone else lol) is Post War HOF RCs in Baseball, and the more "popular" HOFers in Football. My quest has me needing just one baseball and a few Football players from finishing that goal.

Back in the spring of this year, after a 25+ year hiatus, i started collecting Comics again. That is what has 98% of my Focus as 2012 comes to a close.

itzagoner

oh, i know i had some goals, but the medication......oy.

PSA helped me make up my mind about collecting this year, since i haven't subbed anything for 6 months and counting, it's all about the raw for now.

i've thoroughly enjoyed reconnecting with the pleasure of holding and viewing well preserved vintage examples, particularly nice rookies and superstars i loved from my youth.

also picked up many more Dodgers to add.

in the meantime, happy to see a lot of nice graded stuff go to new homes. broke up '56 & '69 Topps baseball collections, as intended. lotta work, gotta find more.

WalterSobchak

I mostly kept on track, except I added a few more side projects: '60 Topps All-Star cards in PSA 8 (I only have four but those four include McCovey and Mays), and '53 Bowman Color in sharp/centered PSA 4 & 5. Adding side projects was a bad idea, since I'll probably never finish most of my main projects.

A big focus has been my raw/graded mix NM-MTish '70 Topps set, and I'm starting to get pretty close. Currently 22 cards short, with two in transit and three on my watch list. When I finish it, that will be my oldest complete set (which right now is '75T)

CW

<< <i>Ironically enough, I've only been back in collecting since Christmas of last year. My 11 yo son received several boxes of cards from "Santa" and the rest they say is history. We've been fervently searching and buying ever since. Take a look at our set registry link below at everything we've picked up just in the last year.... >>



Very nice start. Most importantly, it sounds like this is a nice way to enjoy something with your son. Good stuff!

fiveniner

Because of loss of 50% of income due to the loss of my wife I can not speak for 2012 however 2013 collecting is going to be much more conservative.

BunchOBull

2012 has been slow for me. I've only added a few dozen cards to my collection this year; mostly because I'm a bargain hunter and other obligations have kept me from beating the competition to the bargains. There have been a lot of cards I would have picked up if I had seen them first though!

The good news is, I have a son on the way, my first child, and I'll have a collecting buddy.

Piggs

So sorry about your year Tony, I know its' been a tough one for you. Don't let go of the hobby, it's nice having you around here. Doug

pdub1819

Well, I have one more card to complete my Musial Basic Registry, I have one card to complete my Ryan Topps Registry (I just sent it in to get graded), I began the Ripken Topps Registry during the year, didn't really pick up much....yet, and I think I am going to start the Aaron Basic Registry (I've only purchased one card so far).

My goal this year is to attend the National in Chicago, buy the '52 Bowman Musial that I need or some other iconic card that is available.

Paul

gc1213

2012 got me back into the hobby after being away since I was 16 (1996). I started out with a BGS 8.5 (9 centering) Fleer Jordan RC. I put together the entire 86-87 set minus the stickers and a few annoying singles I just can't find centered.

I caught the BBCE ripping bug in a major way and pulled some real beauties and crapped out more than a few times, LOL.

I dipped into baseball and grabbed my first Mantle, a great PSA 5 52 Bowman.

Wavered back and forth on a collecting focus and decided its 80s early 90's basketball for me. I've been merrily chasing MJ cards and Star Co cards ever since. Couldn't be happier being back in the hobby. Once I am happy with my basketball collection its over to early 80s and late 70s baseball!

I even snagged most of my whales in the 84 Star MJ trio and the Fleer RC. Great to be back collecting and enjoying this amazing hobby of ours!

digicat

Heh, in 2012, I ended up selling off the vast majority of my HoFer and key rookie card graded collection to finance the purchase of a minivan for my family. I then took the rest of the money and have been using it to further build out my SF Giants rookie card collection. Most of that collection is raw and will stay that way. I'm not into paying $5 to get a $5 card graded anymore.

nearmint

I acquired a few upgrades for my 60s football sets, notably my 1960 Fleer set. Here are a few of those:




Other than that, I bought quite a few sets of oddball cards just to be able to add them to my gallery site. Here are a few of those:





And, here and there, I picked up a few badly miscut cards for my uncut sheet projects. By looking at the miscut cards, I can piece together what the uncut sheets looked like. Here are a couple of examples:



These miscut 1967 Philly cards are helping with 1965 and 1966 Philly uncut sheets, too, since the sheets from the 3 years had the same configuration. You can see how they're progressing on my Uncut Sheets in Progress page.