Set Building Strategy

japhi

Hey there. Long time lurker, first post...

I'm back in the hobby after a 20 year break. I collect mostly hockey, and the past year have put together all of the OPC sets from the 80s. Also attepting to put together a master set of top 100 NHL scorers base cards prior to '90. Spending money like crazy and having a lot of fun.

I'm going to start working on the opc hockey sets from the 70s and am curious about what the board thinks is the best way to go about it. What I did with the 80s was buy complete, highish grade sets. What I found was the key cards would be in exmt and most of the set would grade similar. Overall I'm not super happy with the sets I got, and 80s hockey is not like 80s BB, the sets can get expensive.

I'm wondering if there is a better way to approach the 70s sets. My instinct is to buy the stars in nrmt and then slowly pick through ebay to get centered high grade commons. Does this sound like the way to build high grade sets? Breaking was/vending is not an option as supply is insanely limited and very expensive. Buying starter sets might work but my experience is most of the cards have flaws, and centering is usually weak.

How does everyone approach set building?

Stone193

Hi there japhi!

Welcome back!

I'm sure you'll get loads of advice on set collecting.

I combed all the shows for commons in my "set days" - also occasionally someone will have a "lot" of cards to buy. I guess it depends on your patience?

I like the idea of picking up "key" cards in better grade to highlight the set.

Good luck and I'm looking forward to your posts on your progress.

Aric

I think it depends if you want to "build" sets or if you just want to acquire high grade sets. Building a high-grade set is a labor of love and will cost you much, much more in time versus simply shelling out the extra cash for a near-mint set. If you are not finding the quality of sets on ebay that you are looking for you could try the auction houses as that is were the nicer sets will usually be sold.

Mapleleaf

Welcome! It's always good to hear from another hockey collector.

I collect hockey as well and I have found that there are not many high grade sets out there, at least not in OPC. I've opened quite a few boxes of 80's wax, back in the 80's and then occasionally over the last 20 years. Plus I have bought dozens of sets from the 80's, always going through them to upgrade my "keeper set". I stopped because I wasn't getting any upgrades. The result is that I have decent 80's sets but if I sent every card to PSA, I would probably average a 7 to 8 grade.

It's even harder once you get to the 70's. Ex-mint is about the best you will get and if you check the Pop reports, there isn't really that many high grade cards period. Again I'm assuming you're collecting OPC.
Topps is generally easier to find in better condition.

I've had no luck buying raw cards from ebay. They are always over graded by sellers compared to PSA standards. Mint is usually NM 7 and a blurry scan to boot.
So I switched to collecting PSA graded cards as it was more cost effective to buy high grade cards that way and I'm in the process of selling my raw sets.

japhi

Thanks Stone.

Aric - labour of love for sure, should be a fun journey. I'm like a kid in a candy shop buying all the cards I couldn't afford when I was a kid.

Mapleleaf -I'm collecting OPC only - 70's topps is too easy - and your experience is the same as mine. Although, it seems like a seller will get a bunch of nice cards and you can pick through them for nice centered cards, and slowly build a set. That's what I've started doing with 79-80 and 74-75 after seeing how beat up the sets are from those years. 74-75 is going to be a fun search for centred cards, so many miscuts from that year. Finding a nice Potvin should be a good challenge. Am also buying the star cards graded whenever possible as well.

Mapleleaf

74/75 is an interesting year. Not much around and I find the cards are not that attractive but that somehow adds to their appeal.
I'm working on 70, 71 and 73 in ungraded condition as they are easier to find in nice shape. If I get one that has a shot at an 8, I send it in to get graded which makes it hard to finish an ungraded set.

I agree - the cards are cheap compared to when I was a kid. Back then I spent all my money on them.

ludedude

I think that 1974-75 OPC (PSA) is one of the hardest set. The POP is very low. Even PSA 6 or 7's are hard to find.

76collector

I think it depends if you want to "build" sets or if you just want to acquire high grade sets. Building a high-grade set is a labor of love and will cost you much, much more in time versus simply shelling out the extra cash for a near-mint set. If you are not finding the quality of sets on ebay that you are looking for you could try the auction houses as that is were the nicer sets will usually be sold.

I totally agree. I like to "build" the sets. I buy lots on ebay and resell the doubles, and continue to make my set nicer. This has been really rewarding for me and I've now completed my 76 Topps baseball set in nm/mt condition or better. Like Aric said, it was probably much more expensive this way, but I had a lot more fun along the way, and didn't have to wait to save up the money for a complete set in the condition I liked. A few lots per month would show up at my house, and I would swap out the better cards and resell. Good luck in whichever route you choose.

japhi

Gotta love Middleton cards and that shat eating grin. What would this 74 grade at?

islesFan

Hey japhi. Just read your post and describes me as well. Been out of the hobby for probably 15 years and just purchased 8 complete sets of 80's OPC hockey. All sets i had when i collected as a kid but sold over the years. Also started picking up PSA 8 graded cards of rookies and star cards. My goal is to have all sets complete with every valuable card graded. Working on 79-80 and then moving on to the 70's.

japhi

Right on, that's basically my exact plan. Nice 79-80 cards are going to be a challenge.

What grade gretz are you going to buy? I'd love a well centered 7.

islesFan

Was hoping to get a 8 but i've found the prices have gone quite a bit in the last year so i might have to settle for a nicely centered 7.

Mapleleaf

<< <i>Gotta love Middleton cards and that shat eating grin. What would this 74 grade at?


>>



Hard to say without seeing the surface but the O/C top bottom and top left corner ding would make it a 7 at best.

japhi

That's what I figured, bought it as exmt and thought that was a fair description.

BenG76

I dont know anything about Hockey or Hockey cards. I do think the sets I have built over time were more rewarding and mean alot more to me. It fun to hunt down the cards you need and trade and buy from different people to finish them.