Population of 1970s High Grade raw sets?

CollectorAtWork

For one of my side projects, I am looking to complete a set run from my birth (1973) to when I stopped collecting as a kid (1991). I am not looking to get these cards graded, but would like relatively high grade cards, that would probably grade around 7-8 on average if I did send them in. I have completed most of the 80s already, so I'm working on the 70s.

The question I have is whether there is a rough multiplier to guess how many raw high grade sets there are out there for the 1970s sets? For example, if I look at the PSA pop reports, and randomly pick a card, for example 1975 Topps #25 Lee May has approximately 300 cards graded 7 or above. Given that number, would you say there would be approximately 6000 high grade raw sets out there if the multiplier is 20? Is that a good estimate or is there a better estimate? Or is it better to use the most desirable card in the set, such as the #223 Yount in this case of which there are approximately 3500 cards graded PSA 7 or above, and try to use a multiplier on that card? Any ideas on this? Thanks!

mattinglymint23

Initial thought for me on this is that you are looking to estimate how difficult your search for cards will be and therefor you should make your estimate based on the low pop high grade cards
It's not an exact science because someone can always argue that people are out there sitting on high grade raw commons
But my point is somewhere in between the low pop commons and the Younts and Bretts is your number

CollectorAtWork

Thanks for the info. I'll try to use that. In general, I guess I'm trying to purchase multiple high grade raw sets from ebay, and then just get the best card from each set to keep, and sell off the rest. Then I'd try to fill in any low grade cards that were still there. I'm trying to strategize on patient I can be on the pricing and the grade when buying these sets. Thanks again!

Estil

I would advise to at least get the top 5-10 or so cards in each set in PSA graded form, even if it's just a 7 or something (like I do). If for no reason but to make sure you don't accidentally get stuck with a trimmed or otherwise compromised card.

Now if only I could get around to getting the last below graded cards I need to finish my 1976-79 sets...

PS: I would love someday to get back into restarting 1974-75 or even 1973 someday but I currently got my hands plenty full enough with my early/mid 90s insert set project.

PowderedH2O

For 1975, I would guess that there are many more than 6,000 sets of 7-8 raw calibre out there. Just using some basic statistics logic, would it be safe to assume that there are at least ten collectors in a moderately sized US city that have collections that have at least Ex-Mt/Mint 1975 sets in them? I would think that's a fair guess. I'll take Boise, Idaho for example with 200,000 people. There have to be at least ten collectors with that set in the Boise area. And other cities like Greensboro NC, Baton Rouge LA, Orlando FL, Reno NV, etc... of similar populations, they are probably the same. Then you start looking at the bigger cities with populations that are much bigger, and you have to figure that there are a lot more. Boise is the 98th biggest city. How many more of these sets are in Dallas, which is six times as large? A lot of these collectors put their cards away fresh out of the pack, and they have maintained a 7-8 level.

And don't doubt that there are still tons of raw cards out there. I have a nice raw 75 set myself. A few years ago, I had a job doing home inspections for people buying and selling houses. I would climb through attics, and I saw dozens of houses where boxes of baseball cards were up in the attic from when a son had gone off to college. The 1970's were well represented. So, the cards are not rare in nice condition, IMHO.

JustinsShoebox

I assembled a raw 1975 set cherry picked from card shops, fresh vending, and other sources around the country. All are high grade range and I took careful attention to centering. I don't have any intention of grading this set as I built it to enjoy. I'd imagine there are many others out there that have done what I have done, so I'm sure they are out there. I'm also building a NM+ raw 1971 set, to which my intention is similar...probably won't grade it out.

A few weeks back I saw the nicest 1972 Baseball raw set that I had ever seen. It was priced around 2300.00. I may pull back and pick that one up...still in the back of my mind.

Justin

ShreveBo

There are tons of cards from the 70's out there that still have four sharp corners. Some are even pristine.

ClockworkAngel

<< <i>I assembled a raw 1975 set cherry picked from card shops, fresh vending, and other sources around the country. All are high grade range and I took careful attention to centering. I don't have any intention of grading this set as I built it to enjoy. I'd imagine there are many others out there that have done what I have done, so I'm sure they are out there. I'm also building a NM+ raw 1971 set, to which my intention is similar...probably won't grade it out.

A few weeks back I saw the nicest 1972 Baseball raw set that I had ever seen. It was priced around 2300.00. I may pull back and pick that one up...still in the back of my mind.

Justin >>



I did as well. You and I probably cherry picked the same shops, judging by our locations.

To the OP's point, it's tougher and tough as everyone is wising up to getting cards graded. I am doing the exact same project starting with 1970 and having a hard time. It's just a matter of getting lucky at a card shop or 2. I have everything going back to 1977 and also 1975, so missing 1970-1974 and 1976. the 76 in particular seems to be very difficult

gemint

I would guess there are more than ten thousand high grade sets from each year, maybe with the exception of 1971, floating around out there. Of course some of these high grade sets would be comprised of cherry picking the best cards out of mid grade sets. I've never had a problem finding high grade 70s raw sets when I'm looking for them. I recently picked up a nice '73 set on eBay and have bought multiple raw sets from 1974-6 over the past year. About ten years ago, I bought six NM-MT 1975 regular sets, two 1976 sets and three 1977 sets all built from vending from the same person on eBay. I still have the '76-77 sets. The 1975 sets I graded all the stars (most graded 8), put the nicest commons in my primary set that I kept and sold off the remaining 5. I assume those sets are still floating around mostly raw out there somewhere.

Then you need to consider all the vending, wax and rack that are unopened out there still. I'm sure Fritsch still has a lot of high end stuff that they don't pass along to us regular Joe's when we order their sets or individual cards.

Griffins

<< <i>There are tons of cards from the 70's out there that still have four sharp corners. Some are even pristine. >>



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<< <i>I'm sure Fritsch still has a lot of high end stuff >>



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