Question about set building.

Mires

To all those that build sets. What's it like to spend money on cards of people you know little to nothing about? What motivates you? Looking for a little advice as to how some of you go about building a set. I admire complete sets and those who put them together. I've thought about doing the same, but after looking at cards of players I've never heard of it's hard to justify me spending money on them. It's like the guys who put together T206's. They never had a chance to see them play, but yet they spend thousands on them. Hopefully, I don't sound like I'm trying to put everyone down, cause I'm not. I'm just trying to decide if it's for me. I love the 71 and 72 basketball set, but I was born in 81 and didn't get into basketball until I was about 10, so I never saw any of those guys in their prime. Heck, ever Larry Bird and Magic Johnson's careers were pretty much over at that point.

This all might seem weird coming from a guy who collects Maravich, who was dead by the time I got into basketball, but after watching highlight videos on Youtube, and learning alot about him I was immediately drawn to him. I can understand the same thing about 60's and 70's HOF's like Wilt Chamberlain, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, but the ones who weren't stars or HOF's, what motivates you to collect those guys? Is it just the accomplishment of finding every card of a set you like to look at?

Indy78

For me, I'm a fan of the set I collect, not necessarily the players.

r00kies101

You can also ask, what it's like to spend money on pieces of cardboard paper. Collectors will see the value in anything.

Mires

<< <i>You can also ask, what it's like to spend money on pieces of cardboard paper. Collectors will see the value in anything. >>



Yeah, poor choice of words on my part. Not questioning the value. I'm just trying to get different opinions on what motivates you to build a set? I think we all have our reasons as to why we collect what we do. As a new collector, I just haven't found my focus yet. Even though my plan was to collect the Maravich basic set, which is only 11 cards, I'm starting to rethink it because I think a few of the cards aren't the greatest looking. It might seem trivial to some, but working with a limited budget I've got to be picky. lol

PSASAP

You can always learn something by collecting players you've never heard about or seen play. There's no such thing as too much knowledge. :-)

arex

I've tried to put together sets but have never really been focused enough to complete one. I'm slowly working on 63 Fleer baseball and feel confident ill finish it. Heck it's only a 66 card set though so it won't take a lot of focus to chase down those cards.
I'm also working on a 54 bowman set. Small set size again and am not really in a hurry.
If you can define it as a "set" the. I collect HOFers in baseball. It's what I have found I truly love to collect. I think there is something magical about getting in a nice HOF player from the 1950s to early 60s. Even though I was born in 76 and grew up just hearing about them I love that period in baseball.
It took me a while to get to where I am. I first started with trying to only get nm or better stars and HoFers but have found the nice eye appeal mid grade both is visually appealing and budget friendly.
Here is to hoping you find your niche and enjoy this wonderful hobby.
Arex

gemint

For me, most of the players from the sets I collect I've heard of even if I didn't see them play live or even if I wasn't alive when they played. I strictly focus on post-war sets as that is where most of my interest lies in terms of baseball history. It's good to have a focus and stick with it. That can be hard with the registry because there are all kinds of parallel sets that you can get hooked into. For example, you register a 1971 set and then you see master sets of players within that set which you can collect. Imagine originally intending to build just the 1984 Donruss set. Then you see you can register a Roger Clemens master set that contains the '84 Donruss Clemens. Before you know it, you are chasing his Leaf, Topps, Score, Pinnacle, rare inserts, etc. Before you know it, the Clemens set you didn't originally plan on building becomes a larger project than the Donruss set itself. So plan out what you like to collect and stick to it. That will prevent the burn out that has caused some set builders to give up and sell everything off.

You touch on another key driver with the Maravich example. You see highlights of him, see his stats, maybe follow a team he used to play for and before you know it, you want his cards. Watch 61* and then tell yourself you wouldn't want to have a '61 Mantle and Maris card. In terms of common players, I enjoy the challenge of building a whole set of high grade, well centered cards. Sometimes the common players are harder to find than the stars since people often started protecting the star cards when plastic sheets become prominent in the 1970s. Dealers have traditionally kept the valuable cards secured in display cases at shows while commons where left out in binders for collectors to pull out, observe, and then damaging a corner or two while stuffing the card back into the sleeves.

I'm sure for some, set building is driven by the registry competition itself. There's nothing wrong with that. For me, the registry is a nice accessory but not my motivation. I have no interest in striving for the #1 position. If I have a #1 ranked set, it's by accident and probably won't stay there for long. Collect what you enjoy and share your experiences in the forums. That will ensure you continue to enjoy this great hobby.

billwaltonsbeard

Speaking for myself, I think it's just the thrill of the hunt. It's a challenge. Working towards completing a set that at one point you may have thought impossible to complete is a very exciting thing.

That being said, I strongly suggest you start working on your PSA 9 1986 Fleer basketball set ASAP. Let me know if you need any help

joejoemay

I think mostly I like to collect sets that I never finished as a kid...(And PSA collecting is just a way to revive my card collecting passion). To me commons complete the story...look at the Bake McBride's or Gary Maddox's cards from the late 70's cards or the 72' Billy Cowan card (He was on the Angles and posed with a halo over his head...why hasn't anyone else done that?). It's not for everyone, because like you said you don't really care about those you don't know or have seen play. I don't collect guys from before my time much either but when I do collect I want the entire set, it tells the story of that season....for instance a 1980 or 81 baseball set wouldn't be complete without the likes of J.R. Richard (Look him up, hell of a story) or a 1992 set free of Tim Crews, Steve Olin and Bob Ojeda. In the end collect what you want...as for T-206 or Ruth or Cobb cards. I'd collect them if I had the money because of who they were.

LarkinCollector

Even the commons in a set are the fraction of one percent that actually made their childhood dream come true and made it to the 'bigs' and on a card. Who am I to neglect their success, however short lived it may have been?

JoeBanzai

That's why the "set" I collect is a collection of a single player, someone I saw play and admired. For me this is MUCH more rewarding than paying for players I have never heard of or don't even like.

japhi

I collect hockey HOF players / rookies. Anyone who's careers finished before 1985 or so I don't remember seeing play. What I'm loving about collecting this set is learning about all the old time players as I research and acquire the cards, kind of like a history of hockey project.

Dboneesq

<< <i>I love the 71 and 72 basketball set >>


The above are your words ... isn't that enough?

detroitlion20

I choose a player set insted of a company set simply because the player was one of my childhood heros and was big when i first started collecting cards. By choosing a player insted of a company set you can always look forward to collecting that player and finding new cards that you never new existed back then. By the way the player is Bo Jackson.
Bottom line is collect what you like and like what you collect also have fun doing so.

bishop

I am 62 and have been actively collecting since 1957. I have a full Topps run and since I have always been a baseball fan, with a few exceptions from the 48 and 52 to 55 sets, am pretty familiar with most players in each set.

Mires

<< <i>You can always learn something by collecting players you've never heard about or seen play. There's no such thing as too much knowledge. :-) >>



I learned that lessen recently after reading a mailday thread on a different forum where someone picked up a 57 Topps Maurice Stokes. I had never heard of him, but after looking up his story I wanted to pick one up. Who knows when I'll get it, but the story is one I'll never forget.



<< <i>If you can define it as a "set" the. I collect HOFers in baseball. It's what I have found I truly love to collect. I think there is something magical about getting in a nice HOF player from the 1950s to early 60s. Even though I was born in 76 and grew up just hearing about them I love that period in baseball. >>



I can understand your excitment. Even someone like me, who doesn't keep up with baseball can see something magical in a 50's great/HOF'er like Mickey Mantle. The name alone is legendary. That's why I'm in awe of some of the collections I see on this site, especially from the 50's and 60's.



<< <i>It's good to have a focus and stick with it. That can be hard with the registry because there are all kinds of parallel sets that you can get hooked into. For example, you register a 1971 set and then you see master sets of players within that set which you can collect. Imagine originally intending to build just the 1984 Donruss set. Then you see you can register a Roger Clemens master set that contains the '84 Donruss Clemens. Before you know it, you are chasing his Leaf, Topps, Score, Pinnacle, rare inserts, etc. Before you know it, the Clemens set you didn't originally plan on building becomes a larger project than the Donruss set itself. So plan out what you like to collect and stick to it. That will prevent the burn out that has caused some set builders to give up and sell everything off.

You touch on another key driver with the Maravich example. You see highlights of him, see his stats, maybe follow a team he used to play for and before you know it, you want his cards. Watch 61* and then tell yourself you wouldn't want to have a '61 Mantle and Maris card. In terms of common players, I enjoy the challenge of building a whole set of high grade, well centered cards. Sometimes the common players are harder to find than the stars since people often started protecting the star cards when plastic sheets become prominent in the 1970s. Dealers have traditionally kept the valuable cards secured in display cases at shows while commons where left out in binders for collectors to pull out, observe, and then damaging a corner or two while stuffing the card back into the sleeves.

I'm sure for some, set building is driven by the registry competition itself. There's nothing wrong with that. For me, the registry is a nice accessory but not my motivation. I have no interest in striving for the #1 position. If I have a #1 ranked set, it's by accident and probably won't stay there for long. Collect what you enjoy and share your experiences in the forums. That will ensure you continue to enjoy this great hobby. >>



Collecting Maravich is what got me looking at sets. The 71 Topps Maravich is a great psychedelic card. So is the whole set, and the 72 Topps set as well. Then there are sets like the 79 Topps set where the Maravich isn't that great looking but a lot of the rest of the set looks great. You're right about Mantle. It seems like names like his are the ones that transcends baseball.



<< <i>Speaking for myself, I think it's just the thrill of the hunt. It's a challenge. Working towards completing a set that at one point you may have thought impossible to complete is a very exciting thing.

That being said, I strongly suggest you start working on your PSA 9 1986 Fleer basketball set ASAP. Let me know if you need any help >>



HaHa Funny you mention that as the 86 Fleer set, and most importantly the Jordan Rookie, was THE set we lusted after as kids. I won't do PSA 9 because of the price, but I started picking up PSA 8s in the set. So far I've got Manute Bol rookie, Spud Webb rookie, Charles Barkley rookie, and Patrick Ewing rookie. Then, the other day I see the thread, and I forgot the person who started it, who collects mostly raw Baseball sets from the 50's which inspired me a little to do the same with the 86 Fleer set. I'm not sure which way I'll go, but I'm working on picking up some raw to get a feel for what I want to do.



<< <i>Even the commons in a set are the fraction of one percent that actually made their childhood dream come true and made it to the 'bigs' and on a card. Who am I to neglect their success, however short lived it may have been? >>



That's a great way to look at it. I've never thought about that before.



<< <i>I collect hockey HOF players / rookies. Anyone who's careers finished before 1985 or so I don't remember seeing play. What I'm loving about collecting this set is learning about all the old time players as I research and acquire the cards, kind of like a history of hockey project. >>



I like that. I've become somewhat of a history buff over the last 6-7yrs. Mostly cars, so why not Basketball, or any sport for that matter.

Sorry if this was too long. I just really wanted to reply to some great points. Thanks again, and if anybody else has anything to add I'm all ears.

mrpeanut39

If you're already wondering about the commons, set collecting may not be for you.

I was in my collecting heyday from 1975-1981 and at that point the goal was to complete the set. So for me it's what I've always done.

jmmiller777

I am a set builder. I build raw sets. I'm not sure what drives me, I'm really not sure. But each card gets treated the same; a HOFer or a common. I think enjoy the thrill of trading and hunting down the cards I need. Of course very few sets get finished. I am working on 66-69, all about 70-75% complete, my mini 75 sets about 90% complete. I am also working on some other 70's sets that are real close to being complete. But I never know what's going to catch my eye and I am not real good at keeping records handy and updated. I have some 400,000+ raw cards and love to trade when possible.
Now, when talking about graded cards, my 500+ slabbed cards are exclusively HOFer's. Someone a while back was building sets only filling with PSA slabbed HOFer's and I really like that idea. I have built quite a large collection of multi-player cards from the 50's thru the 60''s. I am expanding that collection into the 70's and 80;s in PSA 10 and have started yet another collection of all the homerun leaders and even RBI leaders. That seems to be my new niche. Collect what you like. Sometimes I am not focused well. I also have almost all of the Kelloggs HOFer's in 9 and 10, because I liked those oddball sets. Best of luck with whatever you decide, there is no right or wrong...

fur72

To me set building is about order, completion, art and history. Its that simple.

LarkinCollector

<< <i>To me set building is about order, completion, art and history. Its that simple. >>


I would add a slight OCD to that list, and it's me as well.

Mapleleaf

I love collecting sets graded or not. Just collecting HOFer's is somehow unsatisfying.
I agree with the OCD for set collectors.

CollectorAtWork

I think you have to decide what's for you. I once completed a 1933 Goudey set, but I was always thinking why I was spending $100+ on commons that I never even heard of, so I ended up selling the set. Now I am more of a player set collector because at least I enjoy looking at every card for that player rather than just thinking I need to fill a gap in order to complete my set and then never looking at that card again after I purchase it. I still work on some small rare sets however where the price of commons isn't that high, and it's a small set anyway (e.g., around 20 cards). As others have said, there's the challenge of trying to find and dig up certain tough commons.

elsnorto

I have always been a set builder. From when I was a kid opening pack after pack and buying or trading to complete the set. To when I got back in to cards, opening box after box to complete sets I liked. To now where I am working on 50 graded sets (vintage) and 50 raw sets (modern) at any given time.

To me, sets are how manufacturers originally intended them. They encouraged consumers to "Collect Them All!" (oh, and buy more product... tobacco, cereal, gum, whatever). That's why they numbered cards and included checklists. Then, of course, there is the satisfaction that comes with finally completing a set.

I get your point about spending money on commons though. I collect in mid, or even low grade, so commons for most of my graded sets can be had fairly cheaply with a few exceptions (1935 National Chicle & 1948 Leaf short prints).

Someone posted a 1988 Topps Football PSA 10 common recently that went for over $100USD if I remember correctly. I don't get people spending big money on commons to be top dog on the registry... but I don't have to get it. I collect my way, they collect theirs, no problem!

I'm always amazed by the "why would you collect someone you never saw play" line. I know a lot of people start with ripping modern wax, but eventually get deeper and deeper into vintage. I enjoy the game, but I also enjoy the history of the game, and learning about those who were a part of it.

I also enjoy the history of the hobby itself and collect from the 1930's to the 2010's. It's not an either/or choice unless you decide it to be. That's one of the things I enjoy most about this hobby... all the different ways and different things people decide to collect (and how it often changes many times over through the years).

If you aren't sure set collecting is for you, I would suggest trying it... find one that has an appearance/checklist that you enjoy so you won't get bored. Find one that isn't too large or difficult so you don't get frustrated. Find one that fits your budget in the grade/condition you want so you don't get broke. And find one that is relatively popular so if you do discover set building isn't for you, then you can sell it off easily.

Snorto~

baseballfan

I put together the 55 AA set and didn't know that many players but I loved the design and then learning about the players as I collected.

That was a fun set to do graded in psa 6-7-8 for me took about 2-3 years fun ride.

PSASAP

That's the fun part of the hobby, when you read a story about a player like Maurice Stokes, and then look for a card of his, which there is only one, the 1957 Topps. I'm assuming there is no obscure regional issue of his, but I could be wrong. If you buy the Stokes card, you'll inevitably want to add Jack Twyman to your collection, because he is the other half of the story.