My apologies to the 72 Set Collectors

FB

Guys,

I got a couple of emails asking why the cards in my set can't be seen anymore. My apologies.

After having one of the last 14 commons I needed in PSA 8 or better go for $100 plus on eBay last week and another that I needed go for $68 several weeks ago, I get the feeling that some folks are loading up their bids when they know I'll be shooting for it. So, for the moment, I'm closing the view to the cards until I hit the 100% mark.

So, sorry for the paranoia and my apologies should I snipe any of you over the next few weeks for the 72's that I need to complete. Take care and have a great weekend!

gaspipe26

I dont blame you one bit.

thegemmintman

FB, I don't blame you either. There's a lot of bums out there.

FB

The sad part is - its not even the guys with 75% or more. We still talk back and forth and point out cards that each other needs and may not have noticed. We also trade quite a bit.

I've been getting whacked for PSA 8's by guys that have less than 20% complete. With any luck, my latest submission from the Ft. Washington show whould bring in a few more of the cards that I need.

But, I guess this is part of the fun - the strategy and scrambling to find these last cards before others do... And if it doesn't work - I'll lower my standards to say PSA 4 and finish out pretty darn quick!!!

gaspipe26

Frank,
What did you pickup at FT Wash? I bought a 69 Al Weis and a 69 Shamsky in GAI 9 holders. I never saw nicer examples. I'm deciding on whether or not to crack them out. The POP on both in 9 is 0 with PSA.

FB

Bob,

Its funny... I forget which table I was at, but I heard that I had just missed you by a couple of minutes. But, I did run into Steve Peckovich (Bauerfan).

I picked up about 170 raw cards between Friday night and a few hours on Saturday. Ninety were from 72, 40 from 1970 and the rest from 64 and 66. Many of the cards from 72 have a shot at 9's - so I'm betting on 20% - 25%. The other years should be mostly 8's with an occasional 9 and a couple of 7's mixed in.

Didn't even look for graded cards. With the 72 PSA 9 market the way it is, the couple of dealers that I talked to at the start were looking at between $100 and $125 apiece - so I bought nice raw instead.

Alfiewt

Frank,

It's said that you have to do that. If bidding got that high between a few collector's that were close to finishing the set, it would be more understading. What is the rational of these bidders? Do they think those cards are going to still be 1/3 or 1/4 by the time they are close to finishing the set? These collectors are many months if not years away from completing the set, and I doubt the populations of these cards won't increase in the next year.

If thay are just trying to stop you from completing you set, then that is just pathetic! Do they somehow think that by stoping you from improving your set, it somehow makes their set better?

FB

Alfiewt,

My guess is that no one is specifically trying to keep me from finishing the set. But, I can remember when I started mine almost 3 years ago and it seemed like every card was a desperate struggle because "I HAD TO HAVE IT!!!". I'm sure that I bid more than I should have when I first started on eBay. That lasted until I noticed that the next time the card came on eBay it went for $12, after I had paid $24.00. Pretty soon, I was waiting for the 2nd one instead...

Unfortunately, if I they know that I too need it, they seem to panic a little more and bid a bit higher. And with the more difficult commons, it sometimes takes a couple months before the next example shows up. I'm betting that as these guys get further along in their sets they'll realize that its not worth paying $60, $70, $100 for even low pop commons in PSA 8 - that there still better and cheaper ways to find them.

And, hopefully as I hit more of the card shops in the area I can find a few that have nice 72's so I can finish the set without competition and can then open it back up for viewing.

It'll just make completion that much sweeter...

RayBShotz

Frank - Your class in my book. No explanations necessary! Cant wait for the coming out party at 100%.
I appreciate all the 72' Topps BB feedback and advise you have provided me as I get my feet wet with my modest 72' set start.
RayB69Topps

dude

FB,

I saw that you changed your viewing access before I read this message and I figured that's why you did it. I saw that happen on the '67 Registry and that's why I'm in no hurry to list my cards there. It's a shame that some people have to be complete jerks on these types of matters. Good luck finishing off your set.

mcastaldi

Apparently there are set builders out there who look at the sets at the top of the registry which are 90%+ and assume "If he's 95% complete and he still needs this card, then it must be hard to get/low-pop." Obviously that's not necessarily true. . .but I've see a ton of just plain crack-induced bidding lately.

I really feel it's unfortunate that it's come to this for Frank. If you're among the top 10 or 15 people building 72T sets, then you almost have to have gotten some of those from Frank. If you've traded with him, you know you won't find a more honest or fair trading partner.

Something that I think is really interesting is that you have four of us at 85%+ and another at 75%+ - and you'd think that we'd be stepping on each other's toes but even though we're all closing in on finishing the set, we tend to give each other more leeway - not less.

Anyway. . .

getupkid

Frank,

I've kind of stopped trying to compete on eBay. It just isn't worth it. Good luck to all who are close to the end of a long journey. Mike, I look forward to seeing you at the National.

Regards,

Erik

FB

Erik,

I know exactly what you mean... I just recently printed all of the card shows in my area from Beckett.com and figure my best bet is to find the raw cards myself and submit. On the other hand this should be helpful because I still have over 100 72's in PSA 8 that I'd like to move. We need the new blood on the registry.

jackstraw

frank

email a list i am interested.


john

FB

John,

Shoot an email to lynnfrank@earthlink.net and I'll get you a list. Also, let me know what your interest is - I have some PSA 7's - lots of 8's and occasionally I get extra 9's - although I'm pretty much out of 9's at the moment.