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Finally Finished "Top 20 Sportscards In The Hobby" Set!

So after my mini set hit its wall a ways back, it took a while to do another fun Registry project.

Being a maniac, I eventually decided to go after the monster and tackle the Top 20 Sportscards as per PSA's Joe Orlando. I knew going in that I'd leave out the football (even though I love watching the NFL) and the Mikan, and also knew the Honus was not gonna happen. So for me, completion was going to be 70%.

Starting out on this set, it becomes addictive to look at those sets at the top of the All Time Finest; some of those cards are almost too outrageous to believe.

I must say I have grown to appreciate the T3 Cobb, Plank, and Goudey Nap, and the last one of those I can see maybe one day adding.

Of course lists like these are highly subjective, and I can think of one or two I'd swap out for others, but they're all dynamite and worthy cards.

As to the specifics of this set, I tried to focus on centering, central image quality, and just overall eye appeal. Some, like the Ruth rookie, the Paige, and the Shoeless CJ, have around 100 or so examples in any grade and were just crazy hard to find, let alone with decent centering.

I really like these key card sets because of the variety they bring, and how they can turn a collector on to cards he never really knew well before.

Anyways, here's a link and hope peeps enjoy!

Top 20 Set - Viewable

Instagram: mattyc_collection

Comments

  • VitoCo1972VitoCo1972 Posts: 6,130 ✭✭✭
    Nice set! But the Mikan is super achievable. I'm sure I paid less for my signed Mikan RC than you did for your Mays or Mantle(s). Go for it!
  • 19541954 Posts: 2,905 ✭✭✭
    Your collection is extremely nice. Love all the cards that you have pictured there. When you are ready to sell some of those cards let me know.

    Looking for high grade rookie cards and unopened boxes/cases
  • dytch2220dytch2220 Posts: 1,681 ✭✭✭
    Wonderful set! I like how you were able to obtain nice examples without really being concerned with the grade.
    The N8 Collection: PSA Registry Sets & Showcases
  • Too bad it isn't called the Top 20 Rookie cards in the hobby...

    I've got 2 Planks, LMK when you want one.

  • 70ToppsFanatic70ToppsFanatic Posts: 2,106 ✭✭✭✭
    WTG Matty!

    A really impressive accomplishment indeed.


    Dave
  • mattyc_collectionmattyc_collection Posts: 2,130 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Thx. Really enjoyed your '70 Set thread a little ways back. That All Star subset you put together remains one my favorite achievements seen on the boards; those cards are so tough.

    Instagram: mattyc_collection

  • wrestlingcardkingwrestlingcardking Posts: 4,555 ✭✭✭✭
    I am very impressed and think you can get another card or two.......image
    BUYING Frank Gotch T229 Kopec
    Looking to BUY n332 1889 SF Hess cards and high grade cards from 19th century especially. "Once you have wrestled everything else in life is easy" Dan Gable
  • lawnmowermanlawnmowerman Posts: 19,477 ✭✭✭✭
    Awesome set with great eye appeal! Thanks for sharing it.
  • Big80sBig80s Posts: 2,758 ✭✭✭
    Nice work! That's definitely something to be proud of.

    What's next for your collection?
    Let's Rip It: PackGeek.com
    Jeff
  • mattyc_collectionmattyc_collection Posts: 2,130 ✭✭✭✭✭
    That's a question I've been pondering lately. Do not know. Only a couple cards left on my want list and they're pieces that might take forever, as I need to find them in specific affordable grades and with decent eye appeal (i.e., Frederick Foto Ruth). So setting those few aside, maybe just slowly seeking centered classics like remaining HOF RCs, T206 Cobbs, etc. Crashing out here in Europe so peace out til tomorrow.

    Instagram: mattyc_collection

  • elsnortoelsnorto Posts: 2,012 ✭✭
    The Buy The Card Not The Grade Collection

    Current Statistics
    Rank 3
    Weighted GPA 3.510
    Complete 70.00%
    Set Rating 2.037

    I fixed that for you. image

    I really appreciate your passion for the hobby, Matty. You clearly really enjoy what you collect and I'm eager to see what you decide to tackle next.

    Snorto~
  • JaktJakt Posts: 573
    Very nice. How long have you been working on that?
    I'm building a 1968 and a 1970 Topps set. I have lots of 1970s and 1960s to offer in trade.
  • esquiresportsesquiresports Posts: 1,360 ✭✭✭
    Matty - really amazing collection. To be able to put together cards of that quality in a relatively short period of time must have taken some serious legwork. Congratulations. I have a feel the T3 Cobb (I love that card) and Nap could both end up on the horizon. I've been seeing a few T3 Cobbs pop up recently, and it seems even the lower-grade versions tend to be nice.
    Always buying 1971 OPC Baseball packs.
  • DanBessetteDanBessette Posts: 6,421 ✭✭✭
    Very nice, but I'm rooting for you to add a few more. I understand the Wagner is unattainable and you're not interested in nagurski, but it would be cool if you still got to 17 or 18.
  • mattyc_collectionmattyc_collection Posts: 2,130 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>Very nice. How long have you been working on that? >>



    How much do I love cards? Enough to be typing this while cruising the Aegean Sea! What a stunning part of the planet. Anyways, about a year ago I was surfing the Registry to look at cool cards and came across the set; I realized I had a few of the cards already so had a bit of a head start on it. Decided then to try and fill in the rest-- especially since several of them were already high, high up on my want list. So it took roughly a year to get it to where it's at.

    Esq and Dan, I definitely can see coming across the right Nap, Plank, and T3 Cobb down the line, and foregoing something else on my list to add those, since there's no guarantee certain cards like a Frederick Foto or 14 CJ Matty will surface at all. The Mikan and Nagurski would tempt the OCD completionist in me a bit-- and maybe getting it to 95% would be cool. I think then it would be eligible for the Registry awards, though I'd have to study the Nagurski and Mikan a bit more to fall in love with them first; wouldn't buy just to be eligible for the registry stuff.

    And Snorto-- loved the set name idea; changed it accordingly!

    Good to chat and now time for a beverage!

    Best,

    MC

    Instagram: mattyc_collection

  • DanBessetteDanBessette Posts: 6,421 ✭✭✭
    Great stuff Matt!
  • DezHoodDezHood Posts: 145


    << <i>I'd have to study the Nagurski and Mikan a bit more to fall in love with them first; wouldn't buy just to be eligible for the registry stuff. >>


    Check out this book: Nagurski

    Arguably, it's not really written to be a historical reference - one reviewer said something like "for a teenager" - but I sure enjoyed it - fast read and motivated me to research more historical references. If you don't want the Nags after reading that, I don't think you ever will.

    P.S. Awesome set - thanks for sharing.

    P.S.S. The 35 National Chicle cards are really nice aesthetically. Ernie Caddel looks like he's going to run you over. The backgrounds in Homer Griffith and Beattie Feathers... I'm biased - I'll stop.
  • elsnortoelsnorto Posts: 2,012 ✭✭


    << <i>And Snorto-- loved the set name idea; changed it accordingly! >>



    Nice! To whom's attention shall I send the bill for my consulting services? image

    I too considered lobbying for [ChrisBerman] Bronko Nagurski [/ChrisBerman], but realized that went directly against the core spirit of this project... to collect the cards you want based on the card's merits alone.

    The set is done when you are happy with the collection.

    Congrats again and safe travels!

    Snorto~
  • slum22slum22 Posts: 2,594 ✭✭✭✭
    Congratulations. Beautiful set. I had to stop looking at your cards before I got roped into going for it too!
    Steve
  • Bosox1976Bosox1976 Posts: 8,557 ✭✭✭✭✭
    So many nice cards image I love that Wilson Frank's Ted Williams.
    Mike
    Bosox1976
  • mattyc_collectionmattyc_collection Posts: 2,130 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Thx; Mike, that Wilson Franks Ted Williams is a card with some interesting idiosyncrasies. As I'm sure you've seen, the top cut almost always slants downward from left to right. I find this kills the eye appeal, at least for me-- it just seems so crooked/off kilter. A square top is pretty hard to track down. There was always something very Warhol-ian about that floating pack of hot dogs on that card, which makes it very stylish, to me.

    In terms of the player, man, I can't imagine another man hitting .400, considering the media scrutiny that would bring. When one looks at the all time stats in terms of peak performance, Ted is right there with the best. And in terms of the career totals, if the man wasn't piloting planes in war, who knows what those prime years would have brought the sport.

    Instagram: mattyc_collection

  • RookieHOFersRookieHOFers Posts: 733 ✭✭✭
    Matty, Very nicely done. Tough to imagine owning 70% of these cards. I have a feeling your not actually done yet......image

    I really enjoy your approach to collecting. Congrats.

    Matt
    Matt
    I collect: 80’s Rookies and 86 Fleer Basketball
  • ElvisPElvisP Posts: 1,066 ✭✭✭
    Awesome collection. IMHO the Jordan does not belong in the top 20. Way too many out there and is easy accessible. Just doesn't fit. The Chamberlain, Russell, Koufax etc would fit a lot better. No card pre 1970 should be ranked in the top 20 all-time.
  • CakesCakes Posts: 3,661 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>Awesome collection. IMHO the Jordan does not belong in the top 20. Way too many out there and is easy accessible. Just doesn't fit. The Chamberlain, Russell, Koufax etc would fit a lot better. No card pre 1970 should be ranked in the top 20 all-time. >>



    That's an interesting point, at almost anytime you can grab the Jordan card in high grade but the same cannot be said about the Russell, Jim Brown, etc...

    BTW here is a link to Orlando's article Link to Orlando's Top 20

    It is cool to see some of the high grade example of the cards, I had never seen the Aaron PSA 9 rookie card.
    Successful coin BST transactions with Gerard and segoja.

    Successful card BST transactions with cbcnow, brogurt, gstarling, Bravesfan 007, and rajah 424.
  • mattyc_collectionmattyc_collection Posts: 2,130 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I agree in that the jordan is one i would definitely replace in my own Top 20 list. I think the e90-1 Jackson RC, the old mill Jackson, the Zeenut Dimaggio, the Exhibit Gehrig, the 14 Matty CJ, even a Cobb CJ, these are all cards that are way more impressive to me than a Fleer MJ, even though the Fleer MJ is a great card and an important card to be sure. definitely top 50 to me, but looking at the sheer overall pops of the DiMaggio or gehrig or Matty, and how old they are, how few collections have one versus how easy it is to secure and MJ fleer... I'd put the Star MJ even atop the Fleer, but that's just me.

    Instagram: mattyc_collection

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