FINALLY finished a couple basketball sets this week...
bounce
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I really only got back into card collecting again at the start of this year. It had been close to 20 years since I'd done much, as I've been more of an autograph collector since the mid-90s.
1992-93 and 1993-94 were the last years of basketball collecting that I really did, Shaq and Penny were my guys during that time but I basically liquidated in early 2000s when I lost a job and needed to find some $ to tide me over.
Anyway, I took on 5-6 "projects" since the start of 2014 and I've FINALLY finished a couple of them off.
1) 1993-94 Finest Basketball Refractors raw card set
I've always thought this set was nice looking, it was the first of its kind and has such a good selection of now Hall of Famers and a couple rookies that people still seem to like a fair bit. I knew there were "short prints" allegedly when I set out to build. As it turns out, there were probably 10-12 cards that actually are fairly short printed and just don't turn up that often, regardless of price really. But patience matters with this one, and I eventually found all those tough cards I what I thought were pretty reasonable prices. I finally grabbed the last 3 I needed in the past week, set is now COMPLETE!
2) 1986-87 Fleer Basketball PSA 8/9 fully GRADED set
Probably the MOST collected set out there in basketball, great rookies, great Hall of Famers, just an overall solid set. I saw a couple of set breaks earlier on another board this year and decided I had to try to put a set together myself. Back in college, I had 2 complete sets that I put together in the early 90s before these things really took off the first time. My first two Jordan RCs cost me $30 and $45, so I was pretty early in the game then. Too bad I didn't keep going, but I was more interested in baseball so once I had my sets I was done with that year. I sold both my raw sets in 1995 after graduation for $1,000 each and never looked back, until this year.
At 132 cards it seemed like a pretty achievable task. I originally started out trying for all 9s (still working on that, see below) but I bought several large lots that included some 8s and decided I would just put a mix together. There are a handful of 9s besides MJ that are actually quite expensive if you ask me, as well as a few of the commons that are tough in grades above 8 (although again they aren't THAT rare according to pop reports, so some of the pricing feels a little like "urban legend" to me). Anyway, I picked up the last couple I needed to finish up the set. Overall grade on my set is 8.7, Jordan/Barkley/Mullin/Wilkins are 8s but most of the rest of the RCs/stars are 9s.
Thinking of shopping it to someone for a set break project soon, but not sure I'm ready to part with it just yet. I'm also working the stickers in PSA 8, still need 4 of them because I've been cheap about what I'm wiling to spend.
So, with those project DONE, I'm continuing with the following projects:
1) 1956 Topps baseball PSA 6/7 fully graded set
Wasn't really sure what to expect on these, but I just think the cards look awesome and the replica signatures appeal to me as an autograph collector. I originally started trying to do it in all 6s, but again big group purchases included some 7s so I started upgrading a few here and there and decided a mix set was good for me. My set grades out just above 6.5 currently and the stars are mixed. My Mantle is a PSA 6. I think I'm about #63 on the registry, to crack top 50 will take a full PSA 7 or better which is probably more than I'm interested in tackling currently. I'm down to the final 10 cards now but the pace has slowed to a CRAWL.
2) 1986-87 Fleer Basketball and Stickers PSA 9 fully graded set
Currently still searching for 5 cards and 3 stickers, have not sprung for either Jordan in PSA 9 yet. I suspect those may be my final purchases for completion, although the Jabbar and Wilkins 9 stickers, as well as the Wilkins 9 have all been very elusive despite some pretty high bidding on my part.
3) 1952 Topps baseball raw card set
This was another not sure what to expect for me. Slightly smaller than the 1956 set, but seemed like it was going to be A LOT more expensive in a grade I'd be happy with. I originally looked into PSA 4/5s as I thought that I could probably afford a Mantle eventually at that range, but as prices on Mick have continued to move up it became clear that I wasn't likely going to be able to do that. I knew about the scarcity of the high #s and really don't have a plan for those currently, but knew I could probably tough out the first 310 cards. I'm about 60% through the low #s with a few of the stars/HOFers. I've been pretty well able to avoid major creasing, I'm confident I probably have a few trimmed cards but I was really going for "looks" on these, not necessarily high grades. I suspect this one is going to be a multi-year project for me, but it's made it fun to look for cards at shows again.
4) 1996 Topps Chrome Basketball refractors raw card set
I LOVE refractors, always have. As I started collecting the 1993-94 Finest refractors, I was able to make a lot of progress pretty quickly. Based on that, I knew I'd get it done and felt like I needed something a bit more challenging. I started looking into this set and decided that the player mix along with the RCs really made this THE basketball refractor set to own. I've bought a few lots here and there, and a few singles here and there, and currently stand about 60% complete with it. I'm still missing the big boys, and I'm not willing to throw out $10-20 PER CARD to make progress. Patience is the key on these, I suspect that if I keep at it I should be able to get close if not done with it by end of 2015. I've read a couple places that print run is maybe 125 of each card, but I actually feel like that's probably low. Just a hunch on my part. I would say that several of the stars are pretty tough finds so far, though, so maybe it's possible.
5) 1996 EX-2000 Credentials raw card set
I re-discovered these recently and REALLY like these cards. Obviously pretty condition sensitive, but with only 82 cards total this feels like it should be achievable. With only 499 of each card out there, it's pretty rare overall and at least I know what I'm chasing. So far, I'd actually say these have been a tougher find than the 1996 refractors, but it's early. I only have 1 right now, but I've got some good leads on a few lots so hopefully I'll start adding to this soon.
Thanks for the read! Finishing up a set is always pretty exciting I think, and I'm really happy to finally start hitting some FINAL PAY DIRT!!!!
1992-93 and 1993-94 were the last years of basketball collecting that I really did, Shaq and Penny were my guys during that time but I basically liquidated in early 2000s when I lost a job and needed to find some $ to tide me over.
Anyway, I took on 5-6 "projects" since the start of 2014 and I've FINALLY finished a couple of them off.
1) 1993-94 Finest Basketball Refractors raw card set
I've always thought this set was nice looking, it was the first of its kind and has such a good selection of now Hall of Famers and a couple rookies that people still seem to like a fair bit. I knew there were "short prints" allegedly when I set out to build. As it turns out, there were probably 10-12 cards that actually are fairly short printed and just don't turn up that often, regardless of price really. But patience matters with this one, and I eventually found all those tough cards I what I thought were pretty reasonable prices. I finally grabbed the last 3 I needed in the past week, set is now COMPLETE!
2) 1986-87 Fleer Basketball PSA 8/9 fully GRADED set
Probably the MOST collected set out there in basketball, great rookies, great Hall of Famers, just an overall solid set. I saw a couple of set breaks earlier on another board this year and decided I had to try to put a set together myself. Back in college, I had 2 complete sets that I put together in the early 90s before these things really took off the first time. My first two Jordan RCs cost me $30 and $45, so I was pretty early in the game then. Too bad I didn't keep going, but I was more interested in baseball so once I had my sets I was done with that year. I sold both my raw sets in 1995 after graduation for $1,000 each and never looked back, until this year.
At 132 cards it seemed like a pretty achievable task. I originally started out trying for all 9s (still working on that, see below) but I bought several large lots that included some 8s and decided I would just put a mix together. There are a handful of 9s besides MJ that are actually quite expensive if you ask me, as well as a few of the commons that are tough in grades above 8 (although again they aren't THAT rare according to pop reports, so some of the pricing feels a little like "urban legend" to me). Anyway, I picked up the last couple I needed to finish up the set. Overall grade on my set is 8.7, Jordan/Barkley/Mullin/Wilkins are 8s but most of the rest of the RCs/stars are 9s.
Thinking of shopping it to someone for a set break project soon, but not sure I'm ready to part with it just yet. I'm also working the stickers in PSA 8, still need 4 of them because I've been cheap about what I'm wiling to spend.
So, with those project DONE, I'm continuing with the following projects:
1) 1956 Topps baseball PSA 6/7 fully graded set
Wasn't really sure what to expect on these, but I just think the cards look awesome and the replica signatures appeal to me as an autograph collector. I originally started trying to do it in all 6s, but again big group purchases included some 7s so I started upgrading a few here and there and decided a mix set was good for me. My set grades out just above 6.5 currently and the stars are mixed. My Mantle is a PSA 6. I think I'm about #63 on the registry, to crack top 50 will take a full PSA 7 or better which is probably more than I'm interested in tackling currently. I'm down to the final 10 cards now but the pace has slowed to a CRAWL.
2) 1986-87 Fleer Basketball and Stickers PSA 9 fully graded set
Currently still searching for 5 cards and 3 stickers, have not sprung for either Jordan in PSA 9 yet. I suspect those may be my final purchases for completion, although the Jabbar and Wilkins 9 stickers, as well as the Wilkins 9 have all been very elusive despite some pretty high bidding on my part.
3) 1952 Topps baseball raw card set
This was another not sure what to expect for me. Slightly smaller than the 1956 set, but seemed like it was going to be A LOT more expensive in a grade I'd be happy with. I originally looked into PSA 4/5s as I thought that I could probably afford a Mantle eventually at that range, but as prices on Mick have continued to move up it became clear that I wasn't likely going to be able to do that. I knew about the scarcity of the high #s and really don't have a plan for those currently, but knew I could probably tough out the first 310 cards. I'm about 60% through the low #s with a few of the stars/HOFers. I've been pretty well able to avoid major creasing, I'm confident I probably have a few trimmed cards but I was really going for "looks" on these, not necessarily high grades. I suspect this one is going to be a multi-year project for me, but it's made it fun to look for cards at shows again.
4) 1996 Topps Chrome Basketball refractors raw card set
I LOVE refractors, always have. As I started collecting the 1993-94 Finest refractors, I was able to make a lot of progress pretty quickly. Based on that, I knew I'd get it done and felt like I needed something a bit more challenging. I started looking into this set and decided that the player mix along with the RCs really made this THE basketball refractor set to own. I've bought a few lots here and there, and a few singles here and there, and currently stand about 60% complete with it. I'm still missing the big boys, and I'm not willing to throw out $10-20 PER CARD to make progress. Patience is the key on these, I suspect that if I keep at it I should be able to get close if not done with it by end of 2015. I've read a couple places that print run is maybe 125 of each card, but I actually feel like that's probably low. Just a hunch on my part. I would say that several of the stars are pretty tough finds so far, though, so maybe it's possible.
5) 1996 EX-2000 Credentials raw card set
I re-discovered these recently and REALLY like these cards. Obviously pretty condition sensitive, but with only 82 cards total this feels like it should be achievable. With only 499 of each card out there, it's pretty rare overall and at least I know what I'm chasing. So far, I'd actually say these have been a tougher find than the 1996 refractors, but it's early. I only have 1 right now, but I've got some good leads on a few lots so hopefully I'll start adding to this soon.
Thanks for the read! Finishing up a set is always pretty exciting I think, and I'm really happy to finally start hitting some FINAL PAY DIRT!!!!
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Comments
Here's a few pics of the 1993 Refractors
Fits nicely in a single shoebox!
I share your passion! Started collecting seriously in 1996 concentrating mostly on PSA graded basketball. Hope this will fan the fire and encourage you.
My complete 1996-97 E-X2000 Credentials set with a few PSA graded including a PSA 9 Kobe. Very condition sensitive with the die-cut design on both sides. Took me about 2.5 years to complete circa 2009. Still on the lookout for PSA graded to replace the raw cards. Lucked out on getting a PSA 10, too bad it's Kerry Kittles......
Here's my completely graded 1996 Topps Chrome Refractor set, #3 on the PSA Registry. Was #1 in 2003 but the current #1 really wanted some cards that I had and made me an offer I couldn't refuse
Currently whole-heartedly working on a PSA Graded 1961 Fleer Basketball (about 85% done).
Half-heartedly working on;
1) 1996 PSA Graded Bowman's Best Atomic Refractor set.
2) 1996 PSA Graded Topps Finest Refractor set.
3) 1996 PSA Graded E-X2000 Base set
Good luck with your sets. Enjoy the chase!!!!!
Dawongz--Love the 96 Topps Chrome set. I think that's my favorite modern set. That Kobe 10 is amazing. Congrats on that card.
The Chrome is the modern day 86 Fleer with arguably the second most stacked draft class of all time. Kobe, Nash, Allen, Iverson, Abdur Rahim, Camby RCs. Very well done.