Newest project: Slum22's 1986 Fleer PSA 9 Set--Updated with scans of new cards 7/16/2016 (Warning: S
slum22
Posts: 2,594 ✭✭✭✭
After completing my first registry set, the 1961 Fleer BK set, I wasn't sure if I wanted to do another set. When I did decide to start another set, it was a no brainer what my next choice would be. I don't have the budget or attention span for a baseball or even football set, so it would have to be basketball. My favorite set in any sport has always been 1986 Fleer BK. I first started collecting this set in the early 90's as a junior high and high schooler. I remember trading for my first 1986 Fleer singles with a cl*****mate in the 8th grade: a trimmed Kareem, Mychal Thompson and a severely OC Dr. J. I would do much better in my next purchases, which were from my LCS, F&F Sportscards. I purchased a sharp but slightly OC Karl Malone RC and a Mint Michael Jordan RC (it took months of saving up to get the MJ). My brother and I would go around card shows picking up more raw cards for the set until we stopped collecting a few years later.
Around 2002, I briefly got back into collecting for a few months and picked up my first graded cards some PSA 8 and PSA 9 cards. I had stopped collecting before TPG so I was amazed at how much more strict PSA's Nm-Mt and Mint were compared to what p*****ed for these grades in the early 90's. I set about upgrading my set and purchased more raw lots as well as some examples of PSA 8's and PSA 9's so I could compare to what I had in the raw set. I stopped collecting again shortly after that only to return again around 2005 or so. This time, I had a good job and money to spend, so I purchased my first PSA 10's. I collected for a little bit until I met my future wife. Collecting again went on the backburner and my PSA 10's were sold around 2008 to help buy things for the baby.
Around 2012 I again got back in the hobby and I resumed collecting the 1986 Fleer set and also began the 1961 Fleer set. For the 1986 Fleer set, my challenge was that I had all kinds of cards, BGS 9.5 and BGS 9, PSA 10, 9 and 8. I couldn't decide what grade would work the best for me in this set. So I decided to focus on the 1961 set first because I already had the 1986 set ungraded and because it had a smaller checklist, it seemed easier to do. Anyway, flash forward to now and I am back in the saddle and looking to finally finish a graded version of the 1986 Fleer set. I just sold off the majority of my PSA 8 cards and I am focused squarely on completing my set in 9. My goal is to add cards at good values over time and I hope to have the set finished by the end of the year.
Like my previous 1961 Fleer thread, I plan to update this thread as I get new additions. I will post the new additions in future posts and in the original post I plan to update the whole set as I go. All the cards I have currently are pictured and the black spaces are where the missing cards will go when I get them. Hopefully, before too long there will be no more black spaces and there will be a beautiful sea of red, blue and yellow below. Anyway, if you made it this far, thanks for reading my back story and without further ado, here are the cards:
Current progress: 101/132 --My registry says I still need 33 cards but that is because whoever has Walter Davis and Bill Laimbeer won't release the cards from their registry set and I haven't had the time to email PSA yet.
1 4
5 8
9 12
13 16
17 20
21 24
25 28
29 32
33 36
37 40
41 44
45 48
49 52
53 56
57 60
61 64
65 68
69 72
73 76
77 80
81 84
85-88
89 92
93 96
97 100
101 104
105 108
109 112
113 116
117 120
121 124
125 128
129 132
Around 2002, I briefly got back into collecting for a few months and picked up my first graded cards some PSA 8 and PSA 9 cards. I had stopped collecting before TPG so I was amazed at how much more strict PSA's Nm-Mt and Mint were compared to what p*****ed for these grades in the early 90's. I set about upgrading my set and purchased more raw lots as well as some examples of PSA 8's and PSA 9's so I could compare to what I had in the raw set. I stopped collecting again shortly after that only to return again around 2005 or so. This time, I had a good job and money to spend, so I purchased my first PSA 10's. I collected for a little bit until I met my future wife. Collecting again went on the backburner and my PSA 10's were sold around 2008 to help buy things for the baby.
Around 2012 I again got back in the hobby and I resumed collecting the 1986 Fleer set and also began the 1961 Fleer set. For the 1986 Fleer set, my challenge was that I had all kinds of cards, BGS 9.5 and BGS 9, PSA 10, 9 and 8. I couldn't decide what grade would work the best for me in this set. So I decided to focus on the 1961 set first because I already had the 1986 set ungraded and because it had a smaller checklist, it seemed easier to do. Anyway, flash forward to now and I am back in the saddle and looking to finally finish a graded version of the 1986 Fleer set. I just sold off the majority of my PSA 8 cards and I am focused squarely on completing my set in 9. My goal is to add cards at good values over time and I hope to have the set finished by the end of the year.
Like my previous 1961 Fleer thread, I plan to update this thread as I get new additions. I will post the new additions in future posts and in the original post I plan to update the whole set as I go. All the cards I have currently are pictured and the black spaces are where the missing cards will go when I get them. Hopefully, before too long there will be no more black spaces and there will be a beautiful sea of red, blue and yellow below. Anyway, if you made it this far, thanks for reading my back story and without further ado, here are the cards:
Current progress: 101/132 --My registry says I still need 33 cards but that is because whoever has Walter Davis and Bill Laimbeer won't release the cards from their registry set and I haven't had the time to email PSA yet.
1 4
5 8
9 12
13 16
17 20
21 24
25 28
29 32
33 36
37 40
41 44
45 48
49 52
53 56
57 60
61 64
65 68
69 72
73 76
77 80
81 84
85-88
89 92
93 96
97 100
101 104
105 108
109 112
113 116
117 120
121 124
125 128
129 132
Steve
0
Comments
Doug
Liquidating my collection for the 3rd and final time. Time for others to enjoy what I have enjoyed over the last several decades. Money could be put to better use.
My #2 Ranked Michael Jordan PSA Basic Set
My new website www.lowgradegems.com
Tim
Rynoandbo--Your pic of your set all stacked up is an inspiration for me on my set. Can't wait to get there. Of course I'd trade them all for one of those Gem MJ's like you've got. Someday.
Halosfan--It definitely is fun. Like I said, I was doing the set it 9 and 8 but decided it was getting too expensive so I sold most of my 8's and put the money towards more 9's. How close are you?
Tim--Yup. Got the big one out of the way early. I just won a Mullin RC last week so I just need the Isiah and the Worthy for big RC's. I need Kareem and the checklist as well as a few low pop commons like Johnny Moore, but it should be pretty doable from here. Just trying to stay on budget and find deals on set breaks and lots. You know how it goes.
I would say so, BGS is tougher on 80's Fleer basketball than PSA.
I collect: 80’s Rookies and 86 Fleer Basketball
vladguerrero--I appreciate the feedback on the Kareem. I don't want to jinx it but I think it has a good chance too. One of these days I will send in a review/cross sub and include this card.
Matt--You may know the great board member I was talking about earlier
Anyway, happy to update the thread with a couple huge pick ups for me. As alluded to before Matt was nice enough to let me pick through his PSA 9 selection and get me a sweet deal on 8 cards I needed for my set including HOFer Dr. J and some low pop commons (LaSalle Thompson and Marques Johnson). Big thanks Matt, always good to work with you. Right before making that deal was my first foray into non eBay auction. I picked up a four card lot from Sirius Sports Card auctions and I am happy to report everything went smoothly with the transaction. I will definitely check their auctions again in the future. Picked up a very big HOF RC, Chris Mullin in that auction lot. Here are the scans of the recent pick ups. I also updated the collage on the first post with these cards and I am happy to knock off 9% of the set here.
Anyway, here are the recent pick ups. With these I have managed to get over 75% complete. I am very happy as most of these are in the new holders with the holo flips and I really like how sharp they are for 9's. The Bowie and Thompson are a little off L/R but the Worthy is the money card in this lot and is really sharp IMO. I have mostly commons to go from here as I believe Worthy is the last HOF RC in the set that I needed to get. It also seems like 86's have cooled a little in PSA 9 from the summer so hopefully the rest of the set will come in under budget.
Collecting Unopened from '72-'83; mostly BBCE certified boxes/cases/racks.
Prefer to buy in bulk.
James
JB--Kobe and Peyton are showing their years. I am around the same age as them. I obviously play and have played at far lower levels than those guys, but I absolutely feel what they are going through. It is a hard thing when you are used to being able to do things on the court and the field and one day you wake up and you just can't move that fast or jump that high. Kobe keeps himself in great shape and is his work ethic is legendary. That is probably what makes this so hard to watch, because he physically doesn't look that different than when he was putting 81 on people. But he just can't make the moves anymore. I have always been a Warriors fan and Kobe has rubbed me the wrong way for much of his career, but I always respected his work ethic and what he brought to the game. Hope he hangs it up at the end of the year. Top 10-15 player all time. I need to pick up his Topps Chrome RC soon.
No updates on this thread recently as I haven't had any new pick ups in a while. I have started looking to make more additions recently and have been surprised to see that prices have come down some from the highs of last summer. Has anyone else noticed this?
Steve, I am definitely noticing that the prices are coming down on these cards from this past summers peak. I kind of expected it in talking to a few people about the prices. As someone currently buying, its nice to see it happening now, but its also all relative. By comparison of what my first set cost me to build.....These prices are SKY high!
Good Luck on the last 25% you need.
Matt
I collect: 80’s Rookies and 86 Fleer Basketball
I am doing in PSA 9 commons and PSA stars /checklist and tough commons.
What are some of the toughest PSA 9's besides Wilkins and Johnny Moore?
Off the top of my head, the condition sensitive cards in this set include:
Kareem
Blackmon
Brad Davis
Vern Fleming
Derek Harper
Marques Johnson
Steve Johnson
Lewis Lloyd
Jeff Malone
Chris Mullin
Paul Pressey
Kurt Rambis
Byron Scott
Isiah Thomas
Spud Webb
Dominique Wilkins
Orlando Woolridge
James Worthy
Checklist
These cards will all cost significantly more than they otherwise should on higher grades. Good luck,
Steve
This would be such a fun set to do if shows and shops were more prevalent.