just curious. How many of you are collecting sets from before you were born and why??
robr1967
Posts: 264
I thought of this topic when I saw the one about having your old cards and if they were still in decent shape.
I was born/hatched in 1967.
Well, I will start this one off. Back when I was in high school, (I am a youngin and I will date myself here) 1983-1986. I bought a big lot of 1960 Topps BB cards about 200 cards including the Yaz & McCovery Rookies for like $20, if I remember right. I just loved the horizontal design of the cards and still do to this day. Well, unfortunately lose cards got lost in the shuffle of moving.
Presently, I am working on (2) 1955 AA FB set's. Of course a majority of the cards are horizontal. And have recently started working on a 1949 Bowman BB set & 1953 Bowman FB set. All my sets I am trying to do in PSA-8 condition. With the exception of, one of my 1955 AA FB sets. The one I am trying to do with as many PSA-9's as possible as well. To date I am now up to having 30 of the 100 cards in the set in PSA-9's....
What are you guys working on and why??
Rob
I was born/hatched in 1967.
Well, I will start this one off. Back when I was in high school, (I am a youngin and I will date myself here) 1983-1986. I bought a big lot of 1960 Topps BB cards about 200 cards including the Yaz & McCovery Rookies for like $20, if I remember right. I just loved the horizontal design of the cards and still do to this day. Well, unfortunately lose cards got lost in the shuffle of moving.
Presently, I am working on (2) 1955 AA FB set's. Of course a majority of the cards are horizontal. And have recently started working on a 1949 Bowman BB set & 1953 Bowman FB set. All my sets I am trying to do in PSA-8 condition. With the exception of, one of my 1955 AA FB sets. The one I am trying to do with as many PSA-9's as possible as well. To date I am now up to having 30 of the 100 cards in the set in PSA-9's....
What are you guys working on and why??
Rob
0
Comments
Mike
I was born about the same time you were. My childhood "collecting" years were 1973-1978. I discovered true "collecting" in high school. I found the vintage stuff to be much more interesting and better designed than the modern offerings. Unfortunately, I left the hobby for quite a while. But I eventually found my way back. Thanks to the internet, I was able to actually build my collection without having to traipse down to some hobby shop or across the state to an occasional show to feed my vintage habit.
My decisions on what to collect are based on a few basic criteria:
#1: Most importantly, the set must be attractively designed. This differs from person-to-person, of course, but is probably the biggest factor in choosing a set to work on, I think. To my eye, the '72 Topps set is the most hideous I've ever seen. But to others it may be the Mona Lisa of card sets.
#2: I prefer for the design to be consistent. The '62 Topps set is the perfect example of what I don't like. You never know what shade of "woodgrain" you're going to get. And those sets where half the cards come in mostly gray backs and the other half in mostly white backs irritate me, too. I generally like those sets, but if I were to collect one I'd have to make it an all white-back variation set.
#3: The set size must be manageable. Or at least close to it. No 792-card sets for me.
#4: The set should be obtainable, in a visually appealing condition, for something less than the cost of a new car. [ I won't be undertaking the '52 Topps set in PSA 8 anytime soon]
#5: The other thing I key on is the looks of each card I add to the collection. I don't simply say if it's PSA 8 NQ it's good enough for me. I concentrate heavily on centering for my post-war cards. Anything worse than 60/40 just doesn't cut it for me.
The current sets I'm working on are, in order of priority:
#1: 1938 Goudey (High # subset only) in VG/EX - EX/MT
#2: 1964 Topps (587 cards is a lot, but I'll give a shot) in NM/MT
#3: 1957 Topps in NM (with above standard centering requirement to add difficulty)
Other sets I'd like to get to someday:
1934 Goudey
1954 Topps
1933 Tatoo Orbit
1912 Hassan Triple Folders (T-202)
As they say, it all comes down to what you like. Everyone's got to go with whatever "does it" for them. Of course, it's always interesting to hear where other people's "turn-ons" are.
I was born in 1971...a great set without a doubt...but I would go insane trying to complete it in PSA8 NQ, so I decided on 1965 for many of the same reasons metalmike listed below.
John
1965 Baseball
I started collecting the 1968 set because I wanted to start collecting some older cards, and I had been given a nice Mantle from my brother for my 8th birthday and is currently the PSA 8 in my set
I was born in 1973. While I collect that set, my main focus is on the 1940 Play Ball set. The reason is because it offers many, many HOFer's that would be out of reach if I tried to get their Tobacco or Caramel cards in mid-to-high grade. I also appreciate that time in baseball history much more than the past few generations. Hey, they aren't the flashiest cards, but I love 'em anyway.
Bernie
Currently collecting.....your guess is as good as mine.
So far I have mostly seen sets from teh 60's mentioned. Someone even listed a 40 Play Ball set if I am not mistaken.
Bernie, what grades are you doing your play ball set in?? That one I am sure can be VERY costly.
One vintage set that I have always loved has been the 1948/49 Leaf set. If I were given the oppurtunity to have unlimited funds, that set
easily would be the one I would go after.
Look forward to hearing more from all you guys.
Rob Ruth
Always looking for 1957 Topps BB in PSA 9!
Rob,
I'm looking to finish the set in about PSA 7 average. Some better, some worse. You can see my set in the registry. I don't have the 1940 Play Ball version of the "big three" (Williams, Dimaggio, and Jackson). Since my funds are limited, and I'm working on other sets, these will be a chore, but I'm in no hurry. Also, when I started collecting these cards, I could get the commons pretty cheap ($20-$30), and the stars easily below SMR in PSA 7 form, however, several new collectors have popped up, and the cards are beginning to get pricey.
Bernie
Currently collecting.....your guess is as good as mine.
Always looking for 53 Topps Baseball and "stuff"
I began collecting cards that were issued prior to my birth when I decided to obtain every regular issue Topps Atlanta Braves team set from 1966 (the year they moved to Atlanta) to present. I then became very interested in set collecting after interacting with members of this board and I began collecting a mid-grade 1953 Bowman Color set. I then felt that my focus was changing to a set that I had recently obtained some cards of (1964 Topps Giants) which I also gained information about from members of this board and it is now my primary focus. After completion of this set, I may upgrade as the cards become available and as much as Gemmint allows
I hope in the future to complete a HOF player set that will include my favorite cards of each player in a grade that I am comfortable with.
I decided to collect cards that were issued prior to my birth because I respect the history of the game (baseball). I don't know a lot, but I want to learn.
Best of luck
Collect 1952-55 red man tobacco cards.
And on occassion the 64 Topps Giants.
Am fasinated with the 50+51 bowman baseball cards. Might buy two or three some day. I like
the 50 Phillies, and the 1951 Campanella and Snider. Vargha, if I buy the 51's should I go for 8's
or do 7's have any solid value?
aconte
I don't specialize in a particular set, but I focus on vintage.
Nick
Reap the whirlwind.
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I focus on the 1955 Bowman set. Frankly anything made after I was born is way too easy and, IMHO, not worth the grading $$$ right now to complete all the commons in the gargantuan sets.
I picked 1955 Bowman because it offered a wide variety of players, I thought it would be somewhat affordable (Boy, was I wrong!!), I love the umpire cards -- and I really enjoy how the Color TV design fits into the zeitgeist of the late 1950's.
A dark-bordered 1955 Bowman card with no chips in the wood-grain border, sharp centering is an absolute beauty to behold. They are so, so difficult to find as it is, and I wouldn't even begin to imagine how hard this set was to put together in top grade before Alan Rosen's Paris, TN find in the late 1980s. As much as I dislike the man, I certainly have to thank him for a fabulous find of unopened material...
MS
The only card set produced before I was born was Egyptian Charioteers on papyrus stock. Seriously, I'd have to collect pre-war stuff to fit this thread, but I don't. Someday, who knows?
If I'm buying it's PRICELESS. If I'm selling, it's WORTHLESS.
Looking for 1984 Donruss -
#238 Keith Hernandez PSA 10
-----------------and
#637 Omar Moreno PSA 9 or 10.
*****
Right now I am collecting some smaller more managable sets I am getting to the point where I want to display my cards in my offfice (I work out of my house) in Penzonni display cases.:
1970 Kellogg's - Huge Frosted Flake fan as a kid remmember these a lot.... Did not save any from my youth gave them away
1969 Topps Decals - First year I bought card on my own and just remember these funky decals that came with the cards.
1968 Topps Game - Tons of HOF's Vaugely rember buying some of these... in 68 Topps Packs
Recently I am starting to collect older cards Because I love the history of the game and some of the old-time players.
1934 Goudey - Love the art work ,small set size and some great players.
1936 Goudey - Small Set size 25 cards - Simple photo's white border Auto's on front I love the simplicity.
1914 Polo Grounds GAme - Neat set 54 cards -Just started on this one - Have been able to pick up chockfull of the games immortals , Eddie Collins, Cobb ,Joe Wood , Home Run Baker, MAtthewson, Tris Speaker , Joe JAckson , Honus Wagner... Fairly affordable cards when you can find them!
Jeff
I collect mostly vintage cards from any sport that are popular and high in demand. Of coarse I don't spend much $$$ on high graded vintage cards, so I prefer raw cards in low grade like in VG or EX condition and I get them graded myself.