My collecting focus has changed

perkdog · April 12, 2009 1:29AM

Well after going crazy for the past year spending a decent amount of cash on Vintage Football I decided it was not something I wanted to continue to throw my money at anymore. A few things got me thinking that I could enjoy the hobby alot better if I wasnt so "serious" about obtaining cards and spending alot of time & money searching for only PSA 7 & 8 graded items.

It all started when I took a long hard look at some of my cards and compared them to cards I wouldnt have considered looking at previously just because it was not in a PSA 7 or 8 holder, and as far as Im concerned the fact is/was there wasnt a huge difference in the general appearance of these cards and other than grade weight and obvious minor wear & tear and I now feel I can enjoy them just as much.

Now Im looking forward to not being really pissed off that my high end cards didnt receive the .5 bump up even though they look much better than some others that did nor do I need to be concerned that my $1000+ cards will hold there value down the road.

Im done with the grading game, done with the registry- nicely centered PSA/SGC 5's here I come!

bigwilli · April 12, 2009 1:37AM

Good for you.....Card collecting should be enjoyable not frustrating . I have plenty of graded cards as well as 10's of thousands
of ungraded cards and i have to say that i enjoy looking at all of them equally . Although i will continue to work on my 1960 Topps
baseball set in straight 8 and my Chipper Jones registry set , I have concentrated on starting a few 1970's sets raw . When it
becomes not fun it is time to change.

Good luck on your new collecting focus.

BunchOBull · April 12, 2009 1:38AM

That's the way I feel about most of it too...welcome to liberation!

Dboneesq · April 12, 2009 1:38AM

Perk ... looks as though you are once again ready to enjoy card collecting as a HOBBY and not as an investment. I think you will have just as much fun, if not more.

It really sucked at first when I was forced to sell almost my entire collection. However, now I am staying busy putting together some mid grade raw sets and doing the TTM autos. I am having just as much fun and the cost is a fraction of what it used to be!

GOOD LUCK!

nightcrawler · April 12, 2009 1:41AM

I feel the same way, I'm right there with ya Perk.

Sadly I still need three more cards for my 73s. After that, I'll start a lower grade set.

I'll continue to bid on the high grade low pops, but I'm OK 5s with 6s.

RipublicaninMass · April 12, 2009 1:44AM

Focus...what's that? Good Luck Paul..almost time to head up to see you, the weather is getting nice!

itzagoner · April 12, 2009 1:47AM

good choice....i've been assembling raw sets and re-examining other cards in my raw collection, and the appearances are much different when you don't imagine them in a P$A holder all the time....i don't recall having as much fun with the collecting side of things since i was a kid and i will continue to enjoy the hobby more and business less for awhile....occasionally when you change your focus, things become a lot clearer. HAVE FUN!

perkdog · April 12, 2009 2:06AM

Not to mention that I feel that I am VERY lucky to have unloaded nearly $10,000 worth of my inventory and have not lossed any money- in fact I have made about $200 in the process

Here is a clear example of what Im talking about.. The only thing different as far as Im concerned is the $500+ price Difference in these two cards.......

sfmays24 · April 12, 2009 2:11AM

Sounds like a good plan, Paul

I collect raw sets with my Boys and having a wondeful time too (more than I did when I was a kid).

Best of luck!

Mike

Bosox1976 · April 12, 2009 2:15AM

Paul:

You can get more fun per dollar with your new plan.

I went from building registry sets to building 90% raw / 10% graded sets (mostly HOFs) - I enjoy it much more. Dropping down to the 5/6 level is comparable. Am sure you'll be happy with it - I wish you luck.

BigDaddyBowman · April 12, 2009 2:19AM

Paul..no doubt...we have talked so much about the topic...when you buy the card not the holder you will do well no matter the grade. A well cented 5-6 looks so close to a 7 or 8..and with some of the results that have been posted lately...the same exact card could be a 5 or an 7 on any given day!

I can't wait to see you start posting some pick-ups again. Good Luck and enjoy!

edmundfitzgerald · April 12, 2009 2:23AM

Great decision !!!!!!

Collecting is to be enjoyed !

It's amazing how our focus can change over the years.

I was always against new cards, and always into vintage. Now I find myself collecting these
autographed/game used cards from old timers that are found in new packs. It adds a nice new
twist to my vintage cards.

BigDaddyBowman · April 12, 2009 2:29AM

Here is my PSA 6 to compare..your right not much visual difference between the 5,6 or your old 7

CDsNuts · April 12, 2009 3:23AM

I've always felt this way. To put it into perspective, would you rather have a PSA 10 Rickey Henderson RC or PSA 9s of every major rookie card from 1975-1987 that all have one minor flaw keeping them from being a 10?

nam812 · April 12, 2009 3:24AM

<< <i>I've always felt this way. To put it into perspective, would you rather have a PSA 10 Rickey Henderson RC or PSA 9s of every major rookie card from 1975-1987 that all have one minor flaw keeping them from being a 10? >>

Shut up newbie.

CDsNuts · April 12, 2009 3:42AM

nam, This time you've gone way too far. It was all fun and games til you had to go and get personal.

cyots82 · April 12, 2009 5:01AM

I think the 5-6 selection is the way to go if you are going for vintage, but if you are doing anything modern, 1985 or newer, I think you have to go with the 10's or above. There usually is so much high grade modern that doing the 10's is totally doable. I think sometimes it will run you a few more $, but if you are doing modern graded, then you want it for the value, otherwise you'd just do it raw. I have alomost every baseball set raw from 84 to mid 90's and I would never think about going after it graded. But the key card sets and player sets, I'm going for as high a grade as I can find in my budget. I do agree with the eye appeal on the old cards being very similar in the mid grades to higher grades. Still as everyone else has mentioned, you do what makes you happy and lets you enjoy the hobby!

yankeeno7 · April 12, 2009 5:53AM

Good luck on your new endeavor, Paul! You will find much more enjoyment in collecting. My focus has also changed and Im enjoying myself a LOT more.

sfmays24 · April 12, 2009 5:57AM

I thought it was... shut up and make me a sandwich, or now in Lee case... hello, may I make you a sandwich?

Mike

brianwintersfan · April 12, 2009 6:05AM

I agree for the newer stuff, high grade is still the way to go. But for vintage, your plan sounds spot on. I have also been going through the collection, and selling off some stuff. It was time to get focused again instead of blowing a lot of money on stuff I really didn't need. Those PSA 5 and 6 Gifford's look very close to the 7.

ajw · April 12, 2009 8:37AM

Welcome to the club! I've been slowly building some Willie Mays and Juan Marichal sets, and if you're patient, you can get some great deals in mid-grade vintage.

Here are a couple of my favorites, in a variety of grades:

Have fun, and be sure to share some scans of your new additions.

cyots82 · April 12, 2009 9:08AM

How much did those cards cost?

Goodsport40 · April 12, 2009 9:52AM

Great move. I did this last year and I have been much happier with the cards I have purchased.

You have a good eye for cards as seen in the vintage football thread, so I am looking forward to seeing your new purchases.

Good luck with your new focus!

Robert

TJMAC · April 12, 2009 11:08AM

Paul,

I am glad you moved in a direction that will make you more happy. As you know, I collect primarily PSA 5, 6 & 7 cards from the 50's & 60's. To me, it is the perfect balance between quality and quantity for a guy on fairly limited budget. Good luck!

Terry

stevek · April 12, 2009 11:16AM

Yea, it's interesting how collecting interest changes over the years. I remember as a kid in the 60's, not caring about those Topps inserts, and most kids threw away the dam things...now I love 'em and one of my primary collection focus is on some high grade insert sets from that time. Go figure? LOL

Dboneesq · April 12, 2009 1:01PM

<< <i>Yea, it's interesting how collecting interest changes over the years. I remember as a kid in the 60's, not caring about those Topps inserts, and most kids threw away the dam things...now I love 'em and one of my primary collection focus is on some high grade insert sets from that time. Go figure? LOL >>

Steve ... which insert sets are you building? I also collect some of the sets. Maybe we can trade some extras. LMK.

stevek · April 12, 2009 1:16PM

<< <i>

<< <i>Yea, it's interesting how collecting interest changes over the years. I remember as a kid in the 60's, not caring about those Topps inserts, and most kids threw away the dam things...now I love 'em and one of my primary collection focus is on some high grade insert sets from that time. Go figure? LOL >>

Steve ... which insert sets are you building? I also collect some of the sets. Maybe we can trade some extras. LMK. >>

Basically all of them with an emphasis on PSA 9 - I'll grab a 10 if possible, if I can afford it, but not too many 10's come up on ebay or elsewhere, or even exist. I'm not a registry guy, yet, but I've been thinking about it, so I guess if I do register my sets those 10's might become more important, but I'm still very happy with the PSA 9's.

I don't intend to spend countless amounts of money on 10's just to try and become #1 on the registry, but then again I hear the registry is a powerful drug.

Dboneesq · April 12, 2009 1:48PM

Steve ... Sorry, don't have any for you then ... I am building Raw Sets.

2dueces · April 12, 2009 10:50PM

Sometimes a nice 4 or 5 will do. BTW the bottom corners are just as sharp as the top. They just don't show well in the scan.

Lothar52 · April 13, 2009 12:00AM

I agree, i absolutely love looking at my 53 bowman color set in psa 4-5.....dont need no (edited for "know" hehe) 300-400 dollar commons in psa 8 to enjoy this set!!!

I have thought this for years...my first set was a 56 set in psa 6 done when everyone was doing 7's and 8's....

i want to offer another point of few regarding modern cards....i wanted a 1994 SP A-rod in psa 9.....i settled on a nice raw card that would be around a 7-8 if graded....now that he has fallen from grace I dont feel as bad regarding this card.....if i owned it in 9-10...id be crappin the pants!! Maybe with modern its best to buy raw or just wait and see????

Loth

My collecting focus has changed

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