Very cool. Thanks for posting the link, Al.

Very nice, Larry. One of the great things about this site, we get a chance to see some neat cards.

Recently picked up the last two commons I needed for a '54 Bowman set. Now just needing five more - some guys named Mantle, Williams, Mays, Doby and Feller.

Congrats Sean/Larry....nice accomplishment

…..and my third 1967 Topps set is complete…..mr Seaver was the last card needed. ***Currently working on 1966 topps (yes only 1 set :))***

Wow 3 sets! Congrats. Good luck with your search for your 66 set.

But you will need at least 2 :)

I was wondering if anybody actually put two sets together of 1966 with the white and cream backs…..I can live with the set being mixed. My next question was which is harder to find?

1 Card Away
 

I only need 1 card for my mostly-trimmed '33 Goudey set: the green Mel Ott. (If anyone out there has one, preferably with the borders trimmed off, then I'm the man who wants it!)

That's a great question...haha. I have two 66 Topps sets and after reading this went to look at how many were opposite to see if I was even close. Nope...it was pretty consistent...I'll stick with mixed! haha....





Good luck with the trimmed Mell Ott! What a cool set...

Looking to start a '76 set in NMMT. Anyone have a good sized starter set?
Brian

This may be a dumb question, but are those custom binders? And the pocket on the spine? Do you put a real card in there? If so, is it a duplicate with one in its appropriate slot in the set? Or some kind of copy?

I am not a set collector per se, but have 1975 and 1980 sets. Am constantly upgrading my 1975 to NMMT. And have about 3500 1980's that includes 2 full sets and most of a 3rd. Occasionally, I'll get them all out and go through to make sure I have best of all options in set 1, next best in set 2, etc. I'm around #150-175 on that project, so a long way to go. When done, I'll have legit, centered NM - NMMT 1st set with a solid EXMT or better 2nd. None are in binders yet.

I finished a couple of sets last week.

The long search for the last 1977 Hostess panel ended on eBay

And the final two 1955 Topps Doubleheaders were bought at the Strongsville show with this Jackie Robinson being the last

For mine, I have an original card in the spine with a different Hall of Famer for each set. They're duplicate cards so they're not taken from the set. For 1952-1956 I use actual Topps cards but from standard size products

That binder bookshelf just looks amazing! Great collection!
RayB

Edited to add that I just made 25% complete on my PSA 9 or better 1977 OPC Baseball set.
The sledding gets a lot tougher from here.

Great display and idea Mark

Love the display. It looks great, but unfortunately your 1980 Topps binder doesn’t have a Hall of Famer in the spine. I don’t blame you for using Rose though. I would probably use his card many times for a run like that, but preferably in a Reds uniform.

There's a second bookshelf that has the sets from 2000-2023. Obviously there aren't Hall Of Famers in many of those either, but there are Hall of Fame worthy players there.

1968 Topps BB -- Complete
 

Ordered a 1968 Topps Clemente #150 today which completes my 1968 set. Moving onto 1962 Topps with the goal of completing Topps BB sets back to 1961. Have completed the 1961 set and have a start on the 63-67 sets. All the stories of the 66 and 67 high numbers scare me sometimes but the challenge is what makes the hobby fun.

After several years of hunting, this card showed up at REA and I was fortunate to be able to add it to the collection. Currently at 58/60 signed cards for the 1968 Topps Giants set. Doubting that I'll ever finish it off, so this will probably be it.

I would assume because of Clemente? I would imagine a signed Clemente would be extremely difficult to find.

This seems like Déjà vu, so I may have asked this before, but can you tell us why the autographed 1964 Topps Giants Mays is such a tough get? He's not a hard signature to find on virtually any card (if you have the money to spend), so why is there a roadblock trying to get this one? Thanks.

Yes, Clemente is very tough and just doesn't show up for sale. And they've usually already been scooped up by set collectors. The last one I saw was pre-pandemic and went for several thousand dollars.

The other tough one is Dick Farrell, who retired in 1969 and shortly after moved to Great Britain where he worked on an oil rig. He then died in 1977 in an auto accident. So not a big opportunity for him to sign.

For some reason, Mays is tougher than I would expect also. His card is an SP, so that may have something to do with it.

A few recent 67T pickups. Less than 100 to go!

Great looking cards, Al

I hate 1967 Topps lol………:)

I’m super close to finishing 1966 topps…….only 16 more left!!!

Great 67s Al...that Seaver is super well centered! Don't see that very often...

Well done! 16 is so so close...but can be so far away for 66 & 67! hahaha...it will feel good when done!

Good song lol……I’m hoping to be within 10 by the end of the month……I keep setting my eBay budget higher and higher. I picked up the banks 110 and roberts 530 last night…..still I’ll see what pops up next.

A long journey is finally complete! Most of these only sporadically show up on Ebay...let alone anywhere else. Even picked up a couple from members here. I have finally completed the 1953-55 Dormand Postcard set!!

I've been submitting to SGC as I acquire, and now need to submit two more. Tonight I FINALLY locked down the last card I needed, ironically not even one of the well known rare cards (Howard, Skowron...)...but Irv Noren...finally got Irv Noren!!!


https://i.ibb.co/B4HmJWM/noren674449.jpg


I'm going to have a custom hanging display case made so I can have them on the wall of my office. I just love the photography, classic era shots. This was by far the longest I've ever worked on a set...over 2 years. Didn't think I would ever finish!!

For the purists, I completed the 41 card checklist. I went after the variations with different photo's poses, but I did not go after the different size and location of the autographs. Way too big of a rabbit hole...

You are Otto control (see what I did there?)!!!!!!!!!

Congrats, it couldn't have happened to a better guy!!!

Congrats. Always a great feeling to finish a set.

Working on 1962 Topps. Poor/low grade/beaters, within reason. Don't really want anything in tatters. Creased and worn is fine. A raw set just to have. Don't care one iota about perfect condition or investment or grading or variations or any of that. I am now at 428 out of 598. Not bad after really going on this back in March. But I already had the stars and HOFers. Little did I know about the 7th series going in, but I do now!

Jay---congrats on the Dormands

Thanks guys...and thanks Darren...haha.

My old PE coach in High School was kinda a local legend, played football at UW and was our HS Football coach...as a teacher he didn't say much and it was clear he was too cool...haha...he used to make up knicknames for us, but only if he liked you...he used to yell at me "Ottooooknowbetter...." I thought that was awesome...

John's Dormand set completion is a great achievement!

It's been a while since I posted on this thread.

I've completed the 1950 Callahan master set with all the variations.

I'm pretty close on a number of sets. I seems to take soooooo long to close out those last cards:

• I'm 45 cards away from completing 61 Topps
• After picking up the Maury Wills below, I just need the checklist to complete the 63 Fleer set. (It's crazy how expensive that frickin' checklist is)
• 33 cards away from completing 1970 Topps.
• Just need #588 Checklist + 8 blue team checklists to complete 1973 Topps
• 33 Cards away from completing 1974 Topps.

I just won an auction for the last card I needed to complete my 1955 Topps baseball set (196 - Gale Wade) and I am curious what other folks do with regard to the 4 missing cards. There are three options, as I see it:

1. Leave the sheet slot that corresponds to these cards empty
2. Collapse the higher number cards down so there are no empty slots
3. Fill in the empty slots with the "Cards that Never Were" that were apparently a giveaway at the 2005 National.

I'm leaning towards #3, but I was wondering what others have done.

Set Collectors - Report in your progress!
 

Posting here as somewhat of a reminder to myself that I need to get serious about my ‘72 Topps set again. I’m somewhere in the neighborhood of ~350 out of the 788 cards. I know, don’t ask me why I picked the “postwar monster” as the first vintage set I was going to go after by hand (I had earlier bought a complete ‘71 set…) when I’m not really a set collector by nature. But I do love the design, and the psychedelic team legends and colors. I have most of the stars too, just need to start looking at lots again…


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

I like that set and initially thought I would stop doing Heritage with that set ( but since decided to trudge on to 1975). For a time of I was picking every color variant I could find in the names and teams, mostly registration issues , but finally gave up. Still there are a lot of wild color swirls and quirks in that set

I would go with #3 too. It adds another story to your set.

Sent from my SM-S906U using Tapatalk

In my sets that are in a binder, I leave blank slots for cards I have but for various reasons are not kept in the binder.

For non issued numbers, I note the card number was not issued on heavy paper about the size of a card.

Here is an example that was included in my 1961 set:

Attachment 575701

Mike

My 1962 Topps set is done. That comment will probably ruin this long running thread, as so many of my posts have apparently done to other threads, but I hope it doesn't.

Wow, just wow. That Seaver!

With the purchase of Bob Schultz (finally) I am now down to 2 cards remaining to finish my 52 Topps set.
2 tough cards remaining in Wilhelm, and especially Mathews, but I haven't given up hope yet. :)

That’s awesome. I know that one has been a long, yet thrilling ride.

Congrats, Dale. Wilhelm and Mathews are out there but definitely won't be cheap to get (especially getting them to you in Canada). Looking forward to seeing updates when you do get them.

Just got the last 5 needed to fill my 1966 set from a GM auction - Russ Snyder, Billy Williams, Gary Bell, Tony Oliva and Ron Perransoski.

Probably paid a bit too much for Snyder and Williams, but a EX-EXMINT in GM standards Oliva for $10.50 seems like a steal.

Congrats on the 66 set…..I’m 4 away and hope to join you soon……..wifey said I better take a break before starting 1961 Topps set lol

Thanks, JW. :)

Since 2016 when I joined this site.
I already had 148 my father gave me, including Mantle, Mays and Robinson, so it was definitely easier than starting from scratch, but a heck of an endeavor nonetheless.

Thanks, Jay.:)

The current exchange rate is a killer, as are most shipping fees, so it makes it extra tough for sure.
I'm pretty sure I'll have to get real lucky somehow obtaining the last two but my fingers are crossed.

66 set is a lot of fun. Which 4 are left?

I haven't made it back that far yet to think about this - but I will probably do something like this when I do.

I have collected Topps sets from the late 90s during the period when card 7 was "retired" after Mickey Mantle's death. In my albums I've inserted a piece of paper simply stating - Monument to a Dumb Idea. With all respect to Mick and his importance to the game and the hobby, I still think it was ridiculous for them to do this.

1966 Topps needs……..ex-exmint or better

1 mays
100 Koufax
500 aaron
544 cards rc

Congrats Dale!!!

544 is a tough one!

Tell me about it. eBay is way over priced. I gave it a what the hell and was bidding on one from Greg morris, I bid a stupid amount 115.00 (just because I want this set done) and lost out at 117.00

I found mine on COMC a few weeks back for $55 - I don't know what your condition parameters are, but aside from being o/c with just a slight tilt, this is otherwise a solid EX+ and fits in with my set perfectly the scan here makes the edges and corners look fuzzy - they aren't).

I increasingly look to COMC - I have never been unpleasantly surprised with the the condition of any vintage I've bought, and often the cards in hand look better than their scans.

Trying to find this one on eBay, even at GM, is ridiculous. I was really surprised at how hard it was to find a Koufax in EX-EXMINT or better - I finally had to overpay (in my opinion) and go just over $100 for one on a GM auction.

Thanks, John. :)

And a big congrats to you as well for completing your Dormand set!

Best of luck on adding these last two cards Dale!

Thanks, Larry! :)

About a month ago I decided to start a set of 1965 Topps baseball. I only had a few commons to get started, but the first pack of cards that I ever opened was 1965 Topps baseball. My son found a deal at a LCS on a bunch of SP’s and hi numbers along with some of the minor stars and grabbed them so that was the clincher to get me rolling. I have since purchased a few groups of cards and some of the stars. So I’m down to needing 135 cards. I should be able to get that number down a bunch next week at the National.

1950 Bowman complete with the purchase of Jackie Robinson at The National

Nice Jackie there Dave. Congratulations on completing your set.

310/520 (+1) - T206
120/252 - 1950 Bowman
4/90 - C46 Imperial
1/50 - N31 World’s Dudes

I wonder if any of these will ever get completed.

Down to needing 25 cards for my 1965 Topps set. Here’s some recent pickups.

Attachment 582498

1966 Topps set is completed………hell yeah……:)

I needed 100 (Koufax) and 544 (cards rc) and I ordered at the same time but Koufax took longer to arrive so it’s the last card to complete the set…..I’m taking a month off (maybe :))…….1961 is next……then 1965 or flipped? I’ll see.

This was a super fun set. Nothing was really hard to find. I completed an extra 5th and 6th series for the fun of it. Back info and stats are always a fun read for me.

Nice Koufax. Congrats on completing your set. Going for either the 61 or 65 sets will be fun. I completed the 61 set last year. I will hopefully finish the 65 set by the end of this year. Good luck and have fun!

Congrats on completing the 1966 set. It is the first set from my childhood collection - 7 years old when my grandfather started buying cards for my brother and I. We never saw high numbers, so I had to finish those long ago when I found the hobby.

I've replaced a handful of cards that I played with as a kid (making roads on the living room floor among other games) - but there are still some well worn cards in my collection. 1966 Topps will always hold a special place in my heart.

Slowly I've been working on my last Bowman set - 1949.
I have been tackling it series by series and with today's mail with Vic Wertz and Terry Moore I just finished series 5 of the 7 total. About 50 cards left to go.
Series six should be okay, but Series 7 is a monster. Despite being smaller than the other series (24 cards instead of 36) it includes the rookie cards of Satchell Paige, Duke Snider and Larry Doby along with Bob Lemon.

Looking to start a '76 set to finish my set run from '74-'23. Does anyone have a nice starter set of 500+ different cards in NMMT they'd be willing to sell me?

Progressing
 

I am at 99% on '63 Topps baseball, 89% on '72 Topps baseball, 70% on '77 Topps baseball, and 65% on '80 Topps baseball. All PSA high grade slabs.

Also, I am 95% on '89 Score Fb in all PSA 10.

I like challenges.

My HUUUGE white whale arrived today. 1971 Kellogg's Roberto Clemente.
Not only a great card on its own, but it not only completed my 1971 Kelloggs set, it completes my full Kelloggs complete set run from 1970-1983. Fifteen complete sets crack free.

That is impressive! Some of the 89 Score football are difficult to find in a 10. You’re going to have some great sets when they are completed.

1965 Topps baseball complete
 

I’ve completed my 1965 Topps baseball set. The last cards should arrive soon. My first pack of baseball cards to ever open was from 1965, now I have a complete set.

Wow, talk about a marathon and not a sprint, 58 years?? Ha ha. :D

Congrats!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I recently finished the 1969 Topps set, with the last card being Al Downing (#292). I now have finished 1955, 1956, 1960, 1965, and the complete run from 1968 through 1979.

Next up is 1958, of which I am about 80% complete. I am also working on 1973 Topps football (90% complete) and 1972-73 Basketball (80%).

Congrats……I’m currently working on it also……only 15 more to go…….but the bigger ones

working on 1952 Topps, all low numbers done, need about 60 more low grade high numbers.

My Initial Post to this Thread
 

Have been collecting a number of years and just getting involved as a contributing member of this site. Spent some time reading this thread and seeing what others are collecting and progress made over the years by you all is exciting. Absolutely a space for everyone to find something and that is one of the great things about this hobby (obsession, maybe).
As for me, several different projects that are underway:
First, one card away from completing a PSA 1962 Topps Venezuelan set (just need the Clemente). Started this some 40 years ago as a kid with a dealer knowing I liked the Astros giving me the Norm Larker Venezuelan card and a class on them being the Colt 45s. I was sold on a rarity of the Spanish and have been working on that set for a long time. Submitted my raw to PSA a few years ago, so very close. Not anywhere near Josh Alpert’s level condition-wise, but my favorite set.
Splitting the difference with Venezuelan rarity and Astros, also working on getting a complete run of Astros from those sets. Have 64 of 77 total – missing from 67, 68, and 72
I am also working on a Post/Jell-o run from the early 60s. Started by completing the 1962 baseball and football and now working the rest at different paces. Currently:
1961 Post – need 61 (not differentiating between box and perforated and decided not to go after every known variation
1962 Jell-O – virtually unstarted yet
1962 Post Canadian – need 148
1962 Post CFL – need 6
1963 Post – need 54
1963 Jell-O – virtually unstarted
1963 Post CFL – need 1 (Fieldgate)

Others:
1910 C59 Lacrosse – need 85
1910 C60 Lacrosse – need 59
1912 C61 Lacrosse – need 22
1962 Here Come the Colts booklets – need 4
1962 Salada Football coins – need 38
1971 Coca-Cola Astros – need 1 (Blasingame)
1977 Hostess Twinkies – need 7
And just beginning a 1967 Kabaya-Leaf Baseball set (because why not)

Chris

I purchased the last card, #662 Lucchesi, to complete my 1970 Topps Baseball set. I still need to complete the insert sets and there are around 17 cards that I want to upgrade. My sign-off will give anyone reading this an idea what I still need, but I want to focus on piecing a 1969 Topps Baseball set together in lower condition.

Phil aka Tere1071

Complete 1953 Bowman Color, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, and 1975 Topps Baseball sets under revision as the budget and wife allows

Under construction:
1968 Topps Baseball - 420/598: Overall vg, missing all of the bigger name stars and many commons from 1-375; no game cards

1969 Topps Baseball - 320-664: Overall vg, missing all of the stars and many cards after #217; no deckle edged cards

1969 Topps Baseball Team Stamps- Dodgers; missing everything else

1970 Topps Baseball Insert sets:
Booklets- missing 7; 9; 11; 13; 14; 15; 17; and 23.
Posters # 1; 8; 14; 17; and 19
I do not have any 1970 scratch offs yet.

1971 Topps Coins- 120/153
I do not have any 1971 scratch offs yet.

1974 Topps Baseball Washington variations- 32; 53; 77; 102; 125; 226; 241; 309; 364; and 599

Progress
 

I really want to finish my father's collection from when he was younger, this is mainly 1959-1963, and I am getting pretty close.

Personally, I really want to focus on 1953 Bowman when I am finished. Either way, I also pick some random stuff up along the way but am obsessed about cataloging.

But this is where I am at:
Collection Summary
Ferguson 1916 12.37%
1933 Goudey 2.08%
Play Ball 1939 3.09%
Bowman 1948 4.17%
Bowman 1949 0.83%
Bowman 1950 0.40%
Bowman 1951 1.85%
Bowman 1952 10.32%
Topps 1952 3.44%
Bowman 1953 Color 61.88%
Bowman 1953 B&W 3.13%
Bowman 1954 2.68%
Topps 1953 2.19%
Topps 1954 99.60%
Bowman 1955 100.00%
Topps 1955 1.46%
Topps 1956 0.00%
Topps 1957 2.46%
Topps 1958 9.29%
Topps 1959 100.00%
Topps 1960 100.00%
Topps 1961 100.00%
Topps 1962 97.32%
Topps 1963 92.71%
Topps 1964 87.22%
Topps 1965 37.96%
Topps 1966 15.22%
Topps 1967 25.45%
Topps 67 Pin-Ups 100.00%
Topps 1968 29.26%
Topps 1969 76.51%