Set Collectors - Report in your progress!
 

Would love to hear how other set collectors out there are doing against their goals and report in their progress. All the set collectors I know are usually into stats and spreadsheets (I am! Lol) to track progress and LOVE hitting milestones along the way. Here is where I am at, current goal is to attack the 1960's Topps base set runs, before I jump back into the 1950's.

1960 - 1980 Topps 13,224/13,724 Need 500 96% Complete

1970's Topps 7,011/7011 100% Complete
1960's Topps 5,487/5,987 91% Complete

Set's Currently Working on -

1965 Topps 414/598 69%
1964 Topps 465/587 79%
1962 Topps 457/598 76%
1961 Topps 534/587 91%

*Primary focus is on 1961 Topps High Numbers, mostly All-Stars, chipping at others when good deals arise. Re-Completing 64 & 65 due to upgrades and helping other collectors a year ago. Most recent complete was the tough 63 Topps.


Side sets -

1963 Fleer 50/67 75%

*3rd time I am putting this set together, not a big fan just thought it would look cool in the 63 Topps binder so chipping away.

SGC Graded Harmon Killebrew Base Cards 14/20

*Favorite player, just thought it would be cool to have each card in SGC graded 7 or higher. The hardest part is just availability unless I send in some myself, not sure if I am that interested enough to do that, although it would be a lot cheaper in the long run considering I have about 4-6 cards of each year easy, some I think would grade 7 or highter. Just easier to buy them already graded.



Latest Milestone - Getting to 500 cards needed for the entire Topps 60's base cards. Seems like I'm almost there, only 500 out of 5, 987 cards, but then I think of the box of 500 that represents and some of the cards I have left, and it seems like I'm still climbing the mountain! :)


Check in with your progess! I love hear how others are doing...and I know there are a lot of folks here that compete with me day in and day out for the same cards...I've said this before, I wish it wasn't so anonymous on these auctions, I would enjoy talking battle scars after some of the fights!

Fun thread! Off the top of my head (spreadsheets aren't handy):

1948-49 Leaf - need 3
1976 Topps - need 2
1962 Topps Super - need 8
1991 Topps Desert Shield - need 3
1956 Topps Master - need 2
1950 Bowman - need 3

1962 Topps "super" is registry name for master set plus green tints.

1952 Topps
 

I am under 10 cards left to complete my 1952 Topps set. All high #'s.....5 commons, some stars...but I have the Mantle. In addition, I have 6 or 7 gray backs and a number of variations.

Z

Sets
 

1955 Topps Hocus Focus baseball--3
1967 Topps Stand Ups--- 2
1991 Topps instant Win Game cards... 3, I think

Bob -- 62 Supers ?

I'm a set collector with a goal to have a complete base set from every year.

I'm complete with that goal back to 1951 (Includes 1955 Bowman and Topps, 1954 Bowman and Topps, 1953 Topps, 1952 Bowman and 1951 Topps Red and Blue)

Now working on the 1950 Bowman set. Need just 17 cards to finish.

17 Sid Hudson
18 Eddie Robinson
19 Warren Spahn
20 Bob Elliott
21 Pee Wee Reese
22 Jackie Robinson
23 Don Newcombe
24 Johnny Schmitz
25 Hank Sauer
26 Grady Hatton
27 Herman Wehmeier
28 Bobby Thomson
29 Ed Stanky
32 Robin Roberts
33 Ralph Kiner
34 Murry Dickson
35 Enos Slaughter

I just picked up #223 in my signed 1953 Topps set (Bobo Newsom). My other signed set project, which has been mothballed for now, is a 2007 Dunkin Donuts PawSox set. The sets were given out as a promotion, and I've never seen them signed other than the ones I have. I was able to get to 24/30 TTM, and added Jon Lester about 2 years ago through a Steiner signing. I don't think I'll be able to complete it because infielder Ed Rogers has evidently retired back to his native Dominican Republic, and I don't have a way to get in touch with him there.

1956 Topps -- 312/342 (91% complete)

My 1973 Topps set is 81% complete. Putting it together one series at a time. About the begin the 5th series. I already have the Schmidt RC so that makes it a little easier.


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My PSA mid-grade 1953 Bowman is a hair over 33% complete. Hope to get it closer to 50% by years end

Lol 5+6 is not "under 10"!

Hardly any progress for me over the past 4-5 years. :o Life got in the way.

Completed 1961 Post, 1964 Topps Coins, and 1961 Topps Stamps recently.

Topps regular run (except 1952) complete. Bowman run complete except 1949 (need 43).

Working on assorted 50's/60's/70's issues: 1963 Topps Peel Offs (need 4),1972 Fleer Famous Feats (need 5), 1954 Red Heart (need 2), 1962 Post (need 1), 1963 Post (need 3).

In pre-war, 1933 Goudey (need 66), 1934 Goudey (need 34), 1934-36 Diamond Stars (need 37), 1939 Play Ball (need 39), 1940 Play Ball (need 55) and 1941 Play Ball (need 1).

Collecting
 

Amazing collection, Left

1964 Topps Giants - need Koufax, Mays, and a few commons.
1967 Topps - need Mantle and about 40 high numbers, including Seaver.
The Giants I'm looking for NM, the 67s, vg-ex.

Just completed a near mint 1971 set with all keys in PSA 7 holders. What a beast. 20% in on 1957 but finding it hard to find near mint lots as I love to buy, merge, upgrade, and purge. Last weekend I impulse bought complete 1960 and 1965 sets, which I'm going to tear down and rebuild. 1960 set arrived and is mostly sharp but 1965 is going to require a lot of work if I decide to keep it. Last night I bought a 213 near mint lot of 1960s so let the upgrading begin! I love examining the cards and deciding the condition winners and the losers. If I can't decide my wife is the tie breaker.

I have the best wife ever. I received my first Old Judge (Brooklyn, Smith batting) in the mail today from Old Judge (thanks, Old Judge!) and she liked the card so much she said, "Are there more?" Oh, yes dear, there are more. There are more.

Focus
 

Scott....that's a great wife for sure! Yes there are more Old Judge cards but not many wives would encourage going for that set :p

My own progress is coming along nicely. Just 91 more cards to complete my Topps Run from 1952 through 1980. That excludes the 52 highs that I am not interested in. The bulk of those needed are 67 Topps high numbers. I have all the cards from the 1953-62 years. I also have 1969-1980 done.

I have a few Bowman sets going, but only 1950 is complete.
I have a few prewar sets complete...T205, E95, E96 and E210-1.
I'm working on C46, E90-1, E210-2 , T212-2 and T212-3.
I upgrade occasionally on the prewar, but rarely on the Topps run as I don't mind G/VG or whatever I get to fill the binders.

All this activity has been after I swore off adding more sets. I was going to focus on my pre-war HOF collection which is my favorite portion of this sickness.
I want to acquire all of the HOFers from each of the main prewar sets. Yup, the grandest goal and likely unachievable. Still, I have made nice progress on that too:o

I sure could use some discipline to keep focused, but it's all good!

Really great projects everyone!

Very impressive devotion....something I lack as I get distracted with other cards I would rather have.

Presently working on a 73 set, with HoFr's graded 7 and above. Made sure to get them out of the way first, and now all I have to work on are commons.

Just over a third of the way done. Love the set!

I always buy the commons first and then the key cards (graded). Based on how pricing is going up it would probably be wise to follow your approach!

Finished a few sets so far this year....50, 52 and 55 Bowman. Started on 33 Goudey as well as 40 and 41 Playball sets....about 40% along with each of the 3.

Mainly focused on finishing my 52 Topps Set ... http://www.psacard.com/psasetregistr...set.aspx?s=100

Still working on 51, 53, & 54 Bowman sets(need approx. a dozen between the 3 sets), 18 cards short on 63 Post, 8 short on 68 MB Win a Card (baseball and FB). In addition, still working on 65-80 OPC sets....30% on 65-68, 69 complete, 80% on 70-72, 95% on 73, 75, 76, and complete with 77-80 (0 on 74s). None of these sets are priorities, just pickup cards when they are a bargain.

Finished 53-present Topps, 61, 62 Post sets, 60/61 Fleer sets

I too enjoyed reading about everyone's progress.

My sweet spot for collecting is 1970's and 80's. I have an ungraded run of Topps baseball complete from 1974-1986, Topps football from 1978-1981 and 1984-1987, Topps basketball 1977, and Topps hockey 1971. Most of these sets are NM or better on average. I also have a completely graded 1975 Mini set in NM-MT+ as well as an ungraded set in EX-MT condition on average. The Mini's are my favorite.

I'm currently working on an ungraded 1973 Topps baseball set which is 89% complete in about EX condition and a graded 1978 Topps basketball in Mint condition which is 68 percent complete. I'm also working on an ungraded 1971 Topps baseball set, which I'm completing by series. I have completed series 1 and 2 and will be starting series 3 soon. I've picked up most of the stars in the set, including the high numbers, all for less than $20 apiece. I think the only two stars I have left are the Yaz and Aparicio. I'm building the 1971 set without much regard to condition except that I want the cards to be readable, no writing, and not warped. Minor creases and wrinkles are accepted as are rounded corners and worn edges. I don't care much for scuffing of the surface. The average grade is VG/VG-EX.

Good luck to all building your sets!

Nice!

I am about half way there (200) but lack too many high priced cards to likely ever complete my set?
Still enjoy picking up what I can here and there though. :)

As one of those bucket list items that I started a few years ago, I'm putting together sets from 1969 to 1980. I have 1971-1980 complete with around 25 to go on the 1969 set and 80 cards or so from the 1970 set. The stats are in my sig, but I still need to update it slightly but it's still close. I bought the 1980 and 1975 sets, but everything else was put together. I also bought a complete 1976 SPCC set, which are very nice. I look at those way more than the 75s.

The 1975 set is mid-grade but I don't mind. My 72 and 73 sets are somewhat surprisingly decent looking in the binders, 74, 76-80 are in pretty much excellent condition. The 1971 set is the roughest, and will be the first set I start to upgrade once I complete them all. As ugly as I thought the 1972 set was, once you get it into the binder it's a really great looking set. I was kind of disappointed in the 1975 set. The colors are different, but I think it's too loud and the pictures are marginal IMO.

The 1974 set is one of my favorites. I had a bunch of them as a kid so I was familiar with 25% of the set. I really liked the 1973 cards as a kid, and I still like that year. My 1976 set has a few cards signed by Oakland A's players back when I was doing that 13 years ago or so. Bert Campanaris, Joe Rudi, Sal Bando, Gene Tenace, Al Dark. The 1978 is my personal favorite, being the first year I collected sports cards as a 9 year old. I liked 1980 when it came out since it had a 74 vibe to it, but 1979 is one of those years where familiarity breeds contempt. I bought so many that year and looked at them so much.

Now I'm pretty much down to HOFers and SP high numbers for 69 and 70. I need Nolan Ryan for both sets, 70 Clemente, 69 Seaver, 70 Aaron, etc. I'm not picky on condition but I know at some point I'll have to bite the bullet on the Ryans.

great thread

I have completed a couple sets already this year surprisingly. just finished the 64 Topps giants, have a couple sent out for grading and will probably upgrade a couple that aren't graded, should all be graded PSA/SGC 7 or better. finished my 70 Topps finally and 75 mini.

I'm trying for 51 to present, so all I have is time. I have a lot of sets started, completed my 52 low numbers, earlier this year, and picked up a few hi numbers (no mantle yet).

I have been focused on my 55, 56, 57 Topps. down to 5 big ones for the 55, aaron, robinson, clemente, mays and berra. 15 for the 56 and 11 for the 57. hopeful to keep those moving in the right direction. then on to finish my 53, 59 topps and 55 bowman.

close on the 69 topps (10 cards) and 71-72 under 100 each.

love hearing what other people are collecting and how they are making out with their sets.

good luck all

Probably what I should concentrate on myself.

60% 1952 Topps
 

Signed set 1952 Topps is at 60% Like to pick up more if you have them.

11/17 Signed 1952 topps set is at 75%

Trying to finally put to bed my 1961 Topps set. Still need these tough cards in nice shape:
***1961*** (ex. mt. - sharp corners and decently centered)
2 (Maris), 160 (Ford), 287 (Yastrzemski), 344 (Koufax), 417 (Marichal), 425 (Berra), 430 (Mazeroski), 472 (Berra MVP), 489 (Dropo), 528 (Ramos), 544 (Thomas), 577 (Aaron AS), 579 (Mays AS), 580 (Kaline AS), 586 (Ford AS)

I have plenty of tough 1961 high numbers to trade, plus a wide variety of big stars and HOF'ers from other years. Everything can be seen in my bucket(s).

Hit me up if you think we could put together a deal.

Here are some of the sets I am closing in on:

1933 Goudey baseball need 46
1934 Goudey baseball need 42
1935 Goudey (master set all combinations front and back) need 36
1949 Bowman baseball need 3
1950 Bowman baseball need 1
1951 Topps Red Backs need 2
1954 DanDee baseball need 2
1954 Red Heart baseball need 3
1959 Fleer Ted Williams need 3
1961 Topps rub-offs insert need 4
1964 Topps coins insert need 4

1948 Bowman basketball need 19
1957 Topps basketball need 10
1961 Fleer basketball need 4

1951 Bowman football need 1
1952 Bowman large football need 9
1952 Bowman small football need 9
1961 Fleer football need 1
1963 Fleer football need 10
1968 Milton Bradley football need 1

non-sports
1949 Bowman “Wild West” need 3
1951 Bowman “Fight The Red Menace” need 1
1953 Topps “License Plates” need 3
1954 Topps “Scoops” need 3
1954 Gum Inc “Adventure” need 1
1959 Topps “Wacky Plaks” need 6
1960 Fleer “Casper” need 4
1962 Topps “Casey and Dr Kildare” need 5
1963 Topps “Astronauts” need 5
1963 Topps “Beverly Hillbillies “ need 2
1963 Donruss “Combat” need 7
1966 Philadelphia “Greed Beret” need 1
1966 Philadelphia “Daktari” need 1
1966 Topps “Superman” (Watch Superman on TV add) need 2
1966 Topps “Superman” (copy-right only) need 15
1967 Topps “Soupy Sales” need 13
1968 Topps “Laugh-In” need 1
1971 Topps “Brady Bunch” need 3
1976 Donruss “Choppers and Hot Bikes” need 6
1976 Topps “Happy Days” (red) need 1

Larry

Larry, thats amazing - I'm sure your list of completed sets is pages long! Out of curiosity, where do you find your cards - especially from the more obscure sets? Are you trolling eBay, do you go to shows, or what? I am finding it harder and harder to find the stuff I am looking for on eBay (at reasonable prices) as I get towards more obscure/older sets.

'53 Topps set complete
'65 Topps about 60% complete
'54 Topps--I have the 3 big rookies, both Williams cards, and 32 commons.

I have other star cards from other sets that I think I might build around someday. However, I am getting a little bummed. I really love the idea of set building. In a sense, set building works for me because it allows me to spend a little here and there and not overspend in the short term and stay in budget. But, I know that over the long haul I am spending way more on commons and sets than they will ever be worth almost no matter how I go about it. I am not doing any of this for anything other than collecting fun, but my collecting pendulum is swinging back to just picking up selected cards from the sets that I find visually appealing. If I go this route, I can pick up a nice mid-grade or better star card/rookie every so often and probably eventually acquire most of the cards from the '50s and '60s that I want. It's just that when I am paying off one of the big cards over the course of a couple of months, I get to wanting to buy a little something. This leads me back to commons and the cycle starts all over again!

Can any of you guys who collect on a budget relate to this? If so, how do you handle it? Thanks.

Go low!
 

I think the best approach is to just go for lower grade sets. You can still buy the nicer stars or the nicer cards that appeal to you if you please....but a card is a card is a card...who cares if your Arnie Portacarrero is in mint condition :cool:
Spend far less by not worrying about the tiny differences of a dinged corner or crease.
If you are not chasing NR Mint Art Mahaffey or Lou Klimchock for 10x the price of a well loved common, your budget will go much farther ;)

Same with the stars...you either have a 1954 Willie Mays or you don't....the price between fair/good and NR mint is ridiculous if you are mainly interested in filling the set:D

I am retired, so I have extra time to spend on eBay. eBay does seem to be drying up somewhat, but I still find cards from my list. Being a member of an active trading group (OBC) has always been the key. When I find bargains, (cards I already have), I upgrade my sets, and then send off my duplicates (eBay pick-up last night 1959 Topps #561 Aaron All-Star card $3.99) I probably get three envelopes a week from fellow OBC members.

I've attended 4 of the last 5 Nationals (stayed home from AC this year) and we have a great 40 table monthly show here local. I know most of the dealers who set up at our local show, but like eBay, it seems I see the same cards collecting dust in their showcases, but once in awhile I get surprised LOL! Almost every month one of my dealer friends will say "Hey I've got something for you". If I hear of a show within driving distance I will take the road trip.

I also have "mail order" contacts and have built trust with several dealers, it's not uncommon for them to contact me.

Like Brian just mentioned, I "go-low", and always have since I started back up in 1988. Over the years a lot of cardboard has rolled through here, and by constantly upgrading, I've built up a nice collection.

I spend a lot of time with my cards, but that's what a hobby is all about, right?
Larry

I hear what you are saying. For the most part, I have been a mid grade collector who doesn't buy much of anything high grade. The graded cards I buy are usually in the 3 to 5 range and mostly crease and wrinkle-free , with something a little higher on occasion. This range has been about the same for commons (just ungraded). In the past, I have considered not being so picky with condition. I am not talking about beaters, but not thinking a light crease in a few cards was the end of the world. If I am going to build as many sets as I want, I will probably have to let go on condition somewhat. Otherwise, I would just limit myself to buying the cards I really want from the sets I really want, which might allow me to buy something a little better grade but still mid grade. I can enjoy it both ways I suppose. Thanks for your reply.

Robert

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Updated
 

Update, I have lowered my number to just 75 cards to finish my version of the Topps run from 1952-1980;);)

I really am disliking high numbers from the decade of the 60's but I "have" to get them I guess.

Regrettably, my overall collection list didn't really get shorter as I added 1953 Bowman color, 1975 Topps Mini and 1947 Tip Top since I wrote earlier in the thread. After I picked up a trio of T3 Turkey Red HOFers, it also made me consider a low grade run on those to go with the handful I already had.

It will never end. :cool:

It is definitely an illness Brian. :) But you do have an impressive collection

42 cards away from a super crispy NM 1960 set.
55 cards away from an ex-mt/nm 1965 set
31% in my mostly NM 1957 set. Just got both Robinson rookies. Wallet says, "Ouch."

I need the Mantles for all three in PSA 7 so keep me in mind for those if you are selling.

Scott

I completed 55 and 54 a couple of months ago and have been trying to fill in some holes with 70's football and basketball while making sure that I don't spend the Christmas money. Last month, I picked up a nice deal on 75-76 NBA. I am closing in on a nice deal on 77 NFL.

Come late February, I am going to look to buy a nice mid-grade 55 and 54 Bowman (with Williams). I am looking for stars in the PSA 6 range. I figure that I will look at the AH's for the best value - but if anyone has any of those that they might be cosigning and you want to split the difference on the potential BP, then please keep me in mind.

Also doing some light upgrading along the way. It is a really weird thing when I get through a project. The 54-56 mission was 2 hard years of looking for deals, managing check lists, upgrading the binder, etc. Once it is done, it is a relief, but I find myself a tad lost as I am not on the daily hunt.

Set Collectors - Report in your progress!
 

Delete. Double post

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/2016...0edd424e9a.jpg


On the surface this is a pretty mundane card, but it is the last card I needed for my 1973 set. I snapped the picture before putting it in the binder. Just FYI, it is #660. I always make sure the last card in the set is purchased last. Just one of my weird collecting quirks.


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Hitting a wall on my 53 Bowman color .... like always lol

When push comes to shove who wants 200 commons, eh? Sell the Mantle. :D

I finished a 1964 Topps and a 1967 last year. I am thinking of reorienting my collection to complete sets starting from my birth year (1961) up...but I doubt I will. I am currently finishing a 1961 (slowly) and need 1962, 1963, 1965, and 1966. All pretty much collect grade.

I'm so close to finally finishing/upgrading my 1961 set (less than 15 to go, but an extremely tough less-than-15 to go), but trying to find serious traders has become completely impossible these days, unfortunately. Hoping 2017 will get me over the hurdle.

Excited about this..

After three years, I've completed the set that got me back into collecting...

Frankie Conley was my last card needed to complete the T218s. It's such a wonderful set. It was a lot of fun putting together. I'm a little saddened the hunt is over.

https://s29.postimg.org/3s4fu1k5j/image.jpg

160 beauties in the set, Peter ;)

How bout I sell you the Mantle, and throw in 79 other cards!

Break them up, son. Nobody ever moves partial sets. :D

1967 update, and a shout out to Todd (bbcard1)
 

I just bought the Mantle (which I will post on the Mantle thread when it arrives), and last month, Todd gave me a great deal on 29 of the high numbers (including a few of the toughies) I needed, so I'm down to around a dozen commons and the Seaver. I had almost given up on ever finishing this set, but thanks to Todd, I am hopeful that I can put this thing to bed relatively soon, depending on being able to find the cards I need at a decent price.

David- The T218 set is amazing, congratulations! What size pages do you have them in?

They're regular 9 sleeve pages..

I just realized I posted this in the Post-War Section. Sorry about that!

Thanks David, they look great in those pages. I sure wish one of the manufacturers would make T218/Goudey pages and 51-52 Bowman pages again!

Love that set. The quirky photos and comical air brushing are so bad, it's good. The Luis Alvarado is my favorite card from that set.