I finished my Cracker Jack set
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My journey is complete, I have all 180 Cracker Jack cards that I was seeking…it’s over.
In May 2010 it all started with correspondence to Anthony Nex and Rick Rockwood via the Collectors Universe board. I was absolutely hooked and decided to go full bore on these cards. With that and some research I made my first two purchases being a destroyed Peckinpaugh from ebay for $35 (overpaid and have since upgraded) and 3 commons from Rich which were beautiful to my eyes. As I picked up a card here and there, I won my first big CJ lot. I learned this worked well and scored some bigger cards in the Plank and Alexander.This score brought the count into the 30’s on the 176-card set. The holiday season of 2011 came in and so did the CJ lots. Over the course of December through February I made 3 large purchases including a rather large “raw” find from a 1914 guy. In these lots I found the power in upgrading my set from these huge buys, selling and having quite a bit of control in what I want in my set and what to sell. I had to decide what qualities were more important to me in a CJ. I decided I wanted to rid the set of cards with pinholes, writing, pieces missing and trimming which were a few. I started placing a premium on overall color and then looking at registration. When I was said and done with these 3 large lots I had 140 cards and the 1914 Chance. I decided to get a card for every player that Cracker Jack ever produced totaling 180. I also decided to get a couple other 1914s if the price was right to add to the set, mixing and matching my set. October of 2012 was a good CJ month. I went into a large lot of CJs with a buddy that netted me 52 more cards which I used as 23 upgrades and 6 new cards including the mighty Joe Jackson. I had also decided to ad the Bresnahan no #. I had 13 cards to go including the Cobb, Wagner, Rickey, e145 Cashion and 9 commons. At the National of 2013 I picked up my Wagner from Glenn Mechanick and then the Cobb through another board member that also came from Glenn…I was only missing J McGraw, a card I had owned 5 copies of at various times and sold all of them! Then today I finalized the deal, with card in hand for the McGraw...Thanks Edward. My wife was amazing during all this and I met so many great friends through this. Barry, Jared, Pete, Tony, Ken, Mac, Rich and Anthony have all helped me so much along the way, thanks fellas. |
Congratulations! Absolutely an astonishing feat of a beautiful set.
Great job! Drew |
Wow, great job that's one nice looking group of CJ's!
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Congrats Steven! What's next?
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Great set, congratulations Steve.
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Steve, congratulations on the accomplishment and sharing the story of how you accomplished it.
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Congrats!
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Amazing, congrats sir!
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Beautiful Set - congrats! Show some more pictures!
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I finished my Cracker Jack set
Congratulations Steven! I'm glad to be a small part of your quest & success.
Glenn |
What, you threw out the caramel corn and the toys?
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Congratulations! That's an amazing accomplishment. Very envious!
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thats unbelievable i mean i seriously had my jaw hit the ground....
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Congratulations buddy. Well done!
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congrat !!!!!!!!
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Congratulations!
Wow, yes - congratulations! Great accomplishment, something to be proud of for sure!
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Congratulations Steven, quite an accomplishment, the cards look great!
RC |
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All my horizonals...
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All my 1914s...
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Wow, such a great looking set! Congrats!
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Congratulations on an amazing accomplishment.
Runner up goes to your wife. Equally lucky man to have such an understanding wife! |
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Congratulations, Steven. That's a whole lot of eye candy...literally. What a beautiful set.
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Steve, that's a great set. What is next?
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Congrats on your accomplishment! Very nice set. I hope to finish off the 1915 issue hopefully within several more years.
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Congrats on your Jacks!
Steve,
Any time a fellow collector completes a project it is time to celebrate by all! I love the look of those Cracker Jacks and they look so good all together like that. Congratulations on a job well done. You have a great eye! Tim Kindler |
Congratulations Steven, that's a serious accomplishment. One of my favourite sets for sure.
Thanks for sharing scans; looks like a nice evenly graded set. And I like that you mixed in a few '14s and rounded up to 180. Cheers, Richard. |
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Thanks guys, not too much on the horizon...need to save some money.
I had to do this, 180/180. |
Simply amazing! I hope you will be able to keep and enjoy the set for the rest of your life. Congrats!
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Steve, you climbed the Cracker Jack mountain!
Way to go, dude!:D |
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Congrats great accomplishment!
Ricky Y |
Congrats, Steve! What a beautiful set...a lot to be proud of there.
Enjoy the set! |
Welcome to the club!
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Very Cool to see! Congrats on a great accomplishment.
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Way to go! I'm proud to say my first CJ was one of those you sold (Clarke). I also have a handful more that sacrificed themselves for your set.
I've long appreciated your enthusiasm for the Cracker Jack Set. Enjoy! Tony |
Wow. Amazing. Well done!!
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Fantastic set and great examples of Cobb and Jackson.
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Congrats! Great story and pics.
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Congratulations Steve... I certainly enjoyed hearing the story of how it all came together... And that is quite a beautiful set you have compiled.
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The story behind the set shows how much you enjoyed the whole process. Congratulations!
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Beautiful set, well done!!!
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What kinda value do u put on that? Ill tell u priceless simply amazing
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Probably my favorite mainstream set...such an iconic brand combined with gorgeous cards...I now officially have CJ envy!
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Congrats, great accomplishment!
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Great job on a most difficult feat!!
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Congrats Steve on a great accomplishment!!! Mountains are meant to be climbed and you sure climbed a difficult one. It has been a pleasure for me to take part in that accomplishment, but better than that was to develop a friendship with you.
Can't wait to share more "war stories" in the future. Best regards, Barry |
You have an understanding wife, a beautiful collection of CJs and a man cave?
I am soooo jealous! Congrats on all 3. Quote:
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