I've done two variations on this idea (I also don't like collecting Joe Shlabotnik cards).
One is to take a set and collect only the HOFers in it, as I've done with the
tough V100 issue.
The other is to pick your 25/30/50 favorite players, and form a collection of 1 card of each player. I've had great fun doing that, and making up my own rules about what can be in the collection (e.g. max 1 card from any issue; if a player has a card from a Cleveland team, I have to use one of those, etc.).