Most Effective Method for Vintage Set Builders

[SOX75]

In the last 18 months I've "accumulated" the 1970-1972 and 1974-1976 sets. I grew up as a set-builder collector and sought out getting the sets I'd wanted as a kid.

I've used the same method each time: buy a complete set online. My results have been mixed. With the 1971, 1975 and 1976 sets I did pretty well and only a handful of cards needed to be upgraded to my standards (EX-Mint). The 1970 and 1972 sets were another matter. These were VG-EX sets that have needed significant amount of cards upgraded (over 200 each set). The costs of upgrading the cards have pushed each set over $1200 of total cost.

Guess which sets I've enjoyed most: 1970 and 1972. It's fun to chase the cards, get them in the mail and go through the backs of each one as I'm swapping them out of my binders.

Another tip I discovered...look at other online auctions besides eBay for sets. I got my 1971 set through Heritage for $500 and it is damn near perfect (to me) right out of the box. A similar set on ebay from PWCC or other sellers would have pushed this set well over $1,000. The auction sites that you need to get approved to bid make a lot of sense because there are fewer competitive bidders. But the caveat is that 20% buyer's premium that you need to consider.

My takeaway from my experience is to really look at the high dollar and high number cards for their condition prior to buying. The commons are readily available cheap. But high number cards can go for $5 or more each and it really adds up.

[vintagebaseballcardguy]

Originally Posted by SOX75

In the last 18 months I've "accumulated" the 1970-1972 and 1974-1976 sets. I grew up as a set-builder collector and sought out getting the sets I'd wanted as a kid.

I've used the same method each time: buy a complete set online. My results have been mixed. With the 1971, 1975 and 1976 sets I did pretty well and only a handful of cards needed to be upgraded to my standards (EX-Mint). The 1970 and 1972 sets were another matter. These were VG-EX sets that have needed significant amount of cards upgraded (over 200 each set). The costs of upgrading the cards have pushed each set over $1200 of total cost.

Guess which sets I've enjoyed most: 1970 and 1972. It's fun to chase the cards, get them in the mail and go through the backs of each one as I'm swapping them out of my binders.

Another tip I discovered...look at other online auctions besides eBay for sets. I got my 1971 set through Heritage for $500 and it is damn near perfect (to me) right out of the box. A similar set on ebay from PWCC or other sellers would have pushed this set well over $1,000. The auction sites that you need to get approved to bid make a lot of sense because there are fewer competitive bidders. But the caveat is that 20% buyer's premium that you need to consider.

My takeaway from my experience is to really look at the high dollar and high number cards for their condition prior to buying. The commons are readily available cheap. But high number cards can go for $5 or more each and it really adds up.

Stop, stop, stop! LOL! You are making too much sense and feeding my tendency to get off track! I had made up mind...no more sets...especially in the 1960s and 1970s, but I think I could afford to do what you are describing. Before discovering Net54, I was content with the types of cards you are describing, but then I started seeing all the super-duper high grade graded stuff others collect (which is cool if that's what you like of course) and have become a very fickle collector...high grade this and that, graded cards, then football, then dabbling in prewar...and now this thread is bringing me back to my collecting roots---decent sets in binders that don't cost a ton of money. Honestly, it is all fun to me. All the different ways I have gone over the years have led me to broaden my collection and have a real variety. This thread has me thinking about picking out another 70s set and giving it a whirl. I did this with '76 Topps earlier in the year. I have a few upgrades I still need to make. Also, good point about other auctions houses besides ebay. There are some good deals to be had other places!

[vintagebaseballcardguy]

Do any of you guys know of a binder big enough to hold a 1970s set in 9 pocket pages? I like the Archival Methods binders, but I don't think they are quite big enough.

All of my 1970s sets are in "Ultra Pro" binders. They seem to hold them well.

Originally Posted by vintagebaseballcardguy

Do any of you guys know of a binder big enough to hold a 1970s set in 9 pocket pages? I like the Archival Methods binders, but I don't think they are quite big enough.

[vintagebaseballcardguy]

Originally Posted by sfh24

All of my 1970s sets are in "Ultra Pro" binders. They seem to hold them well.

Is that a 3 inch binder or something larger?

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Just a regular 3". Approximately 800 cards seems to be the cut off where it get too full. My 1980s sets that are 792 and then 132 Traded go into "BCW" binders which are technically 3" but seem to have a little more room.

Originally Posted by vintagebaseballcardguy

Is that a 3 inch binder or something larger?

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

[darkhorse9]

Originally Posted by sfh24

All of my 1970s sets are in "Ultra Pro" binders. They seem to hold them well.

One quick note, though. If you use Ultra Pro binders try and use the newer version. The difference is in the D clip. On the older versions the break between the two arms occurs AFTER the curve starts. This causes some of the pages in front to creep up and curl. You could damage some of the cards on the first couple pages that way.

The newer folders have the prong that the pages fit onto going straight up and catching there. It holds them much better. I've had to upgrade all of my binders because of this.

[SOX75]

Originally Posted by vintagebaseballcardguy

Stop, stop, stop! LOL! You are making too much sense and feeding my tendency to get off track! I had made up mind...no more sets...especially in the 1960s and 1970s, but I think I could afford to do what you are describing. Before discovering Net54, I was content with the types of cards you are describing, but then I started seeing all the super-duper high grade graded stuff others collect (which is cool if that's what you like of course) and have become a very fickle collector...high grade this and that, graded cards, then football, then dabbling in prewar...and now this thread is bringing me back to my collecting roots---decent sets in binders that don't cost a ton of money. Honestly, it is all fun to me. All the different ways I have gone over the years have led me to broaden my collection and have a real variety. This thread has me thinking about picking out another 70s set and giving it a whirl. I did this with '76 Topps earlier in the year. I have a few upgrades I still need to make. Also, good point about other auctions houses besides ebay. There are some good deals to be had other places!

I've rationalized set buying that they will be easier to sell off because I can list one item rather than try to sell a bunch of cards separately.

[vintagebaseballcardguy]

I have posted in this thread a few times. Thanks to the threads on the 1970 and 1972 Topps sets, I am specifically thinking on the early 70s sets. Early on, I was advocating the purchase of complete sets and then upgrading where needed. Honestly, I wrestle with this a lot, and I can see from this thread many of you do, too. I am a budget collector and can't necessarily just jump out there and buy a complete set. Sometimes I can, but regularly, no when talking about early 1970s and on back into the 1960s.

I know that I will spend more on each set in the long run, but I will just have to be content with a few cards at a time or some larger lots minus some of the stars. Compared to some of the 50s and 60s cards and sets I have bought, the 70s material is much more affordable. So, I won't be spending as much as I go anyway. It's all for the fun of seeing those pages in the binder fill in over time anyway. I am mulling over which 70s set I might try first, and I am kind of leaning toward '71. I am just not sure if I can control my OCD with those black colored corners and edges!