Satisfied with team collecting?

[vintagebaseballcardguy]

You guys who are team collectors, do you stay satisfied? I am growing more and more interested in collecting early 50s Bowman Dodger team sets. I am losing interest (at least at this point) in completing full sets. So, let's say you are a Pirates team collector or Cardinals or whoever, does it bug you to pass on players like Mays and Mantle? Or are you happy to not have to pay for them?

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[JLange]

As a Cleveland Baseball collector, I just don't have much interest in the players from other teams, even when they are hobby icons. I have plenty of stars and HOFers to pursue - including Tris Speaker, Nap Lajoie, Joe Jackson, Cy Young, Bob Feller, Larry Doby, Satchel Paige, and Rocky Colavito - to name a handful! It may not hold forever, but presently I am happy to continue collecting players from my favorite team. For me, that means I pursue players when they were with the Tribe, and take little interest in their cards/collectibles when they were with other teams (like Speaker with Boston, Colavito with Detroit, etc.). It also means that I limit my type collecting to only those cards/sets, that have a Cleveland player. I do admit its hard to look at some of these neat regional sets from other teams, and not get excited about the star cards, but again I have plenty of tough items to pursue just from Northeast Ohio to keep me satisfied.

[vintagebaseballcardguy]

Originally Posted by JLange

As a Cleveland Baseball collector, I just don't have much interest in the players from other teams, even when they are hobby icons. I have plenty of stars and HOFers to pursue - including Tris Speaker, Nap Lajoie, Joe Jackson, Cy Young, Bob Feller, Larry Doby, Satchel Paige, and Rocky Colavito - to name a handful! It may not hold forever, but presently I am happy to continue collecting players from my favorite team. For me, that means I pursue players when they were with the Tribe, and take little interest in their cards/collectibles when they were with other teams (like Speaker with Boston, Colavito with Detroit, etc.). It also means that I limit my type collecting to only those cards/sets, that have a Cleveland player. I do admit its hard to look at some of these neat regional sets from other teams, but again I have plenty of tough items to pursue just from Northeast Ohio to keep me satisfied.

I can relate to what you are saying. I have collected whole sets in baseball and football, but I feel increasingly drawn to the Brooklyn Dodgers with Jackie, Duke, Campy, Pee Wee, Newcombe, Preacher Roe, etc. The early Bowman issues are especially nice. Really outside of Jackie, most of these can be had fairly reasonably. Someday, I might fill in around the Dodgers and complete the entire sets someday, but this sounds like fun right now.

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[Exhibitman]

I tried it for a while but found it too limited. What I enjoy more is collecting all players on the team from a specific set where I find the cards especially pleasing, like the 1976 Topps Reds or the 1978 Topps Yankees.

[commishbob]

I spent many years collecting Orioles team sets (and older pre-MLB Baltimore cards) and it was fun. I had a few other side projects but basically, I was Orioles-only. My interest in the hobby faded as my interest in baseball did in 1990 or thereabouts. The strike/lockout/walkout sealed that.

Went I got interested again (thanks, Buck Showalter!) I pulled out the old binders but I also found my nostalgia level had risen. I discovered the hobby blogosphere and I fell in love all over again with the sets I collected/flipped/traded as a kid starting in 1958. Chasing them, one or two at a time, has been really fun. I folded most of my old Orioles cards into the sets to help defray costs a bit.

Re-reading the original post I'm thinking I didn't answer the question. When I was collecting Orioles I also would pick up a few stars here and there. Generally cards of guys I enjoyed like McCovey, Gibson, and Kaline. I don't recall ever 'missing' the others.

[skil55voy]

I am a Tiger's fan. I collect Post Cereal and Jell-O sets. However, I am collecting Detroit Tiger and Lions team sets. I have started in 1955 (Year of birth) up to 2000 for the Tigers and Lions. I have Goudey wide pens from the 30's and when I can find them for good prices, I'll get Bowmans, Leafs etc.
I buy the oddball stuff when available. (Domino's Pizza Set, Kellog's Coca Cola, Pins etc..) I also buy newer stuff from bargain boxes at the shows where I live. Concentrating on Allen & Ginter, Gypsy Queen and Heritage. i know I won't get all of the cards but, it keeps the hunt going.

[TheNightmanCometh]

Originally Posted by vintagebaseballcardguy

You guys who are team collectors, do you stay satisfied? I am growing more and more interested in collecting early 50s Bowman Dodger team sets. I am losing interest (at least at this point) in completing full sets. So, let's say you are a Pirates team collector or Cardinals or whoever, does it bug you to pass on players like Mays and Mantle? Or are you happy to not have to pay for them?

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As a lifelong Braves fan, and a collector of Braves everything, I can say that I am extremely satisfied. I think it's important to be a fan of whichever team you're collecting.

[jchcollins]

I am ostensibly collecting full '56 and '67 sets right now, but realisitically know there may be a point where I have to make a decision to cut my goals to team (Cubs) sets. I have some of the other big names out of both, but I tend to get bored easliy and have a wandering eye for stars and HOF'ers all across the post-war spectrum. But with the Cubs, as someone who is a pretty die-hard fan, I'm not going to get bored with the details and history of even the older common players there anytime soon. And as others have made some points about teams like the Dodgers or Cleveland - Banks is the only real potential pricey card from most sets to put together - and even those outside of his RC for the most part are reasonable in mid-grade. The Cubs have other HOFers - Williams, Jenkins, Santo - that are even more reasonable. We'll see. I know at least in a pickle I can continue to quitely collect vintage Cubs for quite a long time without breaking the bank.

[vintagebaseballcardguy]

Originally Posted by jchcollins

I am ostensibly collecting full '56 and '67 sets right now, but realisitically know there may be a point where I have to make a decision to cut my goals to team (Cubs) sets. I have some of the other big names out of both, but I tend to get bored easliy and have a wandering eye for stars and HOF'ers all across the post-war spectrum. But with the Cubs, as someone who is a pretty die-hard fan, I'm not going to get bored with the details and history of even the older common players there anytime soon. And as others have made some points about teams like the Dodgers or Cleveland - Banks is the only real potential pricey card from most sets to put together - and even those outside of his RC for the most part are reasonable in mid-grade. The Cubs have other HOFers - Williams, Jenkins, Santo - that are even more reasonable. We'll see. I know at least in a pickle I can continue to quitely collect vintage Cubs for quite a long time without breaking the bank.

John, I think I get what you are saying 100%. Part of my collection are complete 1953 and 1954 Topps sets. There are many other issues from the 50s and late 40s I want. I realize I can't afford to build them all. However, I grow more fascinated with the Brooklyn teams from this era. Overall, not too pricey except for some Robinsons and 52 Topps high numbers, and perhaps Pee Wee's rookie. I could have a lot of fun collecting Brooklyn for a long time at a decent cost and get a sampling of many, many sets.

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[jchcollins]

Originally Posted by vintagebaseballcardguy

I could have a lot of fun collecting Brooklyn for a long time at a decent cost and get a sampling of many, many sets.

A close 2nd for me. I’ve also always been enthralled with the Brooklyn teams. You can pickup most mid-grade for a deal outside of Jackie. I have his ‘55 Topps card, but that’s it.


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[vintagebaseballcardguy]

Originally Posted by jchcollins

A close 2nd for me. I’ve also always been enthralled with the Brooklyn teams. You can pickup most mid-grade for a deal outside of Jackie. I have his ‘55 Topps card, but that’s it.


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I hear ya, John.Even if you "only" collected postwar Cubs, that would be a nice collection. You could always pick up something else if you wanted here and there.

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