Help Me Pick my Next Set
 

I am one of those collectors who needs to always have a set in progress. I just finished my 1950 Bowman set, and am having trouble figuring out what I should target next. I thought I'd open it up to the board for some suggestions. I have a few ground rules I try to follow when building a set:

1. In need to be able to get every card in the set. If there's a huge stopper (1949 Leaf Paige, 1933 Goudey Lajoie, 1952 Topps Mantle), I don't want the sent. My collector OCD won't allow me to have holes in my set.


2. I like all of my cards to be in similar condition. I don't mind spending a significant portion of my budget on a single card, as long as I can keep the grades consitent. A set of NM-MT cards with the key card in VG would bother me.

3. I want a set where most of the cards are readily available. I like to build a set in 6-12 months. If there are cards in the set that are only seen once every few years, I don't have the patience to wait.

4. I prefer sets pre-1960.

5. Set size doesn't matter much - I'm equally happy with a tough set of 16 cards as I am with a set of 300 cards.

6. The card images need to actually resemble the players. Early 20th century caramel cards and strip cards bother me.

7. Budget matters. I am looking for something with an overall cost somewhere in the $10k-$15k range. As much as I'd like a 1933 Goudey or t206 set, that's not realistic.

Thanks in advance for your input.

1954 Topps - Cool images and only 208 cards.
RayB

Toss up between the 1956 Topps classic with Mantle, Mays, Aaron, Jackie and Williams and many other HOFers or the 1952 Bowman which, in my opinion, has the greatest artwork of all time.

1953 Bowman Color - great looking set that should meet all of your criteria

A bunch of great choices
 

1955 Topps - Clemente, Koufax and Killebrew rookies and incredible card design
1956 Topps - similar to 55 trading above rookies for 2nd year and inclusion of Mante triple crown year
52 Bowman (as mentioned incredible images)
53 Bowman color (Iconic Mantle and Spahn cards)

Any or all of the Red Man tobacco sets

I would second going after either 1953 Bowman or 1955 Topps. Not too big with several iconic cards, great design and photography.

Thanks for the suggestions. I think the 1953 Bowmans are great cards. It bothers me that the big stars (Williams, Mays, Robinson) aren't included, but that's unavoidable with 1950s baseball (I keep a '49 Bowman Paige and Musial with my 1950 set just so it feels more complete).

I had circled the 1956 Topps as a possibility, I think I'll give it a closer look.

Given your notes I would agree with the 1956 Topps set. 340 cards, good representation of the stars and semi stars...no expensive rookie cards (Aparicio is oddly undervalued right now) and the cards look awesome. Also no real "high number" issues. Throw in the last year of that size and the set is pretty special. I have done the 54's (btw, 250 cards) and the 55 Topps twice now and I do love those sets...a lot...their downfall to me is the "have and have nots"...tons of commons and a few high dollar cards. Super easy to do 95% of the set, gotta pay for the rest. 54 Bowman as well. 55 Bowman I would never do again, haha. All the SP and high dollar hard to find boring a$$ umpire cards are just no fun.

Edit to add that I am almost done with the 56's and have really enjoyed the adventure. Only big card left for me is the Clemente, and it's not that bad. I am like you, sets have to be as uniform as possible and my set would grade 3-4 (have a few of the HOFers in SGC 4).

It's after 1960 but fits all your other criteria. 1964 Topps Giants in high grade. 64 card set....counting the cropping variations..... 2 Mantles, 2 Kaline, 2 Killebrew and 2 Hunt. Loaded with big stars and regional stars. The single printed Mantle is expensive in higher grades.

1957
 

1957, high numbers (actually third series) pretty easy, loaded with stars and hofers. Standard size 2.5 x 3.5. Challenging but not possible, most cards available . Variations, checklists,.contest cards, lucky penny, Bakep error. 406 cards large but not unmanageable

This would be my vote as well. I have a complete '56 set and absolutely love it, it's a beautiful set. If I ever complete another set it will be the '52 Bowman.

Ditto on the 1956 Topps set. Beautiful cards, a great variety of stars (Mantle, Mays, Koufax, Williams, Aaron and Clemente) but no RCs that will sting you.

1956 Topps from me as well. Affordable, findable, lovable. :o