1956 WINS!! Now its time to get Started.

[MattyC]

Highly subjective call here but I prefer the aesthetic of the 56 set. Something about those action images and portraits just appeals to me.

[almostdone]

If this your first post war set build I would echo most others and go for the 56 set. There are some great stars to save and look for without killing yourself financially. Also you can find more of the bigger lots to buy, break up, and resell the doubles on. That way your not bogged down as much finding commons for more money each.

56 is the most star packed set ever made in my opinion. It has late in career stars like Williams, Robinson, Campy, and Feller as well as a slew of new stars that became legends like Aaron, Banks, Clemente, Koufax, Killebrew and so on. The only thing lacking in the set is a Musial but he isn't in the 53 either so that's a wash.

As far as the Mantle goes, both are classics in their own right but he won the Triple Crown in 56 so there is some significance in it.

Finally, the horizontal layout of 56 looks great in a binder, if that how you plan on storing them, with the 8 pocket pages.

All this is my opinion of course but congrats on taking the post was plunge no matter which set you choose.

Drew

[shernan30]

Thanks for all the advise. I've spent the weekend reviewing the two sets in terms of pricing, appearance, players, your comments, and input from my wife. Everything calculated leads me to.....

1956 Topps

Sticking with VG to EX grade range puts the investment of time and money where I would like to be. Since I'm looking for lower grade cards, centering will keep the pace of the set just right (based on some of my research centering varies with the 50s sets. I could be completely wrong with the centering aspect).

Now to find that starter set/group !!

[shernan30]

My starter group of 1956 Topps cards arrived today. I'll be going through them this evening while making plans to complete the set. Does anyone have suggestions on the best way on a budget?

My initial thoughts are to pick a team a month and try to get as many, if not all, the players of that team completed. I am focusing on centered cards in the VGEX to EXNM range.

Any other suggestions?

[Gr8Beldini]

I recently completed mine on a single-income, blue collar salary (3 kids + mortgage). The key to putting together an inexpensive, beautiful set was to be accepting of small creases that don't impede prominent parts of the card (like the player's face). It is more important to have a clean, colorful picture than a crease free card. A tiny crease will reduce the price of a beautiful card substantially, thereby reducing the price of your set substantially as well.

[pawpawdiv9]

like i posted in the other thread--

Originally Posted by shernan30

The start of my 1956 Topps set and a few others thanks to a fellow board member.

Hey bro.....FYI Hunts Auction has several lots that have 56 topps in them. Check them out.. Lots 892-952, yep over 50 lots, some with 20 cards in a group.

[darkhorse9]

Originally Posted by shernan30

My starter group of 1956 Topps cards arrived today. I'll be going through them this evening while making plans to complete the set. Does anyone have suggestions on the best way on a budget?

My initial thoughts are to pick a team a month and try to get as many, if not all, the players of that team completed. I am focusing on centered cards in the VGEX to EXNM range.

Any other suggestions?

The best way is to collect by series. Start with series one and complete that then move on to series two, etc... or just pick a series based on the starter lots you get and finish that one first. That will lessen the number of stars and HOFers you'll feel compelled to get any any one time.

Series I: 1-100 (Williams, Banks, Spahn , Kaline, Robinson, Aaron, Clemente, Koufax)

Series II: 101-180 (Mathews, Berra, Rizzuto, Mays, Mantle, Snyder, Killebrew)

Series III: 181-260 (Feller, Yankees, Reese, Ford)

Series IV: 261-340 (Aparicio)

By chopping it down into smaller "sets" you'll feel more chances for accomplishment.