How focused are you in your set collecting?

[ALR-bishop]

Set guy here

[darkhorse9]

I try to stay focused, otherwise the budget can spiral out of control very quickly.

I've even got it down to only buying cards by series. I start any set off by completing series one, then move on to series two etc. Much the way the sets were completed in their original years.

My goal is to have a complete set from every year. I've completed my run of Topps sets (except for 1952 High numbers) Because of that I'm currently working on series 5 of the 1952 Bowman set to count for my 1952 complete set.

When that set is done I'll move on to the 1950 Bowman set and then work my way into the 1940's

[Vintagevault13]

Originally Posted by darkhorse9

I try to stay focused, otherwise the budget can spiral out of control very quickly.



I've even got it down to only buying cards by series. I start any set off by completing series one, then move on to series two etc. Much the way the sets were completed in their original years.



My goal is to have a complete set from every year. I've completed my run of Topps sets (except for 1952 High numbers) Because of that I'm currently working on series 5 of the 1952 Bowman set to count for my 1952 complete set.



When that set is done I'll move on to the 1950 Bowman set and then work my way into the 1940's

+1. Exactly the way I work on sets. Great way to stay focused. Each series is like completing a small set.


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[TheNightmanCometh]

Originally Posted by Vintagevault13

+1. Exactly the way I work on sets. Great way to stay focused. Each series is like completing a small set.


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I agree that that is really good advice. I was making great headway on my Topps sets and then I discovered VZ Braves cards and have spent a large amount of money on those. If I had stuck to just American Topps I'd be much farther along, but then again, I got some exceptional deals on the vast majority of VZ cards I've obtained, so I can live with where my set is at at the moment.

That being said, I've started to really focus on American Topps lately, but I imagine that's mostly to do with the fact that VZ Braves cards are pretty dry at the moment over on eBay. LOL

[DBesse27]

I am mostly focused on several player runs and a couple of team sets. However I do stray occasionally, like picking up an Exhibit here and there because I think they're cool, or picking up a single for a signing if the fee is cheap enough and I like the guy.

[jl4jc2001]

I am working (61, 64) or upgrading (67, 68, 71, 72) several sets now. I am mainly a set collector, but an avid variation hunter.

[bwbc917]

Most of my focus is on my Indians type set. I am getting to the point where the oldies are so scarce that they seldom appear( Valo Sugardale, E-107, Piedmont Art Stamp) and when they do the cost is out of sight. Most of my acquisitions these days are the newest releases.

I also have sets from my youth '59-61 and I will upgrade cards in those from time to time.

[Hot Springs Bathers]

For those of you old enough to remember, my collecting focus is like a "super ball" being thrown into a concrete room!

I get close to a set then start two others, then two more. I am under 50 on each set from the 1950's except for the 1951 Bowman and 1952 Topps and so hopefully I will settle down and complete them one at a time.

I have a good friend that is a CPA with a very controlled process, he starts and finishes a set without ever looking at another year. I really don't know which way is more fun?

[autograf]

Pretty much anything and everything including Pre-War, nonsports, sets, etc. Working on a LOT of Topps sets. Ebbs and flows depending on what I find. If I find really good non-set stuff, I'll buy it and then when I don't I will work on the sets...........

[JTysver]

Sets and I lack focus. My focus is on a run from 54-present. With second sets of all sports in the 1970s and thirds of BB from 73-79.
That being said, I've the three big high number sets (61,66 & 67) to complete, a couple big cards from 54&55 and the more common sets of 62 and 65 left to go. Yet, I still can't seem to focus on any one set at a time.

[TheNightmanCometh]

The toughest part for me is finding things outside of my set that I really like, I buy it at a decent price, and then think back on how many cards I could have got for my set. For example, I just bought a Hank Aaron bobblehead, great piece and I love it, but I could have bought 5 to 10 cards, maybe more, for my set. Can you both regret and not regret a purchase at the same time? LOL

[tonyo]

Originally Posted by TheNightmanCometh

The toughest part for me is finding things outside of my set that I really like, I buy it at a decent price, and then think back on how many cards I could have got for my set. For example, I just bought a Hank Aaron bobblehead, great piece and I love it, but I could have bought 5 to 10 cards, maybe more, for my set. Can you both regret and not regret a purchase at the same time? LOL

You can't go wrong with a Hank Aaron bobblehead.

[TheNightmanCometh]

Originally Posted by tonyo

You can't go wrong with a Hank Aaron bobblehead.

No you cannot, looks great sitting next to my Hank Aaron autographed baseball that may or may not be legit.

[begsu1013]

extremely.

mostly basic topps/opc player sets and some completed several times over.

i also collect random oddball cards dating from the 1800's and up.

[gnpaden]

I am working on 55, 56, 58, and 59 sets, but if I see something that catches my eye, I buy it....within my budget of course.

[K-Nole]

Big set builder here (along with my 13 yr old son).

But I personally find it VERY hard to stay on topic.

Just like right now, we have been working on the 1956 topps football set since the Chicago National. Yet in the past week I have purchased an E121 Maranville and a Nielson's Chocolate type II common.

We only need like 8-9 more 56's, yet I find myself spending that money on Pre War, which pisses my son off :-(

[pokerplyr80]

I am not a big set builder by any means, but I did try twice. First with 52 Topps, got in a little over my head. Then I tried 41 Play Ball, which I certainly could have finished, but chose not too. My attention wanders and I tend to purchase cards that I find interesting, and are available at a fair price. Even now I'm supposed to be working on a Mantle run, but continue adding other cards.

[jchcollins]

I'm trying to do a Cubs set run like you are with the Braves eventually, right now focusing on '62, '65 and '67 Cubs because those are my favorite Topps sets from the 1960's. The good news with the Cubs is in most of those years they sucked, and even Ernie Banks besides his '54 RC will not break the bank in most sets. Billy Williams, who would have been Mr. Cub had it not been for Banks - is so cheap he could almost be a common in some of the later 60's sets.

Disciplined? I'm not at all. Shiny objects (stars) from the 1950's through 70's routinely catch my eye and deplete my funds. Witness the '58 Clemente I bought with Christmas money last year, and then the '55 Jackie Robinson I bought out of the blue a few months ago and had to sell other cards to fund.

I admire dedicated set collectors, always have. It's just not me. I'm 40 and hope I can complete the 3 years worth of team sets I mentioned above before I'm 50...

[TheNightmanCometh]

Originally Posted by jchcollins

I'm trying to do a Cubs set run like you are with the Braves eventually, right now focusing on '62, '65 and '67 Cubs because those are my favorite Topps sets from the 1960's. The good news with the Cubs is in most of those years they sucked, and even Ernie Banks besides his '54 RC will not break the bank in most sets. Billy Williams, who would have been Mr. Cub had it not been for Banks - is so cheap he could almost be a common in some of the later 60's sets.

Disciplined? I'm not at all. Shiny objects (stars) from the 1950's through 70's routinely catch my eye and deplete my funds. Witness the '58 Clemente I bought with Christmas money last year, and then the '55 Jackie Robinson I bought out of the blue a few months ago and had to sell other cards to fund.

I admire dedicated set collectors, always have. It's just not me. I'm 40 and hope I can complete the 3 years worth of team sets I mentioned above before I'm 50...

Thanks for sharing! I'm in a similar boat with the Braves, not many stars minus the Aaron. Sure, there's some Span, Mathews, Niekro, and Torre, but outside of the rookies, they don't break the bank.

I went on a '63 splurge, which was my barest run, and now I only need 13 more cards to complete the full 1960's run of Braves base cards. It's gonna cost a little dough, but I think I can manage it by the end of the year. After that, it's gonna start to get a little slow going, cause once you hit the 50's the prices start really moving upwards.

Getting those Aaron and Mathews rookies are gonna be the hard ones! Also, that dang '91 Desert Storm Chipper Jones rookie card!