Set Collectors - Report in your progress!

[wdwfan]

I haven't updated in a while, so here goes. I am up to 196 different cards for my 1962 Topps set. I've traded for most and have a whopping $2 into it.

I bought the Maris for $50 and a lot of probably 50 different from Northviewcats for $42 ($92). I then turned around and traded the Maris for a Baugh RC and Jimmy Brown 2nd year card (1959). From there, I sold the Baugh for $90 after fees/shipping, so am back down to having $2 into the set.

That said, I don't have any of the major stars like Maris, Mantle, Mays, etc. But have several of the Ruth cards, LL cards (Clemente, Koufax, etc.) and several other HOFers (Marichal, Spahn, Brooks Robinson, etc.). So I'm making progress on it.

I also finished the 1974 Topps set, but now I'm going back through and upgrading. I'm having to upgrade about 60 of the cards, including 4-5 HOFers. The majority of them are being upgrading due to creasing, severe centering issues or just being rough (rounded corners, tears on the edge, etc.).

Finally, I bought a nice starter lot of about 400 different 1971 Topps cards. Included about 50 high #s as well as some various stars. Pulled about 20 or so that were creased or had severe centering issues, paper loss, etc. So about halfway down with that set. Haven't started working on it yet.

[familytoad]

Matt, I have a bunch of T205 in the trade thread in case you are interested. They are all SGC graded.

I’d sell or trade but I do have a pending bulk deal that might take some / all of them ( there is over 100 of them to choose from). First come first served

Originally Posted by Big Six

Making some progress on the following:
- T205 (PSA 3/SGC 40) just passed the 25% mark;
- Diamond Stars (PSA 5/SGC 60) just passed the 38% mark;
- 1951 Bowman (raw EX) just passed the 38% mark;
- 1954 Topps (PSA7) just passed the 76% mark;
- 1956 Topps ((raw EX) just passed 60% mark;
- 1973 Topps (raw NrMT) missing only 8 cards! Need 100 (Aaron), 142 (Munson), 475 (Cobb), 589 (Forsch), 607, 612, 616 & 654 (Twins).


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[familytoad]

14 more to go, a few trades possible that I should be down to 12.

That’s all Topps sets from 1953 to 1980.
It includes low numbered 1952 set too.

It’s over 14,000 complete with just a dozen to go!

[Bigdaddy]

Added one more '64 Giants auto (D. Ellsworth) thanks to a contact in CA who saw him at the Fresno Grizzlies Hot Stove Banquet.

Now at 47/60 and the road is getting steeper.

[ALR-bishop]

Neat project Tom. I have always liked the 64 Giant set . Great photos and lots of stars

[baseballfan]

I love the 64 GIANTS set too. I have a graded set and raw set started, that I would love to complete. have some doubles available if anyone else is working on it.

I would love to see the auto'd set, start a thread with some pics. who else do you need?

[Big Six]

And a few more ‘54’s put me at 78%...




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[jiw98]

I'm still working on the 55 Bowman baseball set. Down to 34 cards (includes variations). I didn't get to work on it much over the last year, so hopefully I can do more this year.

[Jwkeen]

Getting closer to finishing my Topps run. Down to two cards for 53 set, 269 and 280. Need 35 in the 52 set, all high numbers. Have 15 more for 51 Blue Backs.

[geosluggo]

Just completed the 1958 Topps set...494 cards plus a Bazooka contest card and felt-emblem giveaway card. I had a Maris rookie from when I was a kid in the 1970s and some of the other key cards, but still had to acquire about 160 cards since December. Last card I needed was #255 Bob Turley. Now I'm trying to complete 1959...

[bbcard1]

finished my very midgrade topps 1962 set yesterday. Am I going to all the variations? No way.

[commishbob]

Originally Posted by geosluggo

Just completed the 1958 Topps set...494 cards plus a Bazooka contest card and felt-emblem giveaway card. I had a Maris rookie from when I was a kid in the 1970s and some of the other key cards, but still had to acquire about 160 cards since December. Last card I needed was #255 Bob Turley. Now I'm trying to complete 1959...

Love that 58 set. Congrats.

[geosluggo]

Originally Posted by bbcard1

finished my very midgrade topps 1962 set yesterday. Am I going to all the variations? No way.

Congrats from a fellow midgrade set-builder! I didn’t bother with all the green-tint variations in ‘62 either but I think it’s worthwhile, and not too expensive/difficult, to get the pose variations of Kunkel, Moon, Yost, etc

[Republicaninmass]

Down to a handful of reds and blacks as well as Mays for my 52 low series master. Have found page and sain errors, as well as house and campos variations.

Now for upgrades

[stlcardsfan]

Originally Posted by bbcard1

finished my very midgrade topps 1962 set yesterday. Am I going to all the variations? No way.

LOL Todd. But congrats on finishing '62, that is not an easy set to complete.

As one who built sets back to '59 I feel your pain. I call it "set builder fatigue"!

[paulcarek]

Completed:
1952 Bowman
1956 Topps
1964 Topps Giants

Close:
1971 Topps (54 left)
1972 Topps (119 left)

[mikemb]

Just picked up my last 2 (Joel Horlen and Richie Allen) 1966 Topps Rub-Offs to complete my set.

My goal was to complete the set in 5 years, spend about $700 ($600 for the rub-offs and $100 for postage). I also wanted a set with good centering, which I knew would be difficult. I also had none in my collection so I needed all 120.

As they say on those home remodling shows, I went over budget and over the time frame. It took me 7 years and 9 months to complete. My cost was $818 ($694 for the rub-offs and $124 postage). I think one roll of 20 was printed in lesser quantities as certain ones were much harder to find (and more expensive!) I did stick to the centering issue and am very happy with the set.

I had fun doing this and will probably pick another small insert set to do this again,

Mike

[bbcard1]

Originally Posted by stlcardsfan

LOL Todd. But congrats on finishing '62, that is not an easy set to complete.

As one who built sets back to '59 I feel your pain. I call it "set builder fatigue"!

My immediate baseball card budget was blown an a 1955 Double Headers set. I think 1961 is next up. I am working on a Raw EX+ set. They aren't hard to find, but they are expensive. Pretty much down to high numbers. Once i do the 61 I'll be solid from 1960-1995 or so. I think I'll go ahead and fill out the newer Topps sets since they shouldn't be that expensive to just buy factory/retail sets. I have a few here and there.

[Vintagevault13]

Just finished a pretty nice 1975 set. That gives me a 72-75 run. My heart is telling me to start the 1971 set but my brain says “run away and don’t look back”. I am not sure how this battle ends!


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[bobsbbcards]

Originally Posted by Vintagevault13

My heart is telling me to start the 1971 set but my brain says “run away and don’t look back”. I am not sure how this battle ends!

The heart always wins (and takes no prisoners).

[Vintagevault13]

Originally Posted by bobsbbcards

The heart always wins (and takes no prisoners).

I am afraid you are correct.


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[rexmundi71]

Originally Posted by Harliduck

Would love to hear how other set collectors out there are doing against their goals and report in their progress. All the set collectors I know are usually into stats and spreadsheets (I am! Lol) to track progress and LOVE hitting milestones along the way

I'm currently 90.22% complete with my 1972 Topps Basic set, all PSA. (Warning: this link is scan heavy!) https://www.psacard.com/psasetregist...c/album/122763

My goals changed a little as I learned more about the set, as I became more gainfully employed, and after I got married. Also for some silly reason, I initially wanted the main card of a player to be a the same or higher grade than the In Action card that followed it. Now I don't mind, especially after I submitted a raw Glenn Beckert In Action and it received a 10--I'll just stick with the main Beckert as a 9 and be happy. The main goals that haven't changed are: All cards 8 or better, star cards 9 or better, overall set grade 8.5 or better, no qualifiers. Tried to emphasize centering as the primary regarding condition.

I have an excel spreadsheet that is beyond extensive and nerdy. I know the date I purchased a card in my set, the grade, the serial number, what I paid for it, and whether I should upgrade it later. I can copy and paste the population report and SMR prices from PSA's site into it and it will update. I have a tab that shows what card was printed where on what series and sheet (one * or two **), and I can even visually type in the bars from a PSA ITF 2 of 5 bar code to find out what the actual number is.

[JollyElm]

Originally Posted by rexmundi71

I'm currently 90.22% complete with my 1972 Topps Basic set, all PSA. (Warning: this link is scan heavy!)

As a huge fan of centered 1972 cards, all I can say is yowza!!!!!!!!

[cesarcap]

Down to 1 card left for 52 Bowman Baseball: Enos Slaughter. Had one in my hand at today's show, but it was a bit too costly. So I'm on ebay today and hope to finish this almost 2 year quest.

Down to 55 cards for Topps 67 baseball too. Mostly commons though I will have to upgrade one or two stars down the road.

[rexmundi71]

Originally Posted by JollyElm

As a huge fan of centered 1972 cards, all I can say is yowza!!!!!!!!

Glad you like! I started off doing raw only way back in 1995 or so but I got burned by an eBay seller that brightened his scans and washed out rubber band dents and even staple holes, so I decided to try graded only. I knew it would cost a heck of a lot more, but this set is basically a birth year set (born in '71, but didn't want to tackle the black bordered cards because I knew it would cost even more and I'd never finish) and I wanted to spend the time trying to pick out the higher quality ones that would not completely wipe out my finances. I'll try to make it some sort of family heirloom unless I'm wise enough to dump it for potable water and dried rations before the apocalypse happens.

Your photobucket has some exceptionally tough 72's in it as well. Why not grade?

[bnorth]

Down to needing 6 cards to finish my 55 Bowman set. 242, 277, 291, 293, 302, and 307.

Starting a beater 59 Fleer Ted Williams set. Just started with a 13 card lot so have 67 to go. If you have some beaters for sale please let me know.

[JollyElm]

Originally Posted by rexmundi71

Glad you like! I started off doing raw only way back in 1995 or so but I got burned by an eBay seller that brightened his scans and washed out rubber band dents and even staple holes, so I decided to try graded only. I knew it would cost a heck of a lot more, but this set is basically a birth year set (born in '71, but didn't want to tackle the black bordered cards because I knew it would cost even more and I'd never finish) and I wanted to spend the time trying to pick out the higher quality ones that would not completely wipe out my finances. I'll try to make it some sort of family heirloom unless I'm wise enough to dump it for potable water and dried rations before the apocalypse happens.

Your photobucket has some exceptionally tough 72's in it as well. Why not grade?

My first ever foray into the graded world was as part of a group submission last fall, and man, that did not work out as expected. Except for a few centered 1972 'In Action' cards (Vida Blue, Bob Barton, Pops) that came back as 8's and a 9 (Tom Seaver), it left me puzzled. So I'm a bit reluctant at the moment to send in anything else.

[rexmundi71]

Originally Posted by JollyElm

My first ever foray into the graded world was as part of a group submission last fall, and man, that did not work out as expected. Except for a few centered 1972 'In Action' cards (Vida Blue, Bob Barton, Pops) that came back as 8's and a 9 (Tom Seaver), it left me puzzled. So I'm a bit reluctant at the moment to send in anything else.

I did fairly well on my 1972's for submission but I was very harsh on them. I scanned them at 1200 dpi, analyzed their centering in Photoshop, tilted them in the light to see if there were any surface issues, all kinds of forensic stuff. Odd thing is I expected 10's on a few and received 9's, and the few 10's I received I thought I would get an 8.5 or 9.

If you submit them using a monthly special that costs around $6 something each it isn't so bad.

[1963Topps Set]

I have several sets completed, but I disagree with the person who said the 1956 Topps set is NOT complete with out the two unnumbered checklists. They may be unnumbered, but they go with the set.

[Jwkeen]

Getting close on my Topps run. Finished out my 53 set. It is now down to 13 cards for 51 blue back set and 28 for 52.

[kailes2872]

Originally Posted by 1963Topps Set

I have several sets completed, but I disagree with the person who said the 1956 Topps set is NOT complete with out the two unnumbered checklists. They may be unnumbered, but they go with the set.

Agree with this but it creates a dilemma for '57. Is 57 complete without checklists and contest cards? If so, I still have some work to do...

[Jwkeen]

Originally Posted by kailes2872

Agree with this but it creates a dilemma for '57. Is 57 complete without checklists and contest cards? If so, I still have some work to do...

707 and Dean’s both sell the 56 and 57 as complete without the checklists or contest cards.

[bnorth]

Originally Posted by Jwkeen

Getting close on my Topps run. Finished out my 53 set. It is now down to 13 cards for 51 blue back set and 28 for 52.

Congrats on the 53 Topps set. I think I am going to do that one after I finish my 55 Bowman.

I was debating between the 53 and 54 set. I have picked up a few 54s and now want to do the 53 set instead.

Still at 6 cards left on my 55 Bowman and now have 23 down with 57 to go on a 59 Fleer Ted Williams second set.

The 55 Bowman has taken a very long time because I am building it from only cards purchased/traded from fellow Net54 members. Anybody have any of these in lower grade 242, 277, 291, 293, 302, and 307?

[skil55voy]

1962 Post Cereal Baseball Master Set: 15 to go
1963 Post Cereal Baseball Master Set: 20 to go

1962 Post Cereal Canadian Baseball: 39 to go
1962 Post Cereal US Football: 5 to go

1962 Post Cereal Canadian Football: 13 to go
1963 Post Cereal Canadian Football Master Set: 20 to go

[kailes2872]

While my Bowman Color set is complete, I have 13 cards that I am upgrading to get to all ex to ex+ - 11 commons, Musial, and Ford.

In the spirit of Pigs get Fed, Hogs get slaughtered, I am waiting for my stock to get to $41.76 and I am going to sell some to buy a nice VG-Ex/Ex 53 Topps and a 52 Bowman in similar or slightly better condition.

It got up to $44.38 and I was holding out for $50. Then, bad earnings and down to $34.07. It has been slowly climging against a flat market this year and touched $40 yesterday and today - so I feel like I am a couple good weeks for sell (and buy!) time. But earnings are announced at the end of April and it could go back to $34 in a hurry. For the sake of my collection, wish me luck!

[commishbob]

I'm working on an abbreviated run of Topps sets from 1958 thru 1962. I've finished the first three, passively working on the '61 and am chasing the '62. I'm at about 65% of the '62 with most of the stars completed. I will collect the 'alt pose and similar variations' but I'm not going to do more with the green tints than slide a few into the back of the binder as representatives.

These five sets were the cornerstone of my youth. 1958 Topps cards are the first I ever held in my hand. I was seven years old. They belonged to a girl who lived down the street from me. 1959 was the first set I owned cards of. I got packs in my basket at Easter that year. 1960 was the first set I tried to finish. I bugged my folks for the cello packs at Korvettes and Bambergers in the Jersey suburbs. 1961 was the first set I actually did finish, or at least I think I finished it. And the '62 has the most memories for me as far as trading, flipping and hoarding. It was the year I really learned about players since my father decided to get tickets for every Sunday date at Yankee Stadium.

For all these sets I aim for 'presentable' cards, VG/Ex or so. I've bought some slabbed examples of key cards but they have been broken out and live in the binder pages.

I'm also working on the Topps 1970/71 basketball set and am at 151 of the 175 cards. I some SPs and a few of the second-tier stars.

[JollyElm]

After buying a few graded cards (Kaline AS, Marichal RC and Koufax), I'm now down to less than 5 to go on my 1961 set. I need #528, Ramos, and the two big ones left are the Willie Mays AS and Yaz. If anyone has any of these in nice shape to trade, please check out my bucket and hit me up.

[1963Topps Set]

Originally Posted by kailes2872

Agree with this but it creates a dilemma for '57. Is 57 complete without checklists and contest cards? If so, I still have some work to do...

In my opinion, the 1957 Topps set is NOT complete with at least one variation copy of the 4 checklist cards and the 4 contest cards. There is also a Lucky Penny card which I also consider a part of the set. The fact that these cards are unnumbered and don't feature a players photo on them doesn't make them exempt from the set.

[Big Six]

T205 - 66/215 30.7% (SGC 40/PSA 3 on average)
Diamond Stars - 43/108 39.81% (SGC 80/PSA 6 on average)
1951 Bowman - 123/324 38% (Raw Ex/Ex-MT)
1954 Topps - 208/250 83.2% (PSA 7)
1956 Topps - 204/340 60% (Raw Ex-Mt)
1973 Topps -652/660 98.8% Raw NrMt)


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[PowderedH2O]

I am a collector that cannot focus on a single set. I never have. So, three years ago I decided on a ten year plan. I would make a list of all of the sets I wanted to collect and then make sure that each year I was 10% further into it. This also included 10% of star cards as well. I decided this would include:

1953-present Topps baseball
1952-55 Bowman baseball
1948-55 Bowman football
1956-present Topps football (which now Topps is out of the game)
1969-82 Topps basketball

I've been good about this. If I am really not into a set, I can just pick up a few cards here and there over the course of a year, and yet it is being built. I have completed 1973-present Topps baseball, plus completed 1966 and 1971. 1958 is over 90% done. I should finish 1970 and 1972 this year.
I am on target to finish the Bowman baseball sets, with the 1954 almost 85% complete. With football, I have 1968-present done for Topps with the exception of a few 1972 high numbers. I also completed 1954 Bowman, 1956, 1958, and 1960 Topps, and 1960 Fleer.

For any players prior that time, I just get the cards I like. If the card looks cool and I can afford it, so be it.

[clydepepper]

Conceding that I'll never get a Mantle, I decided to avoid the SPs altogether,at least for a while, and concentrate on the first 280 cards of the 1952 Topps set.

After completing my 1953 Topps set earlier this year, I have concentrated on those 280. I picked up 5 more today off Ebay and am down to 37 cards.

[Jwkeen]

I am continuing to chip away at my Topps run. 51 Blue Backs is down to nine cards and 52 is down to 22 cards. Still having trouble finding the 332 Bartirome at a decent price.

[geosluggo]

I’ve whittled my 1959 need list down to 9 cards.

[bobsbbcards]

Before anyone else ruins their eyes trying to read George's needs list, here's what's left:

8 Phillies Team
461 Mantle Hits 42nd Homer for Crown
510 Yankees Team
526 Bob Speake
530 Wally Moon
551 Fred Haney AS
552 Casey Stengel AS
555 Bill Mazeroski AS
556 Nellie Fox AS

Good luck finishing off your set!

[ALR-bishop]

George--graded or ungraded ? Condition ? I have a couple of the cards on your list that you can have but they are ungraded and not mint or near mint

[geosluggo]

Major shout-out to Al! He sent me these beauties as I close in on the 1959 Topps set.

[geosluggo]

Completed the 1959 Topps set!! Overall midgrade condition. The #461 "Baseball Thrills" card of Mantle was the final acquisition, arriving yesterday.

[kailes2872]

Very excited to announce that I received ‘53 Topps complete in the mail today - thanks to Ed (Dacubfan)!

[Jwkeen]

Originally Posted by geosluggo

Completed the 1959 Topps set!! Overall midgrade condition. The #461 "Baseball Thrills" card of Mantle was the final acquisition, arriving yesterday.

Congratulations! Always a great feeling to finish a set.

[Jwkeen]

Originally Posted by kailes2872

Very excited to announce that I received ‘53 Topps complete in the mail today - thanks to Ed (Dacubfan)!

That is a great mail day.