Set Collectors - Report in your progress!

[cardsagain74]

Originally Posted by Harliduck

Wow, Juan Pizarro for all your 50s...that's awesome and would have never guessed. My last card for my initial just 57 set was Koufax, then I sold set. Shouldn't have done that...lol.

You certainly have a great start...67 is the big boy and 71 is ROUGH. I'd recommend you do the 66 set...I believe the highs are still not at the value they should be, and I think that set is completely underated. Love that set, and would compliment your 67!

Thanks! I have more pride in my '67 and '71 than most others. And since I'm not a Rose fan (foresee only wanting to spend '63 kind of $ on one that's been run over by a dump truck), I could quit the hobby with that '67 being my only '60s one and be content.

Was just able to find exactly the deal on the kind of '70 set that I hoped to (which is not easy, as it's fairly popular and can be tough to find at a price that's fair vs. the underlying breakup value).

So now halfway through the '70s, and it's the five that I prefer the most. Motivation to get the rest will be lacking

[vintagebaseballcardguy]

Originally Posted by cardsagain74

Thanks! I have more pride in my '67 and '71 than most others. And since I'm not a Rose fan (foresee only wanting to spend '63 kind of $ on one that's been run over by a dump truck), I could quit the hobby with that '67 being my only '60s one and be content.



Was just able to find exactly the deal on the kind of '70 set that I hoped to (which is not easy, as it's fairly popular and can be tough to find at a price that's fair vs. the underlying breakup value).



So now halfway through the '70s, and it's the five that I prefer the most. Motivation to get the rest will be lacking

I can't tell you how much it helped me reading this post. Here's my deal: I have a complete '53 Topps set. Then I am working on '54 Topps (have the big boys), '55 Topps (7 shy of complete), '52 Bowman (4 shy of complete), and '55 Bowman (25% complete but have Mantle, Mays, and Aaron). '50 Bowman is probably going to happen, as I have Jackie and Yogi. I also have a few '56 Topps stars and commons and would like that.

However, prices aren't exactly going down these days, and I am trying to not freak out. I am coming to the realization that I probably won't be able to round out the 50s, let alone collect the 60s sets I like. I am even considering dropping down to VG (or even G in places) to give myself a fighting chance of going a little further. Even at that, I am realizing I'm not going to be able to do it all and am learning to accept that and be content with what I am able to collect.

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[cardsagain74]

Originally Posted by vintagebaseballcardguy

I can't tell you how much it helped me reading this post. Here's my deal: I have a complete '53 Topps set. Then I am working on '54 Topps (have the big boys), '55 Topps (7 shy of complete), '52 Bowman (4 shy of complete), and '55 Bowman (25% complete but have Mantle, Mays, and Aaron). '50 Bowman is probably going to happen, as I have Jackie and Yogi. I also have a few '56 Topps stars and commons and would like that.

However, prices aren't exactly going down these days, and I am trying to not freak out. I am coming to the realization that I probably won't be able to round out the 50s, let alone collect the 60s sets I like. I am even considering dropping down to VG (or even G in places) to give myself a fighting chance of going a little further. Even at that, I am realizing I'm not going to be able to do it all and am learning to accept that and be content with what I am able to collect.

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What makes it even easier to be content is that we've been fortunate enough to have a lot of our big boys already. Most set work is still really downhill from there, even in this market.

It's one thing to pay $250 for a '77 set that would've cost $150 before covid. But paying 5 grand for Mays or Jackie cards that were $1000 a year ago? That's an incredibly tough pill to swallow. I know I couldn't do it.

[vintagebaseballcardguy]

Originally Posted by cardsagain74

What makes it even easier to be content is that we've been fortunate enough to have a lot of our big boys already. Most set work is still really downhill from there, even in this market.



It's one thing to pay $250 for a '77 set that would've cost $150 before covid. But paying 5 grand for Mays or Jackie cards that were $1000 a year ago? That's an incredibly tough pill to swallow. I know I couldn't do it.

Agreed. I do have pretty much all of the big cards to the sets I am working on. Of course, there are some HOF cards left to buy but nothing crippling. Whenever I start to build a set, I have always tried to get the big ones first because if it took me two or three years to build a set, those key cards would have risen even more during that time. Even in this market mid and lower grade commons and semi stars are still affordable.

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[jchcollins]

Originally Posted by vintagebaseballcardguy

Whenever I start to build a set, I have always tried to get the big ones first ...

Robert provides a good lead-in here.

Hi guys. I haven't ever posted much in set builder threads, because historically - since about age 11 or 12 anyway when I first got into old cards - I have been mostly about the stars and HOF'ers - basically a singles collector.

However as time has gone by, I've realized as I get older (I'm about to turn 44...) that it would really be a shame not to put together at least one vintage set that I like. That's what led me to choose 1972 last year - the set is older than I am, but by far my favorite of the 1970's. I just love how the psychedelic design seems to represent the era so well. And, as Robert pointed out - I'm kind of taking the tactic of getting the big cards first so as to give myself a downhill run in terms of difficulty. I already had the Nolan Ryan and a few other cards in '72, so here and there have been buying common lots. I'm not far enough in to be organized enough to have an exact count yet, but I'm guessing I'm somewhere at 150/787 on this, the original postwar "monster".

'72 really should be enough for someone who is notoriously bad at organizing things, but if you will checkout my avatar - you will see my latest prized possession. You know where that thought leads: "If you have the '67 Seaver, why wouldn't you go after the rest of the set?" This may be insane, but a few weeks ago I decided I was going to chase '67 as well. In some self-destructive way, I like the idea that the set is more difficult because of those high numbers. Anyway, with '67 I'm just getting started, but in addition to the Seaver I have maybe 25 VG range commons, and some of the bigger names on the way.

Condition - I'm not going to be any kind of snob with '67, since the high numbers themselves there can act as expensive star cards if you go for everything in EX-MT or anything like that. So on the whole there I think I want a VG range set, with the stars EX or better if I can swing that. '72 I started nicer - my stars on average are probably EX-MT or better, so I'm going to try to do the commons average in EX - assuming this market bubble we are living through right now does not extend it's insanity to 1970's cards.

Thoughts? Honestly I'm here mainly for encouragement. I can't tell you how many times over the past 25 years or so even as an adult collector - I've started and then quickly abandoned the idea of doing a vintage set. I really just feel like the time is right - and if I don't get moving on this idea now, it will probably never happen.

Thanks!

As Leon would say, every thread needs some pictures:

[cardsagain74]

Originally Posted by jchcollins

You know where that thought leads: "If you have the '67 Seaver, why wouldn't you go after the rest of the set?" This may be insane, but a few weeks ago I decided I was going to chase '67 as well. In some self-destructive way, I like the idea that the set is more difficult because of those high numbers. Anyway, with '67 I'm just getting started, but in addition to the Seaver I have maybe 25 VG range commons, and some of the bigger names on the way.

Condition - I'm not going to be any kind of snob with '67, since the high numbers themselves there can act as expensive star cards if you go for everything in EX-MT or anything like that. So on the whole there I think I want a VG range set, with the stars EX or better if I can swing that.

Thoughts? Honestly I'm here mainly for encouragement. I can't tell you how many times over the past 25 years or so even as an adult collector - I've started and then quickly abandoned the idea of doing a vintage set. I really just feel like the time is right - and if I don't get moving on this idea now, it will probably never happen.

Thanks!

Bad news out of the way first:

The '67 is a valuable set that's an expensive build. Without Seaver, it should cost around $3500-$4000 to get the rest in a raw VG-EX. Maybe 60% of that is in the remaining high numbers, even without Tom and with just 75 to get, because about half of them command $20 -$40 each even for mid-grade commons. You'll likely be hen-picking here and there and losing hair to get to the finish line.

Good news:

Along with the other advantages of having a '67, it's a great candidate for what you want (conditionwise). It's not much more expensive to get the highs in ex-ex/mt as it is in VG. And really you could say that about the whole set. You could build something really nice to go with that Seaver w/o spending a bunch more than my 3500-4000 estimate.

And of course, you're getting what many feel (myself included) to be clearly the best set of the '60s. Rookie cards of two of the very best players of the time, the best high numbers of the decade, and every superstar imaginable (as long as you're ok with a small sliver of Koufax!)

Bottom line: the advantages definitely outweigh the disadvantages, especially for your spot.

I'd go for it

[jchcollins]

Originally Posted by cardsagain74

It's not much more expensive to get the highs in ex-ex/mt as it is in VG. And really you could say that about the whole set. You could build something really nice to go with that Seaver w/o spending a bunch more than my 3500-4000 estimate.

And of course, you're getting what many feel (myself included) to be clearly the best set of the '60s.

Thanks. It's at least the second time recently I've heard mentioned that the high numbers are not that much more expensive in EX over and above VG...

I would agree '67 probably takes most top honors for the nicest set of the 60's in terms of the photography and simple design - although I do love those '65 team flags as well.