Help Me Pick my Next Set

[skelly423]

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.

[RayBShotz]

1954 Topps - Cool images and only 208 cards.
RayB

[Neal]

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.

[jayshum]

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

[hcv123]

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)

[David W]

Any or all of the Red Man tobacco sets

[brob28]

Originally Posted by Neal

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.

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.

[Bigdaddy]

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.

[bobsbbcards]

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