The most enjoyment I've had from collecting in a long time

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nevermore

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The most enjoyment I've had from collecting in a long time was when I recently decided to undertake a new collection. I have seen others here and elsewhere with similar projects so I thought I'd give it a shot myself. I want to get one copy of each Topps Yankee card ever made. Much to my surprise there were only 2,200 cards that match the criteria, I initially thought the number would have been closer to 5,000 considering Topps has made sets for almost 60 years. Here is my webpage with different designs and a checklist from each year: http://oneill21.webs.com/yankeestopps.htm. (This took me so long to make, I just have to show it off!)

Fortunately I was able to start off the new project with a bang. I had made a single trade for a huge lot of 600-700 Yankee cards. My mailers usually have just 1-2 cards inside, so when I opened up this particular package it was awesome, I felt like a kid again. I spent hours looking over the cards, seeing all the pictures, reading stats, and then finally putting the cards away in binders by year and decade.

That was the single largest PC mailday I've probably ever had and seeing all the old Yankees brought back so many great memories. Recalling the forgotten Yankees like Domingo Jean and Gerald Williams was great. I had started collecting in 1991 and then taken a break from around 1993/1994 until 2004 so I had never seen many of these Topps cards before. For me, it was like opening 10 years worth of new Topps product at once. I probably had more fun opening that mailer full of 80s/90s "junk" cards than I can recall having in the past. This is not to say other aspects of the hobby are boring but my collecting habits have been the same for years and having something like this happen was a nice surprise.

There have been posts before of people saying the hobby can get dull and tedious at times so I wanted to share this positive experience. I'm also interested in hearing similar experiences you've had.

"The most enjoyment I've had from collecting in a long time was _________."
 
I have done the same thing with the Texas Ranges. While not nearly impressive as a Yankees collection, it is one of my favorite parts of my collection.

I'm impressed with the scope of this project and what you have accomplished so far.


Michael
 
I've never actually checklisted my cards, but I am a Dodger collector and probably have many of the cards aside from the biggies like the 52T high numbers, although I have a few of those even.

I'd love to do it someday just to see how close I actually am.

Are you only counting regular issue Topps sets or are you going with Traded/Update sets as well. If you get bored again, you could add in test issue sets as well!

By the way, don't forget 51 Topps Blue and Red backs! They are often forgotten because they are odd.
 
Awesome story! Glad to hear something positive. I will check my vintage commons to see if I have any Yankees you might need.

take care,
Dewayne
 
I collected as a kid (1986-1992), and during the last few of those years, my dad and I tried to complete a Topps set from every year since the year I was born (1979).

We weren't quite able to accomplish it at the time, but when my son was born last year, I thought I'd try to do the same. The best recent memory I have was placing the last card 2008 Topps Series 2 card in the binder to complete his first set (acquired via The Bench!).

Ben Negrey's Collection, Age 1:

2008 Topps Series 1 & 2: Complete!
2008 Topps U/H: Complete!
2008 Topps Football: In Progress...
2009 Topps Series 1 & 2: Complete! (Final Cards Acquired via The Bench, due to arrive any day)
2009 Topps U/H: Not Started
2009 Topps Football: In Progress...
 
Wow, that is quite a project! Good luck on that 1952 Topps #311.

I don't have any huge scope projects, but getting the last card I needed for my 05 Cracker Jack set was pretty great. My wife and I started doing the set back in 05, it was the first set I ever hand collated and the fact that she was interested in it made it even better.
 
I have a few late 60s and 70s Yankee cards if you want them.. either send me some Zito stuff or you can just have them! ;)

Christopher
 
It's wonderful to hear that story.
The project you have going is exactly like the one I have - except I'm doing Cubs. I decided to start it in 2006, and what I have done can be seen in my signature. I love this collection, and read the backs of every card that comes in. Long story short - I know how you feel.
Good luck with yours... it has about the same date and history to it, although you have a few hundred more to go after.
-Casey
 
I found these:

1963 Topps: 6, 54, 142, 147, 148
1965 Topps: 30, 97
1970 Topps: 43, 142, 297, 516

I can send you scans if you would like to see conditions.

Take care,
Dewayne
 
Very cool story. Domingo Jean and Gerald Williams! I remember those guys. In fact when Gerald was a Met some 4-5 years ago, I met him after a game...he was in the passenger seat of Cliff Floyd's SUV!

I used to set aside former Yankees and Mets base cards when I did shows. I probably have a few dozen that you need. While it's a tough decision to expand or narrow one's collecting focus (I've had to do that a few times), it'll be great to find something you need so we can trade again. :)

Very nice job on the site...I chuckled when I saw the thumbnail you picked for the 72 Topps Yankees wantlist...Ron Swoboda! Forgot he ended up on the "other" New York team after starting his career on the Mets. :D

Robert
 
Thank you guys for the comments, there were so many that it took me a while to get back to everyone.

deaconblues63 - Michael, thanks but my collection is only rudimentary at this point, I hope to build on it over years. Have you thought about going back and collecting the Washington Senators cards as well?

mrmopar - Yes, I am also collecting Topps Traded, and Topps U&H sets. 1951 was a Topps release, but I personally view it as more of an oddball set. Although I would bet those cards are much cheaper to get than the 52 set. Judging by some of your previous threads, I'm sure you have a near complete run of Dodgers, probably with a good portion of those also signed as well.

chaplain11 - Dewayne, thanks it was the most fun I've had in a long time! I can definitely use those commons you listed, I don't really care about condition for vintage stuff. I will have to pick up some Mussina/Gehrig for you, I don't have any of those guys at the moment.

negreyjr - It must be nice to share your collecting with both your father and your son when he gets older. Unfortunately no one in my family has any interest in cards.

timfsu2k - Yes, getting that Mantle (or any Mantle) is going to be tough and require saving up. Maybe once I finish school and start working I will pursue those. Congrats, completing the Cracker Jack set is impressive but getting your wife involved is even more impressive!

75zito - Christopher, thank you! Sending you a PM.

loftheb - Casey, nice work on your Cubs project, not too many left!. I forgot about those Topps Debut sets, I will have to add those onto my list.

robert326 - Robert, it seems worthwhile hanging around after games but I never end up doing that, that is an awesome story. I also tell myself that I will get to games early for BP but never get around to doing that.

I had been considering this project for a few months before I committed myself to it. I was going back and forth on attempting all the Topps sets or just doing UD sets dating back to 1989 since it was around the time when I started following baseball. When UD lost its license, it made my answer obvious. BTW to me Swoboda looks like he is still wearing a Mets uniform and to hide the cap logo they took his picture from an odd angle.

A few other reasons I started this was to make more trades, clear out my trade box, and to stop coming home from shows empty handed. All my tradestuff is listed on my site, LMK if you like anything.
 
Hey Ravi, I hear that! I too like to go to a show and have something to show for it lol. Speaking of which, I'm going to the Queens College show tomorrow with Kenny...let me know if you can make it (it's a shlep for you I know).
Would you be able to copy/paste your current 80's and 90's needs onto this thread if possible? I've tried to open your www but my blackberry's seemingly feeble bandwidth won't load anything past 54 Topps :D.
I'm sure I can find some goodies from your trade list. Thanks, Rob.
 
Ravi:
LOVE the story! And I'm like you..........I have been having much more fun with those junk commons than anything else lately!:D;)


Tim
 
I was able to pull some Yankees tonight...then I loaded your page using my other browser (blocked images to speed up the loading time)...at least you need much of what I pulled for you :D

82 Topps 334 (has a surface crease, free if you can use it)
85 Topps 481 534 769
86 Topps 301 427 481 584 110T
88 Topps 387 392 584 711
89 Topps 236 611
91 Topps 62 379 484 786
92 Topps 223
04 Topps 221
05 Topps 408

Besides the 82 Topps, all the cards are nrmt or better. As you can figure, except for the 04 Mussina and 05 Matsui, they're about 5 or 10 cents each. Some decent trade bait insert in return for these (just to make the postage worthwhile) will be fine. LMK and thanks.
Robert
 
Hi,

Here is what I found for you:

1959 Topps -- 222 (EX but OC), 417 (G-VG), 471 (EX but OC)
1962 Topps -- 311 338 (VG)
1968 Topps -- 89 (EX)
1969 Topps -- 87 (F-P)
1970 Topps -- 167 (VG)
1972 Topps -- 47 325 (EX)
1974 Topps Traded -- 390T, CL (VG)
1975 Topps -- 92 (EX)
1981 Topps -- 7 225 303 460 483 627 (EX)
1983 Topps -- 254 (EX)
1984 Topps -- 110 139 175 203 204 254 281 305 408 460 512 539 635 684 711 (All EX except for 305 & 684, which are closer to VG)
1987 Topps -- 283 312 (EX)

I am just giving you conditions as a guide, I am not a stickler about trading book for book, just whatever works for both sides. You can check my www, or I don't mind 1960s or early 1970s for trade bait. Condition generally not an issue.

LMK.

Bob
 
robert326 - Hey Rob, have fun at the show I heard Mr. Mint is going to be there. There was actually an article in the Daily News about it. I was unable to make it today, was busy helping someone move.

Here is the list hope it is not too late. Anyways, thanks for pulling those last night, I have them starred below. If you are finished looking let me know and I can find something for you.

1980 Topps (0/29) - 16 35 60 89 114 140 159 179 207 225 250 278 300 334 365 387 414 424 435 460 555 582 600 625 648 670 690 698 71

1981 Topps (1/40) - 2 7 16 34 60 88 114 139 159 179 225 250 281 303 335 365 400 418 424 435 460 483 516 550 582 602 627 650 670 690 724 763 789 802 808 809 822 823 855

1982 Topps (4/50) - 2 9 10 45 109 142 154 175 208 240 275 300 301 334* 349 373 405 439 472 486 505 506 538 548 550 551 553 557 569 570 600 635 669 694 706 770 771 791 1T 20T 30T 40T 67T 95T 107T 131T

1983 Topps (27/37) - 8 685 770 8T 18T 53T 54T 66T 79T 103T

1984 Topps (4/48) - 5 16 19 81 110 123 139 175 203 204 254 281 305 360 402 406 408 440 460 486 512 539 617 635 652 670 684 697 711 712 713 714 717 718 761 770 782 3T 13T 38T 48T 84T 86T 100T

1985 Topps (6/37) - 94 120 155 180 211 238 260 284 301 328 354 429 456 481* 507 534* 612 638 665 691 724 738 765 769* 790 6T 7T 48T 49T 78T 130T

1986 Topps (18/41) - 15 135 157 180 213 301* 427* 481* 500 533 584* 610 663 712 716 721 723 33T 86T 94T 110T* 122T 131T

1987 Topps (25/43) - 15 57 102 239 283 312 316 434 464 626 665 788 21T 40T 50T 101T 107T 125T

1988 Topps (29/44) - 84 159 235 387* 392* 584* 711* 716 21T 25T 28T 35T 57T 101T 108T

1989 Topps (29/49) - 185 211 236* 302 611* 716 6T 7T 17T 30T 37T 43T 44T 47T 58T 67T 77T 94T 110T 111T

1990 Topps (24/41) - 9 286 611 634 651 659 691 9T 21T 58T 61T 63T 74T 75T 81T 91T 103T

1991 Topps (16/38) - 28 62* 100 161 187 336 359 379* 484* 511 536 611 635 659 701 786* 38T 62T 66T 67T 104T 117T

1992 Topps (27/38) - 58 179 223* 266 656 676 38T 46T 87T 111T 116T

1993 Topps (27/41) - 32 86 114 359 478 701 717 779 806 13T 47T 68T 75T 84T

1994 Topps (29/39) - 2 79 391 393 546 748 20T 50T 83T 114T

1995 Topps (26/35) - 3 28 60 86 266 294 352 386 391 393 399 413 426 450 468 485 511 531 566 618 640 36T 70T 81T 130T 158T

1996 Topps (17/22) - 7 68 185 203 432

1997 Topps (11/21) - 13 90 247 256 272 282 334 360 372 411

1998 Topps (15/20) - 8 160 181 284 255

1999 Topps (35/41) - 115 206 219 425 445 T65

2000 Topps (23/33) - 56 204 224 227 235 478 T73 T127 T130 T133

2001 Topps (40/63) - 100 170 356 364 376 381 383 508 562 789 T11 T79 T90 T103 T108 T113 T124 T133 T215 T226 T234 T243 T260

2002 Topps (35/44) - 75 341 342 361 T1 T21 T25 T105 T267

2003 Topps (45/54) - T108 T158 T166 T174 T198 T219 T235 T245 T27

2004 Topps (32/44) - 150 221* 305 335 337 352 354 675 T44 T50 T78 T164

2005 Topps (37/46) - 1 200 370 408* 700 U135 U136 U212 U324

2007 Topps (37/47) - 40 327 510 570 650 U218 U219 U276 U282 U312

2008 Topps (40/46) - 7 61 102 256 349 455

2009 Topps (24/57) - 1b 170b 290b 305b 353 418 490 507 515b 615 U17 U22 U42 U69 U81 U89 U100 U122 U131 U142 U164 U173 U180 U208 U238 U245 U250 U250b U270 U284 U304 U315 U318b

Tim Carroll - Tim, thank you. Keep up the work, I enjoy seeing your pieces.

bdangelo - Bob, thank you for checking! I hope we can work something out.
 
Hey Ravi, was an interesting show. For the first time in memory, I went to a card show as a customer and had an easier time selling than buying! I found there was almost nothing to buy from the dealers card-wise, but a few dealers who were eager to buy. Overall it was a productive, good time. Hopefully I'll make it to White Plains on Thanksgiving weekend, so maybe we'll finally get to meet.
Also got to schmooze with a few of the old dealers that I've known for years, some of whom said they're going to the White Plains show too.

Ah yes, Mr. Mint. The dealers I spoke to said he wasn't there today at all. He set up a table yesterday and "left after 10 minutes," as one dealer said to me.
Maybe you saw Kenny had put up a thread about the show in the Card Shows forum. I bumped the thread a few times over the past week and added the link to the Daily News article if you want to read it.

Now that I've taken a closer look at your lists, I realize that 1995 Topps #3 Babe Ruth is part of your Yankees project (it is a Yankee card after all) and I do have it for you.
Also possible I have some 2001 and 2002 Topps Yanks you need. If you can give me a few days to search my stuff, I'll try to add a bit to your pile. In the meantime, everything I listed is set aside for you so you can mark it off your lists if you wish.
Thanks, Rob.

robert326 - Hey Rob, have fun at the show I heard Mr. Mint is going to be there. There was actually an article in the Daily News about it. I was unable to make it today, was busy helping someone move.

Here is the list hope it is not too late. Anyways, thanks for pulling those last night, I have them starred below. If you are finished looking let me know and I can find something for you.

1980 Topps (0/29) - 16 35 60 89 114 140 159 179 207 225 250 278 300 334 365 387 414 424 435 460 555 582 600 625 648 670 690 698 71

1981 Topps (1/40) - 2 7 16 34 60 88 114 139 159 179 225 250 281 303 335 365 400 418 424 435 460 483 516 550 582 602 627 650 670 690 724 763 789 802 808 809 822 823 855

1982 Topps (4/50) - 2 9 10 45 109 142 154 175 208 240 275 300 301 334* 349 373 405 439 472 486 505 506 538 548 550 551 553 557 569 570 600 635 669 694 706 770 771 791 1T 20T 30T 40T 67T 95T 107T 131T

1983 Topps (27/37) - 8 685 770 8T 18T 53T 54T 66T 79T 103T

1984 Topps (4/48) - 5 16 19 81 110 123 139 175 203 204 254 281 305 360 402 406 408 440 460 486 512 539 617 635 652 670 684 697 711 712 713 714 717 718 761 770 782 3T 13T 38T 48T 84T 86T 100T

1985 Topps (6/37) - 94 120 155 180 211 238 260 284 301 328 354 429 456 481* 507 534* 612 638 665 691 724 738 765 769* 790 6T 7T 48T 49T 78T 130T

1986 Topps (18/41) - 15 135 157 180 213 301* 427* 481* 500 533 584* 610 663 712 716 721 723 33T 86T 94T 110T* 122T 131T

1987 Topps (25/43) - 15 57 102 239 283 312 316 434 464 626 665 788 21T 40T 50T 101T 107T 125T

1988 Topps (29/44) - 84 159 235 387* 392* 584* 711* 716 21T 25T 28T 35T 57T 101T 108T

1989 Topps (29/49) - 185 211 236* 302 611* 716 6T 7T 17T 30T 37T 43T 44T 47T 58T 67T 77T 94T 110T 111T

1990 Topps (24/41) - 9 286 611 634 651 659 691 9T 21T 58T 61T 63T 74T 75T 81T 91T 103T

1991 Topps (16/38) - 28 62* 100 161 187 336 359 379* 484* 511 536 611 635 659 701 786* 38T 62T 66T 67T 104T 117T

1992 Topps (27/38) - 58 179 223* 266 656 676 38T 46T 87T 111T 116T

1993 Topps (27/41) - 32 86 114 359 478 701 717 779 806 13T 47T 68T 75T 84T

1994 Topps (29/39) - 2 79 391 393 546 748 20T 50T 83T 114T

1995 Topps (26/35) - 3 28 60 86 266 294 352 386 391 393 399 413 426 450 468 485 511 531 566 618 640 36T 70T 81T 130T 158T

1996 Topps (17/22) - 7 68 185 203 432

1997 Topps (11/21) - 13 90 247 256 272 282 334 360 372 411

1998 Topps (15/20) - 8 160 181 284 255

1999 Topps (35/41) - 115 206 219 425 445 T65

2000 Topps (23/33) - 56 204 224 227 235 478 T73 T127 T130 T133

2001 Topps (40/63) - 100 170 356 364 376 381 383 508 562 789 T11 T79 T90 T103 T108 T113 T124 T133 T215 T226 T234 T243 T260

2002 Topps (35/44) - 75 341 342 361 T1 T21 T25 T105 T267

2003 Topps (45/54) - T108 T158 T166 T174 T198 T219 T235 T245 T27

2004 Topps (32/44) - 150 221* 305 335 337 352 354 675 T44 T50 T78 T164

2005 Topps (37/46) - 1 200 370 408* 700 U135 U136 U212 U324

2007 Topps (37/47) - 40 327 510 570 650 U218 U219 U276 U282 U312

2008 Topps (40/46) - 7 61 102 256 349 455

2009 Topps (24/57) - 1b 170b 290b 305b 353 418 490 507 515b 615 U17 U22 U42 U69 U81 U89 U100 U122 U131 U142 U164 U173 U180 U208 U238 U245 U250 U250b U270 U284 U304 U315 U318b

Tim Carroll - Tim, thank you. Keep up the work, I enjoy seeing your pieces.

bdangelo - Bob, thank you for checking! I hope we can work something out.
 
Rob, I hope to see you at White Plains I will try to make it one of the days, it will probably end up being Saturday. As of now I don't have off Friday and I am on call all of Sunday.

Looks like it was a profitable show for you, selling is always good! I have had a tough time doing that this year at the few shows I've attended. I did see that article, it was much ado about nothing. It was just a slow news week.

When you get a chance with those cards, let me know I'm in no rush.
 
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