2016 Black Friday COMC Order #1 - Vintage Set Needs

Time to show off some of those COMC goods from Black Friday.

I am still working on getting my card room at my new house organized.  Some parts of my collection are more organized than ever but I am still struggling to find the right place for everything.  Part of my struggle has been a lack of wall space which doesn't allow for as many shelves for storage/display as I would like.   One wall has windows starting 2 feet off the ground up to the ceiling.  A second wall has double doors to enter the room along with a door to the outside.  A third wall has a door into a Jack and Jill bathroom and the walk in closet, leaving only one wall with full wall space.

I have a pretty large number of complete sets in pages that fill a majority of the book cases I have on that one wall.  I have decided that I won't put any new sets into binders but will still try to fit my vintage sets into pages/binders.  My last set to input that is fully complete was my 1973 set - or at least I thought it was complete.

A few weeks back I was sitting in front of the TV putting my 1973 set into pages when I noticed a few missing cards. I am pretty embarrassed to admit this as I am usually very careful.  I went through my stack of duplicates and plugged a few holes but in the end I was left with 4 empty slots in my binder.  I quickly jumped on to COMC and filled the holes.

I am very happy to welcome these 4 cards into my collection and now officially call my 1973 Topps set complete:

Some other happy additions are these traded cards and a 1970 Topps Checklist.

With the traded card acquisitions, I now have complete sets of the 1974 and 1976 Topps Traded sets.  The 1970 checklist is a variation, leaving me 1 variation away from having all the cards for my set along with the variations. The traded sets are small but I am happy to have them complete.

I am currently working on the 1971 and 1972 Topps sets.  My progress on the 1972 set has pretty much stalled - I am frustrated with the limited availability and the high cost of the massive high number series.  I am seriously contemplating finishing off the other series and punting on the high numbers.  Luckily my frustration with the 1972 set is balanced out by my progress on the 1971 set.  The next 3 scans show the 26 new cards I was able to add from this order including a trio of HOFers and quite a few high number short prints.

This leaves me only needing 34 cards to complete this set!  I have a couple big namers in Willie Mays and Roberto Clemente along with the high number Don Baylor/Dusty Baker high number SP rookie card.  In all I need 20 SPs.  I have already gone onto COMC since this shipment and purchased 8 of the 14 non-SP cards.  I am so close I can taste it. I want to be careful and not overspend as I get closer to the end but I am very confident I can put the set from my year of birth to rest sometime in 2017.

The last 3 vintage set need cards I picked up are from the 1960 Fleer set.  Picking up these 3 leave me with 32 of the 80 cards in the set.  I had picked up a few of these at my LCS Bid Board back in CA and decided I was going to casually pursue this set.  This trio were well priced and met my condition needs

Not a ton of vintage in this order but definitely some great pick ups towards 3 set builds and the finishing of 2 Traded Sets.

Mission Accomplished - My 1973 Topps Set is Complete!

After months of patience and combing through daily eBay emails I finally pulled the trigger and bought the final card to complete my 1973 Topps Set.

It definitely isn't in mint condition but it fits nicely into the overall condition of the set.  This Mike Schmidt (and Ron Cey) rookie is the most expensive card in the set and that definitely pushed it to the end of my set quest.

This extends my consecutive run of Topps sets from 1973-2014 but may be my last completed vintage set for a while.  I am currently working on all 3 sets from 1970-1972 and really need a strategy on how to progress.  My focus was on the 1970 set but the high numbers are tough to track down and super expensive.  I may just slowly whittle away at all 3 sets until I get a surprising windfall or find a source for inexpensive high numbered cards.

And Then There Was One

I set up couple lofty goals for myself this year and with the year being so busy and my blogging and collecting getting a little less of my attention, I suspect my YE grading of my goals will not be up to par with past years.  However I have recently inched forward to two monumental goals and I thought I would share my progress.

One of my collecting focuses has been on acquiring as many Giants base cards as possible.  I like all Giants including parallels, relics, autos, inserts and oddballs but the regular old base cards are close to my heart.  One of my goals this year was to finish off the Giants run of base cards put out by Topps throughout the 1960s.  With the purchase of this Chuck Hiller rookie from 1961 Topps I am now one card away from completing this goal.  The card I have left is the 1961 Topps All-Star of Willie Mays.  This card won't come cheap but I am patient and will try to strike with a reasonably conditioned card at the right price.

Another lofty goal was to complete the 1973 Topps set.

I have been on the lookout for this card for months.  A nicely conditioned card with the checklist unmarked seems hard to come by for under $20 with some going up into triple figures.  It is a high number and I suspect unchecked ones are somewhat scarce.  I found this lightly checked checklist (4 squares lightly filled in with pencil) for a fraction of the price.  And while I like the condition to be the best possible, this set is far from a mint representation so this card should fit in just fine.  Next up is the Michael Jack Schmidt rookie card.  I have been watching them for several months and it won't come cheap but again I will demonstrate patience.

Is anyone out there inching towards a goal or just have one complete?  For me there is little more satisfying than marking a goal off the list and I hope I can put both of these to rest in the not too distant future.

1973 Topps Set Quest - 2 Down/2 To Go

I am inching every closer to the completion of my 1973 Topps set.  These last few cards have been tough to track down, the higher numbers are just not plentiful on line.  Early last week I decided to search for 3 of the cards (I am resigned to the fact that the Schmidt rookie will be last) and found out that finding unmarked checklists at reasonable prices is tough.  I was able to track down 2 of the 3 cards and here they are:

Woo hoo, a checklist.  There are some exciting names on this card including my favorite, Willie McCovey, along with fellow HOFers Gaylord Perry and Joe Torre.  Another player I collect, Vida Blue is on here with some other stars like George Foster and Bobby Grich.  This one set me back $8.25 shipped on a Buy It Now and was a bargain compared to some others I saw.

The other card I scored was this Red Sox team card, another tough one to locate. Condition, particularly centering isn't ideal on this but I am not putting together a mint set.  In fact quite a few of the cards in the original lot I picked up as a starter are far from mint and may someday need an upgrade.  The card was a Buy It Now at $5.49 shipped, by far the best deal I could find on eBay.

One more checklist to go, then my epic quest for a Schmidt rookie. I will not overpay and will make sure I get a good, below market price.  I think my 8 months of patience on a 1966 Gaylord Perry are evidence of my ability to take my time.  I just hope I can do it prior to year end.

Inching Closer to the 1973 Topps Set

I am really hoping to finish off the 1973 Topps set sometime this year.  The one dilemma I will have once that is complete is which set to focus on next, 1971 or 1972.  I have want lists up for both but they are huge.  I am going to need to formulate a plan on how to get some bulk lots I need cheap but I am getting ahead of myself.

I recently picked up 2 more 1973 cards I needed, both high numbers.

This is the second to the last Rookie card I need with just the big one waiting in the wings.  Not any huge names here with Mike Garman having the longest career of the trio.

I also picked up former Giant Felipe Alou.  This card was tough to track down at a reasonable price, I wonder if there is a premium because he is a Yankee.  This is one of his last Topps cards in his career with only a 1974 and 1974 Traded cards after.

I am down to needing 4 cards, a Red Sox team card, 2 Checklists and the Mike Schmidt rookie card.  I probably shouldn't be but I have been surprised how much the Checklist cards are selling for unmarked.  I am not looking for mint condition but an unmarked is a plus.  My plan is to know off the 3 non-Schmidt cards then set up an eBay search with notifications to go full fledged for the final card.  With us not being at the half way mark of the year, I should be able to finish this one off but I just can't lose focus.

Making Significant 1973 Topps Set Progress

It has been a while since I made progress on my 1973 set.  One of my 2014 collecting goals is to finish this set off so I decided to do some shopping last week.  I was down under 20 cards and I was lucky enough to find a Sportlots seller who had 9 of the cards I needed.  I did some eBay searching and was able to add one more.  I have bids in on 3 more but we shall see how that ends up.  I thought I would share the 10 new cards I just received, all in one scan...

Joe Torre is the best of this group but Joe Niekro and Dave McNally were very solid pitchers.  Some rookies of some very good players in Rick Reuschel and Enos Cabell as well (didn't know Enos was an Oriole, I know him as an Astro, Tiger and Giant - and some other lame team that wears blue).  All but the Torre and Reuschel are high numbers.

So I am sure all of you are on the edge of your seat wondering what cards are left on my want list.  Here you go:

1973 Topps #453 Checklist 397-528
1973 Topps #545 Orlando Cepeda
1973 Topps #588 Checklist 529-660
1973 Topps #596 Boston Red Sox TC
1973 Topps #615 Rookie Third Basemen#{Ron Cey#{John Hilton RC#{Mike Schmidt RC
1973 Topps #616 Rookie Pitchers#{Norm Angelini RC#{Steve Blateric#{Mike Garman
1973 Topps #650 Felipe Alou

Only 7 left but that John Hilton Rookie card is going to be a beast to track down in my price range.  Wish me luck!

Meeting a Friend of the Blog and Landing a McCovey White Whale

A couple weeks back I got an email from fellow Giants fan, reader of the blog and all around great guy Jim aka mrhaverkamp.  Jim was heading down to Southern California from his home in Northern California (Giants country!!!) to visit some friends and was wanting to get directions to the local card shops I have reference on the blog and perhaps meet up at one of the shops.

We exchanged numbers and I gave him directions.  A couple days prior to when he was planning on being in my area he called and left me a message and as luck would have it I was down with the stomach flu.  I missed a chance to meet a couple fellow LA based bloggers at a card show a couple months back and I was worried I might miss another opportunity to meet the first person face-to-face that I was introduced to through the blog.

A day or two later I started feeling somewhat human again and texted Jim to let him know that I was available to meet and he got back to me and let me know around what time he would be at the shops.  I cut out of work at the right time and we ended up meeting at one of the shops.  We had a chance to visit and get to know each other for 30-45 minutes over sandwiches and soup talking cards and Giants, it was a great way to spend a long lunch break.  Lucky for me, mrhaverkamp came bearing gifts.

First up he gave me some 1970 set help:

 I have a copy of this McCovey in my Willie collection one and the Alston fill a set need.  I set a goal for 2013 to complete the 1970 set up through card 459 and this along with some other recent pick ups puts me 3 cards away.  Two are the Munson Rookie and Reggie Jackson so I am not sure I am going to make the goal this year but I got darn close.

Next up some 1973 set help:

 Dick Allen may be one of the most underrated players in history.  I am loving the background of the Kaline card, I am sure with a little research I could figure out where the Tigers spent their springs, obviously somewhere with palm trees.  Similar to the 70 set, I am working on 1973 as well with a 2013 goal of finishing up through 528.  I am 4 cards away from that goal with the biggest name again being Reggie Jackson.  With only a little over a month to go, this may also be a goal that is so close, yet so far away in 2013.

Finally, Jim handed over this card:

Holy White Whale!  Those of you not too familiar with the 1969 may not catch the rarity of this card. Maybe 20-25 cards in the 5th series printed the players name in white lettering as a variation.  The normal McCovey has his name in yellow like the team name.  This card has been on my McCovey want list from the start and I have run across very few for sale.  Those for sale were typically in very poor condition and priced well outside my range.  I can't even begin to tell you how excited I am to have this in my collection.

Jim, it was great getting a chance to meet you and to get to know you a bit.  I thank you immensely for the cards and have a couple of things set aside for you already as a gift in return.  I need to seek out something to sweeten the package to help balance out the McCovey.

Happy Housewarming to Me

As most of you know, I moved this summer.  It wasn't a long move - about 90 miles from South Orange County, CA to South Ventura County, CA - but it was a move. It involved selling a house, buying a house, moving all our stuff (although my company picked up the tab for the moving truck and packing), a new job for me, my kids changing schools, my wife leaving her job of 12 years and being too far away from our friends to stop by and say hi.  Despite all the turmoil we are settling in quite nice and enjoying our new home and lifestyle.

I have shared some of the trials and tribulations about the move on this blog and here is some more evidence, if you actually need it, that our hobby and blogging community is filled with wonderful and generous collectors.

Three different bloggers have sent me cards with nice notes wishing me well in our new house - how cool is that.  I thought I would share all of them together in this post.

First up a PWE from Mark at This Way to the Clubhouse...:

A pair of great card with an Archive All Star insert of Rickey Henderson and a cool First Day Parallel of Dave Martinez.  A little old, a little new and a nice note to boot.  Thanks Mark, I really appreciate it!

Next up was a package from Spiegel, the author of Dodgers themed blog Nomo's Sushi Platter.  Check out all these goodies:

 The top line features some mini 2000's cards of legendary Giants, very cool!  Also scored a trio of Giants infielders.  The Will Clark USA card is my first of his from that set.  I remember being bummed out when he wasn't included in the 1985 subset in the Topps release. I don't recall a story on why he wasn't included but if I recall he was one of the team captains.  The Aurilia is a nice thick parallel and my first of that type - it features a somewhat odd photo to include on a card.

 Scored some 2013 cards as well, I suspect I am a regular recipient of many Dodgers collectors extra Giants and I have no problem with that.

 Finally a few more Giants to round out the package.  The two Highlights cards make me a little sad that my team isn't in the playoffs this year.  The two cards from the final UD release make me yearn a little for their base card releases.  As a set collector, I enjoyed it a lot more when there was more than one company producing a licensed base set.

Thanks Spiegel for the package and well wishes.  I am hoping you get back in the swing of things in posting, I always enjoy your stuff.  I totally relate to how that becomes a challenge at times though.  Maybe we will run into each other at the LCS one of these days.

My final package came from frequent trade partner, Greg, of the legendary Night Owl blog.

 First up a nice collection of 2013 cards.  I needed some help on my Series 2 base set and got it in this package.  Also got a couple nice minis from this year's Ginter including a very nice black border Scutaro.  Finally a non-Giant with a Gold holofoil Rickey Henderson insert, a very nice addition to the Rickey collection.

 Some more Giants from Greg's seemingly endless supply of Giants.  I tend to rarely pull Giants when I buy packs and NO has the opposite problem which works out great for me.

 Also got some set help for Series 2 and Opening Day which are both nearing completion.  Over the past couple weeks I have made a few purchases to try and wrap up some of these sets.

Speaking of set help, Greg sent me a very nice conditioned card of HOFer Johnny Bench for my 1973 Topps set.  This is one of my favorite cards of the set and I am so happy to have it now.  I have a 2013 collecting goal of finishing this set up to card #528.  With this addition I am within striking distance only needed 6 cards to finish it up.  Might be time to seek out those last few cards then tackle the rest of the set in 2014.

Thanks Greg for the package of cards, it is greatly appreciated.  The generosity of our blogging community continues to amaze me.

Trade/Gift Post - Johngy's Beat & 1973 Topps Set Quest - Post 4

Back in early January, I got an email out of the blue from Johngy over at Johngy's Beat.  Johngy's blog is primarily about celebrities and pop culture and he has a knack for getting pictures with and interviews of interesting people.  He also has a cool feature of showcasing celebrities in sports apparel and making cards of them - very cool. 

Johngy's email stated he had stumbled across my blog and had some help for my 1973 set and wanted to help me out and was asking for nothing in return.  I recall several blog posts from other bloggers where he did the same thing and boy he did not disappoint!

Here are the cards Johngy sent my way in all there 1973 glory:

 The first grouping of 9 includes 2 rookie cup cards and a checklist that is in great condition. I recall as a kid getting upset when a checklist popped up but now I realize how hard it is to track them down in good condition.  I am also loving the bright color pop from Nate Colbert's Padres jersey!

 There are 3 great action photos in this grouping and a nice batting cage photo.  The variety of photo types for this set always pleases me when I thumb through a stack of these cards.

 Here is a collection of all posed shots with many of them taking place at spring training sites. I am not sure if the Topps photographers were on a tight budget or what during this time frame but I always enjoy looking into the background to see what scenery was captured.

I remember Bobby Grich only as an Angel but it is cool to get this card right after his first full season as an Oriole.  I think he was pretty underrated as a player, for a few years he was one of the best second basemen in the game.

 This batch of 9 includes 3 manager/coach cards.  I like the inclusion of these as it gives some cardboard space to some past greats by including the coaches in addition to the managers.  The Indians card includes Rocky Colavito and Warren Spahn which I find very cool and the Pirates card in the second group features Bill Mazeroski.  The bottom 3 cards ended up being dups from the trade package I got from Wrigley Wax but 1 or 2 of them ended up being condition upgrades which is always cool.

Johngy, thank you so much for your generosity, I really appreciate it.  Keep up the great and entertaining work on you blog!


Here are some stats tracking my progress, I am getting pretty close to my 2013 goal already:

Total Cards added in this post - 42
Total Cards from 1-528 added in this post - 33
Cards added with BV $10 or higher in this post - 0
Progress on cards with BV $10 or higher - 14/22
Updated status towards 2013 goal - 510/528
Updated status towards complete set - 586/660

If you have any of my wants for trade let me know.  I will keep my progress updated on the blog as well and my want list up to date.

Trade Post - Wrigley Wax & 1973 Topps Set Quest - Post 3

A few weeks back, I received an email from Paul over at Wrigley Wax indicating he had some duplicate 1973 cards for the set I am building.  I have listed this as a trade post although I have yet to send something back in return. Seems like Paul quickly scoops up all the new Cubs for his collection so I am going to need to get creative in finding something to send him back.

Here are the cards:

 I enjoy the mix of spring training photos and action photos in this set.  I like the Dave Johnson action photo with the umpire in the back and the sweet photoshop job on Bill Hands putting him in a Twins uni while pitching at Wrigley Field.

Here is another batch including 2 of the rookie cards.  This gives me 6 of the rookie cards out of a total of 16 although I have a few more on the way.  Odds are #615 will be the last card I secure for this set, the rookie of none other than Ron Cey Michael Jack Schmidt.

Finally the two biggest "names" in this batch and two of my favorite cards.  A great inaction catching photo of Thurman Munson and a posed photo of former Giant and Big Red Machine member George Foster before he plays his way into star status.

Thanks Paul for the great group of cards, it was very generous of you to send them my way.  I am on the lookout for something to send back your way, thanks for the patience.

Here are some stats tracking my progress on the set:

Total Cards added in this post - 20
Total Cards from 1-528 added in this post - 7
Cards added with BV $10 or higher in this post - 0
Progress on cards with BV $10 or higher - 14/22
Updated status towards 2013 goal - 477/528
Updated status towards complete set - 544/660

If you have any of my wants for trade let me know.  I will keep my progress updated on the blog as well and my want list up to date.

1973 Topps Set Quest - Post 2

As you may recall, one of my goals during 2013 will be to try and complete this 1973 set through card number 528.  The final series consisting of cards 529-660 are more difficult to obtain and more pricing and while I will be looking to add those to my set, my focal point during 2013 will be on the cards through 528.

 Here are a few recent pickups.

These 3 came courtesy of the famous blogger Night Owl.  Greg and I are pretty much past the point of trades and just send each other cards occasionally. Well that isn't completely true as we are in the process of completing a major trade that you should see posted in the near future.  The Greif card is a high number while the other two are in the sweet spot of my 2013 collecting goal for the set.

Speaking of high numbers, most of my recent pick ups have been of the high number variety, check these out:

 These cards are all new high number pick ups.  For some reason, I scanned Rusty and Fred twice.  Maybe it is the cool photo shopped hat of Mr. Torres and the awesome Yankee Stadium background in both cards.

Finally my 2 favorite pickups:

 An awesome Babe Ruth commemorating him as the The All-Time RBI Leader.  It is a little miscut but I am very glad to add it.  It completes the All-Time leader subset for me.

Last but certainly not least the 1972 Strikeout Leaders featuring Hall of Famers Steve Carlton and Nolan Ryan.  Another League Leader card and actually the final one in the set that I needed.

The Babe and the SO Leaders knock 2 more cards off the need list that book for more than $10.  I am making some nice progress on this set.  Who knows, if I keep finding good deals on the high numbers at this pace, I might be able to finish off the entire set.

Here are some stats tracking my progress:

Total Cards added in this post - 19
Total Cards from 1-528 added in this post - 4
Cards added with BV $10 or higher in this post - 2
Progress on cards with BV $10 or higher - 14/22
Updated status towards 2013 goal - 470/528
Updated status towards complete set - 524/660

If you have any of my wants for trade let me know.  I will keep my progress updated on the blog as well and my want list up to date.

1973 Topps Set Quest - Post 1

One of my goals during 2013 will be to try and complete this 1973 set through card number 528.  The final series consisting of cards 529-660 are more difficult to obtain and more pricing and while I will be looking to add those to my set, my focal point during 2013 will be on the cards through 528.   This set is comprised as 4 series and for comparison sake, series 3 commons book for $1.25 and series 4 book for $3.  Also the high series has the Mike Schmidt rookie which will be the priciest card for the set.  2013 will hopefully see me go for the quantity and in 2014 I will focus on the quality high numbers.

Here are my recent pick ups in the quest to complete this set.  I believe all of them came from Sportlots.

 So I start of the post saying I am focusing on the non-high number cards and what is my first scan?  3 high number cards. Rusty and Fred were both photographed in old Yankee Stadium it appears. The Rookie Shortstop card features 3 players that never became huge stars but both Frias and Guerrero ended up playing for 8-9 years and played in around 700 games. I got the Rookie Shortstops for $1.30.  The other two were a quarter each plus $0.50 shipping each.

 Next up is a nice Walter Johnson card celebrating the Big Train as the All-Time Shutout Leader.  He has 2 cards in this subset including one for being the Strikeout Leader.  I won't be featuring too many of these in this Set Quest series of posts as I already have all but 1.  I still need the Babe Ruth All-Time RBI leader.  However once I secure the Ruth card, this might be a good subset to earn a full dedicated blog post.  I scored this card for $1.

The final trio of cards feature some pretty sweet 1973 star power.  Let's start with Yaz.  Pretty cool photo from spring training with a batting net in the background and most of a catcher.  Yaz's face in this photo captures him in the way I perceive him to be, fairly stoic and just there to do his job and do it well.  When I visited Cooperstown a couple years back I made some purchases at a Yastrzemski named sports card shop that is owned my a relative of Carl. I struck up a conversation with the guy - great guy who also gave me some good deals on vintage cards - and I guess Yaz has only been to Cooperstown a select few times.  Wants to avoid the crowds and would rather keep to himself.  He doesn't have too many certified card autos out there either.  This one set me back $5.40.

Picked up this Hank Aaron as well and it was near the end of his career after he had shifted to First Base.  The card features the former HR King prepping to catch a pop up and showcases his first baseman's mitt. As a former first baseman myself, I always enjoy a nice look at the unique leather for the position.  I picked this one up for $5.24.

 Speaking of star power, it doesn't get much bigger that the Say Hey Kid, Willie Mays.  As a Giants fan it seems wrong seeing him in his Mets uniform, he certainly seems like someone who should have stayed with one team for his entire career. Prior to going after this set I had several chances to pick this card up but it never really fit into my collection and always disappointed me a little due to his exile to the Mets.  Willie set me back $8.25.

My final pick up to share is Mr. Roberto Clemente.  Roberto is one of the most admired men in baseball history and is known for his play on the field, charitable work off the field and his too early and tragic death while going on a humanitarian trip.  I recently ran across an article about the bat used for Clemente's 3000th and final hit that was very interesting.  If you haven't read it I would recommend you check it out.  This is one of the most expensive cards in the set and I picked it up for $17.95.  If I was patient, I probably could have done better but I got into somewhat of a bidding war.  Plus I was able to combine shipping with 3 additional cards and the majority of the shipping was allotted to this card so it is somewhat artificially high. 

These recent purchases focused on a lot of the higher end cards in the set.  There are 22 cards in the set that book for over $10. I obviously won't be basing my purchases on book value but it is a good way to gauge my progress and understand which cards will set me back the most.  The Yaz, Aaron, Mays and Clemente all fall into this category which leaves with only 10 to secure (Fisk, Seaver, Bench, Reggie, Bob Boone RC, Ruth All-Time RBI, High Number Checklist, Dwight Evans RC, SO Leaders - Carlton/Ryan and the Schmidt Rookie.  Among the higher valued cards, I have already picked up the Gossage RC, the HR Leaders featuring Mays/Aaron/Ruth, Pete Rose and Nolan Ryan.


Here are some stats to start tracking my progress:

Total Cards added in this post - 8
Total Cards from 1-528 added in this post - 5
Cards added with BV $10 or higher in this post - 4
Progress on cards with BV $10 or higher - 12/22
Updated status towards 2013 goal - 466/528
Updated status towards complete set - 505/660

If you have any of my wants for trade let me know.  I will keep my progress updated on the blog as well and my want list up to date.