While set collecting is somewhat of a lost art, there are still many collectors that still pursue complete issues. Many sets aren't too difficult to piece together, but those that are older or rarer can make for a challenging task. Here are ten tips to keep in mind if pursuing a particularly difficult set, no matter the sport. As a precursor, these are only tips. In the end, … [Read more...]
1961-62 Fleer Baseball Greats Set Quirky, but Fun
It’s a quirky set, with strange photography choices and an eclectic selection. The 1961-62 Fleer Baseball Greats set attempted to showcase former players, just like it did with its 1960 set. The difference was a set with a larger checklist that stretched over two years. Subjects in the Fleer Baseball Greats spanned several eras, from Cap Anson and Kid Nichols in the late … [Read more...]
10 Surprisingly Cheap Vintage Sports Card Sets
With so many trading card sets being produced over the past 130 years, there is no reason for a collector to have to overpay for quality, vintage material with a girth of material on the market. For every set like 1909-11 T206 and 1952 Topps that increase in value as collectors pursue registry sets and key cards, there are others that remain under the radar, unappreciated, or … [Read more...]
High-Grade Vintage Set Breaks in Memory Lane Auction
Vintage card collectors looking to upgrade their sets will have a chance to do that—and then some-- when Memory Lane kicks off its Summer Break Auction beginning July 25. Several high-grade complete and near complete sets will be broken up and sold card by card including: 1952 Topps. The set includes PSA 7 (near mint) examples of the coveted Mickey Mantle and Eddie Mathews … [Read more...]
Editor’s Blog: Best Old Baseball Card Sets to Own
It’s a question we get quite often--and one that might involve a different answer depending on your criteria—and the amount of your disposable income. A list of the best old baseball card sets to own, though, is probably best put together with the average collector in mind. So if you're dipping deeper into the hobby's history, here are a few thoughts. If you do happen to … [Read more...]
1965 Topps Baseball Set Has Solid Rookie Class
When spring training gave way to cold early-season games in April of 1965, veteran baseball fans probably figured they were in for some changes in the new season. The vaunted New York Yankees had made it to the World Series the year before, but their foundation was cracked and aging. On the other side of the continent, the Los Angeles Dodgers had somehow slid to seventh place … [Read more...]
1959 Topps Baseball Set Took Collectors Through the Porthole
Though every year witnesses events that change the world and make us gape in awe, some are more dramatic than others. By the time 1959 faded into a new decade, America had gained two new states, Fidel Castro had brought red power to Cuba, and the New York Yankees had slid all the way to third place in the American League. Along the way, the 1959 Topps baseball set provided … [Read more...]
Notes: Probstein Profiled, Jeter’s Last K Ball Auction; Best Looking Sets?
It all started when he was 9 years old. Detours ensued including a ‘real job’ or two, but Rick Probstein returned to buying and selling sports cards in his 30s and now, you can’t escape his company’s eBay auctions. If you’re a collector, you’ve probably seen his auctions, bought something from him or sold something to him. However, there are a few things you may not … [Read more...]
Ten Baseball Card Sets That Made a Difference
by Mike Stack There have been ten baseball card sets that have distinguished themselves over all others in the modern era. Each of these complete sets has a unique place in the hobby and meaning greater than the mere sum of their parts. For the purposes of this article we'll consider anything printed after World War II to be of the “modern era”. They're ranked in no … [Read more...]