Vintage Baseball Question

[jwall22]

Hi,
I don't know much about vintage baseball cards, but I'm interested in getting into starting a set. What do you think would be a good set to start with? I'm looking for something pre-1980. My budget is about $50 a month or so. I can work very slowly on the set, but I can't afford anything that includes a card that is priced at over $50. Where should I start?

[mintacular]

What conditition do you want? Assuming you want something at least mid-grade your budget of $50/mo. assuming you want to finish the set in a year or so basically limits you to the 70s sets only. Anything earlier will run 1K-5K on average. So you should really look at the design of the card and figure out what attracts you most...

You should also consider that 1970-73 have high number cards that are scarce and can get expensive. The '73 there is a drop-off and can be had for less than $600 but is better just to buy the whole enchilada. Keep in my that if you want to truly "build" a set piece by piece I think 70 71 72 are very fun and decent investments. (Again, I would stronlgy warn against trying to build sets 73-79 as you will pay much more into it then it will be worth in the end...)

In short, look at 70, 71, and 72 and figure out which design you like. All have many HOFers and rookies, and are fun to build especially trying to chase the high numbers...Of course, if you are looking to spend several years building a set, that opens the 60s and earlier sets up as possibilities...

[10braves]

i would choose either the 74 or 76 or 77 set..personally the 74 as you can try to get the variations to make a master set..

74 topps: Winfield RC, Nolan Ryan and #1 Hank Aaron are the only cards that are $40 BV or more
76 topps: no card over $30 BV and good second year cards of Yount and Brett along with Eckersley RC
77 topps: Nolan Ryan is the highest Bv at $30, decent rookies of Dale Murphy,Andre Dawson, Bruce Sutter

[jwall22]

Thanks for the replies. Is there any web site (besides Beckett) that has checklists of Topps sets pre-1980?

[rsdill2]

Thanks for the replies. Is there any web site (besides Beckett) that has checklists of Topps sets pre-1980?

in your browsers address bar type in www.19xxtopps.net where the 'xx' is whatever year you're looking for. i.e. for 1972 go to www.1972topps.net

Just my two cents but I would recommend starting the '75 set. I personally think the design is the best of the '70s, there are no pesky high numbers, you've got four HOF rookies - George Brett, Jim Rice, Gary Carter, and Robin Yount, the MVP cards are cool, an early Ryan, a late Aaron, etc... There's a few with BVs > $50 but you can easily find any of them for less than $50. It's a relatively condition sensitive set because of the bright colored borders so depending on the condition you want, you can spend as much or as little as you like.

[rsdill2]

I also agree with what mintacular says in that if you're going to buy every single card, you're definitely not going to get any return at all on the investment because any year from '73 and on, you can buy a complete set for $3-400 or less. The '72 set is a very difficult set to put together because it has so many cards and like 130 or so high numbers.

If you're wanting to do this as an investment - buy a CD or something because buying a set card by card you're going to lose money. If collecting cards is something you enjoy (which obviously it is) and you're not in it to make money than you really can't go wrong with any set you decide to build. Just find one that you like the design of and go with it.

[jwall22]

I'm definitely not interested in cards as an investment. I'll take a look at the link you posted.

[marcus0202]

Consider also the 70s Kellogg's sets. Your budget would easily fit any set except perhaps the 1971 set which are rare as they were not sold as a set, but only inserted one by one into cereal boxes. I recommend the 1970 set (or the rare 1971 set if you want to go a little more expensive), here's an example of the 1970 Pete Rose: http://cgi.ebay.com/1970-KELLOGGS-PE...item19b9eebd74

[Zealonsunited]

go to yard sales and see if you can find an incomplete set for next to nothing and finish it.....I love the 1974 set.... I built one in the early 90s

[10braves]

rsdill is right on with the 75 set, but I was looking at getting the star cards in the best ungraded shape possible..

I have a 74 topps set with all known variations and a 75 set as well..