How do you start a set to collect??

[metsmagic18]

I'm a bit bored with my TTM right now, I have a few scattered major and minor leaguers, I've got all my retirees back, and all the other sports are done (TTM wise).

I want to start a set like the 2009 Topps Magic that buffalobills collects. How do you pick a set? I don't want to have over 100 cards.

[djauwerda]

To me, this would be an issue of personal preference. The first thing I would do is find a set you like. In today's current market, that may be tougher than you think, but depending on what era you're trying to collect, you could go a couple of avenues.

1. Pick up an old update or traded set from the 1980's or 1990's. They're 132 cards, have a good mix of players. I also think the designs are clean for autos in most cases. I'm envisioning either a 1985 Topps Traded or a 1986 Fleer Update. The other possibility from the 1980's / 1990's are the old "League Leader" sets like from Walgreens or the Toys R Us sets.

2. You'd have to find a decent insert set and put it together. If you did, I think you'd have to be careful on the material and gloss of the cards, and collecting a set that is relatively cheap and easy to put together. I believe you could put something nice together at a reasonable price. I'm thinking like the Rookie Roundup Cards from Upper Deck in the 1990's. The hard part here is you have to compile the set first.

Anyway, that's my 2 cents.

[SLNoble13]

When I was big into collecting baseball cards as a kid the first set that I built was the 1989 Topps. I had every card and was proud of it but I grew out of the hobby while in high school and college only to get back into it in my late 20s. All along this set remained boxed up.

I chose to try to get the 89 Topps baseball set done b/c it meant something to me that I took the time as a kid to build it so I thought I would try to get them all signed. So far it has worked out pretty good for me, somewhere about 42% done with the set.

These cards are also better to hold autos since they do not have the glossy look on them. If you choose to do a full 700-800 card set, I would go with something a little older in the 80s and 90s as they hold autos better and some like the 89 Topps, you could get pretty cheap.

My 2 cents to share Good luck!

[metsmagic18]

I think I made myself unclear, I meant a set to collect autographs for, like buffalobills and his Topps Magic.

Thanks for the help though!

[SLNoble13]

Sorry about that.

Good luck

[metsmagic18]

Ugh, I feel stupid right now...
You gave me the right advice, I didn't read the post carefully!! Thanks to both of you, I'll definitely try your ideas!!

[lilstovie34]

Allen and Ginter is cool stuff too, multi sports in one set and full of a lot of TTM signers. Even though there are more than 100 cards in the set

[indyreds]

Do not laugh, but select one of the Bowman or other sets that have minor league players. You can get like a 50 card top prospect set of single A All Stars from the previous years All Star game from most single A minor league team sites. The reason I suggest this is that many of the players are still in the minors. Players in the minors are usually much more friendly for TTM requests. It also is something that can really pay off as the players can later become hard to get. Guys like Arod, Jeter and even King Albert came through the Midwest League and later became impossible to get. Why not take a shot that one of the players from last seasons All Star set might become that player? I know that Mike Trout is the largest prospect from that last seasons set and he is great TTM still! Just a suggestion. I think the sets are like $10 a pop through the Ft Wayne Tipcaps site!

[jerseyman1992]

Great call indy on the minor league sets. I have been working on the Heroes and Prospects set and looking back I cannot believe how many great players I have gotten over the years. Plus the players are great TTM when they are younger. Tristar Projections would be a great set. A very clean set for autos. I dunno if they still make them though

[mmalpedo01]

If you are into baseball and some older guys, I would try the 88-89 Pacific Legends set. There are a bunch of good, great and not so great players who are good signers in that set.