Great pickups. Part of me is super jealous of your set building projects. The other half... the half that manages my bank account... understands I'd never, ever be able to build any 60's set on a teacher's salary. One day... if I'm lucky... I'll win the lottery and buy me a 1965 set.
That was a comment on last night from another "grizzled old vet", Mark from the great Chronicles of Fuji blog. I really enjoyed reading the comment, and it made me think about the sets & projects that I've worked on during the almost 4 years that I've been writing this blog.
I was skeptical at first about whether I would be able to finish vintage sets. Worrying about finding cards of heroes like Aaron, Mantle, Mays and many others made me wonder if someone on a budget could really complete vintage sets.
The '64 set build has really taught me a lot. Deciding on what condition I wanted my vintage sets to be in. Sticking to a budget. Most of all, being patient and not worrying about how long it takes to finish off an older set. Thankfully, I've been able to stick to the condition and budget restraints while not freaking out about the length of time it's taken me to pick up cards for my various projects.
Another set project that I've worked on for quite a while is my Serial Numbered Insanity quest. I'm happy to say that it's down to 120 cards to go. I received a couple of more from a blogger who's gone dark, but still is around sending off packages here and there. I'm talking about Spiegel from the Nomo's Sushi Platter blog.
The Dodgers are finally on the edge of completion, as Zack Greinke's 2013 Topps gold card marks the 49th Dodger to descend from the heavens into the insanity. Greinke's serial #1307 has been removed from the want list.
The Mariners aren't as close as the Dodgers, as they are still 6 cards away from being complete. Michael Pineda's card from the 2012 Topps set is serial #997.
Much like the vintage sets I'm working on, the SNI project has been a labor of love. I'm sure it will not cost me the amount of money that vintage sets have/will, but the time it's taken and the enjoyment I've derived is no different from anything else I'm working on.
I'm sure that when I finish some of these sets, the joy I'll feel will only be intensified.
That's probably the biggest reason I collect. What about you?
thanks for reading, Robert
Glad those cards can help you chip away at the serial insanity set. We should trade again real soon. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteI'm not a big set collector, but it always feels nice to wrap one up. I get the same joy of finding a random Pirate cards. I posted an auto the other day that took me over 5 years to get in my collection.
ReplyDeleteJournalists get paid even less than teachers, but here I am trying to complete vintage sets ... it can be done!
ReplyDeleteThere is nothing more beautiful in the cardboard world than seeing a set in completion that you know wasn't purchased all at once.