My top 25 sets #5: 1964 Topps

Set  1964 Topps
Number of cards in set: 587
Affordability:   4
Key RCs:  Phil Niekro, Tony Conigliaro, Lou Piniella, Tommy John
Is the set built?:   230/587

What I like about this set:   It's simplicity.  The design is not fancy, there's no wild colors or team logos that dominate the front.  The card is simple, clean and easy to read.  The photos are classic 60's photos, which I've featured many times on the blog. The RC's are usually dual player cards, with some interesting combinations, such as Phil Niekro/Phil Roof.

The backs are a nice bright orange, with the stats being printed in a white background to make for easy reading.  Topps for the first time made the cartoons a rub off, meaning in order to obtain the answer to the question, you had to rub a coin over the area next to the question to reveal it.  Some dealers charge a premium for cards that don't have the cartoon revealed.

 
What I don't like about this set:   Whine time, but if you're going to collect anything pre 1977, you're going to have to be prepared to pay a premium for some of the big names.  The '64 set is no exception.  The Mantle will cost you around $500 in NM, and a NM 2nd yr Pete Rose running around $250.  There are also several cards in the set that are $100+, making patience in collecting this set a premium.

Thankfully, this set is one of the few of the 60's that doesn't contain any high priced RC's, otherwise this set might be beyond reach for some.  The high numbers (523-587) are tougher to find, and at $15 in NM condition, will also test the limits for the semi-serious collector.  My goal for this set in 2013 is to be between 350-400 cards complete.

Thanks for reading, Robert

My top 25 sets #6: 1975 Topps

Set  1975 Topps
Number of cards in set: 660
Affordability: 7
Key RCs:  George Brett, Robin Yount
Is the set built?:  341/660 

What I like about this set:   Topps really let it go when it comes to the color schemes for the front border, showcasing 18 different color combinations.  That fact alone would easily carry this set even if there were no key players in the set.  But with RCs of HOFers George Brett and Robin Yount, along with others such as Gibson, Aaron and Robinson, this set is loaded with great cards.   Add in RCs of Gary Carter and Jim Rice, and a set in NM condition costs a little bit more for a guy on a budget. 

The backs of the cards are easily readable with the ink being a dark green.  The top of the back also has an information cartoon, a staple of Topps sets over the years.  Frank Robinson's cartoon is actually a pretty easy trivia question, as it asks "who is the only player manager" (at the time), which of course was Robinson himself.


What I don't like about this set:  There is nothing really wrong with this set at all that I can see. 

I am looking forward in 2013 to completing, or coming close to completing this set.  This set was released a couple of years before I started collecting cards, but a good deal of the players in the set are recognizable to me, which is what makes older sets even more fun to collect.  The combination of the card design along with the great RC/player selection is what will keep this set a classic for many years to come.  If you would like to see a real take on what this set is all about, take a look here. 

Thanks for reading, Robert

My top 25 sets #7: 2008 UD Masterpieces

Set  2008 UD Masterpieces
Number of cards in set: 120
Affordability: 8
Key RCs:  Evan Longoria, Max Scherzer
Is the set built?:   Need just 8 SPs to finish the set

What I like about this set:  The artwork is what separates UD Masterpieces from any other art related set.  The design is also great, with the border not really a distraction for the picture of the player.  The set/(s) is/are so good, there is one blog out there dedicated to it.

The backs of the cards are sufficient, the top half containing roughly the top 1/3 of the artwork on the front, then there is a short bio and a 1 yr stat line for the player.  The team logo is in a black box below the stats.
 
What I don't like about this set:  120 cards, 30 SPs.  1 out of 4 cards is not a good ratio for SPs.   200 cards would have been a fabulous size for this set.

I would have loved to have seen UD keep this set going, because the 2 years that the company released this set is just a tease.  The designs were great, the player selection was good, and the parallels were a great touch, even if in some collector's eyes there may have been too many.

Somebody, please bring back a set styled like this one...it would certainly get my attention.

Thanks for reading, Robert

My top 25 sets #8: 1988-89 OPC hockey

Set  1988-89 O-Pee-Chee hockey
Number of cards in set: 264
Affordability: 7.5
Key RCs: Brett Hull, Brendan Shanahan, Pierre Turgeon
Is the set built?: Need 11 cards to finish the set

What I like about this set:  The "push pin" set has long been a favorite of mine.  The set really gained some steam when Brett Hull starting pumping goals in a couple years after this was released, causing both the set prices, and Hull's RCs, to go crazy.  The set finally came back to earth a few years later.

I like the push pin on the top, it is something different and really works with the name plate.  Using the team logo on the top of the card helps as well.  Again, the back of the card is another favorite of mine, the orange background with the dark blue lettering is again easy to read, and contains full stats similar to the 87-88 OPC set.

The Mike Krushelnyski airbrush job is an absolute classic.  I wonder if he was called Casper afterwards.
 
What I don't like about this set: I still haven't found anything wrong with this set.  I'm sure someone can steer me in that direction...

This set was the beneficiary of the sports card boom of the early 90's, driving the set price to about $200, while the Brett Hull RC was up as high as $80.  Both the set price and the Hull RC have dropped to more "comfortable" levels.  This set is another keeper, and should be an easy build if you're looking for a medium priced set to chase.

Thanks for reading, Robert

Retail therapy nets me my first auto of 2012-13

I've barely had time to think the past 2 weeks, let alone do such basic blog tasks as updating want lists, respond to emails, etc etc.

This past week was the worst, largely because after working and commuting to and from work, I've had no time to do any Christmas shopping.  That task was done this past weekend.

Unlike the myriad of others (including my wife), who do their shopping online, I still do it the old fashioned way.  I hop in my truck and drive towards the insanity.  Which this past weekend was Youngstown, OH, which is the nearest decent size city to us (25 minute drive).  Thankfully, it wasn't the normal mad house over there and I was able to hit a few stores with relatively no trouble at all.

One of those stores was Target, and naturally the card aisle was the last place I headed for after buying the Mrs. her loot.  I decided on a blaster of 2012-13 Score hockey as my little pick me up, and I ripped it on Saturday when I got home. 

This should tell you how busy I've been, it only took me three days to be able to brag about the auto I pulled.

Now I was aware that Marcus had his first taste of NHL action last season, but I was not aware of the impression that he made over that brief period of time.  13 pts in 14 games is nothing to sneeze at, and if he can keep up that pace, I'm sure that he'll get a longer look the next time he's called back up to the big squad (which I'm fully convinced will be 2013-14, since the No Hockey League refuses to play this year).

This card was great to pull, as with most of Score's base brand releases, hits are few and far between. 

At least I can say I beat the odds this year...

thanks for reading, Robert

My top 25 sets #9: 1987-88 OPC hockey

Set 1987-88 O-Pee-Chee hockey
Number of cards in set: 264
Affordability: 7.5
Key RCs: Luc Robitaille, Adam Oates, Ron Hextall
Is the set built?:  Just missing 3 cards  (15,53,163)

What I like about this set:   It's part of a classic run of great OPC sets that started in 79-80 and ended in 88-89.  The design is clean and easy on the eyes without taking too much away from the player photo.  The player selection in the last 66 cards is geared towards the Canadian collector, with all the Canadian teams having at least 9 cards included, including players who have horrible airbrushing jobs (Dale Hunter, Clint Malarchuk to name two).  The high numbers also afforded OPC to include some key RCs such as Damphousse, Vernon and Richer.

The back of the card is tremendous.  Very easy to read with a predominantly pink background and black text.  Full career stats are featured as well, and broken down into separate leagues if the player played in the WHA (as Gartner did for the Baby Bulls in 78-79)

What I don't like about this set:   Would have rather seen the team logo in the lower right corner instead of the black puck with the team name.  Other than that, this set is a winner.

I've had this set in a binder for a very long time, but just never got around to finishing it.  That's probably because the last 3 cards I need are some guys named Gretzky, Lemieux and Roy.  No biggie.  Anyone who is just starting out collecting 80's hockey sets should ear mark this one as one of the 2 or 3 key sets to work on.  It has a great look, and the key RCs will not blow your budget through the roof. 

Thanks for reading, Robert

My top 25 sets #10: 2011 Topps Heritage

Set 2011 Topps Heritage
Number of cards in set: 500
Affordability: 7
Key RCs: Darwin Barney, Freddie Freeman, Jeremy Hellickson
Is the set built?:  468/500 (missing 32 SPs)

What I like about this set:   I love the wood grain borders.  The copy of the 1962 design is a winner in my book, because the set is easily distinguishable from the other releases.  The photos for the most part are really nice, and the backs of the cards are an easy read.  The look and feel of this set is the main reason that I am working towards completing this set.  I've bought lots of Heritage in the past, but none of the sets have inspired me to complete them as much as the '11 set has.  I am a big fan of the '64 set, so we'll see if the '13 Heritage release inspires me like this one did.

What I don't like about this set:  I will whine and moan about this until Topps changes the number of SPs in the set.  I'm sorry, but 75 is just way too much.  Do the math:  75 SPs at a rate of 1 in every 3 packs, so in a perfect world, you would have to buy 225 packs to obtain all 75 SPs.  At 24 packs in a hobby box, you're buying a minimum of 9 boxes.  Those who have pulled the SPs are not letting them go easily, the $6 common price is still not far fetched almost 2 years after release.  Rant over....

I did a search for hobby boxes for this set while writing this post, and the disparity is alarming.  While hobby boxes on Dave & Adam's are going for $71, on eBay the prices are in the $85 range, while a 12 box case is up for $970 (just under $81 a box).  Unlike the '12 release which saw hobby boxes crash below the $50 mark, this set appears to have some staying power...so far anyhow.

thanks for reading, Robert

My top 25 sets #11: 1990-91 OPC premier

Set 1990-91 O-Pee-Chee Premier hockey
Number of cards in set: 132
Affordability: Buy the set, 9..  buy the singles, 8.5
Key RCs:  Jaromir Jagr, Mats Sundin, Sergei Fedorov, Jeremy Roenick
Is the set built?:   Yes it is

What I like about this set:  This is the first set that really introduced me to the concept of supply and demand.  It is also the first set that introduced me to the phrase "perception is reality".  Back in the day, at least in the part of the world where I was, this set was in high demand, but was thought to have been very low in supply.  Hence, the prices went through the roof, especially for the Jagr/Fedorov RCs, which if I remember correctly were in the $30-40 range.  (please correct me if I'm wrong)  Over the years, this set sank in value, now settling at the $40 current listing.

One of my favorite hobby stories revolved around this set.  I was in my LCS, still buying up packs of 90-91 UD hockey, and the buzz was all around this set, which was retailing for about $2 a pack (expensive at that time).  Anyhow, one day in the LCS I had a guy approach me and ask me if I wanted to buy a box of Premier for $40.  We were told to "take it outside", and this was the first box of cards that I ever bought out of the trunk of a car.  For all I know, those boxes could have walked out the side door of the factory, but I was naive and never stopped to ask any questions. 


What I don't like about this set:  132 cards.  More of an update set than a regular release.   For as scarce as this set was supposed to be, there is still a lot of it out there today, and I'm sure I could still complete a set today very quickly.

What was so big about this set at the time was that it was OPC's response to UD's landmark hockey release.  For the first time, OPC's card back was in full color, unheard of at that time.  Over the next few years, OPC was forced to evolve and their base sets became full color, front and back. 

Thanks for reading, Robert