There it is. The final card I needed to finish my 1961 Fleer set. I have been sitting one card from completion for probably close to 3 years. I've been goofing around acquiring autographed versions of cards from this set and had mostly forgotten I needed this card. It was nice to finally finish it. Actually, it felt good to finish any set. The last set I completed was 1972 Topps and that was almost exactly a year ago.
I walked into the show needing 34 cards to finish my 1970 set and I managed to find 27. Of the 7 need for completion, 6 are commons though only one is a non-high number. The only star card I need for completion is #660 - Johnny Bench. I am going to try and finish this set before the end of the year. The major impediment to that is what I call the Gary V Effect. Prices on vintage star card have increased beyond where I am comfortable paying due to many new "investor-collectors" entering the hobby.
Walking in, I needed 16 more cards to finish 1968 Topps. I found 10, including the Bench rookie card above. Alas, only one of the 6 remaining cards I need is a common. I still need Lou Brock, Ernie Banks,the previously mentioned Aaron All-Star card, the Mays/Mantle/Killebrew Stars card (#490), and of course the outrageously expensive Nolan Ryan rookie card. My best guess at this point is that I will get 5 more by spring, leaving only the Ryan RC for completion.
Even under more normal market conditions, the Ryan RC would be a major purchase, consuming multiple months of my hobby budget. So, I'll probably wait until the Johnny-come-latelys have left the sports card market before I make any serious attempt to get that card. I think what we are seeing right now is a classic bubble. A large influx of enthusiastic, but generally unknowledgeable, folks are buying up sports cards as an investment and will eventually move on to the next big can't miss investment (tulip bulbs or beanie babies, I think.) When the bubble pops, I'll get more serious about finishing this set.
What I am listening to: O Come, O Come Emmanuel by Lauren Daigle
Ugh, I didn't know the Gary V effect had reached that far. I think I'll wait, too.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the set completion!
Congrats on finishing the '61 Fleer set. The checklist in that one is absolutely dynamite!
ReplyDeleteWow. Nice show haul. It's not everyday people walk out of a card show with a Bench rookie. But my favorite card is the Bird Belters. I've gotta go out and grab a copy for my collection.
ReplyDeleteSo close on the ‘68 set. I definitely hope you finish it sooner than later. Yeah, I didn’t know the Gary V influence was so prominent.
ReplyDeleteDon't worry, these new investors won't be around very long. And congrats on the completed set!
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