Set Complete - 2024 Topps

My friend, Jordan, hooked me up with the last card I needed to complete my 2024 Topps set.  The final card was this Yoshinobu Yamamoto rookie card.  Jordan was generous enough to give me the card, even though I give him a hard time for seeing his cards for graphing in top loaders mere seconds before they're signed.

My friend, Gerard also helped with the set, since I was short by maybe 10 or so after I busted my boxes.  It used to be easy for me to complete Topps sets, but boxes are harder to come by since Fanatics only cares about breakers anymore. Hobby boxes are allocated in short supply, so I'm stuck busting retail boxes.  Also, the collation was horrible this year. I'd open five boxes and get a ton of duplicates of the same 5 guys and didn't pull a single Yamamoto. Just go ahead and tell me that one was short printed.

Anyway, I loved this year's design; it is one of the better ones over the last 10 years or so.  Now I can sit and wait for next year's design to be revealed.  Thanks for helping me finish this set, Jordan and Gerard.

Set Complete - 2022 Topps

With some time taken off to celebrate my birthday, I have been trying to catch up on a few things.  One of which was sorting my 2022 Topps Series 2 cards.  I finally got that done last night, and have put the completed set away.  I have an extra hand collated set that I'd be willing to sell for $60.00 + shipping.  In case anyone was wondering.  I also have a few other hand collated sets, as well as a few factory sealed sets.  The factory sealed ones would be a little higher than the hand collated ones.  If anyone is interested, please shoot me an email and we can work it out.

I'm glad I can finally put this set away and clear off that space on my desk.  I can also look through the Series 2 stuff and see if any of those guys sign TTM and maybe get a few out while I'm off.

2022 National - Completing the 1972 Topps Set

When I got to the National in Atlantic City, this year, I didn't go with a goal to finish my 1972 Topps set.  I went hoping that I could make a dent in it, but by the time the show was over, I had crossed everything off of my 1972 set checklist.

I spent a lot of money on it, since most of what I needed was from the High Number series, or stars.  Still, it feels good to be done with it and potentially move on to another vintage set in time for next year's National.

The last card I needed was the above 1972 Twins Rookie Stars, featuring Rick Dempsey.

Brace yourself for a wave of National posts for a while.

Set Complete - 2021 Topps

A quick note to show that I have used my time off wisely and have finished collating the 2021 Topps set that has been sitting over here on my other desk since June.  I got Series 2 in, opened it, and left it stacked for a rainy day that didn't come.  So, I finally got the set sorted and collated, with the above card 650, Trevor Bauer, being the last one inserted into the set.  I don't choose the completer cards, by the way, I go with the last one needed to complete the set.  I now have completed Topps sets from 1955, 1959, 1969-1971 and 1973-2021.  I'm really going to hate it when Fanatics takes over.

Set Complete - 2019 Topps

I had the cards since June, but I just couldn't find the time to sort them.  Last night, a kid on Instagram asked me if I could help him finish his 2019 Topps Series 2 set, so I sat down, turned the Orioles game on, and I finally got around to sorting my cards.

I picked the right game to put on in the background, as it went 15 innings.  I only made it to the 12th, since I was really tired.

Still, though, I am glad I finally have the cards sorted, and the set is complete.  I actually filled two sets, including the SP Vlad Guerrero, Jr. card.  The second set is for sale.

Set Complete - 1995 Topps

It took me long enough, but I finally have completed the 1995 Topps set.  I would have finished it sooner, but on a recent buying binge on COMC, I was buying the last 10 or so cards that I needed, and some assclown had this Wes Chamberlain listed at over $20.00.  Yeah, I didn't want to finish this set that badly, so I figured I'd wait til I remembered it while buying stuff on Ebay.

I had some Ebay Bucks to spend, so I used $2.00 on this card to go ahead and close out the set.  That dude on COMC will just have to keep on dreaming.

Completing this set also completes my Topps run of sets from 1973 to 2018.  I have opened up the pursuit of 1972, and if I can close that one, I will have 1969 to 2018.  Not bad.  I have posted my 1972 needs, as well as my 1967 needs on my wishlist, and the lists are all updated.  I haven't pushed too hard on my set building since I am graphing a ton now, but I still want to complete the entire run of Topps some day (I'll need a very poor grade 52 Mantle to do it, but it can be done).

Special thanks to P. A. for knocking a ton of these 95s out, and reminding me that this was still on my to do list.  Thanks man!

I also learned today that Chamberlain signs TTM.  Don't worry, this card isn't being mailed out to him.

Set Complete - 2018 Topps

It only took a hurricane, but I finally sorted my 2018 Topps Series 2 cards and completed my set.  Normally, I get them sorted in the weekend in which they arrive, but I kept myself busy with games and TTMs this summer, and left the cards sitting on my desk since June.

Not to worry.  We were housebound with the hurricane that came through beginning on Thursday night, and I began sorting the cards yesterday.  My son, Chris, was allowed to pick the entertainment on Netflix, and we watched Sharknado 2 through 4 yesterday.  I'm not sure I'll be allowing him to choose the movies from here on out.  The same child who said those movies were funnier than the Naked Gun movies.  Something is wrong with him.

Anyway, yeah, I completed my 2018 Topps set, and can now finally go through the Series 2 duplicates and prep them for spring training TTMs and graphing.

Also, I was able to put 2 sets together, so if anyone is interested in the second set, it is available.  Shipping on those set boxes is a bit high, so keep that in mind.

Set Complete - 1969 Topps

It has been a while since I have completed a set, let alone a vintage one, but I finally can cross 1969 Topps off of the list.  I know I have been saying for the last several years that I needed to go ahead and complete the 1969 Topps set.  I went to the National Sports Collectors Convention in Cleveland this year with that goal in mind.  The best part was, I met that goal during the first day of the show.

I walked around the show with my good friend, Nate, and he helped me find the last eight cards for the set.  The above World Series highlights card was the last card I needed to finish off the set.

While I was slowly working on this set, I started three new vintage sets: 1955 Bowman, 1967 Topps and 1972 Topps.  I feel like 1967 Topps will take me a while.  Nate actually helped me knock a huge chunk out of 1972, which I am grateful.  I also have a bunch of 1955 Bowman already, and I feel like that one will be fairly easy, since I knocked out most of the tough cards already.

Set Complete - 1994 Topps

My last mailer from Sportlots came in today, from an order I put in last week.  I was filing away cards that I had gotten from two different packages and realized that I was missing one more card than I had on my wishlist (the above card number 777).  I also learned that card number 379 did not exist (and that there were two card 370s).  So, I picked up the remainder of what I needed and can finally mark this set off of my list.

I now need to sort what I have of 1995 Topps so I can get moving on that set.  Once it is complete, I will have an entire run of Topps sets from 1973 to 2016.  Add in 1951 Red Back, 1955, 1959, 1970 and 1971 Topps, and I am doing really well with my set building.  I also picked up a few 1969s in the Sportlots order, so keep an eye on the wishlist for an update soon.

Set Complete - 2016 Topps

It's that time of year, again!  I have completed the 2016 Topps flagship set.  This year's set was a really nice one, with great photography.  I got my requisite three jumbo boxes and was able to collate the set this past week.  I had a case hit in one of my boxes that I will post soon, a Topps laser booklet with a patch and auto of Miguel Sano.

Completing this set was pretty easy.  Now I need to focus on tying up some loose ends with a few other sets.

Set Complete - 1959 Topps

I met my second goal for The National, also on the first full day.  I walked around the entire show and filled out the rest of what I needed to complete the 1959 Topps set that I have been working on for a while.  I don't even remember when I started it; I believe it was when I completed 1955.  Anyway, I knocked off a bunch of them at one vendor, but couldn't seem to find the elusive card number 69, the San Francisco Giants team card.

Once I had it narrowed down to that one card, it took quite a while, with the help of Andrew and Max, to find an unmarked version of the card.  We had a hard time finding any version of the card, but finally tracked it down.  The quest for the Giants team card was almost as difficult as finding the Ripken Elite auto.

I now have both of those goals met, and I was happy to do it in the first full day.  This allowed me to concentrate more on looking for hidden gems, and also stuff for other people.

As for what set I plan on doing next, well, I haven't quite decided.  I may hold off on another 50s set until I wrap up some of the later 60s and 1972.

Set Complete - 2015 Topps

After busting my three jumbo boxes of Series 2 Saturday night, I sorted everything this evening.  2015 Topps is now complete, with card number 285 being the last piece I slid into the puzzle.  I was really happy with the design this year, and there were a bunch of awesome photos in the set.  My one gripe is that Topps needs to quit with the beyond stupid "retirement" of card number 7.  I understand leaving it out when Mantle passed away, but the fact that they brought that ridiculousness back recently just leaves me shaking my head.  Why not use that spot for a big name player that passed away the year before (maybe Tony Gwynn, since you can see the commemorative patch on Solarte's jersey).  I don't know, but it messes with my head that the set stops at card number 701 instead of 700.

Set Complete - 1948 Bowman

Please allow me to let this sink in a little bit.  I have completed the 1948 Bowman set.  Wow.  I started this set in March 2010 when I picked up the Bob Feller RC, followed by Warren Spahn and Stan Musial.  Once I got those out of the way, I thought I would have a good chance to finish the set.  I didn't know it would take me 5 years.

So, there you go, I have completed the 1948 Bowman set with card #29, Joe Page.  This card is a short print, so that is why it took so long to get it.  I only paid $10.05 for it, which was much less than what I had shopped it for.

Page (b. 1917 - d. 1980) played in the majors from 1944 to 1950 and 1954 for the Yankees and Pirates.  He was a very effective reliever in his career, leading the league in games finished in 1947, 48 and 49.  He was an All Star three times and finished as high as third in the MVP voting (1949).  He was a member of the 1947 and 1949 Yankees world series winners.

Set Complete - 2014 Topps Chrome

I got an awesome care package in the mail from a guy named David who emailed me out of the blue saying he could finish my 2014 Topps Chrome set.  He sent a ton of other stuff that will be blogged at another time, but the fact that my 2014 Topps Chrome set is complete is something I wanted to blog right away.

Thanks so much for the cards, David.  I really appreciate it!

Set Complete - 2014 Topps Update

I got a package in the mail today from my buddy, Max.  The stuff he included in the box will be saved for a later post, but I wanted to go ahead and close out 2014 Topps Update with this completer card that he sent me.  So, I finally have this set closed out and I can take it off of my want list and notebook.

I plan on doing another post tonight from some of my trade queue.  I hope I get time tonight to get that done, but I need to get to Staples to get a couple manila envelopes for TTM projects I have cooking.  We'll see how that goes.

Set Complete - 1997 Topps

I got a package in the mail today from my friend, Sam, from Instagram that had his Christmas gift and this final card I needed for my 1997 Topps set.  I'll post the Christmas gift another time, but I wanted to start the year off by knocking out a 90s set.  I couldn't believe that Sam had the final card that I needed, and he found it quickly one evening when we were exchanging Kik messages and I was complaining that I missed this one when I went on a Sportlots buying spree a couple months ago.

Sam really came through for me, and for that I am very grateful.  Thanks so much for helping me complete the set, Sam!

Set Complete - 2013 Topps Chrome

I completed a set, finally, that I have been working on for a while.  I got the last few remaining cards I needed off of Sportlots so I could finally put this one to a close.

Here is the completer card, a great shot of Josh Reddick,

I should be finishing up two other sets really soon (2014 Update and 1997 Topps), so be on the lookout for those.

Set Complete - 2014 Topps

It didn't take me long, but I have completed the 2014 Topps set.  You can see the completer card right here, #651, Denard Span.  I busted the boxes at Mom's this weekend after picking them up from Crane's Cards in Winston-Salem.  Taylor always hooks me up and I appreciated him working with me this weekend, so I could pick the card up while I was in town.

I now look forward to picking up a couple random boxes as the base issue Topps from this year is behind me.  I ended up building two sets, one for me to keep and one to sell.  I also got a good bit of inserts, hits, etc from this box break.  I plan on showing some of that off on a later post.

Set Complete - 1996 Topps

Well, I was able to complete another mid-90s set today when a package from Sportlots came in with the above 1996 Topps Derek Jeter card.

I had gotten the Giambi card that I needed on Sunday when I got home from camping.

Kind of fitting that the last card I get for the set is the Jeter and he is retiring this year.  I'm sure Drew has a special place for this one.

So, now, I need to finish 1994 and 1997 that I have started and I need to really hit 1995 hard so I can get caught up on the 1990s sets.  These didn't take long, at all, so I know 1994, 1995 and 1997 can be had pretty soon.

Set Complete - 1993 Topps

Well, I knocked a set out.  It wasn't anything glorious like the 1959 or 1969 sets I've been working on, but I was able to amass the 825-card set from 1993 Topps.  This is a set that features the Derek Jeter RC (which I got from Drew) and a huge checklist.  I had a whole bunch of cards from my childhood sitting in a box, so those started me on the way for this and I was helped even further when a co-worker gave me all of her son's old cards.  After sorting those, I needed only a handful of 1993s to complete the set.

I sat on it for a while and then finally knocked them all out with one Sportlots purchase.  This Doug Brocail RC was the final card that I crossed off of my list.

I am not too far away from completing 1996 Topps as well.  I thought I closed it out with the same Sportlots purchase, but I think I missed a couple.  Oh well.  It'll be done soon enough.