Player Collectors: Quality > Quantity question

[VizquelCollector.com]

I chase any cards, whether low-dollar or high-end. The problem for me is that I rarely see a card I need so I don't have much choice these days. I get excited to find a new one, whether it's the 2010 Topps Update base card or a rare patch card from 10 years ago.

 

[RITM]

This is always a fun question and of course there is no definitive answer. So many collections have a lot of factors involved such as money and space allowed. Of course having a family might play an impact. Once upon a time I was all about hoarding instead of collecting. During this time I had a wish list of cards that felt was unattainable due to price. One day I realized that if I sold off all of the small stuff I could consolidate for the big ticket items. With that being said my emphasis is more on the quality than quantity.

 

[JoshHamilton]

Thanks for the input so far fellas.

im thinking about picking up the alomar, delgado, jefferies, mcgriff 90's baton again, but limiting it to the rare stuff

If you're talking about 90's stuff, how about go for a complete run of base cards? There are probably 10-20 base cards of each player per year. That's easily attainable, especially if you ask around here (for example, I have probably 50% of every base card from 90-99 of all those guys). Also, a ton of dealers have base cards in their store and you could pick up a huge chunk without getting ***** on separate shipping charges. It's a finite number of cards, all are cheap, and can be easily displayed in an album.

 

[brouthercard]

Quality over quantity always.

Make a list of your absolute top 10 or 25 or 50 cards of that player and just go after those.

You can get the cheap and common ones anytime you want, and besides, it's impossible to get everything, so just limit it to the best of the best, and get quantities of them.

 

[onionring9]

To be honest, the most fun I had collecting was when I went on a low-end variation binge. Trying to find and locate variations of cards was for more gratifying because I felt like I was discovering new cards from the 80's/90's 20 years later. That and it gave me reason to buy bulk lots of low end stuff and spend the time going over each card.

I've also always had the approach that the quality cards will always reappear with the exception of the extremely low numbered < 10. Even though I went after all of them, I never felt compelled to.

 

[padremurph]

With Latos I definitely look for quality over quantity. I don't have more than maybe 10 Latos cards but they're all at least decent with most being autos. If it's not an auto then it has to be a SP like the Topps black border or something of that nature. Going after every base card would be costly and be too time consuming although could be fun.

 

[Zan]

Yes, it's rather easy actually with Hank, because he has about 500 cards produced, so the best ones are usually the ones that are made.

 

[17ROCKIES12]

I let cheap 1/1s sell without placing a bid if they don't look nice. I'm only after cards that I like the look of. There are a few autos that I have 4+ copies of. I'd but it all if I could, but it's just too much money.

 

[joey12508]

i don t limit myself to just quality, if i like it ill get it. but do like nailing down some quality cards. i like shiny so refractors are my fav.

 

[Lancemountain]

I go in cycles, when a new release comes I go after the low numbered stuff. When it's a down time, i'll pick up the cheap singles and parallels.

I only collect Topps though

 

[ffgameman]

For me, I get what I can. I buy very little, so it is obviously harder to get many "big" cards of Sammy Sosa. I got a steal on my only Sosa autograph ($20 for a 04 Prime Cuts 21/21).

Previously I took anything, from base on up. However, since my organization skills aren't the best the base portion of my collection isn't very orderly. As a result, I don't look for as much base anymore.

At the moment, I try to focus on game-used cards and rare/unique inserts. My nearest goal is to reach 100 GU cards; currently I have around 80-85 (there's that lack of organization again!).

With my David Wright collection - I have a harder time sticking to it. A few months ago I ALMOST gave it up but changed my mind. Kind of like Lancemountain, I am trying to stick with Topps stuff for him. I haven't picked up anything notable in quite a while though.

 

[ThoseBackPages]

Very good input so far everyone.

i dont have the desire to chase down base. i have 100's of each guy sitting in the closet lol

i do love however, the HTF stuff and will see what i can find here and there

 

[Mozzie22]

I go quality over quantity. I only collect cards issued during the years Ozzie played. I do have a few, 50 or so, from post career but there is something I love about the playing years.

 

[theplasticman]

I do both.

 

[CubsFan13]

Carlos Gonzalez has 418 total cards including one of ones and 271 without. I have about 4 incoming and should have another 26 or so 2008 documentary cards coming soon. After I get all those in i should have 111 different cards, roughly 41 percent without one of ones. I could easily probally get up to 70 percent with alot of his cards being easy finds (Just cards, topps opening day, T206 minis etc.).

At this point, it is easy to go quality over quantity, even though I still want to get one of each. He has so few cards relative to the majority of the players due to the fact that this was his first full season. He wasn't big when we had all the different brands around, and with the exit of Upper Deck, Topps is the only brand that will make licensed cards.

I still want to get one of each card. However, when high end cards pop up on ebay I will focus on them, rather than the low end cards that I will be able to find everyday of the week.

 

[Gwynn545]

Ok...this thread is cursed! I have typed out two (2) Predatorkj type posts and both did not submit...Grrrr!
One more try...
I go for QUANTITY over quality, but not by conscious design. On a teacher's salary, I do not pretend that I can afford all of the great Gwynn cards that come out! I have always been patient, and will continue to be so. But the times when I have $100 to spend (which is rare!) I usually opt to pick up 4 or 5 cards I need over one "Quality" card. It's just the way I have been. I did not checklist my Gwynn until 2005, when I printed my first list from Beckett. Once I was able to see the holes, my collecting juices really kicked in. I have always known I won't get every Gwynn card, but I do strive to have the most Gwynn cards! Whether that happens or not, it's still a goal, and it's what drives me as a collector. And I don't really think about it as a comparison with other Gwynn colectors...to me, it's just that checklist! Is there a more awesome feeling than checking off a needed card? I think not! I have had as much joy getting that $1 regional oddball card that I never see as I did getting the Crusade Red, for example. Collecting the 1980's Gwynns was a blast! The 1990's are great, too, but there are cards that I know I won't get until well after my kids are out of college (cough...cough...96 Select Mirror Gold...cough).

Still, now that I have severely narrowed down the "quantity" cards, I can picture myself saving up someday and picking up quality cards a little more often.
The bad thing about Gwynn is that they are STILL making cards of him, so there are some really great "Quality" cards of him. I would love to have them, granted, but I just don't have that "gotta have it" feeling, yet. With two teenage kids, I actually feel guilty spending too much money on my collection.

So, it boils down to that chase...checking off a needed card! I may not always check off that "Quality" card, but I am checking off cards, and that has brought a lot of satisfaction and joy in my collecting. I would not trade in my common Gwynns for, what, a dozen "Quality" Gwynns? No way! This journey has meant a lot more than that! Card shows in multiple states, card shops wherever I go, the old internet trading sites (pre-Ebay), Ebay, new card sites, friends, family, and a great place like FCB and the members we have here...I can't imagine another way to collect!

Okay, this is only a quarter of a Predatorkj post, but my fingers are hurting! I don't know how he does it!

 

[predatorkj]

It makes sense to go for QUALITY first and quantity when you luck into it. The only time you should actively seek quantity is when there's a lot up or you can save a lot on shipping. It's stupid to spend 0.99 + 2.50 SHIP on every basecard.

Bingo! I love both equally but like others have said...I'm not going to buy a base card for $4 after all is said and done. Its hard enough doing that for a cheap insert or something of that nature that I need now. Hell...its even hard buying single color GU for that price now. But...what I will do is go and find large lots of Bagwells and that is how I got my collection to where it is. I remember splitting a lot of cards with two other buddies and my collection jumped over 400 cards in one day. That is what made it easy. Also I have been lucky enough to get some good deals from time to time and the price was decent so it took out some of the sting. When you have to go one by one it can suck.

As for being overwhelmed by the sheer amount of base and cheap inserts...just look at it as you would if you were making a set. Every card has its place in the set and you need all the cards to finish the set. If you don't look at it that way then yeah...quality is the only thing that will work for you.

 

[Donutme]

I am both !
I try to get any cards I need/want below #/25.
I will try by all means to get ALL cards under #/10 + #/5 so I have to majority of the print run.
I do not no when it started but I have always hoarded those print runs when I can.
I will chase anything I need too.

 

[predatorkj]

Ok...this thread is cursed! I have typed out two (2) Predatorkj type posts and both did not submit...Grrrr!
One more try...
I go for QUANTITY over quality, but not by conscious design. On a teacher's salary, I do not pretend that I can afford all of the great Gwynn cards that come out! I have always been patient, and will continue to be so. But the times when I have $100 to spend (which is rare!) I usually opt to pick up 4 or 5 cards I need over one "Quality" card. It's just the way I have been. I did not checklist my Gwynn until 2005, when I printed my first list from Beckett. Once I was able to see the holes, my collecting juices really kicked in. I have always known I won't get every Gwynn card, but I do strive to have the most Gwynn cards! Whether that happens or not, it's still a goal, and it's what drives me as a collector. And I don't really think about it as a comparison with other Gwynn colectors...to me, it's just that checklist! Is there a more awesome feeling than checking off a needed card? I think not! I have had as much joy getting that $1 regional oddball card that I never see as I did getting the Crusade Red, for example. Collecting the 1980's Gwynns was a blast! The 1990's are great, too, but there are cards that I know I won't get until well after my kids are out of college (cough...cough...96 Select Mirror Gold...cough).

Still, now that I have severely narrowed down the "quantity" cards, I can picture myself saving up someday and picking up quality cards a little more often.
The bad thing about Gwynn is that they are STILL making cards of him, so there are some really great "Quality" cards of him. I would love to have them, granted, but I just don't have that "gotta have it" feeling, yet. With two teenage kids, I actually feel guilty spending too much money on my collection.

So, it boils down to that chase...checking off a needed card! I may not always check off that "Quality" card, but I am checking off cards, and that has brought a lot of satisfaction and joy in my collecting. I would not trade in my common Gwynns for, what, a dozen "Quality" Gwynns? No way! This journey has meant a lot more than that! Card shows in multiple states, card shops wherever I go, the old internet trading sites (pre-Ebay), Ebay, new card sites, friends, family, and a great place like FCB and the members we have here...I can't imagine another way to collect!

Okay, this is only a quarter of a Predatorkj post, but my fingers are hurting! I don't know how he does it!

Two different posts by two different members in one day mentioning my name and my lengthy posts. :lol: ::facepalm::

I do it very carefully( to the bolded).

I too have the same idea as you do. In my mind...I plan on obtaining as many Bags as I can anyways so I'd rather buy 5 cards than 1 card that costs the same as the 5 combined. I still have a lot of inserts and GU to knock out. I might be missing like 10 base cards total and by base cards I mean stuff like Ultimate and the like.


Another thing I find odd is a lot of folks seem to be mentioning that they'd rather have a select few than take up a lot of space. Now our last thread about this aside( because that horse has been beaten to a bloody pulp) , I don't get the space problems. You could have 5000 cards sitting in a monster box and if that was your entire collection, it still doesn't take up that much space. Worst case scenario...that sucker fits under the bed. And 5000 cards is a decently hefty number. And most of us will never obtain 5000 different cards of any player we collect unless you feel the need to have 10 or 15 copies of every card. I just don't understand that part of it. Our last thread...people had some valid points of view on having quality over quantity. But the space issue...?

 

[predatorkj]

A good example...say you didn't have a Bagwell card to your name. This would be a hell of a way to start. A board member to boot if I am correct.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... K:MEWAX:IT