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2025 Collecting Goals
last updated: 11-21-2025
2025-1) Goal: Finish my 1965 Topps baseball set build in EXMT or better condition. 5 cards still remain: Rose, Mays, Koufax, Carlton RC, and Perez RC. MUST FINISH, so I can move on to focus on my 1960 Topps set.
2025-2) Goal: Acquire a 1954 Topps Ernie Banks RC probably in PSA/SGC 2-4 range. This will be a huge card for me! If I get to attend the Strongsville show this year, I will target this card there.
2025-3) Goal: Finish my 1958 Topps All-Star subset by getting the Hank Aaron in nice condition. MUST FINISH, so I can focus on some of other subset builds (e.g. 1961 Topps MVPs, 1960's Topps League Leaders, 1969 Topps All Stars, etc.).
2025-4) Goal: Finish my 1964 Topps Giants set build. 8 cards to go!! Need ungraded, but in nice condition and strong eye appeal cards. MUST FINISH, so I can move on to focusing on the 1954 Red Heart set!
2025-5) Goal: Attend the Strongsville, OH card show.
2025-6) Goal: Finish my 1975 Topps set build. 61 cards to go!! MUST FINISH, so I can move on to making progress on my 1970 and 1972 set builds.
2025-7) Goal: Acquire at least two more T206 HOFers with off backs (e.g. Polar Bear, Sovereign, Old Mill, etc.).
2025-8) Goal: Acquire at least one more Mickey Mantle card. Top candidates are 1967 Topps, 1969 Topps, 1957 Topps Power Hitters (Berra + Mantle), 1961 Topps MVP, 1960 Topps base or 1960 Topps All Star cards.
2025-9) Goal: Acquire a 1955 Topps Yogi Berra. I've been looking for this one for a long time now. Need to finally get one and mark it off the list!
2025-10) Goal: Acquire a graded (7-ish?) 1979 Topps Ozzie Smith RC. Good centering is important to me on this card which makes it tough. I've been looking for one for a long time now...need to finally get one and mark it off the list!
2025-11) Goal: Attend at least 2 of the 3 big Nashville Fairgrounds card shows plus the Music City Autograph show this year.
2025-12) Goal: Acquire some HOFers from the 1954 Topps, 1950 Bowman, and/or 1954 Red Heart sets.
2025-13) Goal: Acquire at least one new pre-war type card example for my collection.
2025-14) Goal: Acquire a graded 1968 Johnny Bench Rookie Card.
2025-15) Goal: Acquire a graded 1969 Reggie Jackson Rookie Card.
2025-16) Goal: Acquire at least ten more T206s with off backs (Polar Bear, Sovereign, Old Mill, EPDG, Cycle, American Beauty, Tolstoi, etc.) for my set build.
2025-17) Goal: Acquire a graded 1968 Topps Nolan Ryan Rookie Card.
2024 Collecting Goals
last updated: 01-01-2025
2024-1) Goal: Finish my 1965 Topps baseball set in EXMT condition. I need Aaron, Rose, Mays, Koufax, Richie Allen, Niekro, #467, Carlton RC, Perez RC.
Update - picked up the Niekro Rookie Stars card, #467, Hank Aaron, and Richie Allen cards at the July 5-7 Nashville card show.
INCOMPLETE - Still need five cards - Rose, Mays, Koufax, Carlton RC, and Perez RC
2024-2) Goal: Pick up at least one card needed for my 1955 Topps set (Berra, Mays, Aaron, Koufax, or Clemente)
INCOMPLETE - Did not pick up any of these five cards in 2024
2024-3) Goal: Pick up at least 5 more T206s with Polar Bear backs.
Update - Picked up a Nap Rucker Polar Bear back in January.
INCOMPLETE - Only picked up the Nap Rucker Polar Bear in 2024
2024-4) Goal: Pick up at least 5 more T206s with Old Mill, Sovereign, EPDG, Cycle, or American Beauty backs.
INCOMPLETE - Did not pick up any other off backs in 2024.
2024-5) Goal: Pick up a 1954 Topps Ernie Banks RC probably in PSA/SGC 2-4 range. This will be a huge card for me!
INCOMPLETE - I looked for a Banks RC multiple times but did not find the right card at the right price. This will be one of my top goals for 2025.
2024-6) Goal: Pick up at least 1 more Mickey Mantle card. Top candidates are 1967 Topps, 1969 Topps, 1957 Topps Power Hitters (Berra + Mantle), 1958 Topps WS Batting Foes (Aaron + Mantle), 1959 Topps All Star, 1961 Topps MVP, or 1961 Topps All Star)
COMPLETE: Acquired the 1958 WS Batting Foes (Mickey Mantle + Hank Aaron) at the July 5-7 Nashville card show!
UPDATE: Also picked up the 1960 Topps Mantle + Boyer card and a 1961 Topps League Leader card with Mantle at a local card shop.
2024-7) Goal: Buy a graded Ozzie Smith RC... PSA/SGC 7 or 8 probably...
INCOMPLETE - Did not get the Ozzie RC in 2024.
2024-8) Goal: Buy a graded Rickey Henderson RC... PSA/SGC 7 probably.
COMPLETE with the purchase of a Rickey Henderson RC in PSA 7.5 from Honey Hole Collectibles in Escondido, CA.
2024-9) Goal: Buy at least 1 HOFer autographed 1940s-1970s card.
INCOMPLETE - Did not target HOFer auto cards in 2024. May reconsider for 2025.
2024-10) Goal: Finish the 1964 Topps Giants set. Ungraded,but nice condition and eye appeal cards are preferred.
Update - I picked up a few of the needed cards at Nashville card shows and some card shop visits during work trips. I am down to 9 cards left to complete the set.
Update #2 - Picked up the Brooks Robinson at the 12/28/24 Nashville card show.
INCOMPLETE - Still need 8 cards to complete this set. Will be a key goal for 2025.
2023 Collecting Goals
last updated: 12-28-2023
Last year (2022) I started making some annual collecting goals for myself and it seemed to help me focus my attention somewhat, so I am going to do the same for this year. Here are my 2023 collecting goals.
2023-1) Goal ACCOMPLISHED: Pick up at least one new Mickey Mantle card for my collection.
2023-2) Goal: Add an Ozzie Smith RC and/or a Rickey Henderson RC to my collection.
2023-3) Goal: Pick up 5 or more cards on my dwindling 1965 Topps EXMT set wantlist.
2023-4) Goal: Add 5 or more new Darryl Strawberry cards to my collection.
2023-5) Goal ACCOMPLISHED: Submit some cards to be graded. I have never submitted any cards myself to be graded, so this would be something new for me.
2023-6) Goal ACCOMPLISHED: Add 5 or more graded cards to my collection. I have probably less than 20 graded cards in my entire collection. If I do this right, these 5 cards could serve double duty and knock off some of my other goals too!
2023-7) Goal: Add at least 24 cards to my T206 set with at least 2 being HOFers and 2 SLer's. I was going to bump this up to 36 for the year, but then thought 24 was plenty hard enough for me in 2022 so I will stick with that number for now.
2023-8) Goal ACCOMPLISHED: Attend more card shows. I attended around 4 card shows (all in Nashville) in 2022. I would like to attend at least 6-8 shows this year. I don't plan on going to the National this year with my first child starting college in the fall, but if I can get to 3+ of the bigger Nashville shows, plus 3-5 other smaller shows that will be great. I can count the Nashville flea market too because there are a few card dealers at those as well. One of the local card shops has also started doing shows in Florence/Muscle Shoals, AL so maybe I will try to make it to one of those.
2023-9) Goal ACCOMPLISHED: Don't get sucked into buying blasters, packs, or hangers of modern releases. Focus on buying singles that I want.
2023-10) Goal ACCOMPLISHED: Add a 1940s-1960s HOF rookie card to my collection. My leading candidates right now are 1962 Topps Lou Brock, 1960 Topps Willie McCovey, or 1960 Topps Yastrzemski but a Warren Spahn RC, Richie Ashburn RC, Brooks Robinson RC, Frank Robinson RC, or Bob Gibson RC could also be in consideration depending on condition and cost.
2023-11) Goal: Pick up 5 or more HOFer rookie cards from the 1970s. There are a bunch to choose from: Dave Winfield, Eddie Murray, Gary Carter, Bert Blyleven, Dennis Eckersley, Paul Molitor/Alan Trammel, Jack Morris, Jim Rice, Ozzie Smith, Bruce Sutter, Robin Yount... surely I can find at least 5 that are nice condition, yet affordable.
2023-12) Goal ACCOMPLISHED: Visit 3 card shops that I've never been to before.
2023-13) Goal: Sell at least 12 cards to get some extra $$ to buy cards I'd rather have.
2023-14) Goal: Complete at least one card+cash trade deal. I don't think I've ever done a card+cash deal, but want to give it a try to see if I can either upgrade one of my existing cards, or get one that I have wanted but may not otherwise be able to afford right now. I may try to get my George Brett, Mike Schmidt, and Carlton Fisk RC's graded and then upgrade one of them through this method.
2022 Collecting Goals
I decided to make some collecting goals for myself to help achieve some long term desires for my baseball card collection. While I certainly did not achieve all the 202 goals, I did pursue each of them and for at least one was successful in finishing it.
2022-1) Goal: Add at least 24 cards to my T206 set.
Progress: I bought the 23rd, 24th, and 25th card in December giving me an average pick up of 2 cards/month. Goal accomplished!! Of those, 12 were non-Piedmont/non-Sweet Caporal backs. 3 were Southern Leaguers. 2 were HOFers (McGraw glove on hip and Vic Willis). One was a horizontal. One was a Chase. Only two were graded, the rest were ungraded/raw.
2022-2) Goal: Pick up at least one Mickey Mantle card.
Progress: While on our trip to Orange Beach, we stopped by a card shop in Spanish Fort where I was able to pick up a 1962 Post Mantle. Goal accomplished!
2022-3) Goal: Pick up more top tier HOFers.
Progress: While on a business trip to San Diego I was able to pick up a 1958 Topps Ted Williams All-Star card. During 2022 I also picked up a 1965 Topps Yastrzemski, '72 Topps Carlton Fisk RC, a 1973 Topps Mike Schmidt RC, and a 1975 Topps George Brett RC. Goal accomplished!
2022-4) Goal: Make progress on the last cards I need for my 1955 Topps low grade set.
Progress: I picked up a Camilo Pascual RC that I must have traded away previously. So I guess I will say goal not accomplished. Unfortunately, the cards that remain on my want list include the Clemente RC, Koufax RC, Aaron, Mays, and Berra.
2022-5) Goal: Make progress on my 1965 Topps EXMT+ set.
Progress: I did pick up the '65 Yaz, 3 of the remaining commons that I needed, plus some upgrades for several that were less than EXMT. So goal accomplished, but I still need 13 cards. Oh so close!
2022-6) Goal: Work on a modern hand collated set.
Progress: I bought several blaster boxes of 2022 Topps Heritage and liked working on that set. It's no where close to done, but I did make a little progress on it plus a couple of other Heritage sets. Goal accomplished!
2022-7) Goal: Start a Rookie Card box.
Progress: I re-organized some of my cards freeing up one of the wood boxes that a neighbor built for me to store cards in when I was a kid. I have turned that box into my rookie card/prospect/Game Used/Parallel/Insert/Auto box for mostly ultra modern cards. I do have a few older RC's in there, but some of those may come out to go elsewhere. Goal accomplished!
2022-8) Goal: Organize my card closet.
Progress: I did spend quite a bit of time working to re-organize my card closet. I need to get some more boxes of various sizes to allow me to complete the re-organization. I also probably need to install some additional shelves so there's not too much weight on any one shelf. But since I did make good progress I will say goal accomplished!
2022-9) Goal: Re-start my Darryl Strawberry collection.
Progress: While on a business trip to San Diego I picked up a 1984 Nestle RC of Darryl Strawberry so goal accomplished! I plan to work to get more of his cards in 2023.
2022-10) Goal: Put some of my unwanted cards up for auction or sale.
Progress: I started working on identifying cards to send in to COMC or put on eBay, but sadly I never followed through on this one. Maybe in 2023 I will get around to it! Goal not accomplished... =(
last updated: 11-21-2025
2025-1) Goal: Finish my 1965 Topps baseball set build in EXMT or better condition. 5 cards still remain: Rose, Mays, Koufax, Carlton RC, and Perez RC. MUST FINISH, so I can move on to focus on my 1960 Topps set.
- UPDATE 09/01/2025: Down to 1 card needed #300 Sandy Koufax... plus several upgrades
2025-2) Goal: Acquire a 1954 Topps Ernie Banks RC probably in PSA/SGC 2-4 range. This will be a huge card for me! If I get to attend the Strongsville show this year, I will target this card there.
- UPDATE 09/01/2025: COMPLETE - I purchased a SGC 4 1954 Topps Ernie Banks RC from Stan Loch for $1350 at Strongsville in April.
2025-3) Goal: Finish my 1958 Topps All-Star subset by getting the Hank Aaron in nice condition. MUST FINISH, so I can focus on some of other subset builds (e.g. 1961 Topps MVPs, 1960's Topps League Leaders, 1969 Topps All Stars, etc.).
- UPDATE 09/01/2025: COMPLETE - I picked up the Hank Aaron AS card for $130 at Hilltop Cards and Comics in March 2025!
2025-4) Goal: Finish my 1964 Topps Giants set build. 8 cards to go!! Need ungraded, but in nice condition and strong eye appeal cards. MUST FINISH, so I can move on to focusing on the 1954 Red Heart set!
- UPDATE 09/01/2025: Down to needing just three cards - Sandy Koufax, Frank Robinson, and Willie Mays after purchasing the Bob Friend, Wayne Causey, and Galen Cisco SPs for a total of $35 off of Net54.
- UPDATE 11/21/2025: I picked up the Frank Robinson at the Nashville card show last month, so now I am down to 2 cards left - the Koufax and the Mays.
2025-5) Goal: Attend the Strongsville, OH card show.
- UPDATE 09/01/2025 - COMPLETE - I attended Strongsville this year and it was fantastic. I hope to be able to go again in 2026!
2025-6) Goal: Finish my 1975 Topps set build. 61 cards to go!! MUST FINISH, so I can move on to making progress on my 1970 and 1972 set builds.
- UPDATE 09/01/2025 - Down to needing 53 cards after picking up several from Local Card Shops this summer.
- Update 11/21/2025 - Picked up a couple including a Frank Tanana at the local card shop, so down to needing 51 cards!
2025-7) Goal: Acquire at least two more T206 HOFers with off backs (e.g. Polar Bear, Sovereign, Old Mill, etc.).
2025-8) Goal: Acquire at least one more Mickey Mantle card. Top candidates are 1967 Topps, 1969 Topps, 1957 Topps Power Hitters (Berra + Mantle), 1961 Topps MVP, 1960 Topps base or 1960 Topps All Star cards.
- UPDATE 09/01/2025 - Added a 1962 Topps Stamp Mickey Mantle from a Huntsville, AL LCS to the collection in July 2025!
2025-9) Goal: Acquire a 1955 Topps Yogi Berra. I've been looking for this one for a long time now. Need to finally get one and mark it off the list!
- UPDATE 09/01/2025 - COMPLETE - Picked up an ungraded 55T Yogi Berra from the Discord group I am a member of!
2025-10) Goal: Acquire a graded (7-ish?) 1979 Topps Ozzie Smith RC. Good centering is important to me on this card which makes it tough. I've been looking for one for a long time now...need to finally get one and mark it off the list!
- UPDATE 09/01/2025 - I purchased an UNGRADED 1979 Topps Ozzie Smith RC in great condition and really nice centering for only $45 at the July Nashville card show. I plan to get it autographed by Ozzie Smith and maybe then will send it in for grading.
- UPDATE 09/29/2025 - I got the 1979 Topps Ozzie Smith RC autographed at the Music City Autograph show this past weekend!
2025-11) Goal: Attend at least 2 of the 3 big Nashville Fairgrounds card shows plus the Music City Autograph show this year.
- UPDATE 09/01/2025 - Attended the July 2025 Nash-ional in Nashville, TN
- UPDATE 09/29/2025 - Attended the 2025 Music City Autograph show Sept 27-28th!
2025-12) Goal: Acquire some HOFers from the 1954 Topps, 1950 Bowman, and/or 1954 Red Heart sets.
- UPDATE 09/01/2025 - Purchased a 1954 Red Heart Red Schoendienst for $40 from JD Heckathorn at Strongsville and also a 1950 Bowman Richie Ashburn for $135 from Stan Loch at Strongsville!
2025-13) Goal: Acquire at least one new pre-war type card example for my collection.
- UPDATE 09/01/2025 - COMPLETE - Purchased a 1933 Delong of Lon Warneke for $40 at Strongsville!
- UPDATE 09/XX/2025 - COMPLETE x2 - Purchased a 1934 Diamond Stars of Red Rolfe from Collectors Universe in Rogersville, AL for $50
- UPDATE 09/29/2025 - COMPLETE x3 - Purchased a 1933 Tattoo Orbits of KiKi Cuyler for $100 from a dealer at the Music City Autograph show and also purchased a 1934-35 Diamond Stars Mickey Cochrane from the same dealer for $125!
- UPDATE 11/21/2025 - COMPLETE x4 - Purchased a V117 1923 Maple Crispette card of Roger Peckinpaugh at the October Nashville card show for $130.
2025-14) Goal: Acquire a graded 1968 Johnny Bench Rookie Card.
2025-15) Goal: Acquire a graded 1969 Reggie Jackson Rookie Card.
2025-16) Goal: Acquire at least ten more T206s with off backs (Polar Bear, Sovereign, Old Mill, EPDG, Cycle, American Beauty, Tolstoi, etc.) for my set build.
- UPDATE 09/20/2025 - Bought a Jap Barbeau with Polar Bear back from Triple Crown Sportscards in Germantown, TN
2025-17) Goal: Acquire a graded 1968 Topps Nolan Ryan Rookie Card.
2024 Collecting Goals
last updated: 01-01-2025
2024-1) Goal: Finish my 1965 Topps baseball set in EXMT condition. I need Aaron, Rose, Mays, Koufax, Richie Allen, Niekro, #467, Carlton RC, Perez RC.
Update - picked up the Niekro Rookie Stars card, #467, Hank Aaron, and Richie Allen cards at the July 5-7 Nashville card show.
INCOMPLETE - Still need five cards - Rose, Mays, Koufax, Carlton RC, and Perez RC
2024-2) Goal: Pick up at least one card needed for my 1955 Topps set (Berra, Mays, Aaron, Koufax, or Clemente)
INCOMPLETE - Did not pick up any of these five cards in 2024
2024-3) Goal: Pick up at least 5 more T206s with Polar Bear backs.
Update - Picked up a Nap Rucker Polar Bear back in January.
INCOMPLETE - Only picked up the Nap Rucker Polar Bear in 2024
2024-4) Goal: Pick up at least 5 more T206s with Old Mill, Sovereign, EPDG, Cycle, or American Beauty backs.
INCOMPLETE - Did not pick up any other off backs in 2024.
2024-5) Goal: Pick up a 1954 Topps Ernie Banks RC probably in PSA/SGC 2-4 range. This will be a huge card for me!
INCOMPLETE - I looked for a Banks RC multiple times but did not find the right card at the right price. This will be one of my top goals for 2025.
2024-6) Goal: Pick up at least 1 more Mickey Mantle card. Top candidates are 1967 Topps, 1969 Topps, 1957 Topps Power Hitters (Berra + Mantle), 1958 Topps WS Batting Foes (Aaron + Mantle), 1959 Topps All Star, 1961 Topps MVP, or 1961 Topps All Star)
COMPLETE: Acquired the 1958 WS Batting Foes (Mickey Mantle + Hank Aaron) at the July 5-7 Nashville card show!
UPDATE: Also picked up the 1960 Topps Mantle + Boyer card and a 1961 Topps League Leader card with Mantle at a local card shop.
2024-7) Goal: Buy a graded Ozzie Smith RC... PSA/SGC 7 or 8 probably...
INCOMPLETE - Did not get the Ozzie RC in 2024.
2024-8) Goal: Buy a graded Rickey Henderson RC... PSA/SGC 7 probably.
COMPLETE with the purchase of a Rickey Henderson RC in PSA 7.5 from Honey Hole Collectibles in Escondido, CA.
2024-9) Goal: Buy at least 1 HOFer autographed 1940s-1970s card.
INCOMPLETE - Did not target HOFer auto cards in 2024. May reconsider for 2025.
2024-10) Goal: Finish the 1964 Topps Giants set. Ungraded,but nice condition and eye appeal cards are preferred.
Update - I picked up a few of the needed cards at Nashville card shows and some card shop visits during work trips. I am down to 9 cards left to complete the set.
Update #2 - Picked up the Brooks Robinson at the 12/28/24 Nashville card show.
INCOMPLETE - Still need 8 cards to complete this set. Will be a key goal for 2025.
2023 Collecting Goals
last updated: 12-28-2023
Last year (2022) I started making some annual collecting goals for myself and it seemed to help me focus my attention somewhat, so I am going to do the same for this year. Here are my 2023 collecting goals.
2023-1) Goal ACCOMPLISHED: Pick up at least one new Mickey Mantle card for my collection.
- At the March Nashville card show, I picked up a PSA 4 1966 Topps Mantle that looks fantastic! I was so excited to add that Mantle to my collection. So officially, this is GOAL ACCOMPLISHED for 2023!
- I went to a card show outside of Atlanta while in town for my daughter's dance competition. At that show I picked up a 1966 Mickey Mantle rub off for my second Mantle "card" for the year. I would like to pick up a nice 1958 Topps All Star card of Mantle next!
- 12/28/23 Update: I bought a 1958 Topps All-Star Mantle PSA 4 at the Nash-ional in October. I also bought a business card for Mickey Mantle's restaurant from What Not during the November online card show, so I'll count that as a Mantle card too!
2023-2) Goal: Add an Ozzie Smith RC and/or a Rickey Henderson RC to my collection.
- I bought a raw Ozzie Smith RC from Net54 and sent it in to PSA for grading. It had an odd left border cut though, so I am hoping it comes back with a grade versus altered or something. I should know sometime in July when the order gets back from PSA. If it doesn't get a numerical grade, I will look to pick up another one sometime this year.
- 8/6/23 Update: I got the Ozzie Smith RC back from PSA and unfortunately they would not holder it due to being miscut. So, I will be on the hunt for a graded Ozzie RC now.
- 12/28/23 Update: I haven't picked up either an Ozzie or Rickey RC yet, so those will move to my 2024 goals.
2023-3) Goal: Pick up 5 or more cards on my dwindling 1965 Topps EXMT set wantlist.
- 12/28/23 Update: I am down to needing 9 cards for my EXMT 1965 Topps set. Those 9 will be high priorities for 2024.
2023-4) Goal: Add 5 or more new Darryl Strawberry cards to my collection.
- I picked up a 1989 Pacific Cards & Comics blue bordered set (10 cards) at a flea market. Card #1 was Darryl Strawberry!
- 8/6/23 Update: I picked up a few more Strawberry cards that I didn't have from Madison Mercantile in Madison, AL.
- 12/28/23 Update: I haven't picked up any more Strawberry cards, but will continue to search for more in 2024.
2023-5) Goal ACCOMPLISHED: Submit some cards to be graded. I have never submitted any cards myself to be graded, so this would be something new for me.
- I submitted 10 vintage cards to PSA through a group bulk order organized on Net54. I am still waiting to get them back to see how off I was in my grade predictions.
- 8/6/23 Update: I received my 10 card order back from PSA in July and did alright overall. As already mentioned they would not holder the Ozzie Smith RC because it was factory miscut. Here are the other grades I got along with what I predicted they would receive:
- 1933 Goudey #76 Mickey Cochrane - Predicted: PSA 2, Received: PSA 2
- 1952 Topps #88 Bob Feller - Predicted: PSA 1-2, Received: PSA 2
- 1955 Topps #124 Harmon Killebrew RC - Predicted: PSA 2, Received: PSA 2
- 1960 Topps #264 Robin Roberts - Predicted: PSA 7-8, Received: PSA 7
- 1962 Topps #30 Eddie Mathews - Predicted: PSA 7-8, Received: PSA 6
- 1964 Topps #55 Ernie Banks - Predicted: PSA 5-6, Received: PSA 4
- 1972 Topps #79 Carlton Fisk RC - Predicted: PSA 7, Received: PSA 5
- 1973 Topps #615 Mike Schmidt RC - Predicted: PSA 5-6, Received: PSA 5
- 1975 Topps #228 George Brett RC - Predicted: PSA 5-6, Received: PSA 5
2023-6) Goal ACCOMPLISHED: Add 5 or more graded cards to my collection. I have probably less than 20 graded cards in my entire collection. If I do this right, these 5 cards could serve double duty and knock off some of my other goals too!
- #1: 1966 Topps Mickey Mantle - PSA 4 - paid $340 for it at the Nashville card show
- #2: 1958 Topps All Star of Luis Aparicio - PSA 2 - bought it for $20 at the Nashville card show
- #3: 1984 Donruss Darryl Strawberry PSA 8
- #4: 1983 Topps Traded Darryl Strawberry PSA 8
- #5: 1983 Topps Ryne Sandberg RC PSA 8
- #6: 1982 Topps Cal Ripken Jr. RC PSA 6
- #7: 1986 Donruss Jose Canseco RC PSA 7
2023-7) Goal: Add at least 24 cards to my T206 set with at least 2 being HOFers and 2 SLer's. I was going to bump this up to 36 for the year, but then thought 24 was plenty hard enough for me in 2022 so I will stick with that number for now.
- Update 06-25-2023: so far I have picked up 9 T206's this year, so I am a little behind schedule on this goal. There really haven't been many good sales on Net54 which is my primary source for T206s. Hopefully there will be some better sales later this year.
- 12/28/23 Update: I have picked up a total of 12 T206s in 2023, so well short of my goal of 24. There just hasn't been as much to choose from on Net54 and I have been sidetracked trying to pick up more 50s-70s HOFers too.
2023-8) Goal ACCOMPLISHED: Attend more card shows. I attended around 4 card shows (all in Nashville) in 2022. I would like to attend at least 6-8 shows this year. I don't plan on going to the National this year with my first child starting college in the fall, but if I can get to 3+ of the bigger Nashville shows, plus 3-5 other smaller shows that will be great. I can count the Nashville flea market too because there are a few card dealers at those as well. One of the local card shops has also started doing shows in Florence/Muscle Shoals, AL so maybe I will try to make it to one of those.
- I have attended a few shows in 2023 so far. I went to the Nashville card show in March and it was great!
- I went to a small card show at a hotel outside of Atlanta while we were in town for my daughter's dance competition. I picked up quite a few cards at that show including a 1966 Mantle rub off and a bunch of vintage stars/HOFers.
- The last show I attended was the Flip show in Huntsville, AL which honestly I thought was not that great. I only spent $65 on cards at that show, which is the least I have spent at a show in a few years. I did pick up some raw 1958 All-Stars I needed, plus a couple of others from other vintage sets. Here's to hoping the Nashville show in July is much better.
- 8/6/23 Update: I went to the Nashville show in July, but only spent 2-3 hours at it because the wife was waiting in the car. I did end up picking up a Lou Brock RC and several other vintage cards for my collection.
- I went to both the Nashville autograph show and Nash-ional in October. Both were great shows!
2023-9) Goal ACCOMPLISHED: Don't get sucked into buying blasters, packs, or hangers of modern releases. Focus on buying singles that I want.
- So far, I have done OK with this goal. I think I bought a couple of 2023 Topps series 1 blasters, but haven't bought any Bowman, Heritage, or Series 2 blasters or packs.
- I bought one Topps heritage blaster while visiting my son at college in early November, but other than that I haven't spent money on new cards. I am much happier with my purchases focusing on HOFers and other cards I need for my vintage sets.
2023-10) Goal ACCOMPLISHED: Add a 1940s-1960s HOF rookie card to my collection. My leading candidates right now are 1962 Topps Lou Brock, 1960 Topps Willie McCovey, or 1960 Topps Yastrzemski but a Warren Spahn RC, Richie Ashburn RC, Brooks Robinson RC, Frank Robinson RC, or Bob Gibson RC could also be in consideration depending on condition and cost.
- I have been trying to find the right Lou Brock rookie card to buy. At the Huntsville show in June there was only 1 or 2 at the show to choose from and one of those was priced too high ($600) for my budget. I will continue to look at the July Nashville show to see if I can find one.
- I am also looking to get a 1954 Topps Ernie Banks RC. That one will cost substantially more than the Brock but it's one of my most wanted cards.
- 8/6/23 Update: I bought an ungraded 1962 Topps Lou Brock rookie card at the Nashville show in July. I plan to pick up a couple more vintage RC's before the year is done!
- 12/28/2023: I bought a 1960 Topps McCovey RC PSA 4 from Net54 a couple of months ago. I haven't bought any other 40s-60s HOF RCs, but there is always next year!
2023-11) Goal: Pick up 5 or more HOFer rookie cards from the 1970s. There are a bunch to choose from: Dave Winfield, Eddie Murray, Gary Carter, Bert Blyleven, Dennis Eckersley, Paul Molitor/Alan Trammel, Jack Morris, Jim Rice, Ozzie Smith, Bruce Sutter, Robin Yount... surely I can find at least 5 that are nice condition, yet affordable.
- #1: I picked up an nice ungraded Eddie Murray RC at the March Nashville show for $25-30.
- #2: I have picked up an Ozzie Smith RC that is still at PSA. We'll see if it gets a numerical grade or not... UPDATE: PSA would not holder it due to being severely factory miscut, so I will need to find a replacement for it.
- #3: TBD
- #4: TBD
- #5: TBD
- 12/28/23 Update: I have failed miserably on this goal which should have been one of the easier ones to complete. I would like to pick up RCs of Bert Blyleven, Ozzie Smith, Robin Yount, Goose Gossage, Dennis Eckersley, Gary Carter, and Dave Winfield in 2024.
2023-12) Goal ACCOMPLISHED: Visit 3 card shops that I've never been to before.
- I checked out two card shops while in Atlanta for my daughter's dance competitions. I bought cards at both. I also went to a card shop in an antique mall in Montgomery, AL. So I guess I can claim GOAL ACCOMPLISHED on this one. I am still looking for other new card shops to check out though!
- 8/6/23 Update: I went to Madison Mercantile in Madison, AL which is an antique/decor store. They have 3 vendors who setup sports card booths and I was able to find several Darryl Strawberry cards plus a few other cards I like including a Ken Griffey Jr., a couple of Pete Rose's, and others.
2023-13) Goal: Sell at least 12 cards to get some extra $$ to buy cards I'd rather have.
- 12/28/23 Update: I haven't really tried to sell any cards during 2023, so maybe I will try in 2024. It's hard to get rid of cards though because I love them all!
2023-14) Goal: Complete at least one card+cash trade deal. I don't think I've ever done a card+cash deal, but want to give it a try to see if I can either upgrade one of my existing cards, or get one that I have wanted but may not otherwise be able to afford right now. I may try to get my George Brett, Mike Schmidt, and Carlton Fisk RC's graded and then upgrade one of them through this method.
- 12/28/23 Update: I haven't done any card+cash deals in 2023, but there is always a chance for one next year!
2022 Collecting Goals
I decided to make some collecting goals for myself to help achieve some long term desires for my baseball card collection. While I certainly did not achieve all the 202 goals, I did pursue each of them and for at least one was successful in finishing it.
2022-1) Goal: Add at least 24 cards to my T206 set.
Progress: I bought the 23rd, 24th, and 25th card in December giving me an average pick up of 2 cards/month. Goal accomplished!! Of those, 12 were non-Piedmont/non-Sweet Caporal backs. 3 were Southern Leaguers. 2 were HOFers (McGraw glove on hip and Vic Willis). One was a horizontal. One was a Chase. Only two were graded, the rest were ungraded/raw.
2022-2) Goal: Pick up at least one Mickey Mantle card.
Progress: While on our trip to Orange Beach, we stopped by a card shop in Spanish Fort where I was able to pick up a 1962 Post Mantle. Goal accomplished!
2022-3) Goal: Pick up more top tier HOFers.
Progress: While on a business trip to San Diego I was able to pick up a 1958 Topps Ted Williams All-Star card. During 2022 I also picked up a 1965 Topps Yastrzemski, '72 Topps Carlton Fisk RC, a 1973 Topps Mike Schmidt RC, and a 1975 Topps George Brett RC. Goal accomplished!
2022-4) Goal: Make progress on the last cards I need for my 1955 Topps low grade set.
Progress: I picked up a Camilo Pascual RC that I must have traded away previously. So I guess I will say goal not accomplished. Unfortunately, the cards that remain on my want list include the Clemente RC, Koufax RC, Aaron, Mays, and Berra.
2022-5) Goal: Make progress on my 1965 Topps EXMT+ set.
Progress: I did pick up the '65 Yaz, 3 of the remaining commons that I needed, plus some upgrades for several that were less than EXMT. So goal accomplished, but I still need 13 cards. Oh so close!
2022-6) Goal: Work on a modern hand collated set.
Progress: I bought several blaster boxes of 2022 Topps Heritage and liked working on that set. It's no where close to done, but I did make a little progress on it plus a couple of other Heritage sets. Goal accomplished!
2022-7) Goal: Start a Rookie Card box.
Progress: I re-organized some of my cards freeing up one of the wood boxes that a neighbor built for me to store cards in when I was a kid. I have turned that box into my rookie card/prospect/Game Used/Parallel/Insert/Auto box for mostly ultra modern cards. I do have a few older RC's in there, but some of those may come out to go elsewhere. Goal accomplished!
2022-8) Goal: Organize my card closet.
Progress: I did spend quite a bit of time working to re-organize my card closet. I need to get some more boxes of various sizes to allow me to complete the re-organization. I also probably need to install some additional shelves so there's not too much weight on any one shelf. But since I did make good progress I will say goal accomplished!
2022-9) Goal: Re-start my Darryl Strawberry collection.
Progress: While on a business trip to San Diego I picked up a 1984 Nestle RC of Darryl Strawberry so goal accomplished! I plan to work to get more of his cards in 2023.
2022-10) Goal: Put some of my unwanted cards up for auction or sale.
Progress: I started working on identifying cards to send in to COMC or put on eBay, but sadly I never followed through on this one. Maybe in 2023 I will get around to it! Goal not accomplished... =(
