16 years ago, before I joined The Bench, I made a trade with a local card collector. I traded a 1975 Topps Mini George Brett for a lot of about 300 vintage cards, a mix of 1972 and 1969 Topps. From that moment I decided to build these two sets. Given that in addition to the scarcity of them due to the era from which they were produced and they were released in several series with high numbered cards having smaller production runs, I knew this would be difficult.
Last year I finished the 1969 set by purchasing the Bobby Cox RC. A few days ago I received the final one for the 1972 set...#698 Jerry Koosman In Action.
Most of these were acquired through trades here on The Bench; some purchased on eBay or COMC. Given how long it has taken me to complete this, I do feel a certain sense of of accomplishment.
I do want to thank (or given how long it took me to carefully put this together, curse) Jeff (aka Symphonic Metal) for being the local collector who got me started on this trek and along the way added to the collection and found upgrades.
This set has a few personal meanings to me. 1972 was the year I was born and although I don’t have a conscious memory of this year, I do feel connected.
The second is that I started collecting during the early 80s and many of the veterans and stars of my youth had cards from this sets which just looked strange to my youthful eyes. For example, Reggie Jackson to me was a Yankee or an Angel, what is he doing in an A’s uniform? The same with Rod Carew - Twins, Pete Rose - Reds, Steve Carlton - Cardinals, Tom Seaver - Mets. I think we all have a year of our “Baseball Birth” which to us is year zero. Anything before that might appear out of place or oddly archaic.
My current vintage challenge is completing a 1971 Topps set. Currently I am about halfway there.
Thanks for reading.
Jay
Last year I finished the 1969 set by purchasing the Bobby Cox RC. A few days ago I received the final one for the 1972 set...#698 Jerry Koosman In Action.
Most of these were acquired through trades here on The Bench; some purchased on eBay or COMC. Given how long it has taken me to complete this, I do feel a certain sense of of accomplishment.
I do want to thank (or given how long it took me to carefully put this together, curse) Jeff (aka Symphonic Metal) for being the local collector who got me started on this trek and along the way added to the collection and found upgrades.
This set has a few personal meanings to me. 1972 was the year I was born and although I don’t have a conscious memory of this year, I do feel connected.
The second is that I started collecting during the early 80s and many of the veterans and stars of my youth had cards from this sets which just looked strange to my youthful eyes. For example, Reggie Jackson to me was a Yankee or an Angel, what is he doing in an A’s uniform? The same with Rod Carew - Twins, Pete Rose - Reds, Steve Carlton - Cardinals, Tom Seaver - Mets. I think we all have a year of our “Baseball Birth” which to us is year zero. Anything before that might appear out of place or oddly archaic.
My current vintage challenge is completing a 1971 Topps set. Currently I am about halfway there.
Thanks for reading.
Jay