The past two days I did a look back at 2012 – here’s a look forward at 2013 on this blog. I’m going to put out a list of my 2012 collecting goals. I think most collectors do some form of “goal-setting”. Collecting means you’re trying to accumulate something. Many collectors aren’t specific – but there is usually some kind of guidelines of what you collect – like Retro cards, base Topps, Jalen Rose – or in my case, all of the above. Some collectors are more specific to what they want – I probably tend to follow a pretty set pattern. If I don’t define what I want to collect, I’ll think I can get everything and just get frustrated.
Anyways, here’s my “card hopes and dreams” for the upcoming year – based on the collections I discussed in the past two posts:
1) Lifetime Topps Project #1 – Bust boxes for and post 6-7 more sets. This would put me through 2003 or 2004 by this time next year. This is far more realistic than what I hoped to do last year.
2) Lifetime Topps Project #2 – Finish up every set that I had started in 2012. This will require me to finish up the following sets:
- 1992 – only 3 cards left, this should be easy
- 1993 – less than 10 cards to go, also should be easy
- 1994 – about 60 cards left – anybody want to trade!!!!
- 1995 and Traded – about 80 cards left – anybody want to trade!!!!
- 1996 – 1 cards left, should be easy. Frankly, I wrote this post in mid-December. Who knows, I may have finished it already by the time I actually post this!
- 1997 – 11 cards left, should also be easy.
- 1998 – 50 cards left – mostly because I got damaged cards in my series 2 box (see a forthcoming post). This should be doable.
3) Lifetimetopps #3 – make dents into any insert sets that I’ve started. I’d like to put a number to finish – but this is just too difficult to do. Some of these older inserts are just hard to find via trade or at a decent price. I just want to continue to make progress via trades (hopefully) or via Sportlots or COMC (more likely). Here’s some of the sets still open:
- 1989 Batting Leaders – 8 cards left.
- 1990 Batting Leaders – 5 cards left. Both of these are tough to find. If I knock off a couple more cards in 2013 I’ll be very happy. No way do I finish them, though.
- 1991 All-Star Glossy – 7 cards left. I’d really like to finish this one.
- 1994 Black Gold 20 cards left. Another set I’d love to cross off the list. I don’t want to buy these though unless I find them dirt cheap.
- 1994 Topps Spanish Legends – 2 cards left. Like Batting Leaders, this obscure set is tough to find. I’ll probably just purchase these 2 cards at some point.
- 1995 League Leaders – 22 cards left. This is a large set. I’d like to finish it this year. I think it’s doable.
- 1995 Finest Total Bases – 10 cards left. This would be tough to finish. These are also hard to come by. Making a small dent would be fine.
- 1995 Traded and 1996 Power Boosters – 7 and 19 cards left. I would also be happy just making a dent in these.
- 1996-00 “Reprints” and “Finest” (Mantle, Mays, Clemente, Ryan, Aaron). Also just want to make dents into these.
- 1996 inserts and on – many cards left. I’d just like to finish a few sets out of these, and make dents in some of the others!
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4) Jalen Rose – get up to 93% from my wantlist. This is a small step – I’m at 92% of my “wantlist” currently. This is harder than you might think. This would take about 10 new cards in 2013. I have so many, and frankly, a few of the cards I’m showing as “missing” may not even exist now. I spent about $100 on the 20 cards I bought last year. We’ll see what I can find!
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5) Retro Sets #1 – movement toward finishing my personal “master set” (as I define it based on when I see the product) for sets I’ve started:
- 2011 & 2012 Heritage. Other than the Lifetimetopps project, Heritage is the second set I want to collect each year. I don’t mind it spilling over into future years. I would like to finish these up in 2013, though.
- 2012 Gypsy Queen. Just need a few insert cards for these. The retail cards are the toughest. I want to finish this up.
- 2011 & 2012 Goodwin Champions. I’m really close on both of these. Hope to finish them this year.
- 2011 Lineage. I should be able to finish the remaining inserts this year. Getting all of those would be quite an accomplishment if I do say myself – but I think I can get there.
- 2012 Archives. This will be tough because of the retail cards. I’d just like to continue making a dent in this guy!
6) Retro Sets #2 – collect 2012 Gypsy Queen, Heritage and Goodwin Champions. I’m assuming Upper Deck will release Goodwin again. I may collect other retro products, but I plan on these three. I don’t want to put any goals on them – it’s too tough to finish these up in the year of release.
7) Blog Posting – 200+ posts. I posted over 330 times this year, but this number will go down. I thought about saying 250, but I’m not sure I’ll get there. 225 would be a good reach goal.
8) Trading – at least 20 trades. I made over 40 trades this year, and the year before. We’ll see how this year goes – it’s getting harder to trade as I have less time for cards.
9) Think about a plan of what to do after I finish the Lifetime Topps project. This is a carry-over from last year. I have some ideas, and have put them in a list. I really won’t have to put this into action until 2014. I like doing my side posts like Saturday Suds, so those are some things I’ve done already toward this plan.
10) Have fun! Probably the most important! I enjoy collecting cards and blogging. I’ll have less time for both next year, but I’d still like to keep it up and keep it fun!
I wish you the best of luck this year :).
Thanks!
This blog has become one of my favorites. Best of luck with your goals in 2013. I’ll be watching and enjoying the ride!!
Thanks!
Good luck with your 2013 collecting goals. I might be able to assist you with some of your recent Topps insert wants and some of your Topps base wants. I looked through your blog home page but I couldn’t locate your e-mail address.