Eight years later, the master set p.c. is complete - my final update, time for a rest!

[BrownBullhead]

Hello, Hobby Insider.

Another update, but this may be my "final" update - at least, for this granddaddy of personal collections. So what makes it so "final"? Well, I can't believe I am actually writing this, but... I have completed the Master Set of all of the "hits" from this product! Yes, at least one copy of all non-vault, non-show stamp, etc.!

I now own the total checklist of 280 cards! Every auto, every redemption, every everything.

15 @ BACK-IN-TIME Lemieux stated print run /30 each card
15 @ BACK-IN-TIME Lemieux AUTOS serial numbered print run ##/10 each card
10 @ MAGNIFICENT INSERTS Lemieux stated print run /various each card
10 @ MAGNIFICENT INSERTS Lemieux AUTOS stated print run ##/various each card
8 @ CALDER HOPEFULS stated print run /30 each card
8 @ HART HOPEFULS stated print run /30 each card
8 @ NORRIS HOPEFULS stated print run /30 each card
8 @ ROCKET RICHARD TROPHY HOPEFULS stated print run /30 each card
8 @ VEZINA HOPEFULS stated print run /30 each card
30 @ STICK & JERSEY stated print run /60 each card
40 @ JERSEY stated print run /90 each card
30 @ MEMORABILIA stated print run /various stated print run each card
30 @ FRANCHISE stated print run /60 each card
30 @ NICKNAMES stated print run /various stated print run each card
30 @ HE SHOOTS HE SCORES Redemptions serial numbered print run ##/20 each card

My HSHS are all matching serial 10/20! In the year of release, I actually owned the entire 08/20 matching set! Man, seller's regret 18 years later!

I have 847 physical cards in hand, and three more in transit. That will give me a grand total of 850 physical cards. Approximately 20 or less are "Vault 1/1" copies, and I generally don't buy those unless they are multi-colour, or a very unique colour I had never seen in a non-stamp version.

Today, I added 30 physical cards to the p.c. 28 were "variants", and two were actual NEEDS.

The final two cards to complete the Master Set were:

1. Back In Time AUTO BITAUTO-13 Mario Lemieux 62-63 Parkhurst design; and
2. Magnificent Inserts AUTO MIAUTO-06 Mario Lemieux In The Numbers

So, members, thanks for staying on this journey with me over the last eight years or so! I might hit 900 one day, but that would take adding alot more variants of the "Stick & Jersey" set, or some really oddball swatches from "Jersey" that I have not seen before. But, if I can be candid for a moment, I've spent way more $$$ on this p.c. than I will ever admit to my spouse, or even to you folks... and I think I should honestly take the rest of 2022 to let the finances recover.

wned::rock::stanley:

I hope my son will find these one day and appreciate the work I put into completing this. And, I hope he doesn't sell them for 10% of what they're worth lol. For one final "hurrah", here are all 847 physical cards that I have in hand as of May 25, 2022. Thank you, good night, mic drop!

 

[quincy]

Well, this is absolutely bananas in the best way possible. Well done!

 

[darnitsyrup]

Truly incredible! Congratulations on completing the master set!

 

[GabbyGuy]

Stupendously AWESOME!!! :beer:

--Curt

 

[BigBarracuda]

Huge congrats, and thank you for bringing us along during your quest! You gotta be proud and satisfied after successfully completing such a huge goal!

Way to go man!
Glenn

 

[SNobles]

That’s incredible! Well done and good for you being able to stick with it.

 

[bto3105]

Those who don't know how hard this is to do, this was an amazing feat, A HUGE CONGRATS!!!!!!

I'm still working on the 04-05 ITG Franchises master set so I totally get the work you put in

Be proud, they look great....what's next????

 

[trekrun]

AMAZING with such dedication / patience in your achievement.
To ADD the base set and mini cards, quite a feat!

 

[Netorack]

Now this is a show&tell. Insane collection!!

 

[JayKayZee]

Fantastic! Your updates have been must-read internet for me all along the way!

 

[will-411]

Congratulations... I truly thought this was the story that would never end, but was never tired of the updates and shares.

Definitely take a rest, enjoy... and think about the next mountain to conquer.

Way to go!

Cory

 

[BrookIsland]

Outstanding and congratulations - imagine that must be both super rewarding and a huge relief to have complete!!

 

[creasecollector]

Don't be sad it's over.... be glad that it happened.

This collection is cardboard insanity and I'm all here for it.

While the routine appearance of your set acquisition threads will be missed, I appreciate you taking the time to share these cards with us and take us all along with you in your collection journey over the years. What you have done has no parallel, and you should be proud of this master set collection.

I wish you all the best in your collecting future, and hope you can reach 900 and beyond in due time. Let the wallet recover, and enjoy this hobby in the funnest way possible.

Thank you!

:beer:

 

[ChuckNorrisFearsSid]

Great google moogly! Your S&T threads are always freaking nuts but man, to put a stamp on this project is legendary! The amount of time and effort you've got invested in this is really incredible!

How are you storing all this? Any plans on displaying any of it? You could probably do a whole accent wall in the house with this!

Huge, HUGE congrats on this!

 

[odjickfan]

Congrats on the completion, it's one beautiful project!

 

[SidMarioJagrGeno]

Well done sir...

 

[BrownBullhead]

How are you storing all this? Any plans on displaying any of it? You could probably do a whole accent wall in the house with this!

Huge, HUGE congrats on this!

I may sound like a killjoy or something, but I actually keep al;l the singles stored in the dark, each in their own sleeve, loader, team bag, with about 300 singles (per case) in three cases like this: https://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/aluminum-tool-case-with-strap-0580916p.html

I'm really nervous about ambient light on my cards for extended periods of time, nevermind sunlight through windows. I probably care more about the card surfaces than I do of my own skin! One of my Brodeurs "Memorabilia" you can tell it had light damage upon purchase, once scanned next to my other copies of the same card.

I wish you all the best in your collecting future, and hope you can reach 900 and beyond in due time. Let the wallet recover, and enjoy this hobby in the finest way possible.

:beer:

Yes, In retrospect, I extended my spending beyond what I should have on this p.c., but for me, this was a once-in-a-lifetime project that made a mark on me even in the year of release. I can still remember getting the "Golden Jet" Nicknames card */35 and in 2003, that blew my mind in terms of "scarcity" - now that's practically nothing lol.

AMAZING with such dedication / patience in your achievement.
To ADD the base set and mini cards, quite a feat!

thanks, Norm! Some of the very first ones that went into this current build were ones I bought from you back in 2014-2015 or so from here.

I'm still working on the 04-05 ITG Franchises master set so I totally get the work you put in

Be proud, they look great....what's next????

Now, honestly, just spending some time to enjoy the product of eight years of chasing, and hopefully let my boy share them with me and tell them they will one day be his. I am honestly hoping to curb my hobby spending by 90% or so for the remainder of the year. But, show me some more pretty swatch variants and see how long I can last! LOL

To the rest of you whom I didn't quote, thank you, thank you, THANK YOU. Always nice to see the acknowledgement and validation of my efforts in these replies.

 

[jdg573]

absolute madness.

 

[spooner9ball]

Man...... I just can't even find the words. You are possibly the most patient yet relentless collector I have ever seen. What an accomplishment. Beckett, speak to this man.

 

[CeddieB]

Wow, what an accomplishment! Congrats on the master set. Love those Nicknames cards.