Thread of Team Collectors

[Mauri]

I've been receiving some question about my team collection and I know we have several collectors who collects a certain team. I think a place where we can discuss about collecting teams would be very useful.

Some topics:
-What team do you collect?
-How is it limited?
-Is there something special you are going after for your team collection?
-Is there something you virtually always avoid, even if it would be an item to your team collection?
-How are your team collection cards sorted?
-What kind of checklist system you use?
-What would you recommend for acquiring cards to your team collection?
Plus obviously make more questions

To begin, here's my answers to those ones
What team do you collect?

I collect Colorado Avalanche. I also collect Quebec Nordiques cards.

How is it limited?

The Avalanche collection is almost unlimited. If you can argue it is Avalanche-card, it is part of my PC. I have only limited out two things
1) Gabriel Landeskog (not taking even a single of his cards for free)
2) Former/current players featured in main stream and NHL team sets (UD, Panini, Canadiens postcards...) that have absolutely nothing to do with Avalanche. Minor league sets are ok, no matter what the player represents. National team cards are ok. All-Star cards are bit of a grey area.

For Quebec Nordiques, the limit is pretty much same, but the card has to be printed between 1972 and 1995 i.e. 1995-96 Score is included, 2013-14 Black Diamond is excluded. I have also almost excluded team issues i.e. might acquire if some happens to be easily available (not required to pay shipping or so).

Is there something special you are going after for your team collection?

The lower BV, the more I want it. Anything under BV10 I try to seriously go after. Within reasonable shipping costs anyway.

Is there something you virtually always avoid, even if it would be an item to your team collection?

With Nordiques mostly the team issues and with Avalanche usually anything more expensive.

How are your team collection cards sorted?

I have them by sets in folders. Currently most of them are picked out to synchronize checklists and to have them all scanned (I have missed some, most are scanned already).

What kind of checklist system you use?

Excel workbook. A sheet per player, full Beckett-lists plus an index page. I have also added a lot of cards that are not listed in Beckett player lists.

What would you recommend for acquiring cards to your team collection?

Well, lots of things, but try to buy from people breaking up a player collection. Seems to work well.

 

[30ranfordfan]

I'll answer:

What team do you collect?
The Edmonton Oilers

How is it limited?
I try for one autograph, rookie card, memorabilia, and one card picturing any particular player as an Oiler. I will do this with as few cards as possible, and always try for the "best" RC (so long as it's something affordable) A Taylor Hall RPA, for example, is the only card of him I need in my collection. Derek Roy was just traded there this week, so I immediately made a deal to land his Parkhurst RC GU/Auto /100. I will still look to add an Oilers card of him down the road, if one is made. Other than that, I'm done with ever getting another Derek Roy card.

I avoid multi-player cards at all costs. I do occasionally add multi-player and "extra" cards (they fit outside of my normal requirements). Game Dated Moments, or really well themed multi-player cards would be good examples. I would add these in addition to the requirement above

Is there something special you are going after for your team collection?
Like I said, 1 RC, Auto, and GU from every player to have ever played for the team. GU is not possible, replace "true RC" with first Minor League cards, or team issued ones, when necessary. For players with no certified autos: IP / TTM autos (and often cut signatures, from index cards I've purchased) fill the gap.

How are your team collection cards sorted?
All are in top loaders (or one touches in some cases). Sorted by year in which the player made his Oiler debut, and alphabetically within that year.

Is there something you virtually always avoid, even if it would be an item to your team collection?
Like I already said before, multi player cards. It's not that I won't add them if there is something about it that is really cool (there was a Trilogy 'Rivals' set a few years back. Half the card was mid-late 90s Oilers, the half was mid-late 90s Stars. Awesome card, and had to have one). However - I would never add that card as the Curtis Joseph component of my collection (he's one of the Oilers on the card). It's something I'd pick up and keep on its own, and it's sorted separately.

What kind of checklist system you use?
Excel. Have a master list of all players, from all years (sorted by Oilers debut season, and then alphabetically). This keeps track of everything I have, so what I need is the missing stuff. Notes are included about players who have GU cards but I have not yet acquired.

What would you recommend for acquiring cards to your team collection?
Since the only RCs I've chased in years are players being added to the team that season (I have all the other ones) my focus is really on the autographs. None of the players I'm missing had certified autos, most of them didn't play more than a game or two in the league, which means most of those never had any NHL cards. This means that TTM requests are the best way to go, since these guys never signed a lot of cards back when they played. I crossed about 8 names off my list last year doing this, and with some work on google I'm hoping I can cross another 5 or 6 (of 15) off in 2015.

 

[Mauri]

30ranfordfan, interesting collection. I wonder if I should take that as a side project for Avalanche, since I have for quite a lot of players the RC and several AU / GU cards. "The best RC"-part sounds very expensive though.

 

[Tripredacus]

What team do you collect?
Phoenix Coyotes franchise. This includes WHA->NHL Winnipeg Jets, NHL Phoenix/Arizona Coyotes

How is it limited?
Not collecting WHL Winnipeg Jets franchise (that went on to become the Lethbridge Hurricanes) or current NHL Winnipeg Jets that used to be the Atlanta Thrashers. Card must have player pictured as wearing the correct franchise uniform or be noted as being on the team. One photo exception is the 2011-12 Certified base Dustin Byfuglien card, which his photo he is wearing a replica 90s Jets jersey, I do count this one. Team notation is only important for players who have been traded to or drafted by (pictured for another team), All-Star or casual (pictures for AS or casual dress) or been traded away (ie Dallas Drake cards showing Coyotes photo but Blue Jackets or Blues logo)

Is there something special you are going after for your team collection?
Not really.

Is there something you virtually always avoid, even if it would be an item to your team collection?
Cards showing representative team patches on the photo. Examples are BAP All-star edition Numminen, Amonte, etc, where the Coyotes logo is seen on the photo as a patch on the All-star Jersey. Similarly no minor league affiliates, regardless if representative patch is shown (San Antonio Rampage, etc) or base jersey is the same (Moncton Hawks.) I also do not do GU cards where the swatch is from the Coyotes but the team/photo is not... ie Flyers/Kings Jeremy Roenick and Capitals Chris Brown in NT... exception might be logo patches but those are out of my price range.

How are your team collection cards sorted?
In binders, sorted by year and set.

What kind of checklist system you use?
I write down which cards I need in a notebook after researching them online.

What would you recommend for acquiring cards to your team collection?
Buying cards individually. Since the Coyotes are under-valued on a whole, it is not worth buying packs or boxes to find them as recent sets are virtually devoid of them (recent Artifacts and a Contenders from a couple years ago had no base cards.)

 

[30ranfordfan]

It really isn't expensive, if you rule out ones that are way out your price range.

I don't have Cup ARP of Hall, Eberle, Hopkins, or Yakupov. I do of Gagner (he was a /99) and most every other player that has had a Cup ARP. Most of them (guys like Dubnyk, Brule, Cogliano, Teubert) are pretty cheap.

Then think in terms of pre-Cup. Someone like Derek Roy comes along, and I add his best RC for $20. Shawn Horcoff's Titanium /99 cost me around $30 IIRC. It would get expensive if I bought it all at once, but there really aren't any big money cards (i.e. over $75) between Messier in 80-81, and Taylor Hall (I have a Dominion ARP).


The thing with limiting it to one card each, or one of each type of card for each player, it really narrows things down... so I don't keep saying "oh, cool card" and adding more and more without a real plan in place.

30ranfordfan, interesting collection. I wonder if I should take that as a side project for Avalanche, since I have for quite a lot of players the RC and several AU / GU cards. "The best RC"-part sounds very expensive though.

 

[habsheaven]

What team do you collect?

Montreal Canadiens

How is it limited?

It isn't. Funds predicate that I can't collect every low print run card so I concentrate on quantity over quality.

Is there something special you are going after for your team collection?

I have my "24/XX" collection of habs. Just over 400 cards in total now.

Is there something you virtually always avoid, even if it would be an item to your team collection?

I avoid the expensive cards out of necessity not desire.

How are your team collection cards sorted?

Base: approx 6,065 cards all in binders alphabetically by set
Autos & Game used: approx 1,358 cards stored alphabetically in toploaders and one-touches in 2-row storage boxes
Parallels: approx 2,095 cards stored in toploaders or pillboxes separated in 2-row storage boxes alphabetically and by print run
Inserts: approx 1,553 cards stored alphabetically in toploaders in a 5-row storage box
24 Collection: stored in one of those Cdn Tire metal cases
24 Cup Collection: displayed on a shelving unit in one-touches and team bags

What kind of checklist system you use?

Beckett's Organize system

What would you recommend for acquiring cards to your team collection?

I try to buy PC cards off of Ebay and COMC and I avoid buying cards during the first year of release. I buy a lot of tradebait on HI and SCF and do most of my trading on Beckett. It's very helpful to have an updated bucket (over 7,000 images) and a trade page.

 

[Orca Pod]

What team do you collect?

Vancouver Canucks

How is it limited?

The team collection is limited to UD Exclusives/100 and High Gloss (and the variations) /10.

Was a time if it was a 'sweet' card, I'd get it. But my 'quasi-OCD' made it so if I had, say, one Canuck Limited Logo, I had to get the other 2 or three in the set, etc. That was getting ridiculous, so now I only concentrate on the UD S1 & S2 parallels.

I've also made the decision not to get into eBay 'pissing matches' over cards for my team set. I used to bid to win, even if I knew it was going to be overpaying. Hell, once paid 89 US delivered for a Willie Mitchell HG :whatthehell: Now, I go with a reasonable maximum, and if I lose, so be it; going with the another-one-will-come-along theory.

How is it displayed?

For the time being, each UD Exclusive card/100 is put in a premium toploader, team bag. Each HG is put in at one-touch, graded bag. They are in monster shoeboxes by year.

I have Black Diamond sets I work on, and if anything would actually be wall-mounted in a nice case, these would take precedent over the Canuck team sets. Plus, my wife has already used up most of the wall space with pictures of cabins or castles, so I'm basically SOL anyway. And we all know how that argument would end up.

What kind of checklist do you use?

Pretty easy. Excel. When a card is obtained, it is scanned, and the SN is put on the checklist for my records.

How do you obtain most of your cards?

Normally, eBay. I try to make deals with HI members if they have one I need, but that's fairly rare. Not because I'm a cheap bugger, but because some of the time, the fellow member seems to think that the cards are flecked with 24 carat gold, or they seem to think they know Canuck HG pricing better than I do, even though they live in the greater Hooterville/Pixley metropolitan area.. I just shake my head and move on. Caveat: most HI members are great!

Kevin (kmitchel) also helps greatly. He's got internet searching down to a fine art. He finds lots of stuff from card sites I don't even know exist.

That's about it.

 

[goflyers]

What team do you collect?

Philadelphia Flyers

How is it limited?

If it is non-auto, non-memoribilia, not a parallel, the standard 2.5" x 3.5" and has a player in a Flyer uniform on the front than I want it. To keep things interesting I will also collect at least one card (if possible) for each junior, minor, NHL or European team each Flyer has played for. Also at least one autographed card of each player where possible. I generally avoid multi player cards.

How is it displayed?

It is split between 14,000ish in binders sorted chronologically by players first season and 1,500 better cards in one touch and protectors stored in boxes



What kind of checklist do you use?

I use Excel to keep track of what I have and keep a separate list of Flyer cards I need.

How do you obtain most of your cards?

Ebay, Comc, Centre Ice Collectibles, Armchair Sports for buying current North American cards. I have managed to make connections with sources in Sweden, Finland, Germany, the Czech Republic, and Switzerland who help me track down european releases of former Flyers. Lots of KHL sellers on Ebay so those tend to be a little easier. Because I rarely (less than once a year) buy boxes trading is not really an option but Broad Street Boys was a lot of fun in that respect.

 

[Force]

What team do you collect?

Vancouver Canucks


How is it limited?

It isn't really. The only big thing is that they must be current players preferably in the Canucks uni. I used to keep older Canucks as long as they were in the Canucks jersey, or pick up current Canucks with their former teams, but after a lot of swapping in and out, I'm a bit pickier.
I also have a side collection of current Canucks autos, and current Canucks jerseys. 1 of each player, and must be in a Canucks jersey. Also, the auto must be in blue ink, and a vertical card.


How is it displayed?
Currently 1 2" binder nearly filled. sorted alphabetically by player (and this is just for the bast/inserts/parallels). I will probably have to get a second one soon though.
The jerseys and autos for my small side collection are in toploaders/one touches. They used to be all one touched, but I had to use the one touches for other purposes.


What kind of checklist do you use?
I don't. It's all whatever I can get. The exceptions are my 2 player collections, and the only way they could be associated is because one is a Canuck, and the other is a former Canuck.


How do you obtain most of your cards?
I pick up whatever I can from trades or breaks. I wish I could keep everything, but I have started moving stuff to the tradelist just in case, but I will always keep the more common stuff. Buying off of eBay would just be too expensive, and I don't get a lot from card shows unless it's a REALLY cool piece.

 

[habscards]

I keep mine really simple. I collect the Momtreal Canadiens. My goal is to just get one card of every player to ever play for them. My goal after that is just to upgrade it to the nicest card that I can get. I still to individual player cards, not multi player cards of each. I also try to get the card as the player pictured as a Hab.

It is actually a very fun and easy project. Every year I only have to add a few players. Just the new rookies and and UFAs that sign there or players who are traded there.

It is actually not that expensive either. I will use an example. A few months ago I got an Ultimate Maurice Richard triple mem cut auto 1/1 for my PC. Expensive card but I had an Ultimate Richard 1/1 cut auto before. By the time that I bought my upgrade and sold my cut auto the difference was only $80.

 

[Dr. No007]

Team I collect- Montreal Canadiens

How is it limited?

I prefer only players in their Montreal Canadiens uniforms. I am trying to get a auto, game used, auto game used, vintage and rookie of any and all Habs players the vintage the player the better but also getting current ones as well. Its tough cause the Canadiens have such a great tradition and their cards/memorabilia can get very high so I try to stay within my budget and not go over, unless I can save up for that one really good card. But once in a while I will get cards of players I already have such as game used or autos.

-Is there something special you are going after for your team collection?

Not really at the moment

-Is there something you virtually always avoid, even if it would be an item to your team collection?

Players that arent in a Montreal Canadiens uniform

-How are your team collection cards sorted?

Slabbed cards I keep in a shoebox, cards in toploaders, I store in a 3000 count 2 row box

-What kind of checklist system you use?

I pretty much scan all of them and have a folder on my computer that I have displayed in then I upload them to photobucket and store them there. I usually have a pretty good idea what I have and don't have. I manily use team rosters.

Accuring cards- I use Hobbyinsider, ebay, maybe use check out my cards some time, and other card forums