Thinking about doing something dumb again

 

When I completed the 1969 Topps set eight months ago, I was certain that I was finished with trying to build vintage sets. I had been through my share and I wasn't getting any younger and it wasn't getting any easier.

 

That's still where I'm at -- not going to take on any other set big projects, nope, not doing it, not never, not never again.

 

Still ...

 

If I was to build a vintage set again, there is one that makes the most sense -- 1968 Topps is right there.

 

Now, before you get all "but the Nolan Ryan rookie" on me, here is why this set makes sense to build:

 

-- It's the next set in the line of complete Topps sets in my collection. You can go in either direction for that. The next set on the front end is 1993 Topps, which is far easier but also holds zero interest for me. 1994 is more interesting but not enough to leap over another year. So, the back end is 1968 and finishing that would wrap up 25 complete sets in a row for me.

 

-- It would be an easy link to 1967 Topps. The last time I decided to do something dumb (in collecting anyway) was diving into the 1967 Topps set. There is no way I'm finishing that, I'm fairly certain. I've completed 86% of the '67 set -- just 82 cards to go really. But the rest of the cards will only make me angry or sad. 1968 will close the gap and I don't have to explain why I jumped into '67 without getting '68 done first.

 

-- It's grown on me. Not a lot, but if you've read this blog for awhile you know I've long placed this set near the bottom. It's not quite that low anymore. I can see a few merits.

 

-- It explains these two cards new to my collection:

 

I claimed these instinctively from the latest Diamond Jesters Time Travel Trade post. In the past I'd ignore them because "those are '68s, I don't like those." But this time I thought they were fun, who doesn't enjoy a Mets team card and a Yankees announcer who was actually pleasant?

 

I now have 72 cards from the 1968 set, though several of those are tied up in the Dodgers collection. But I may have just moved an extra Ron Hunt, Jim Brewer and Dodgers team card into the binder with my 1968s. That's always a sign that a set build may be afoot.

 

Now, before getting too excited, here is why building this set might not make sense:

 

-- The Nolan Ryan rookie card and another blasted Mickey Mantle to chase.

 

-- If I'm going to try for a '60s set why don't I pick 1965, which looks so much more vibrant and interesting to me than 1968?

 

-- When I finished the 1970 set and then especially the 1969 set, I felt spent, like I was at the end of this big-set collecting journey because I just don't have the patience for it, especially with all the nonsense pricing.

 

-- I do have vintage set chases going on currently, though they're not as large as a Topps flagship set. I'm collecting Hostess and supposedly Kellogg's and a couple others. No need to add on to the pile. I don't have time for that -- can you see how I'm only posting here every other day?

 

So, that's where I'm at. I'm thinking about it, but not really thinking about it.

 

That probably means that when I'm standing at the 1960s discount bin at the card show (if I ever get to one again), I'll add 1968 to 1965 and 1961 when I'm grabbing random cards.

 

But I am a looong way from starting a new binder for 1968 Topps and most of me is hoping that never happens. See: 1967 Topps.