Just added my dumbest want list ever

As collectors, we do some dumb stuff.

We buy cards we can't afford. We buy cards we can't store. We buy cards of players and teams we don't like just because "it fills the set." We buy $100 packs and $1000 boxes. We justify it all because "it's a hobby," which grants us permission for just about anything that passes approval from our significant other, but there are plenty outside the hobby that would say, "that sure is dumb." And under the clear light of day, I'd probably have to agree with them.

Most of the time I don't think about the reasonableness of what I do. Usually, I just ask the budget and if the budget nods its head, then I'm buying whatever card thing I want.

But I'm entering weird territory today.

I haven't actually bought anything yet, but today I posted a want list for 1967 Topps on my blog.

I feel completely ridiculous typing that.

I've mentioned many times my interest in the '67 set. It's my favorite set of the '60s, it's one of my top 10 favorite Topps sets of all-time. And a few folks here and there have gifted me with some cards from the set.

Each time they've done so, I've posted the cards half overcome with giddiness and have filled with trepidation.

The 1967 set is one of the most notorious high-numbers set of all-time. High-number cards in the set like Tom Seaver's rookie card and Brooks Robinson go for crazy prices. It's silly that I think I can complete this set. And while I keep adding more cards from the set, I continue to deny that I'm attempting to complete it.

Then just over a week ago, I received 124 needs from the set all in one shot.

Reader Jonathan sent me another cool package of cards, and the overwhelming portion of the box were '67s. He sent many more than the 124, but a few were dupes and, yes, it's insane that I now have doubles from 1967 Topps.

Adding those 124 needs to the 171 cards from '67 Topps I already had, well, that's almost 300 cards in my set! That's just about halfway. Seems like a good reason to add a want list to me.

So I did.

1967

TOPPS

1, 3, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 20, 21, 23, 24, 26, 28, 35, 39, 42, 44, 45, 48, 51, 52, 58, 69, 70, 75, 80, 83, 90, 100, 112, 114, 117, 119, 120, 121, 123, 126, 130, 132, 138, 140, 144, 146, 150, 156, 158, 166, 171, 173, 174, 175, 179, 190, 191, 198, 200, 201, 202, 205, 210, 216, 217, 234, 236, 239, 240, 241, 242, 243, 244, 245, 250, 251, 255, 261, 272, 284, 285, 286, 290, 292, 294, 299, 302, 305, 306, 307, 309, 312, 314, 315, 316, 317, 318, 321, 322, 323, 325, 327, 329, 330, 334, 335, 336, 337, 338, 341, 342, 343, 348, 350, 351, 354, 355, 356, 359, 361, 367, 369, 371, 372, 373, 375, 378, 379, 380, 382, 393, 384, 385, 386, 386, 389, 393, 394, 395, 396, 397, 398, 400, 402, 404, 407, 408, 409, 410, 411, 414, 415, 416, 417, 418, 419, 421, 422, 424, 425, 426, 427, 429, 430, 432, 433, 434, 435, 436, 437, 438, 439, 440, 441, 443, 444, 445, 446, 448, 449, 450, 453, 454, 455, 456, 457, 458, 459, 460, 461, 462, 463, 464, 465, 466, 467, 469, 470, 471, 472, 473, 475, 476, 477, 478, 479, 480, 481, 482, 483, 484, 485, 487, 488, 489, 490, 491, 492, 493, 494, 495, 497, 499, 500, 503, 505, 506, 507, 508, 509, 510, 512, 513, 514, 515, 516, 517, 518, 519, 520, 522, 525, 526, 527, 528, 530, 531, 533 to 583, 585 to 609

Oof. It doesn't look so bad at first glance, until you realize it's backloaded with cards from 400 on up. And then there is that "533 to 583" where I couldn't bear to type in every number. Same with "585 to 609."

Johnny Romano at the top of the post can't believe what I'm doing and neither can Bob Buhl.

Or Don Lock.

But all it takes is going through those great '67s that Jonathan did send and the ultimate mission faded into the background.

The distinctive names.

The players I know only from reading stories about '60s baseball.

The players I associate more with the '70s thanks to pulling these guys from packs in 1975.

The managers!

One of the first 1967 Topps cards in my collection -- one of those "old, old, old" cards that somehow wandered its way into my box of cards when I was a boy. And then it disappeared. But it's back!

And there were stars, too. Some of the biggest names of the '60s.

Sure, most of the cards were "off-condition," which I don't care about at all. As long as the picture is intact and the edges distinctive, I'm happy. You think I'm going to find high-numbers in pristine condition?

So, yeah, I don't see myself upgrading this checklist, because it also contains a Mick floating head and we know what those go for.

Jonathan didn't limit the package to 1967 Topps, he also focused on one of my more pressing set-building attempts.

These all serve as upgrades in my 1956 Topps set.

But this card was a need. Another Yankee down. Just Mantle, Berra, Rizzuto and the team card to go (heh).

He also found some Dodgers that were new to my collection. I especially appreciate that Nomo Finest card.

There was also random stuff, like this assortment of Ken Griffey Jr. cards that probably doubles my Junior collection. Not that I'm collecting KGJ cards, but with as many Junior collectors that are around, sometimes you feel like you need to pull your weight a little.

But easily the highlight of the cavalcade of cards was the 1967 Topps.

And there were so many more.

Did I mention that a card of Claude "Your Fly's Open" Raymond was in the package?

Or Tito Fuentes?

Or the guy who turned an unassisted triple play?

Yeah, there were only a handful of cards from the fifth series and none from that brutal sixth series. But I don't think there are a lot of people that have those cards just lying around to distribute to folks.

I don't know what was wrong with kids back then, giving up on that sixth series just because they had to go to school, or wanted to chase football cards.

Because of that, I'm putting up a want list for a set I have zero chance to complete. But I'm still going to have a great time failing.

Besides, it's actually not the dumbest want list I've ever posted. It's only the second dumbest.

The dumbest would be that want list for the 1952 Topps Dodgers.