What's a good number?

[sharkaholic707]

So I have been thinking about refocusing my "side collection." In addition to being a Sharks collector, I collect my absolute favorite players when I was a kid -- including Mike Modano, Pavel Bure, and Mike Richter to name a few. I've got, in my opinion, pretty good sized collections (anywhere from 30-60 game used/autograph cards of each) of each player but as of late I've been thinking of down sizing each collection.

In addition, in all the recent years since I started my side PCs, there have been a lot of players that have come along I really like on a level that I might want to start collecting them as well, like Ryan Miller and some of the younger guns like Claude Giroux and Jonathan Toews.

My question is, in your opinion -- if I wanted to downsize my existing player collections and add on a few more players -- what's a good number to cap things off at? I want to keep my budget reasonable -- I won't be chasing anything super high end (mostly mid ranged) but I would like to keep each collection to autos or patch/autographs for each player....but more so "Cup Signature patch" vs. "Ultimate Auto Shield" or "BAP Signatures" vs. "low numbered ___ auto parallel" if you get my analogy? LOL.

So...10-20 cards of each player? A top (only) 5? Would love to hear everyone's input.

 

[Pacman69]

I think a question to ask yourself about this is how do you enjoy them. Do you put the in a display? In a binder? Other? If its to display, a lower number might be more reasonable. Do you like to change them around once in a while?

Figure that out and it may help with your decision.


Pacman

 

[Orca Pod]

To me, it depends on what you are going to chase. If you are only going to get cards of the new players that are high-end products, numbered to 10 or less, that have a patch and an auto, then I'd say 1 per year, per player.

If you want numbered cards but not low print runs, and don't care if there are autos or jersey/patch pieces, then I'd say one numbered card per product, per player, with numbering no less than 100.

And, of course, what's your budget?

Too many variables involved. I guess I'm saying you have to be more specific in what the goal is.

 

[chadsexington]

Having been through this process myself, my honest opinion -- Don't set a number. Once you see the first (x player) auto or GU, you'll probably have an instinctual reaction as to whether to cap it at that or go forward and get more of that player...go on that feeling instead of capping right off the bat.

 

[Bozzy]

In my opinion, I don't think you necessarily need a "specific number", but maybe more so "tiers".

For instance, looking through your collections of Modano, Bure and Richter, etc, and put aside the cards you absolutely "love" (whether it be for design, niceness of patch, numbering, whatever), and call that "tier 1". The cards in this tier are ones you just absolutely don't want to lose (maybe it was your first auto of that player, maybe it is a 4 color Modano Patch, whatever the reason). I think you will quickly realize that this "tier 1" won't even be ALL filled with the "most valuable" cards in your collection, just cards you personally enjoy looking at and having. There won't be a set a number, you might have 14 Richter cards, 11 Bure cards and 7 Modano cards or something, but you will use these as the "foundation" to these specific player collections going forward.

For "tier 2", these are cards you obviously like (or they wouldn't be in your collection, lol), but you wouldn't mind moving, especially to acquire some nice cards for your "new" player collections. Although it might be time consuming, using these cards as trade bait to start off your new collections of players like Miller and Toews would definitely be budget friendly in the long-run. Plus since you are not doing a "mass sale" of some sort, you have the ability to be a little picky on what you trade your cards for. I mean if someone wants to buy one of these "trade bait" cards, by all means sell it if you can agree on a price, but at least YOU get to make the decision to sell it for a specific price, or trade it for a specific card. Believe me, if you have quality cards in this tier, you will get quality cards in return.

In "tier 3" (and there probably won't be a lot of cards in this tier), you are left with any card you don't have any real attachment to and would definitely like to turn them into some new Sharks cards, or new Toews cards, etc. These won't all be necessarily low-end cards, but maybe its an autographed patch card numbered to 50, but the patches are boring, and you know you could get an easy $25 for it, well that money can be used to help start your new collections. Really this tier is set up to get you some quick coin to start acquiring cards, or (if lower end) can be easily swapped for other lower end cards of the new players you want.

Just my suggestion, but hope it helps.

 

[waterboy88]

I've been thinking the same thing lately. I have a decent collection of Gretzky, Yzerman, Roy and Iggy.

My thought: keep one page (9 cards) of each player. Makes for a small binder!

I would keep shopping and upgrading the page along the way - gotta' stay in the hobby

Cheers,
Greg