General Forum

Ive never been a real football card collector. BAseball was always my thing. But I recently pulled out a 3200 count box of misc football cards that i had accumulated over the years I was originally collecting (aprox '88-01) and some that I had enough for some set builds. When I got back into collecting in 2021, my impression was that most football and basketball  cards were looking for the hits, not made for set builders per se. So my question is this: Was I right or wrong?

If i am looking into getting in football set building are there any sets that are built for that, or are they all looking for the rare, shiny hits of prospects and stars. What set would you reccomend for some one without football set building experience? 

Thanks in advance, for all input and advice.

I guess it depends on which era of football interested you if any. Was it late 80s/early 90s with Montana, Marino, Elway, Rice, etc.? Or was it late 90s/early 00s with Favre, Manning, Brady, etc.? I find there's more interest in collecting a set when there's somewhat of a connection. I don't really have any interest in collecting 70s or early 80s football because I didn't start following the Eagles until 1987, so my collection is primarily 1990-2016 (the last year of Topps).

The next step is determining if you want to try collecting the rookies that went short-printed around 1998 when Manning entered the league. If you just want a basic set, everything 1997 and earlier gives you that, or sets like Topps, Donruss, Score, etc. in the 2000s and early 2010s also covers it.

I am a set builder for both baseball and football.  For me Topps Flagship was my go to for set building and I've been building those sets since 1987 more or less.  You are right since the early 2000s a lot of sets were very heavily hit and insert focused and the base set was an after thought.  Since Panini took over exclusively in 2016 for football I really haven't been that big into set collection, but brands like Donruss, Score and Prestige are still bigger sets that are challenging and fun to build.  I usually pick one or two of those to try and complete each year.

Your last sentence in the first paragraph was enough to let me know why Aikman/Emmitt/Irvin were left off the 90s lists, albeit short lists.

I've always been more into baseball but over the years I've worked a few football sets that I've gotten more than 50% of the cards in lots I've picked up.
It looks like I've got a good number from your want list if you want to send over a trade.

1989 Score & 1989 Pro Set are both pretty nice sets. If you happen to find a bunch of those in the box, could easily trade for the missing cards here. 

Good point. I mostly have and am going after a few late 80s to mid 90s sets (mostly 89 & 90), but in regards to my question specifically, Im looking for weather there are any current brands/sets that fit as a set building set, such as if Topps still released, or it seems, one mentioned Score... My boys are somewhat interested in football, not as mucha s baseball, and they want current, who they can see on TV instead of the old ones who they cant watch..

"I guess it depends on which era of football interested you if any. Was it late 80s/early 90s with Montana, Marino, Elway, Rice, etc.? Or was it late 90s/early 00s with Favre, Manning, Brady, etc.? I find there's more interest in collecting a set when there's somewhat of a connection. I don't really have any interest in collecting 70s or early 80s football because I didn't start following the Eagles until 1987, so my collection is primarily 1990-2016 (the last year of Topps).

The next step is determining if you want to try collecting the rookies that went short-printed around 1998 when Manning entered the league. If you just want a basic set, everything 1997 and earlier gives you that, or sets like Topps, Donruss, Score, etc. in the 2000s and early 2010s also covers it."

Go Cowboys!

Thanks, once I get finished organizing and entering these, Ill look at our matches.

Disclaimer:  This is where I live:

During the 80s, 90s and early 2000s almost everyone was building sets.     Now days it is for the big hits but take in the fact all of the guys I used to deal with no longer collect. 

Start with the cards you have.  The closest to finish get it done.

OR

I would take a look at each set and see which one looks the nicest to me.   Then go for it, as it is for fun the 90s has a lot of nice-looking cards and a lot of them out there.     Some of them you can buy the sets cheaper than trying to build them, but it is for the fun of it.