Come for Connaughton's hair, stay for classic photo-shoot poses (Set Collecting)

[bkcardcollector]

hopalong :P

[TheFrenzy]

Congratulations!

[volblorx8634]

Great Courtside set! I agree with you about Hoops being underrated... up until about 2018 when they moved away from inserts with in game action shots. Only Courtside included after that from what I've seen. Hoops inserts were the best part of the product from 2012-2017.

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

[hopalong]

2015-16 Prizm - Silver Prizm (vets only #1-300)
Base Parallel 300/300 Cards

I have probably confessed my love of big base sets previously. It's nice to have a snapshot of the league at the time, something that goes beyond the ~20 superstars in inserts. It's fun to be reminded of what players were in the league and what teams they were playing for. Lots of good action shots in this one, I have included a couple of my favorites. I miss Jamal Crawford, one of the smoothest offensive talents.

The set has an extended list of retired players (60 players). It went beyond the regular Magic, Bird etc., so we were treated to names like Rip Hamilton and James Worthy which is pretty cool.



pichost

[hopalong]

Originally Posted by TheFrenzy

Congratulations!

Ah, cool, just saw this now!

Originally Posted by volblorx8634

Great Courtside set! I agree with you about Hoops being underrated... up until about 2018 when they moved away from inserts with in game action shots. Only Courtside included after that from what I've seen. Hoops inserts were the best part of the product from 2012-2017.

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

Yeah, more in-game action shots would be great.

I've enjoyed the tribute sub-sets in recent years, and I might look at doing the Rookie Greetings from this year.

[hopalong]

2019-20 Donruss - Great X-Pectations Green Flood
Insert - 25/25 Cards

Original

Donruss has some surprisingly nice parallels for a lower end product. Green floods usually look great, and some of the laser parallels are nice (cheaper) substitutes for Revolution Sunburst.

Update

Nearly there. Values on this sort of stuff has dropped along with everything else. Morant is about $15 USD now compared to around $30 USD when I bought it (would have been close to peak I'd say).

Definite buyers market right now.

Update #2

This one is complete. Really nice low-end parallel and a good reminder that nice cards don't need to be expensive.

[hopalong]

2020-21 Chronicles - Luminance Pink
Subset Parallel - 25/30 Cards

Don't love the photography as much as the 2018 release, but the pink is a really nice pop to the first namesl Maybe it's not the photography so much that's different but that the 2018 release had that washed out look to them?

2020 was the first to include veterans, it had only been rookies up until that point.

The 2021 release had a border, which didn't look as nice, so I might skip that one.

[SteveIsLegend]

This is awesome that you're putting sets together. It's a lost art in the hobby these days.

I'm working on 2021-22 Illusions Bronze and Red /99. I'm five away from the Bronze and about 40 away from the Red. Since that's winding down, I'm trying to figure out another set to go after, but don't necessarily want to buy a bunch to complete it... but nobody trades anymore, so I may just forever be searching for the next set to collect.

[hopalong]

Originally Posted by SteveIsLegend

This is awesome that you're putting sets together. It's a lost art in the hobby these days.

I'm working on 2021-22 Illusions Bronze and Red /99. I'm five away from the Bronze and about 40 away from the Red. Since that's winding down, I'm trying to figure out another set to go after, but don't necessarily want to buy a bunch to complete it... but nobody trades anymore, so I may just forever be searching for the next set to collect.

Thanks!

I find COMC useful for lower-end stuff, have you had a look there?

[hopalong]

2020-21 Prizm - USA Basketball Green Prizm
Insert - 10/10 Cards

Parallel of the previously completed base insert. Silver next. Not often I'd want Panini to make more parallels, but would have really like some more color for this set.

[hopalong]

2010-11 Classics - Classic Moments Silver /250
Insert - 10/10 Cards

Original

Nice little newspaper-inspired insert. I had the missing card (Wilt) on the way from Europe, but it never made it (it's been 5 months since tracking updated).

These were unnumbered, /250, /100 and /25 I believe. For some reason the /250 rarely shows up for sale for Wilt.

Update

It took many years, but I finally found the Wilt! Updated the photos also.

[hopalong]

2014-15 Court Kings - Autographs (Various numbering)
Insert 19/30 Cards

Another set chase that is pretty much abandonded due to the cost (on-card autos of Kobe and Curry are among the missing ones).

Beautiful on-card set though. It's a canvas-type card, all autos on-card with a bit of a washed-out artsy design. Features Cliff Robinson and Bill Walton who both passed away this decade. I did recently pick up a Christian Laettner, so that's on the way.

[hopalong]

2016-17 Aficionado - Power Surge
Insert - 18/18 Cards

Original

Panini definitely have moments that makes it easy to be cynical and negative about them, but sometimes, things just work. You may argue this set is derivative, or...you can just acknowledge it looks absolutely smashing.

Update

This one is done. If I can find time I'll re-do the photos (used 2 different phones and so they don't quite look the same).

[hopalong]

1996-97 Collector's Choice - Playbook
Subset - 29/29 Cards

These were the cards (Collector's Choice) I collected as a kid, it was the only thing available. I like these, the back had a real attempt at writing about the team and the season. Their prospect as a team, their stars (if any), offseason etc.

[hopalong]

2021-22 Chronicles Draft - Gala
Subset 20/20 Cards

Could be the cheapest set I have ever collected. It's draft AND Chronicles, so not much demand for these. Beautiful though. It's a take on the very attractive Gala base cards which was found in Gala in 14-15 and 15-16 (2nd year was better). Also found in Chronicles up until recently. This draft class is coming along very nicely right now.

[Filthy]

Awesome post. It’s refreshing seeing a “collector” post “collections.” Lots of great sets from over the years.

[hopalong]

Originally Posted by Filthy

Awesome post. It’s refreshing seeing a “collector” post “collections.” Lots of great sets from over the years.

Thanks, appreciate it!

[hopalong]

2020-21 Clearly Donruss - Rated Rookie
Subset - 50/50 Cards

Original

I missed this product last year but got a couple of boxes this year at a reasonable price. They look quite nice and there are some decent inserts. I was lucky enough to pull 2 autos from 2 boxes too (Devin Vassell and Patrick Williams). Don't think I'll do an auto set, but I will do the base set and possibly a base parallel and an insert.

Update

This one is done. These do not pop at all. It must be due to the particular design/print, because I'm sure I've seen acetates that look really sharp?


english typewriter online

[hopalong]

2020-21 Chronicles - Luminance Pink
Subset Parallel - 30/30 Cards

Original

Don't love the photography as much as the 2018 release, but the pink is a really nice pop to the first namesl Maybe it's not the photography so much that's different but that the 2018 release had that washed out look to them?

2020 was the first to include veterans, it had only been rookies up until that point.

The 2021 release had a border, which didn't look as nice, so I might skip that one.

Update

Complete. Struggling with how to store some of my sets. Space doesn't allow me to topload everything, so this is something I typically keep in a binder. Wondering how valuable a card would have to be before I'm uncomfortable keeing it in a binder.

[bkcardcollector]

cool, these would all go good in a binder. I would say like 20 bucks? put some lesser expensive sets in the beginning and end.

[Ismael80]

Awesome stuff as always hoopalong!

[hopalong]

2020-21 Prizm - USA Basketball Silver Prizm
Insert - 10/10 Cards

The last of the parallels available for this insert (Base/Silver/Green).

[hopalong]

Originally Posted by bkcardcollector

cool, these would all go good in a binder. I would say like 20 bucks? put some lesser expensive sets in the beginning and end.

Yeah, makes sense. I just know I have some valuable cards from 2014-2016 that I should get into toploaders (cards that weren't valuable at the time).

Originally Posted by Ismael80

Awesome stuff as always hoopalong!

Thanks!

[volblorx8634]

Incredible sets as always. You've got a great eye for beautiful designs. An alternative to a traditional binder is the Z-folio type binders that take sleeved cards. My rule of thumb is that most cards numbered <100 or worth ~$15+ go into the z folio. I think the only exception is if it's part of a rainbow, then it likely stays in the binder.

[hopalong]

2019-20 Mosaic - Reactive Orange Rookies
Subset Parallel - 50/50 Cards

I haven't compared to other rookie classes but I feel like there's a decent number of good/great players (Morant, Garlan, White, Herro, Zion ++) and role players (Cam Johnson, Keldon Johnson, Claxton, Hachimura ++) from this class. It's a large subset of rookies here though, so a lot of them are out of the league by now.

I've hinted at this in the past but one benefit of Panini's love affair with parallel's is that there are plenty that are easily available and affordable.