Friday, April 22, 2011

Am I a Super Collector?

I consider myself a Luke Hochevar super collector.  But, my question is would anyone else? 

As of my last count, I have over 160 unique Hochevar cards and 200+ if I am counting doubles.  But, according to Beckett, there are 648 unique Hochevar cards that have been released.  Which puts me at about 20% of the way to my goal of having one of every Hochevar card released. 

I have nearly all of his base cards and am fairly far along in the inserts.  Most of the gaps in my collection are low numbered (and multi-numbered, i.e. /25, /50, /100, etc.) autographs, 1/1 cards (including printing plates), and short printed inserts.

I know that 100% is an unattainable goal, but I don't think 50% is unreasonable (especially now that I have to wait until Series 2 and/or Update for his current releases).

I've seen people mention on twitter that they have hundreds and even thousands of cards of a specific player (which is mind blowing to me, considering I probably don't have more than a thousand cards in my entire card collection).

And, at one point in the mid-90s, I would have considered myself a John Stockton super collector (at least for a kid).  But I've fallen so far behind in his cards that I don't even want to look up how many of his cards there are now.

So my question is when can a person consider themselves a super collector?  Can I continue tracking down missing unique cards or should I start stockpiling duplicates?

7 comments:

hiflew said...

Supercollecting, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder. I consider myself a Christian Friedrich supercollector even though I only have 20 or so of his cards. Which is about 15% completion.

My definition of a super collector is not in how many cards you have acquired it's in the attempt to acquire them.

Eric L said...

I started considering myself a Hochevar super collector when I rarely see a card on eBay or COMC that I don't already have (or isn't WAY out of my budget).

Greg Zakwin said...

Ditto what Johnny said. Plus, in the blogging community, I know of nobody else who collects Luke.

So yeah. SuperCollector.

AdamE said...

Super collector? = Yes

Also if I was looking at how many Hochevar cards there are I wouldn't consider the 1/1 cards. Knock out those and your percentage should look allot better.

Wes Moore the former JBF said...

I would say you are a Luke super collector!
Cool cards!

stusigpi said...

I don't know guys. You can be in the process of super collecting, but to be a super collector you have to have a truly special collection amongst the best of the best. The low numbered cards are what set the super collector apart from the rest of the collectors. I give people a pass on the 1/1's for super collecting however.

BTW, I don't even consider myself a Masterpieces super collector.....yet.

SpastikMooss said...

First 2 comments = so true. If your goal is 100% (or damn close to it someday), then I think you're a supercollector. Even if you're only at like 10% haha.

With Seneca, I tend to compare myself to other supercollectors to see how I'm doing. I know of two major others. One stopped to raise a baby and offered me his collection. The other is still collecting but sold me his 1/1 plate and has about 80 cards less. So I win! lol.

Best of luck to you man/