Click here for the list of 90s sets to complete. Click here for the list of 00s sets to complete. Click here for the list of 10s sets to complete. Click here for the list of insert sets to complete.

Top sets to complete from the 80s

Here's the sets I'm shooting for in order of preference.

1981 Topps 1981 Topps
Status: COMPLETE
Arguably my 2nd favorite set (behind the 1982 Topps). Most of this set was completed when Doug bought three 3200-count boxes at an auction for me at $5/per box. I've sold several 150-card lots on eBay but I still have over 100 Dave Kingman and Claudell Washington cards.
10/2 - Internet trade lands the Jim Rice card
10/26 - George Brett arrives via eBay purchase
11/27 - George Medich, Sparky Andersen / Tigers Team, and Lance Parrish found at Baseball Card Corner
12/10 - My brother picks up the last two I need, delivered 12/24.
Originally 99.0% Complete ( 719 / 726 cards)
1988 Score 1988 Score
Status: COMPLETE
When this set came out, it was a big deal because it was the first real challenger to the "big three." The colorful borders were cool at the time - it was the 80s - and the photos were much better than anything on a card previously. I remember buying lots of packs from the kiosk at Milford Junior High.
10/2 - Received two more via internet trade (Vance Law and Mark McLemore)
7/19 - Got remaining seven through eBay purchase
Originally 98.6% Complete ( 651 / 660 cards)
1984 Fleer 1984 Fleer
I loved this set as a kid. When I used to do my own fantasy baseball league, only cards from this set were allowed into the "Jefferson Stars" team. Still need the Mattingly rookie.
10/2 - Picked up five via internet trade
1/3 - Received 10 via eBay auction, including Wayne Krenchicki, Steve Carlton, Eckersley, Ron Hassey, Dave Parker, and John Wockenfuss
7/14 - Bought a rack-pack from eBay and got 28 needed, including Robin Yount and "Jefferson Stars" Bud Black, Jamie Quirk, and Scott Sanderson

Originally 47.7% Complete ( 315 / 660 cards)
Current: 54.2% Complete ( 358 / 660 cards)
1987 Fleer 1987 Fleer
I liked the blue-faded-to-white border of this set. I've only bought a few packs of this set: one was about eight years ago and managed to pull the Bonds rookie :)
10/2 - Acquired 11 needed cards via internet trade
3/12 - Got Pedro Guerrero in large eBay lot
Originally 77.6% Complete ( 512 / 660 cards)
Current 79.4% Complete ( 524 / 660 cards)
1989 Upper Deck 1989 Upper Deck
A revolutionary set. I mean, it had foil counterfeiting-prevention stickers! I was sold on the set after seeing - and getting - the McGwire card. I need a bunch of the High Series (including the Nolan Ryan football-tossing card), lots of stars like Canseco, Schmidt, Clemens and Bonds, the Smoltz rookie, and some rookie for the Mariners. Yeah, I need the Griffey card (though I tried to buy it once but returned it for some reason).
10/2 - Received 27 in trade over internet which included John Smoltz
3/12 - Received Don Mattingly in large eBay lot
7/19 - Bought 14 more from eBay
Originally: 86.9% Complete ( 695 / 800 cards)
Current: 92.1% Complete ( 737 / 800 cards)
1987 Donruss 1987 Donruss
In hindsight, Donruss had some cool sets. I have to admit that the black border with baseballs on the sides is pretty cool. This is a set I've slowly added to over time and it's really grown on me. I do need card 361, the Bonds rookie.
10/2 - Picked up 74 (!) cards via internet trade
1/26 - Received 21 from internet trade, including Kal Daniels and Cal Ripken
3/12 - Got Bert Blyleven in large eBay lot
Originally 64.7% Complete ( 427 / 660 cards)
Current: 79.2% Complete ( 523 / 660 cards)
1981 Fleer 1981 Fleer
Despite all the errors, this is a set I really like. 1981 was a good year for baseball cards I suppose. I managed to buy several team sets from The Baseball Card Corner in Montgomery, Ohio. There are not any real rookies I need.
10/2 - Acquired 12 cards via internet trade
6/23 - Acquired 13 Oakland A's via eBay
7/2 - Rickey Henderson highlight arrived
Originally 51.8% Complete ( 342 / 660 cards)
Current: 55.8% Complete ( 368 / 660 cards)
1985 Topps 1985 Topps
The set had lots of junk in it: Father-Son combos, I didn't like the #1 draft pick cards, and it was rather un-inspiring in terms of layout. Oh, and it had that "Team USA" thing. Before I learned to protect cards, I pulled not one but TWO McGwire cards. Then I heard he had 30 homers by the All-Star break his rookie year and I was sold. I won the Reds set and Gooden rookie in a high-card draw from Doug, one of the few times I beat him at cards. His consolation prize, the Red Sox set (with the Clemens Rookie). At the time, it was a steal for me. That deal - 25+ years later - hasn't worked out so well for me.
10/2 - Internet trade yields 34 cards including several Father & Son combos and the last two Team USA needed
1/26 - Internet trade yields 14 cards including Dennis Rasmussen and Claudell Washington
3/12 - Got Paul Molitor from large eBay lot
Originally 61.6% Complete ( 488 / 792 cards)
Current: 67.8% Complete ( 537 / 792 cards)
1983 Topps 1983 Topps
This is a set that I have a love-hate relationship. Sometimes, I think it's really cool. Then, I'll think it's a waste of potential. The Super Vets aren't as cool as the In Action of 1982; however, the circle around the player's head is better than the box on 1984. I need the Sandberg and Boggs rookie but NOT Gwynn.
10/2 - internet trade yields 12 more, including Quisenberry All-Star
10/28 - internet trade yields Gary Gaetti
Originally 61.4% Complete ( 486 / 792 cards)
Current: 63.0% Complete ( 499 / 792 cards)
1984 Topps 1984 Topps
Just as the 1984 Fleer were the "Jefferson Stars," this set was the "Reno Slots" team. I'm not a big fan of the team name on the sides, but it's a set that has an odd appeal.
10/2 - Internet trade yields 16 more cards for the set and tops 700 cards achieved!
>10/28 - Internet trade yields Giants team leader card
1/26 - Internet traded yields four more, including two Career Leaders
4/18 - Reds team lot from eBay yields Concepcion and Team Checklist card. Orioles set yielded Joe Nolan, Ken Singleton, and Cal Ripken All-Star
4/28 - Got Orioles checklist (belated eBay)
Originally 86.5% Complete ( 685 / 792 cards)
Current: 89.5% Complete ( 709 / 792 cards)
1980 Topps 1980 Topps
Another case where I've bought a large lot of commons that helped fill out the set. Yes, I need the Henderson rookie.
10/2 - Received 4 via internet trade
11/27 - Bought Dave Collins at Baseball Card Corner
1/26 - Six via internet trade including Dale Murphy and cool Randy Jones card
4/19 - A's team set. Rick Langford needed and Rickey Henderson is now in my house!
4/26 - Padres set gives Bill Fahey and Ozzie Smith
7/19 - Bought 7 via eBay, including three Reds, a Del Unser highlight, and Barry Bonnell
Originally 88.8% Complete ( 645 / 726 cards)
Current: 91.9% Complete ( 667 / 726 cards)

Last updated July 19, 2011
Return to Jeff's card page.

	1981 Topps Status: COMPLETE Arguably my 2nd favorite set (behind the 1982 Topps). Most of this set was completed when Doug bought three 3200-count boxes at an auction for me at $5/per box. I've sold several 150-card lots on eBay but I still have over 100 Dave Kingman and Claudell Washington cards. 10/2 - Internet trade lands the Jim Rice card 10/26 - George Brett arrives via eBay purchase 11/27 - George Medich, Sparky Andersen / Tigers Team, and Lance Parrish found at Baseball Card Corner 12/10 - My brother picks up the last two I need, delivered 12/24. Originally 99.0% Complete ( 719 / 726 cards)
	1988 Score Status: COMPLETE When this set came out, it was a big deal because it was the first real challenger to the "big three." The colorful borders were cool at the time - it was the 80s - and the photos were much better than anything on a card previously. I remember buying lots of packs from the kiosk at Milford Junior High. 10/2 - Received two more via internet trade (Vance Law and Mark McLemore) 7/19 - Got remaining seven through eBay purchase Originally 98.6% Complete ( 651 / 660 cards)
	1984 Fleer I loved this set as a kid. When I used to do my own fantasy baseball league, only cards from this set were allowed into the "Jefferson Stars" team. Still need the Mattingly rookie. 10/2 - Picked up five via internet trade 1/3 - Received 10 via eBay auction, including Wayne Krenchicki, Steve Carlton, Eckersley, Ron Hassey, Dave Parker, and John Wockenfuss 7/14 - Bought a rack-pack from eBay and got 28 needed, including Robin Yount and "Jefferson Stars" Bud Black, Jamie Quirk, and Scott Sanderson Originally 47.7% Complete ( 315 / 660 cards) Current: 54.2% Complete ( 358 / 660 cards)
	1987 Fleer I liked the blue-faded-to-white border of this set. I've only bought a few packs of this set: one was about eight years ago and managed to pull the Bonds rookie :) 10/2 - Acquired 11 needed cards via internet trade 3/12 - Got Pedro Guerrero in large eBay lot Originally 77.6% Complete ( 512 / 660 cards) Current 79.4% Complete ( 524 / 660 cards)
	1989 Upper Deck A revolutionary set. I mean, it had foil counterfeiting-prevention stickers! I was sold on the set after seeing - and getting - the McGwire card. I need a bunch of the High Series (including the Nolan Ryan football-tossing card), lots of stars like Canseco, Schmidt, Clemens and Bonds, the Smoltz rookie, and some rookie for the Mariners. Yeah, I need the Griffey card (though I tried to buy it once but returned it for some reason). 10/2 - Received 27 in trade over internet which included John Smoltz 3/12 - Received Don Mattingly in large eBay lot 7/19 - Bought 14 more from eBay Originally: 86.9% Complete ( 695 / 800 cards) Current: 92.1% Complete ( 737 / 800 cards)
	1987 Donruss In hindsight, Donruss had some cool sets. I have to admit that the black border with baseballs on the sides is pretty cool. This is a set I've slowly added to over time and it's really grown on me. I do need card 361, the Bonds rookie. 10/2 - Picked up 74 (!) cards via internet trade 1/26 - Received 21 from internet trade, including Kal Daniels and Cal Ripken 3/12 - Got Bert Blyleven in large eBay lot Originally 64.7% Complete ( 427 / 660 cards) Current: 79.2% Complete ( 523 / 660 cards)
	1981 Fleer Despite all the errors, this is a set I really like. 1981 was a good year for baseball cards I suppose. I managed to buy several team sets from The Baseball Card Corner in Montgomery, Ohio. There are not any real rookies I need. 10/2 - Acquired 12 cards via internet trade 6/23 - Acquired 13 Oakland A's via eBay 7/2 - Rickey Henderson highlight arrived Originally 51.8% Complete ( 342 / 660 cards) Current: 55.8% Complete ( 368 / 660 cards)
	1985 Topps The set had lots of junk in it: Father-Son combos, I didn't like the #1 draft pick cards, and it was rather un-inspiring in terms of layout. Oh, and it had that "Team USA" thing. Before I learned to protect cards, I pulled not one but TWO McGwire cards. Then I heard he had 30 homers by the All-Star break his rookie year and I was sold. I won the Reds set and Gooden rookie in a high-card draw from Doug, one of the few times I beat him at cards. His consolation prize, the Red Sox set (with the Clemens Rookie). At the time, it was a steal for me. That deal - 25+ years later - hasn't worked out so well for me. 10/2 - Internet trade yields 34 cards including several Father & Son combos and the last two Team USA needed 1/26 - Internet trade yields 14 cards including Dennis Rasmussen and Claudell Washington 3/12 - Got Paul Molitor from large eBay lot Originally 61.6% Complete ( 488 / 792 cards) Current: 67.8% Complete ( 537 / 792 cards)
	1983 Topps This is a set that I have a love-hate relationship. Sometimes, I think it's really cool. Then, I'll think it's a waste of potential. The Super Vets aren't as cool as the In Action of 1982; however, the circle around the player's head is better than the box on 1984. I need the Sandberg and Boggs rookie but NOT Gwynn. 10/2 - internet trade yields 12 more, including Quisenberry All-Star 10/28 - internet trade yields Gary Gaetti Originally 61.4% Complete ( 486 / 792 cards) Current: 63.0% Complete ( 499 / 792 cards)
	1984 Topps Just as the 1984 Fleer were the "Jefferson Stars," this set was the "Reno Slots" team. I'm not a big fan of the team name on the sides, but it's a set that has an odd appeal. 10/2 - Internet trade yields 16 more cards for the set and tops 700 cards achieved! >10/28 - Internet trade yields Giants team leader card 1/26 - Internet traded yields four more, including two Career Leaders 4/18 - Reds team lot from eBay yields Concepcion and Team Checklist card. Orioles set yielded Joe Nolan, Ken Singleton, and Cal Ripken All-Star 4/28 - Got Orioles checklist (belated eBay) Originally 86.5% Complete ( 685 / 792 cards) Current: 89.5% Complete ( 709 / 792 cards)
	1980 Topps Another case where I've bought a large lot of commons that helped fill out the set. Yes, I need the Henderson rookie. 10/2 - Received 4 via internet trade 11/27 - Bought Dave Collins at Baseball Card Corner 1/26 - Six via internet trade including Dale Murphy and cool Randy Jones card 4/19 - A's team set. Rick Langford needed and Rickey Henderson is now in my house! 4/26 - Padres set gives Bill Fahey and Ozzie Smith 7/19 - Bought 7 via eBay, including three Reds, a Del Unser highlight, and Barry Bonnell Originally 88.8% Complete ( 645 / 726 cards) Current: 91.9% Complete ( 667 / 726 cards)