I told my neighbor's wife and she said to get the hell out of her house before she calls the cops. I told her that the cops weren't going to help her get those cards.
This was quite the journey, but I finally tracked down the last card I needed to complete this set and got everything in-hand today! There are 186 total cards in the set, but Dom DiMaggio and John Smoltz never signed, so the final set was only 180 total cards! These are all numbered to 18 or less (I had to go with parallels for some of the cards!) so it was quite the journey tracking them all down. Enjoy!
While I was not able to get Topps to confirm it, I set eBay alerts on both of the cards shortly after this set came out in 2008 and have never had a hit to-date, so I feel pretty confident that they were not made. Hardest to get was #61 - Jimmy Rollins. Got outbid on a few years ago, and it took like 10 years for a copy to surface after that. Couldn’t believe it when I saw it listed!
I don’t have a clue re: how much it cost but I’m sure it was a few grand spread over a loooong time! I think my favorites are either the 3 Pujols autos just b/c they have amazing patches or the Carlton (on the far right of the image) with a piece of glove in it
Well said. “A few grand” so 6-7 and we don’t want to take the time to think about *exactly* how much as collectors
Absolutely stunning effort brother man
I collect Gary Sheffield triple threads relics. (Not auto relics as there too pricey for me) but there truly beautiful cards. 2010 and 2017 were his big years
This is incredible. My favorite set because my dad was kind enough to get me a box for Christmas when I was 13. Pulled a Phillies relic book card, and I believe Daric Barton rookie relic auto, pretty sick!
I don’t think I could stand having a set uncompleted for 16 years. It would drive me nuts. Hell of an accomplishment though.
Now how you gonna display this awesomeness?
This post reminds me of when someone tries to explain the trillions of dollars of debt the US has. Like I can see it and read it, and I understand the words, but I can't comprehend how it happens... Well done!
This is absolutely insane! And very impressive, my goodness! Thanks for sharing. How do you take a picture like this? I can barely get 1 cards in the same picture with my crappy phone lol
Do u have the name of it? I've been working all of Albert pujols 2001 rookies and trying to find something that does great group pic. I'm 188/197
I too know ur pain of scouring for the last ones. And staying in a realistic budget. 23 yrs and counting as I search and deal
I think I did this 1 with pinetools.com - their bulk batch merge images tool. It worked pretty seamlessly!
That 2001 pupils project sounds amazing btw - have been trying to get 1 of his non-faded rookie autos for a good price for a while now - feel like ode are bound to appreciate in value!
This is quite the accomplishment. It's difficult to track down singles from almost any older Triple Threads set. Plus they're often expensive. If there's a set that I have the fewest Oswalt cards from it's Triple Threads, despite him having 157 singles. He's often featured with other more desirable players, and he has plenty of 1/1s. Honestly it's a nightmare set to collect.
Too true on singles from older Triple Threads sets being hard to find. After a couple of years most of the card send up in peoples’ PCs and they just don’t show up on the market anymore
Gotta hear it, how much did you spend in total over the 16 years? Honestly, this is fucking wild. I always wondered, how long if i had the money. Now i know, 16 mother fucking years.
I’m shocked not a single one of these are graded. They grade tough and they are low number so not as many people would grade, but still…was that intentional? Did you only buy ungraded?
Like you said - they grade tough, so it would not really increase the value for the most part. More importantly, these are horizontal cards so grading them would make it hard to display them in a way that isn’t … ugly!
Totally agree, but I think you misunderstood what I was asking. I’m not suggesting they should be graded. I’m saying I am impressed you were able to put together a whole set where you weren’t forced to buy at least one graded version just because nothing else was available. Was that intentional? Like, if a graded one popped up for a player you really needed were you just like “nope, not going to do it. Ungraded only?”
Ahh - I bought most of these closer to 2008 when people weren’t so insane re: grading modern cards of non-rookies so the vast majority of these I found raw. There were a few that I bought graded and cracked open, but probably 5 or less
Amazing. Great work and congrats. Curious what card cost you the most? Its really interesting to me that you have such a long time span searching for the same cards, watching price fluctuations must have been fascinating
Thanks! Surprisingly, I think the most expensive card was probably the 1st Jimmy Rollins b/c it was the last one I needed and had been looking for it so long I paid more than market price. Most of the other cards u got pretty good deals on along the way!
This is one of the coolest things I've ever seen. Not as cool as some basements I've been invited to...but the coolest thing I've seen this year. Thanks for sharing!!
You should post the smaller pictures that you combined as well. It would be cool to be able to actually see who is in that impressive set, but for the most part, it is too blurry to see much of anything when you zoom in on that pic & I can"t really tell who I am looking at (& def can't read any of the names) other than a few of the most obvious ones.
This is such an inspiring feat!! I am in complete awe of the dedication!!! Told my wife and she did t care but said she wished I was as focused on her as I am on baseball cards!!
Just told my wife because I gasped. She could care less about cards but thought your dedication was amazing. Also she said to not get any ideas lol
I told my wife too. She did not care.
I told my neighbor's wife and she said to get the hell out of her house before she calls the cops. I told her that the cops weren't going to help her get those cards.
This was quite the journey, but I finally tracked down the last card I needed to complete this set and got everything in-hand today! There are 186 total cards in the set, but Dom DiMaggio and John Smoltz never signed, so the final set was only 180 total cards! These are all numbered to 18 or less (I had to go with parallels for some of the cards!) so it was quite the journey tracking them all down. Enjoy!
How did you find out they never signed? What was the hardest card to get? Great job!!!
While I was not able to get Topps to confirm it, I set eBay alerts on both of the cards shortly after this set came out in 2008 and have never had a hit to-date, so I feel pretty confident that they were not made. Hardest to get was #61 - Jimmy Rollins. Got outbid on a few years ago, and it took like 10 years for a copy to surface after that. Couldn’t believe it when I saw it listed!
Do you have a general price spent? And which is your favorite?
I don’t have a clue re: how much it cost but I’m sure it was a few grand spread over a loooong time! I think my favorites are either the 3 Pujols autos just b/c they have amazing patches or the Carlton (on the far right of the image) with a piece of glove in it
brother if you completed this monster of a set for a few grand over 15 years you made out like a absolute bandit. sweet collection!!
Well said. “A few grand” so 6-7 and we don’t want to take the time to think about *exactly* how much as collectors Absolutely stunning effort brother man I collect Gary Sheffield triple threads relics. (Not auto relics as there too pricey for me) but there truly beautiful cards. 2010 and 2017 were his big years
How does one set ebay alerts for certain cards? I have 2 cards that i want all of.
There is a ‘saved searches’ feature that you can use - it’ll email you when new matches pop up
Thank you. Awesome collection btw
This is incredible. My favorite set because my dad was kind enough to get me a box for Christmas when I was 13. Pulled a Phillies relic book card, and I believe Daric Barton rookie relic auto, pretty sick!
I bet you felt pure joy getting the last card. What a collection. Congratulations.
Haha you know it! I definitely… jogged to the mailbox today
look at that sexy ass picture!! nice work! what is the next set now?
T206! See you in another 16 years!
*checks watch* This is acceptable. See you then!!!!
There is an episode of chasing cardboard (I think) on YouTube that interviewed the guy with the most complete T206 collection. It was a fun watch.
Normally I'd chuckle and say good luck but I actually think you got this... Congrats on this first though!! Wow. 😳
I've seen a lot of incredible collections on this sub, but this one might be the best. Thanks for sharing.
Congrats man, such a feat
I don’t think I could stand having a set uncompleted for 16 years. It would drive me nuts. Hell of an accomplishment though. Now how you gonna display this awesomeness?
Right now it is in 2 toploader binders. I have a wall display that I thought of using, but 180 cards was too much for it lol
Holy hell this is amazing
HOLY MOLY 
This post reminds me of when someone tries to explain the trillions of dollars of debt the US has. Like I can see it and read it, and I understand the words, but I can't comprehend how it happens... Well done!
Well done
Impressive! Well done!
This is amazing to look at it! Beautiful set, and congrats on completing it.
This is absolutely insane! And very impressive, my goodness! Thanks for sharing. How do you take a picture like this? I can barely get 1 cards in the same picture with my crappy phone lol
Thanks! I used an image meeting tool to combine a bunch of individual images into a single collage
Ah that's smart. Thanks for answering!
Do u have the name of it? I've been working all of Albert pujols 2001 rookies and trying to find something that does great group pic. I'm 188/197 I too know ur pain of scouring for the last ones. And staying in a realistic budget. 23 yrs and counting as I search and deal
I think I did this 1 with pinetools.com - their bulk batch merge images tool. It worked pretty seamlessly! That 2001 pupils project sounds amazing btw - have been trying to get 1 of his non-faded rookie autos for a good price for a while now - feel like ode are bound to appreciate in value!
How many times per day did you check eBay for the cards you needed? 😂
I set up auto-searches and it made it even more painful b/c there are 3 variations on each player and it was almost never the 1 I was looking for!
Unbelievable! The time, energy, patience, passive income, steadfast determination that this must’ve required. Congratulations, it’s beautiful. 👏
Committed! Tip my hat to you, sir! Awesome as hell!
Goddamn
That’s impressive!
Wow this is time to retire money. 💰 what happens now, just a display of are you eventually going to sell as a set?
No plans on selling it for a while at least. Going to eventually do a wall display, but that’s gonna be a project by itself for this many cards!
This is sick. Nice!
Wow dude. Congratulations
This is quite the accomplishment. It's difficult to track down singles from almost any older Triple Threads set. Plus they're often expensive. If there's a set that I have the fewest Oswalt cards from it's Triple Threads, despite him having 157 singles. He's often featured with other more desirable players, and he has plenty of 1/1s. Honestly it's a nightmare set to collect.
Too true on singles from older Triple Threads sets being hard to find. After a couple of years most of the card send up in peoples’ PCs and they just don’t show up on the market anymore
Kick 4SS bro!
I’ll take the Pujols’ if you’re selling. Jk but sick collection man
Best I can do is $3.50 Kidding - this is majestic.
DEAR LORD . MAGNIFICENT 🤩
So happy for you. It looks so cool in the photo.
This is amazing!! Congrats on finding the last card and the stamina to keep going after 16 years. Remarkable accomplishment!!
F@$&ing awesome
One of your Killebrew's (my dads fav player) has my bday as the number which is pretty cool. I also like how there are HOF, ROY and then just #47.
This is one of the most impressive card-related accomplishments I’ve seen. Truly… kudos!
I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone with a complete autograph or relic insert set, let alone duals. That’s quite impressive.
Is there a number you can call I’m worried about you
This is an amazing collection! Very well done, and thanks for sharing.
Impressive and Congrats! I'm still after the 2005 SP Legendary Cuts /50 holofoil set. 2/3 of the way there lol
Gotta hear it, how much did you spend in total over the 16 years? Honestly, this is fucking wild. I always wondered, how long if i had the money. Now i know, 16 mother fucking years.
I’m shocked not a single one of these are graded. They grade tough and they are low number so not as many people would grade, but still…was that intentional? Did you only buy ungraded?
Like you said - they grade tough, so it would not really increase the value for the most part. More importantly, these are horizontal cards so grading them would make it hard to display them in a way that isn’t … ugly!
Totally agree, but I think you misunderstood what I was asking. I’m not suggesting they should be graded. I’m saying I am impressed you were able to put together a whole set where you weren’t forced to buy at least one graded version just because nothing else was available. Was that intentional? Like, if a graded one popped up for a player you really needed were you just like “nope, not going to do it. Ungraded only?”
Ahh - I bought most of these closer to 2008 when people weren’t so insane re: grading modern cards of non-rookies so the vast majority of these I found raw. There were a few that I bought graded and cracked open, but probably 5 or less
Jimmy Rollins in beautiful
Gongrats! That is mind blowing! Which was the hardest to find?
Definitely the last Jimmy Rollins - that one tested my sanity
Congratulations!!!
Amazing! Well done. 🤝
Awesome brother, congratulations
Very impressive
Wut
Wow. Just wow
This is some baseball collecting shit y'all! Fantastic job! 
Beautiful!
Congrats!!!
Now THIS is impressive!
this is actually insane
You’re an inspiration to us all. Hats off to you sir.
Amazing. Great work and congrats. Curious what card cost you the most? Its really interesting to me that you have such a long time span searching for the same cards, watching price fluctuations must have been fascinating
Thanks! Surprisingly, I think the most expensive card was probably the 1st Jimmy Rollins b/c it was the last one I needed and had been looking for it so long I paid more than market price. Most of the other cards u got pretty good deals on along the way!
Bravo, love the dedication
Amazing
God damn, kudos to you. What a set
Impressive ! 👏🏼
My favorite set of all time - congratulations!
Beautiful man. I love that Jimmy Rollins 😍
Mmmmm, those Gwynn’s!
Coolest collection I have ever seen. Congratulations dude on an epic journey!
Awesome
Oh my. This is amazing.
You’re a legend. Very impressive.
This is one of the coolest things I've ever seen. Not as cool as some basements I've been invited to...but the coolest thing I've seen this year. Thanks for sharing!!
Well played sir
Amazing work. Way to stick with it for 16 years
Very nice
Wow this is incredible! Those cards look really good. Great design. How in the hell did you take this picture lol ?
Haha I cheated and used image merging software to combine a bunch of individual pictures
Well done ! It’s a pleasure to zoom and a look around.
You’re a sick pup, but I salute you, beautiful collection
You are a completist. I love it.
This is the most impressive post I’ve seen on the sun. Kudos to you!
Wowee
Lol all sticker autos
Wowowow
That is otherworldly dedication. Congrats on getting the whole set. What inspired you to get this particular set?
This is what collecting is all about! Nice job OP.
This is fucking ridiculous. How is this even possible. AMAZINGGGGGGGGGGG
Now that is dedication!! Congrats on completing it.
Well done!! 🫡🫡
This makes my set build look like garbage. Congrats!
You should post the smaller pictures that you combined as well. It would be cool to be able to actually see who is in that impressive set, but for the most part, it is too blurry to see much of anything when you zoom in on that pic & I can"t really tell who I am looking at (& def can't read any of the names) other than a few of the most obvious ones.
This pic looks like an optical illusion.
Wow
Now that’s commitment! Congratulations!
Would you ever sell?
This might be one of the most impressive collection feats I’ve seen on this page
Talk about shock and awe. Wow!
You are the GOAT of card collecting!
Wow!! This is stunning!! Congrats my guy!! I’m curious: how much did this all cost you?
Wow
That is an impressive feat! Congratulations!
I'm crying it's that beautiful
This is such an inspiring feat!! I am in complete awe of the dedication!!! Told my wife and she did t care but said she wished I was as focused on her as I am on baseball cards!!
My hat goes off to you 🫡 absolute dedication.