Dave Toback
(AKA Dr. Chaos)'s Cardboard Home Page
(Member of OBC, OCT and VCT)
<------- Want lists can be found by clicking on the link to the left
This page can be found at rebrand.ly/DocChaosWants
For some reason most people have trouble finding the link on the top left
Notes (last updated 12/19/2022):
Condition: As a proud member of OBC, I always prefer a hole in my card over a hole in my set. That being said, I typically will upgrade to cards with no creases, writing, paper loss, bad blemishes or tape marks. Centering and corners are less important to me. I guess this is VG+? Using the conventions of PSA, I typically don't like 1's or worse (although all the expensive cards I own are mostly a 1 or an A). and am happy with a 1.5. My sweet spot is a 2. If it's higher than that I usually would prefer to have used my money/trade bait for a lower grade card.
Graded vs. Ungraded: Speaking of graded cards, I always prefer raw cards over graded cards, but often choose graded cards for vintage superstars that are frequently counterfeited.
Overview of what I collect: My focus has shifted over time. My primary focus is Baseball, with priority always being the Topps baseball run. Next priority is vintage Bowman, Goudey `33 and `34, Play Ball, Fleer, Red Man and Leaf. I'm actively working on other early stuff, but that's been slow so any help is appreciated. On the other hand I've also decided to do Heritage because I love the card stock, and expanded to Archives and A&G. There are also Football and Basketball lists, as well as a couple of newer UV card brands (Upper Deck, Donruss, and Fleer).
Trading or otherwise hitting my want list: I realize my lists are getting harder to hit. I'm comfortable with many-for-few card trades, as well as few-for-many card trades. If you can't find anything on my want list, but still want to trade, PLEASE email me at toback@tamu.edu. I like to find good homes for my dupes, and typically prefer any card I don't have to a dupe in my box. I'm also happy to get upgrades, and then share the wealth with my dupes. I'm not much for oddball stuff yet... sorry... some day... maybe...
Cardboard Currency Galaxy of Games: I run a number of games to help the cards fly. It's mostly with OBC, OCT and VCT folks, but others are welcome to join. See the links and let me know if you are interested. Like all schoolyard games they are FAR easier than they look. There are just ground rules to make them fun and make things go easier on everyone.
Dave's Top 10 (ish) Card Want list (last updated 1/23/2024)
1965 Topps FB Biletnikoff RC
1940 Play Ball Berg
Playing days Joe Jackson
Out of reach cards:
49 Leaf Paige
Cracker Jack Joe Jackson
33 Goudey Lajoie
List of cards that used to be on on my top 10 list (most recent on top)
1954 Wilson Franks Ted Williams (April 2024 - Ashish Jain)
1952 Berk Ross Jackie Robinson, Willie Mays, Joe DiMaggio, Ted Williams and Mickey Mantle (April 2024 - James Lafemina/Mac Wubben)
1955 Topps Double Header Jackie Robinson (January 2024 - Justin Dickerson)
1915 Cracker Jack Wagner (January 2024 - Mac Wubben)
1915 Cracker Jack Cobb (November 2023 - Ashish Jain)
1933 DeLong Grove (July 2023 - Ashish Jain)
1957 ToppsFB Berry (July 2023 - Roger Neufeldt)
1961 ToppsBkb Jerry West (July 2023 - Brian Roth)
1952 Topps WIlhelm (June 2023 - B. Keenan)
1954 Red Man Campanella (June 2023 - Mark Macrae)
1949 Leaf Doby (June 2023 - Ashish Jain)
1934 Goudey Appling (June 2023 - Tom Botticelli)
1948 Sport Thrills Feller (May 2023 - Patrick Kelly)
1948 Sport Thrills Robinson (May 2023 - Gary Wells)
1954 Wilson Franks Campanella (Spring 2023 - Mac Wubben)
T205 Young (Spring 2023 - Justin Dickerson)
2011 Topps US Trout RC (Spring 2023 - Justin Dickerson)
T205 Cobb (February 2023 - Ashish Jain)
1935 Goudey 4-in-1 Ruth (February 2023 - Ashish Jain)
96-97 Topps Bkb Bryant RC (January 2023 - Conroe Show)
T206 Johnson (January 2023 - Jay Holanda)
54 Dan-Dee Mantle (January 2023 - Justin Dickerson)
61 Fleer Robertson RC (January 2023 - Justin Dickerson)
57 Topps FB Starr (December 2022 - Ashish Jain)
61 Fleer Chamberlain (December 2022 - Ashish Jain)
54 Red Heart Mantle (December 2022 - silverfoocardboard/eBay)
33 Delong Gehrig (December 2022 - Ashish Jain)
54 Red Heart Musial (December 2022 - Turn2/EBay)
65 ToppsFB Namath (November 2022 - Ashish Jain)
59Fleer #68 - Ted Signs (October 2022 - Adam Gordon)
38 Goudey DiMaggio #250 (October 2022 - Lou Brown Leges Sports & Games)
57 ToppsBkb Russell (October 2022 - Ashish Jain)
33 Goudey Gehrig #160 (August 2022 - Ashish Jain)
40 Play Ball Joe Jackson (August 2022 - Mac Wubben)
33 Goudey Foxx #154 (August 2022 - Joe Adriance)
33 Goudey Ruth #181 Green (July 2022 - Ashish Jain)
T206 Johnson Portrait (July 2022 - Nikolas Torma)
33 Goudey Ruth #149 Red (June 2022 - Ashish Jain)
T206 Ty Cobb/Portrait (June 2022 - Ashish Jain)
49 Leaf Joe DiMaggio (June 2022 - Ashish Jain)
49 Bowman Ashburn (May 2022 - Curtis Early)
49 Leaf Ruth (April 2022 - Ashish Jain)
38 Goudey Feller (April 2022 - Derrick Owens)
T206 Ty Cobb/Bat off Shoulder (April 2022 - James Keenum)
49 Leaf Warren Spahn (April 2022 - Mitch Braunstein)
52 Topps Campanella (March 2022 - Ted Sherman)
86 Fleer Jordan (February 2022 - Ashish Jain)
80-81 Topps Bird/Johnson/Irving (February 2022 - Ed Pike/OBC)
52 Topps Reese (February 2022 - MM7 Sportscards)
48 Leaf Williams (February 2022 - Ashish Jain)
39 Play Ball Williams (February 2022 - Ashish Jain)
33 Goudey Foxx (#29) (January 2022 - DallasCardShow)
33 Goudey Ruth (#53 Yellow ) (January 2022- Mark Daily)
57 Topps B. Robinson (January 2022 - Chris Tanton)
49 Bowman Paige (January 2022 - Greg Morris Collectibles/eBay)
67 Topps Seaver (December 2021 - Greg Rosen)
49 Leaf Jackie Robinson (December 2021 - Peter Sycks)
63 Topps Stargell (November 2021 - BattersBox)
48 Bowman Spahn (November 2021 BattersBox)
63 Topps Rose (November 2021 - Ilanos)
53 Bowman Reese (November 2021 - Kurt Tourdot)
59 Topps Gibson (November 2021 - Ed Hutchinson)
41 Play Ball Reese (November 2021 - Ashish Jain)
52 Topps Mathews (October 2021 - Peter Sycks)
41 Play Ball Joe DiMaggio (October 2021 - Adam Gordon)
52 Topps Mantle (October 2021 - Ashish Jain)
72 Topps Staubach (September 2021 - Steve Archibald)
51 Bowman Mantle (September 2021 - Peter Sycks)
48 Bowman Rizzuto (September 2021 - Steve Archibald)
58 Topps Jim Brown (August 2021 - SunDiegoCollectibles/eBay)
67 Topps Carew (Oct 2020, upgraded Aug 2021 - Steve Archibald)
67 Topps Seaver (Original ?, upgraded Aug 2021 - Steve Archibald)
40 Play Ball Joe Jackson (March 2021 - Jay Kaplan)
33 Goudey Berg (Jan 2021 - Stan Loch)
40 Play Ball T. Williams (Jan 2021 - Mark Macrae)
41 Play Ball Foxx (Nov 2020- Dave Estright)
34 Goudey Gehrig #61 (Oct 2020? - James Keenum?)
34 Goudey Gehrig #37 (8/9/2020 - Mac Wubben)
49 Bowman Musial (6/19/2020 - Mark Macrae)
54 Bowman T. Williams (6/19/2020 - Stan Loch)
49 Leaf J. DiMaggio (5/15/2020 - Drew Epstein)
41 Play Ball J. DiMaggio (3/15/2020 - Jimi Thayer)
40 Play Ball J. Dimaggio (3/6/2020 - Mac Wubben)
49 Bowman J. Robinson RC (3/4/2020 - Michael Ward)
33 Goudey Gehrig #92 (2/27/2020 - Kent Jones)
49 Leaf Musial RC (2/13/2020 - Kent Jones)
33 Goudey Ruth #144 (2/9/2020 - Chad Caudill )
49 Bowman Reese (2/9/2020 - Tom Weigle)
57 Topps B. Robinson RC (replacement 2/3/2020 - Joe Nienalt)
39 Play Ball DiMaggio RC (1/25/2019 - Justin Dickerson)
49 Bowman Snider RC (1/25/2019 - Justin Dickerson)
50 Bowman J. Robinson (1/25/2019 - Justin Dickerson)
52 Bowman Mantle (12/28/2019 - Mark Olson)
48 Bowman Musial RC (11/25/2019 - Katherine Toback)
63 Topps Stargell RC (11/25/2019 - Rex Morgart)
57 Topps B. Robinson RC (11/17/2019 - Gary Bell)
41 Play Ball T. Williams (11/9/2019 - Jeremy Addy)
63 Topps Rose RC (11/9/2019 - Jimi Thayer)
54 Topps Kaline RC (11/2/2019 - Adam Gordon)
48 Bowman Feller (11/1/2019 - Justin Dickerson)
48 Bowman Spahn (11/1/2019 - Justin Dickerson)
50 Bowman T. Williams (11/1/2019 - Justin Dickerson)
50 Bowman Reese (10/12/2019 - Evan Fedorovich)
49 Leaf DiMaggio (9/25/2019- Dmitry Drubitsky)
41 Play Ball Dimaggio (9/3/2019 - Jimi Thayer)
52 Topps Mays (8/22/2019 - Jimi Thayer)
52 Topps Jackie Robinson (8/22/2019 - Jimi Thayer)
55 Topps Jackie Robinson (8/3/2019 - National)
55 Topps Clemente (7/20/2019 - Carl Verive)
49 Bowman Campanella (7/12/2019)
51 Bowman Williams (7/4/2019 - Justin Dickerson)
57 Topps Drysdale RC (6/8/2019)
2024 Collecting Goals
Since this last year marked a number of milestones, and leave me with a number of out of reach goals, this years goals will look different. With that in mind here goes:
The specific "do-able"
Get 3 cards from my "slightly more than top 10" list
Vintage Baseball Goals:
Complete 1938 Goudey set (38) or one Play Ball set (1939 or 40 Play Ball)
Complete one Red Man set (52 or 54)
Get 25 T205 or T206 cards
Get 2 1948 Swell Cards
Finish a 1970's Bkb set
Finish the Philly FB run
UV Baseball Goals
Finish a Heritage set
Finish an A&G set
Finish the 2023 Topps and Topps Updates sets
2023 Collecting Goals
This year I have a number of goals, many of which feel very out of reach. On the other hand, 2022 saw so much change that I guess I shouldn't be afraid. I was taught that good goals are "well in sight, but just out of reach". With that in mind here goes:
The specific "do-able"
Hit the 1500 RAOK mark - Passed 1,300 but definitely a fail
Get 3 cards from my "slightly more than top 10" list- Got 19, Bad Dave!
Vintage Baseball Goals:
Complete the Topps run (1952) - Done
Complete Bowman Vintage Run (1949) - Done
Complete one Goudey set (34 or 38) or one Play Ball set (1939 or 40 Play Ball) - Done (1934 Goudey)
Complete one Red Man set (52-54) - Done (1953 Red Man)
Complete the upgrading of one 1970's set - Done
Football and Basketball Goals
Complete three vintage football sets and three UV football sets
Complete three vintage basketball sets
Complete three UV basketball sets
UV Baseball Goals
Complete 2021 & 2022 Topps
Complete one Topps Traded/Update Series set
Complete one Heritage set
Complete an Archives set
Complete an A&G set
Complete three non-Topps brand UV sets
The "never ending" or "ill-defined"
Keep CCA, UV/Bulk Matchmaker, VSP and Contract Killers going, and add a new game
Reduce the "off-brand" cards footprint in my house
Resist the urge to overpay to make progress
Resist the siren call of doing variations (except Topps 74 Washington) and non-sports (other than Star Wars)
2022 Collecting Goals
This year I have a number of goals, most of which feel very out of reach. On the other hand, 2021 saw so much change that I guess I shouldn't be afraid. I was taught that good goals are "well in sight, but just out of reach". With that in mind here goes:
The specific "do-able"
Hit the 1500 "outgoing to OBC" mark - Slowed down a bit, but pleased to have passed 1200 RAOK, but well over 1500 OBC items sent. Push
Get 3 cards from my "slightly more than top 10" list - Bad Dave... bought too many
Vintage Baseball Goals:
Complete the Topps run from 1952-1980. Sub-Goals (in order of likelihood):
1961 Topps - Done
Re-kill 1957 Topps - Done
1963 Topps - Done
1967 Topps - Done
1952 Topps - Nope
Complete Bowman Vintage Run (1949) - Down to 3.
Complete one Goudey or Play Ball set - Done, Completed 1933 Goudey and 41 Play Ball
Complete one Red Man set - Done, 1955
Complete the upgrading of one 1970's set - Done, 77-79
Football and Basketball Goals
Complete three vintage football sets and three UV football sets - Finished 68-79 (well. except 72 HNs), and down to 3 cards to finish the 80's
Complete three vintage basketball sets - Done: 69/70, 78/79, 79/80
Complete three UV basketball sets - 92/93 Topps, 88/89 Fleer, 89/90 Fleer
UV Baseball Goals
Complete 2021 Topps - Down to 2 cards
Complete one Topps Traded/Update Series set - Completed a bunch
Complete one Heritage set - Fail
Complete an Archives set - Fail
Complete an A&G set - Done: 2020
Complete three non-Topps brand UV sets: Well more than 3 between Fleer and Donruss
The "never ending" or "ill-defined"
Keep CCA, UV/Bulk Matchmaker, Two Weeks To Kill and Dupes Bingo going - We'll declare victory, CCA and UVM going, other two morphed into VSP and Contract Killers
Reduce the "off-brand" cards footprint in my house - Gave away a LOT of cards to kids, and sent bulk packages
Resist the urge to overpay to make progress - Mixed
Resist the siren call of doing variations (except Topps 74 Washington) and non-sports (other than Star Wars) - Success
Resist the siren call of pre-1933 cards - Complete and utter failure
2021 Collecting Goals
This year I have a number of goals, most of which feel very out of reach. On the other hand, 2020 saw so much change that I guess I shouldn't be afraid. I was taught that good goals are "well in sight, but just out of reach". With that in mind here goes:
The specific "do-able"
Complete the Topps run from 1968-2020 - Check
Get 3 cards from my "slightly more than top 10" list - Check
Complete one set from 1960-1967 - Check
Complete 1 Bowman vintage set - Check
Complete 1 vintage Fleer or Leaf set - Check
Complete one vintage basketball set - Almost, came within 1 of finishing 1969-70
Complete two 1970's football sets and one 1960's FB set (Topps or Philadelphia) - Almost, got two 70's FB sets (71 and 78), no Philly set even close
Complete one Heritage set - Not even close
Hit the 1000 "outgoing to OBC" mark - Almost/Check: Hit 965, but can call this complete if I include CCCG stuff
Complete one Topps Traded/Update Series set - Check (1992)
Finish the upgrading of one 1970's set - Check (1978)
Complete one non-Topps brand UV set - Check
The "never ending" or "ill-defined"
Keep CCA going - Check
Reduce the "off-brand" cards footprint in my house - Luckily this was ill-defined, so it was "reduced"
Resist the urge to overpay to make progress - Complete fail
Resist the siren call of doing variations (except Topps 74 Washington, and 69 Deckle) and non-sports (other than Star Wars) - Mixed. Added other "Topps sets" but didn't do any variations
The "longer term" or "lower priority" goals
Finish an Archives or A&G set - Check (A&G 2020)
Finish the 1952 "low numbers" set - Not even close
Finish one Red-Man set - Not even close
Finish one Goudey or Play Ball set - Almost. Got close on 1941 Play Ball