Baseball card HOF help

[Bicem]

I'm working on a baseball card HOF project and was looking for a little input...

Taking out photos, postcards, cabinets, over-sized cards, etc, would you agree that these are the most hobby significant cards of each player from the 1936 HOF class?

Cobb - t206 Cobb w/ Cobb back
Johnson - t204 Ramly
Mathewson - 1914 Cracker Jack
Ruth - Baltimore News
Wagner - t206


Hobby significant is a broad term I know, but try to think overall importance and not just your personal favorites. Thanks in advance for any feedback. Will be looking for more feedback for other classes if this goes well.

[Peter_Spaeth]

I personally view the M101-4/5 Ruth as more significant than the Baltimore News.

[FrankWakefield]

I agree with Peter on the M101s for Ruth. And I don't deem the Cobb brand Cobb card to be a white border T206 tobacco card. I'd go for his red portrait T206.

[bbcard1]

From my definition of significant, I would rate the Goudey Ruths higher. When people are asked to picture a Babe Ruth card in their mind that is the one that probably appears. They are aesthetically much more pleasing than the other examples sited, IMO.

[Bicem]

thought about that too Phil, but then which one do you pick? It's almost like they split the vote among each other making the m101-5 or Baltimore News the better choice.

Ted, why the Red over the Green?

[Leon]

Jeff- your first picks are probably going to be as good as any. Forget about what I like best or value and the following come to mind.

Cobb - t206 red background
Johnson - t204 Ramly
Mathewson - E107
Ruth - M101-4/5
Wagner - t206

I could also sub many others in but if I had to sub one I would say it's the classic #144 Goudey- Ruth batting..... for the M101-4/5

But your choices are good. This is so subjective it's almost like saying "who is the prettiest girl in Hollywood?"

[Bicem]

This is so subjective it's almost like saying "who is the prettiest girl in Hollywood?"

Katy Perry... but that's a different thread.

[sbfinley]

At first I replied T3 for Mathewson, but then I noted your over-sized clause. In which case I vote for the t206 portrait. It may not be as rare or as special as the CJ, but the card is beautiful.

[FUBAR]

Katy Perry... but that's a different thread.

Id take Debi Nova or Shakira any day if singers are your thing!

[Matt]

Cobb - CJ
Johnson - t206 Portrait
Mathewson - E105/E102/E101/E92
Ruth - M101-5
Wagner - t206

[Leon]

You could also pick the 10 best overall guesses and start a poll in this thread. Then the top 5 would be on a consensus basis (of course of just those ones listed but it would be close and maybe easier than just guessing). I think if a lot of people agree with what is already said they won't post, but if you do a poll more people will join in the fun. Just a thought.

[cdn_collector]

I think I can see the argument for every card on this list. For me, however, I'd have to replace the Ruth pick with his #144 Goudey. In my opinion, what makes the T206 Wagner significant has a lot to do with its prominence outside of the hobby. I think Ruth's Goudey wins over either the Baltimore News or M-101-4/5 for that reason.

Regards,

Richard.

[terjung]

I think I can see the argument for every card on this list. For me, however, I'd have to replace the Ruth pick with his #144 Goudey. In my opinion, what makes the T206 Wagner significant has a lot to do with its prominence outside of the hobby. I think Ruth's Goudey wins over either the Baltimore News or M-101-4/5 for that reason.

Regards,

Richard.

That's actually a great point. In terms of asking the average modern card collector who the greatest player of all time was... I'd bet that at least a fair number would say Babe Ruth (at least a fair number of laymen would). Regardless, if you asked modern card collectors (again... intentionally trying to avoid people knowledgeable in vintage), "What is his most significant card?" I'm sure you'd get either an "I don't know", "any of them", or "his rookie card."

Before you go debunking this thought because I intentionally am excluding vintage folks (and thereby skirting the actual hobby significance line), hear me out. My point is this... I would imagine that there are many who would suggest that Babe Ruth's rookie card should be one of the most significant cards in history. Not only is it is not the holy grail, we are having very serious discussion that up to 5 other cards may deserve the honor first. That leads me to think that the M101 Ruth RC is underappreciated... but also lends credance to the argument that it is not his most significant.

I was of the opinion (rather strongly actually) that the M101-5 should be his card's representative, but am no longer convinced. I think a strong argument could be made for the #144 Goudey to be the representative. Yes, the B.N. creates a hobby buzz when it is sold, but much of that surrounds cost and similar buzz is created around the T206 Doyle Nat'l for the same reason... it's doggone expensive. The Goudey set is arguably one of the more "important" sets (in terms of significance in the hobby). Outside the 1933/34 Lajoie, the #144 Ruth is probably the most widely recognized card in that set. Tough to rule out the #53 and friends, but if one were selected, #144 would be the one, in my book.

I guess I have trouble with a pre-rookie card from a regional, sparcly populated set being Ruth's most significant card. Most expensive - undoubtedly, favorite of some - probably, most hobby significant? ... not in my opinion. I don't imagine that kids are getting into the hobby aspiring to get the B.N. Ruth one day... like they are with the T206 Wagner, for example. I would contend that the '33 Goudey Ruths are more inspiring that way (with the dream of owning a Ruth RC one day once they figure out that the Goudeys aren't it). So, does inspiration = hobby significance? Perhaps. I contend that highest value doesn't equal highest hobby significance.