Collecting suggestions?

[drazz5]

I have been attempting to build "the Monster" for a little over a year now, and have made a good amount of progress...However I still have a long ways to go.

I was hoping to try putting together another vintage, but much smaller set, on the side in order to curb my need for instant gratification.

I was wondering if you guys had any suggestions on any solid, older card sets that are fun (and fairly painless) to put together.

[Luke]

I made the same choice a few years back. Went with:
-e95 (25 cards and the most beautiful set ever imo)
-e96 (30 cards, produced by the same company the following year)
-1935 Goudey (36 cards cheap set full of HOFers)

Other ideas:
-1941 Play Ball (81 cards I believe, and a beautiful set)
-Delongs

[steve B]

A team set within T206 might be good, and you're probably close to a few of them. Or one of the other small subsets, 649OP or southern league. Or even one of the other minor leagues.

Or maybe a limited type collection of the easier T cards , one each T200, 201,202, 204,205,206, 207,213 Maybe including others depending on budget.

The sets suggested so far are also good ones. Small sets with some challenge but possible.

Steve B

[x2drich2000]

As Luke mentioned, most of the caramels sets are small and quite manageable, both from a size and cost standpoint though the Cobbs/Wagners/Mathewsons/Youngs don't help. Personally, I'm also drawn to quite a few of the oversized sets from the 30's as well (r311, w554, r303, etc). These are generally quite cheap, loaded with Hofers, and have great images.

DJ

[Leon]

If you give a few more likes and dislikes we might be able to help you narrow it down. The possibilities already given are very good. Some of the Goudey R series cards are still very reasonably priced compared to most other sets.

[kamikidEFFL]

If you give a few more likes and dislikes we might be able to help you narrow it down. The possibilities already given are very good. Some of the Goudey R series cards are still very reasonably priced compared to most other sets.

I have to say leon is right will need more info on what your likes and dislikes are. So many different sets to do.

[oldjudge]

If you have an interest in 19th century baseball the Mayo set is a possible candidate. It is under 50 cards, is very attractive, and has lots of HOFers.

[bbcard1]

Doing a Delong set was a great experience for me, but you have to get lucky on the Gehrig. Mine is pretty much straight As and 1s with an occasional 2 mixed in.

[kmac32]

Strip cards from the 20's are awesome and for the most part not terribly expensive. Example would be W572 cards. Only 3 expensive cards (Ruth, Conn, Johnson) but within reach.

[ethicsprof]

I'm with steve b on this one.
Type collecting is fun and a great way to gain a broad brush understanding
of the whole card world of tobacco, candy, bread, strip, game, etc.---and the history of baseball itself.
all the best in your decision(s),
barry

[Jayworld]

From an affordability standpoint, the T201 Mecca Double Folders set should be considered.....

[the 'stache]

Some great suggestions here so far. To these I might add collecting a player as an option. There are some really great Hall of Fame players from the dead ball era that are surprisingly affordable. If you are going to do a type collection, you could focus one one player like a Roger Bresnahan, who has T202, T205, T206, T207 etc cards, or, if you're wanting to go further back, you might consider Hugh Duffy. Sir Hugh's cards go back into the 1800s--he has a Mayo card and multiple Old Judge cards, as well as cards from the T205 and T206 set. Then there's somebody like Eddie Collins, who is seemingly in every set. Besides the T201, T205 and T206 sets, he's also in the T3 Turkey Red cabinet collection, American, Philadelphia and US Caramel, Sporting News supplements like the M101-2, Cracker Jack, Colgan's Chips, and Goudey cards. He's also frequently in strip cards and in the Chicago Exhibit Supply cards. I've considered collecting him. There's something about Cocky you just have to like. :)

Good luck in finding something that appeals to you!

[I Only Smoke 4 the Cards]

The red borders are incredibly good looking.


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[drazz5]

Sorry for not getting back to you all sooner. I was out of town for awhile and forgot about this thread. Great suggestions and I got some good ideas from all your comments. For those of you asking what I like, I wouldn't say I'm too pick other than I like cards with good color and nice eye appeal, commons in the $15-$30 range, and I'm a fan of the more oddly shaped cards if that helps at all. Thanks again! - Daniel

[the 'stache]

Daniel, you might like T202s then. They're definitely oddly shaped. The two side portraits are much like their T205 counterparts, if slightly less ornate. You have some great b&w photography in the middle, too. The set has a nice mixture of stars and common players. And, if you're patient, you can find some of them in nice condition without breaking the bank.

Here's my most recent T202 buy

http://imageshack.com/a/img845/1770/4yxy.png
http://imageshack.com/a/img835/807/4wha.png

Some nice colorful, more common players on the outside, and a nice shot of the Philadelphia A's infield in the middle. That's Connie Mack's famous "$100,000 infield", which was comprised of the slick shortstop Jack Barry, the great first baseman Stuffy McInnis, who totaled 2,405 hits and 1,062 RBI while hitting .307 in his 19 year career, and two Hall of Famers, Frank "Home Run" Baker, and perhaps the greatest second baseman to ever play the game, Eddie Collins, who went by the nickname "Cocky". Baker won the American League home run title in 1911, 1912, 1913 and 1914, hitting .307 with 96 home runs and 987 RBI in the deadball era. But Collins was the star, collecting 3,315 hits in his career along with 1,821 runs, 1,300 RBI, 741 stolen bases and a lifetime .333 batting average. That group helped the A's win the World Series in 1910, 1911 and 1913.

That beautiful card, which I feel is undergraded, cost me $45. I'm assuming the card's grade was lowered because of the stamp on the card's back. This is one time where a mark made a card much more affordable while also adding to the card's mystique. I think the 47 stamp makes the card more interesting.

There are more expensive cards in the set, of course, but the majority of the set can be put together for a comparatively smaller cash outlay.

So Daniel, this may be something you want to consider, too. Good luck!

[Mountaineer1999]

That's a nice looking card Bill! I have thought about picking up a couple of these to check them out up close.
And thanks for the A's history lesson. :)

[drazz5]

Thanks bill! I looked at them awhile back for a lil bit, but i didnt want to pick anything up until i got a better feel for the market for this set of cards. Your help is appreciated ill look into them again!

[mattsey9]

From an affordability standpoint, the T201 Mecca Double Folders set should be considered.....

Agreed. It's a great little set.