Archive
01-31-2002, 10:26 PM
Posted By: <b>Plastic Dog </b><p>I understand the point about Old Judges interesting only a minority of collectors, but it would almost be better to omit the section altogether than to list them as they currently appear. <BR><BR>For example, some cards are difficult (and of course expensive) in a particular pose in a particular year. But the Standard Catalog doesn't generally distinguish between different years (with some exceptions, like Spotted Ties - which I will buy for the prices listed every day of the week.) Anyway, take non-Spotted Tie Script series cards from early 1887 (assuming they're not any earlier); players from that set might be listed in the Standard Catalog only with a premium price (e.g. Smith) or without any premium (e.g. Lynch, Orr, etc.). The non-Spotted Tie script 1887 card of all 3 should bring a premium, whereas their 1888 or 1889 issues should be commons (Jay, I'm just trying to make a point, and if I'm wrong due to some rare team change, please just go with it for now). And what about 1890 Players League (or "NL") cards? It would be great to buy them as "common" Old Judges, as the 1889 and 1890 cards look the same (at least in their poses). But how would somebody selling their newly-deceased great grandfather's collection (look, it was an accident that I spilled arsinic in his coffee, and only coincidental that it was the day after I found out about his will) realize that they could buy a new house, and not just a new roof, with all of their rare Old Judges?<BR><BR>And if the Standard Catalog doesn't keep up with new poses and variations in the Old Judge series, who will? Maybe the Topps Almanac, (but I'll be damned if I can ever find anything in there with that horrible index and Table of Contents).<BR><BR>Personally, I want every spelling variation, slight pose difference, and team change listed for every player. And I would like it broken up by year (as it currently reads, the Standard Catalog only lists Old Judges as 1887, while the example photo is of 1889). If a player has a Chicago Maroons card one year (premium), and a New York card the next (no premium), how is the collector supposed to distinguish value from the Standard Catalog? From the reader's perspective, both cards would be worth the same amount. And we all know that New York teams are worthless (I mean worth less).<BR><BR>To me, incomplete or incorrect information is worse than no information at all.<BR><BR>That's my two cents,<BR>Tom<BR>