"Tough" backs
 

Here's another noob question for everyone lol:

In the T206 set I often see common backs labeled by collectors as a "tough back" for certain players. Is there a resource that can help collectors find out the scarcity of backs for individual cards? If I'm paying a premium for a Piedmont 350/25 or a Sweet Caporal 350/30 I just to make sure I'm not over paying. Thanks!!

Don’t buy anything until you read this. https://www.oldcardboard.com/t/t206/...al-edition.pdf

Then study pop reports and read as many Net54 threads as you can.

BTW - never pay a premium for an SC 350, 30!!

Regarding Piedmont, There are 11 players that are tough with a piedmont 350 back. No reason to ever pay a premium for a Pied 350 unless it’s one of these Elite 11. Pied 350 is maybe the most common back and I feel some people try to get extra value bc of the Elite 11. Even VCP has a Pied 350 section. Its total BS. Only those 11. See this thread: https://www.net54baseball.com/showthread.php?t=170522

Also, piedmont 350-460 factory 42 is a very tough back. It carry’s a legit premium

I don’t think any Sweet Cap deserves a premium, although factory 25 (in both 350 and 150 series) can be very tough to find.

Tolstoi and Old Mill are pretty common backs but they can be near impossible with certain fronts. Pop reports are your best bets there.

Thanks so much for the info!

Hey welcome to the forum and collecting the set. Rich gave you good advice. I would also search out some of the old time collectors like TedZ and others and read their posts. Such knowledgeable people on here.

These are good links too...

https://t206resource.com/Backs%20Gallery.html

https://t206resource.com/Back%20Rankings%20List.html

All great resources!

We also did an episode (#5) about the different T206 backs on our podcast:

https://soundcloud.com/the-monster-p...asics-on-backs

https://themonsterpodcast.com/

Jay & Justin, just listened to your podcast for the first time. Was good, well done.

Every thread needs cards, so here are my "B.S. TIER" examples ;)

Almost all of the back scarcity lists are based on the difficulty of just acquiring a particular back example without any consideration of who the subject is.

Using the print group 1 subjects as an example Hindu is the toughest print group 1 back ranked at #14 but in many cases you will find it much harder to find an Old Mill back which is ranked at #29 when looking for a particular subject and that same subject might be even harder to find with a Sweet Caporal 350 factory 25 back which is ranked at #37 of the 39 hardest backs.

I think the closest to what you're looking for you will find in the lists that James worked on and posted in this thread.

https://www.net54baseball.com/showthread.php?t=323336


One of the fun things about T206's is the "hidden gems" there are a few combo's that most people would find shocking and very few people know about but don't reveal because it can take years for one to become available.

There are a few combos above the #30 back ranking that you could be waiting for years before one becomes available.