[SAllen2556]

I know this isn’t a super popular set - it’s not even my favorite, but I finished the low number set and was thinking of starting in on the variations and the high numbers. For a Tiger fan it’s a neat set because it’s got a lot of players that were in the 34-35 World Series, and the backs mention the ’34 series. Anyways, as I was looking at prices vs. relative scarcity I came across a few things that don’t really make sense.

Some cards, of course, have two versions, and some even have three. When I put the set together it seemed like the 1934 cards (1 through 24) were tougher to find, especially in good condition, while the green-back 1935 and blue back 1936 cards (up through #96) seemed more abundant and were easier to find in better condition. The blue-back ’36’s especially seemed to be readily available in higher grades. My set, therefore, has very few ’34 variations.

I don’t think the prices accurately reflect the scarcity or the difficulty of the 1934 cards. I took a look at card target and went through all the previous sales of a few cards that had different versions. The 1934 versions were, indeed, generally scarcer and more difficult to find in good condition than the other variations.

#1 Lefty Grove (2 variations available)
Total sales of 1934 green back: 43 Average grade for 1934 card: 2.6
Total sales of 1935 green back: 102 Average grade for 1935 card: 3.5

#8 Joe Vosmik
Total sales of 1934 green back: 15
Total sales of 1935 green back: 37
Total sales of 1936 blue back: 38
I didn’t do the grades on Vosmik because so many were raw.

#9 Mickey Cochrane (3 variations available)
Total sales 1934: 33 Average grade: 3.1
Total sales 1935: 78 Average grade: 4.3
Total sales 1936: 33 Average grade: 4.7

#16 Lloyd Waner (3 variations)
Total sales 1934: 43 Average grade: 2.7
Total sales 1935: 51 Average grade: 4.3
Total sales 1936: 41 Average grade: 5.0

The prices on even mid-grade versions of the 1934 cards do not seem to reflect these difficulties, and the Standard Catalog of Vintage Baseball Cards also does not reflect this. They generally price the 1936 versions the same or higher than the 1934 and 1935 versions, despite the fact that they’re easier to find and generally in better condition. It seems like the only truly rare ’36 cards are the high numbers (97-108), and that is accurately reflected in their prices.

In other words, a PSA 5 1934 Mickey Cochrane variation should probably run about 2 to 3 times higher than the price of the 1935 variation due to scarcity and condition, but it doesn’t.
A 1934 Lefty Grove should probably be priced at least double a ’35 card in similar condition, but, again, it’s not, or am I wrong?

Has anyone else who collects this set had trouble with the '34 variations?