best set to begin with

[Archive]

Posted By: mike

hey everyone, i was just wondering what set you recomend i start with since i am just beginning to collect vintage cards?

[Archive]

Posted By: Mike

T206s, There cheap, affordable and easy to find. Collectable in most budgets.
Mike in Michigan

[Archive]

Posted By: Jim Dale

I've been reading these forums and some others for about six months I guess, and have wondered that myself. But I don't know that anyone can tell you? For instance I find some vintage cards "ugly" and would never have much interest in collecting them. Others I find attractive and intriguing. Anyway I can't tell you which way to go; but I have leaned towards the 1941 playball cards - they dont' see overly expensive and its a reasonably sized set that I might be able to finish in a few years. After that who knows what....

[Archive]

Posted By: peter chao

Mike,

Go for a relatively small set that has a Ruth. 1938 Goudey would be a good set to start with. It is also unique because there are 4 players on one card. Babe Ruth and Rabbit Maranville are both on one card. Relatively small set.

Peter

[Archive]

Posted By: mike

do you have a list of all the guys in that 1938 goudey set and prices also?

[Archive]

Posted By: mike

also i am looking for a relatively cheaper set. and is ebay the best place to look to buy them?

[Archive]

Posted By: leon

Depending if you like color or black and white sets the E120 and E121 sets are nice. I picked up a group of 8 E120 cards, in decent gd-vg+ condition, with about 3 HOF'ers and Smokey Joe Wood, about a month ago on ebay for $110 for the whole group. I think it was a great deal but they can be had...If you are wanting early caramel the e92's (Dockmans) would be a good start and can be found in decent shape for not a ton of money. Good luck...

[Archive]

Posted By: rp60

Whatever you like and can afford...

[Archive]

Posted By: JimB

I think Peter meant to say '35 Goudey (the "4 on 1" set), not the '38 which has no Ruth.
JimB

[Archive]

Posted By: fkw

If you want a high % of HOFers and fairly cheap cards overall. The 1931 W517 set is good and can be completed in less than year. The easiest of the Goudey sets in the 1936 and also has a few HOFers. Another good start is one of the smaller R314 sets like the R314 Creamy set.

[Archive]

Posted By: peter chao

Guys,

My bad (as Barry would say), with you guys around, I should always double-check my information. I don't have a recent price guide handy. Looking at the new prices just discourage me and get me depressed. My rule of thumb is whatever the seller is asking for is too high. I always try to get the best price possible. 1935 Goudey isn't cheap. Few pre-war sets are cheap.

Peter

[Archive]

Posted By: mike

i would need a list of some of those sets u guys are talkin about to kno what to look for

[Archive]

Posted By: Judge Dred (Fred)

T201 -

• Easy to find
  
• No tough variations
  
• Only 50 cards total
  
• Nice HOF grouping (Cobb, Mathewson, Johnson, Lajoie, Speaker, etc).
  
• Inexpensive. I think the set can be completed raw for a few thousand dollars, not the greatest of condition but at least it will be a complete early 20th century tobacco set.
  
• Can be completed with little or no difficulty (about the only limitation is condition and that's related to the amount of money you want to spend on the set).
  

[Archive]

Posted By: Dan Bretta

1921 Exhibits are somewhat easy. It's a small set and the key cards of Cobb, Johnson and Ruth can be had relatively cheaply.

[Archive]

Posted By: Judge Dred (Fred)

Dan,

How much is a Ruth?

[Archive]

Posted By: mike

what do u think are some cards that i could buy for cheap but then sell for a little more so that i can start up a little bit of a fund for this hobby

[Archive]

Posted By: E, Daniel

First I'll tell you which cards to buy at a discount over every other collector, and then I'll even buy them from you at a premium so you can get off to a great start in the hobby

I mean, the rest of us, sheesh, we've already made our millions and bought every card we'd ever need, all at an absolute steal of a price

Happy collecting.

Daniel

[Archive]

Posted By: Al C.risafulli

Mike, the cheapest prewar cards are whatever I happen to be selling at the time. Conversely, the most expensive prewar cards are whatever I'm interested in buying. Of course those cards change as my tastes change.

In terms of a good start for prewar, I'd humbly suggest building a subset of 1933 Goudey cards in midgrades. The set is large enough that you can slice it and dice it any way you like: HOFers only, portraits only, action images only, certain teams, etc. Heck, there's one 54 member (I can't remember which, I'm sorry) who only collects the ones with blue backgrounds, and you know what? They're beautiful.

33 Goudeys are both plentiful and popular; if you ever lose interest you'll have no problem unloading them at a fair price. However, in the mid grades, most of the cards are still affordable.

Best of luck either way. It's a slippery slope; before you know it you'll be addicted.

-Al

[Archive]

Posted By: Dan Bretta

Fred, I think the last Ruth I saw sold for around $500 in Good condition. I've seen Cobb anywhere from $120-$200 in VG and the Walter Johnson card seems to pop up a lot usually in the $150-200 range for VG.

[Archive]

Posted By: mike

are you looking to get rid of any of your 33 goudey cards? if so i might be interested in buying at a reasonable price.

[Archive]

Posted By: Frank Evanov

Why not start at the beginning? The N28 set is one of the first recognized card sets. It has ten players and six of them are in the HOF.
The cards are relatively easy to find on EBAY in varying conditions.

Frank

[Archive]

Posted By: Judge Dred (Fred)

Dan,

Thanks for the information. That does look like a reasonable set. I need to finish a few others but this looks like a good diversion.

[Archive]

Posted By: Dan Bretta

Fred, I fancied putting the set together, but put it off to concentrate on other pursuits. Most of the "Commons" can be had for less than $20 in VG or better and often times less than $10 each. And then you can get lucky and pick up a card like Frank Frisch for $15 like I did a few months ago....

[Archive]

Posted By: James Gallo

I think the 1915 Cracker Jack set is a nice start. Not as cheap as some as g/vg commons will still bring 75-150, however that cards are great looking, it has a lot of HOF, is completeable and has a great amount of history. It is also one of a few sets that has players in the Federal League. You can get decent looking SGC 10-20 for in the 50-75 range.

A great set.

That being said the T-201 is also good, but I don't really love the look of the set. A very affordable set with a good mix of players though.

James Gallo

Looking for 1915 Cracker Jacks and 1909-11 American Caramel E90-1.