Mattsey's Mecca Mini-Monster: T201 Set Complete!!!!!

[mattsey9]

When I first started collecting baseball cards in earnest in the early 1980s, I had a dogeared copy of an old Beckett guide that purported to show every baseball card in existence. I would read about the old players and go to the library to find out more about them. I knew all about the old tobacco sets, or at least more than any other kid in my neighborhood did, but my collection didn't grow much past Topps, Bowman, Fleer, and Donruss. I also knew that someday that would change.

The cards that always captured my fancy were the T201 Mecca Double Folders. 100 players on 50 cards that were designed to be folded in half. Unlike the bigger T206 series, these cards had statistics on the back of them. To me, that made them more like the modern cards I was collecting. A few years ago I stumbled onto this site and saw a chance to collect some old tobacco cards and interact with fellow baseball enthusiasts. I first went on a T206 binge focusing on players from the 1908 Cubs, but realized that I would never complete the entire Monster. Since I'm a set collector at heart, I turned my attention towards something achievable and something I'd always wanted to possess. The T201 quest began.

I started in mid-2013 with the three Cubs cards, Kling/Cole, Brown/Hofman, and Evers/Chance. Once I had them in hand, I was hooked. I bought cards one or two at a time from the B/S/T section and on eBay and began to slowly accumulate a lower-condition set. Lower condition cards are not only less expensive, but seemingly more readily available than higher grade cards. Most of the better cards are in respectable condition with SGC grades of 10-40 in the collection with no single card, including the Cobb & WaJo examples, running over $100.00.

In recent weeks I've been approaching the end of the quest, and found myself in need of one more card, Lush/Houser. Last week my eBay notifications found one in VG condition being offered in a 99 cent auction. My eyes lit up, this was it!! I went to my snipe program and entered in an amount I felt would win and then waited the long six days before the auction ended. Twice during that period I revisited my snipe and jacked it up a few shekels. This card wasn't getting away! Last weekend the auction came to a close, and I watched the seconds tick away on my phone's eBay app. With three seconds left in the auction, my phone gave the familiar buzz that signals a new bid. It was my bid. The final three seconds ticked away, there was no further buzz. The card was mine, and at a relative bargain to boot!

I paid instantly to seal the deal and then waited for the card to arrive. This morning the mailman came calling with a familiar bubble envelope in hand. This was it. I ripped open the well-packed envelope (thanks forazzurri2axz) and there it was...



There are other, grander collections than the one I've cobbled together over the last 35+ years but none are loved more than mine. My first pre-war set is in the books! Long live the T201 set! Thanks to all the forum members who have made it possible and enjoyable!

Mike

[Luke]

Awesome Mike. Show some more of your cards!

[CW]

Congrats! Great writeup, too. Your passion for this great hobby is easy to discern. What's the next project?

[wolf441]

Congratulations Mike!! Great write up and you conveyed perfectly that awesome feeling when you nail down that final bid/win!!

[freakhappy]

Great write-up! You are the epitome of a collector in my eyes...you take nothing for granted and enjoy these cards the way they should. You also don't have billions of dollars, so you are forced to collect modestly. I think you appreciate your cards more when you collect from the heart!

I can relate to you on this set as I just completed the t201 set about a month or two ago and this was my first completed pre war set as well. Good luck on your next venture and please show some more of your set!

[CW]

I went to my snipe program and entered in an amount I felt would win and then waited the long six days before the auction ended. Twice during that period I revisited my snipe and jacked it up a few shekels.

I thought this was funny. Who hasn't done this? I also agree that it's cool the T201s are one of the first, if not THE first, to include stats on the back. It just adds to the enjoyment of a baseball card.

BTW, if you take a scan of the front and back of a T201 and use some photoshop, you can see what the card looks like folded...

[4815162342]

Congrats on completing the set, and thanks for sharing! It's also cool that your last card came from a board member.

[Econteachert205]

Nothing beats completing a pre war set. For my money the best hobby experience. Congrats!

[Bliggity]

This thread really needs more card porn pictures.

... and congrats!

[Sean]

Great job Mike. But after the rush of completing this set wears off, you'll need a new project.

Say hi to Otis for me.

[BicycleSpokes]

Don't own any, but I do really like the T201s. Congrats Mike. Would love to see a pic or two of your full set!


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[mattsey9]

Originally Posted by Bliggity

This thread really needs more card porn pictures.

... and congrats!

Thanks, all. Here are a few more closeups. I'll post more later.

Hooks Wiltse



Hans Lobert



Lefty Leifield



Walter Johnson



A.A. Mattern



Tris Speaker



Napoleon Lajoie



Sam Crawford

[mattsey9]

Originally Posted by CW

Congrats! Great writeup, too. Your passion for this great hobby is easy to discern. What's the next project?

I'm not 100% sure. I've started a 34 Goudey set, and even have a Gehrig to make it more "official." I don't know if I'm in love with the set though so I've slowed down on that.

Honestly, I'm working on a 2015 Topps Heritage set right now more than anything else.

[mattsey9]

Originally Posted by Sean

Great job Mike. But after the rush of completing this set wears off, you'll need a new project.

Say hi to Otis for me.

Thanks, Sean. Maybe I'll get a kickstart on something new at the National this summer.

[mattsey9]

Here's a copy of John Coombs/Ira Thomas in pretty rough shape. I actually bought two by accident, so this one is an extra. If anyone wants to have it, let me know in this thread. First come, first served to any board member who would like a free T201 for their collection.

[Joshchisox08]

Originally Posted by mattsey9

When I first started collecting baseball cards in earnest in the early 1980s, I had a dogeared copy of an old Beckett guide that purported to show every baseball card in existence. I would read about the old players and go to the library to find out more about them. I knew all about the old tobacco sets, or at least more than any other kid in my neighborhood did, but my collection didn't grow much past Topps, Bowman, Fleer, and Donruss. I also knew that someday that would change.

The cards that always captured my fancy were the T201 Mecca Double Folders. 100 players on 50 cards that were designed to be folded in half. Unlike the bigger T206 series, these cards had statistics on the back of them. To me, that made them more like the modern cards I was collecting. A few years ago I stumbled onto this site and saw a chance to collect some old tobacco cards and interact with fellow baseball enthusiasts. I first went on a T206 binge focusing on players from the 1908 Cubs, but realized that I would never complete the entire Monster. Since I'm a set collector at heart, I turned my attention towards something achievable and something I'd always wanted to possess. The T201 quest began.

I started in mid-2013 with the three Cubs cards, Kling/Cole, Brown/Hofman, and Evers/Chance. Once I had them in hand, I was hooked. I bought cards one or two at a time from the B/S/T section and on eBay and began to slowly accumulate a lower-condition set. Lower condition cards are not only less expensive, but seemingly more readily available than higher grade cards. Most of the better cards are in respectable condition with SGC grades of 10-40 in the collection with no single card, including the Cobb & WaJo examples, running over $100.00.

In recent weeks I've been approaching the end of the quest, and found myself in need of one more card, Lush/Houser. Last week my eBay notifications found one in VG condition being offered in a 99 cent auction. My eyes lit up, this was it!! I went to my snipe program and entered in an amount I felt would win and then waited the long six days before the auction ended. Twice during that period I revisited my snipe and jacked it up a few shekels. This card wasn't getting away! Last weekend the auction came to a close, and I watched the seconds tick away on my phone's eBay app. With three seconds left in the auction, my phone gave the familiar buzz that signals a new bid. It was my bid. The final three seconds ticked away, there was no further buzz. The card was mine, and at a relative bargain to boot!

I paid instantly to seal the deal and then waited for the card to arrive. This morning the mailman came calling with a familiar bubble envelope in hand. This was it. I ripped open the well-packed envelope (thanks forazzurri2axz) and there it was...



There are other, grander collections than the one I've cobbled together over the last 35+ years but none are loved more than mine. My first pre-war set is in the books! Long live the T201 set! Thanks to all the forum members who have made it possible and enjoyable!

Mike

Great story and well written. You had me hooked and picturing myself when I get a card I really wanted.

I can only imagine it being the last card in the set though. Wow. Only 50 cards in that set too. Cobb and WAJO less than $100 maybe I should look into T201's.

[Joshchisox08]

Originally Posted by mattsey9

Here's a copy of John Coombs/Ira Thomas in pretty rough shape. I actually bought two by accident, so this one is an extra. If anyone wants to have it, let me know in this thread. First come, first served to any board member who would like a free T201 for their collection.

I'll gladly take it!!!

[Sean]

Originally Posted by mattsey9

Thanks, Sean. Maybe I'll get a kickstart on something new at the National this summer.

I'm actually going this year. I'll look for you.

[t206blogcom]

Congrats!

[Thromdog]

Congrats!

[Leon]

Originally Posted by mattsey9

When I first started collecting baseball cards in earnest in the early 1980s, I had a dogeared copy of an old Beckett guide that purported to show every baseball card in existence. I would read about the old players and go to the library to find out more about them. I knew all about the old tobacco sets, or at least more than any other kid in my neighborhood did, but my collection didn't grow much past Topps, Bowman, Fleer, and Donruss. I also knew that someday that would change.

The cards that always captured my fancy were the T201 Mecca Double Folders. 100 players on 50 cards that were designed to be folded in half. Unlike the bigger T206 series, these cards had statistics on the back of them. To me, that made them more like the modern cards I was collecting. A few years ago I stumbled onto this site and saw a chance to collect some old tobacco cards and interact with fellow baseball enthusiasts. I first went on a T206 binge focusing on players from the 1908 Cubs, but realized that I would never complete the entire Monster. Since I'm a set collector at heart, I turned my attention towards something achievable and something I'd always wanted to possess. The T201 quest began.

I started in mid-2013 with the three Cubs cards, Kling/Cole, Brown/Hofman, and Evers/Chance. Once I had them in hand, I was hooked. I bought cards one or two at a time from the B/S/T section and on eBay and began to slowly accumulate a lower-condition set. Lower condition cards are not only less expensive, but seemingly more readily available than higher grade cards. Most of the better cards are in respectable condition with SGC grades of 10-40 in the collection with no single card, including the Cobb & WaJo examples, running over $100.00.

In recent weeks I've been approaching the end of the quest, and found myself in need of one more card, Lush/Houser. Last week my eBay notifications found one in VG condition being offered in a 99 cent auction. My eyes lit up, this was it!! I went to my snipe program and entered in an amount I felt would win and then waited the long six days before the auction ended. Twice during that period I revisited my snipe and jacked it up a few shekels. This card wasn't getting away! Last weekend the auction came to a close, and I watched the seconds tick away on my phone's eBay app. With three seconds left in the auction, my phone gave the familiar buzz that signals a new bid. It was my bid. The final three seconds ticked away, there was no further buzz. The card was mine, and at a relative bargain to boot!

I paid instantly to seal the deal and then waited for the card to arrive. This morning the mailman came calling with a familiar bubble envelope in hand. This was it. I ripped open the well-packed envelope (thanks forazzurri2axz) and there it was...



There are other, grander collections than the one I've cobbled together over the last 35+ years but none are loved more than mine. My first pre-war set is in the books! Long live the T201 set! Thanks to all the forum members who have made it possible and enjoyable!

Mike

Congrats Mike. I think we have all had similar thoughts in so many of our collecting quests. I could see myself (and I am sure other members can see themselves) experiencing some of those same things.....

[Marslife]

Way to Go Mike!! Love this set!! I am working on a master set... getting close, maybe I'll score the last one I need at the National this summer, I Hope!

nice job - awesome set!

Cliff

Summers & Jennings Double.jpg

[Rob L]

Originally Posted by mattsey9

When I first started collecting baseball cards in earnest in the early 1980s, I had a dogeared copy of an old Beckett guide that purported to show every baseball card in existence. I would read about the old players and go to the library to find out more about them. I knew all about the old tobacco sets, or at least more than any other kid in my neighborhood did, but my collection didn't grow much past Topps, Bowman, Fleer, and Donruss. I also knew that someday that would change.

The cards that always captured my fancy were the T201 Mecca Double Folders. 100 players on 50 cards that were designed to be folded in half. Unlike the bigger T206 series, these cards had statistics on the back of them. To me, that made them more like the modern cards I was collecting. A few years ago I stumbled onto this site and saw a chance to collect some old tobacco cards and interact with fellow baseball enthusiasts. I first went on a T206 binge focusing on players from the 1908 Cubs, but realized that I would never complete the entire Monster. Since I'm a set collector at heart, I turned my attention towards something achievable and something I'd always wanted to possess. The T201 quest began.

I started in mid-2013 with the three Cubs cards, Kling/Cole, Brown/Hofman, and Evers/Chance. Once I had them in hand, I was hooked. I bought cards one or two at a time from the B/S/T section and on eBay and began to slowly accumulate a lower-condition set. Lower condition cards are not only less expensive, but seemingly more readily available than higher grade cards. Most of the better cards are in respectable condition with SGC grades of 10-40 in the collection with no single card, including the Cobb & WaJo examples, running over $100.00.

In recent weeks I've been approaching the end of the quest, and found myself in need of one more card, Lush/Houser. Last week my eBay notifications found one in VG condition being offered in a 99 cent auction. My eyes lit up, this was it!! I went to my snipe program and entered in an amount I felt would win and then waited the long six days before the auction ended. Twice during that period I revisited my snipe and jacked it up a few shekels. This card wasn't getting away! Last weekend the auction came to a close, and I watched the seconds tick away on my phone's eBay app. With three seconds left in the auction, my phone gave the familiar buzz that signals a new bid. It was my bid. The final three seconds ticked away, there was no further buzz. The card was mine, and at a relative bargain to boot!

I paid instantly to seal the deal and then waited for the card to arrive. This morning the mailman came calling with a familiar bubble envelope in hand. This was it. I ripped open the well-packed envelope (thanks forazzurri2axz) and there it was...



There are other, grander collections than the one I've cobbled together over the last 35+ years but none are loved more than mine. My first pre-war set is in the books! Long live the T201 set! Thanks to all the forum members who have made it possible and enjoyable!

Mike

Congrats! I finished in 2012. Took years to finish and traveled from the back rooms of SCP to the backlot of Paramount Studios to pick up purchases. Still my favorite cards of all time!

[Rob L]

And the box:

[OldEnglishD]

Great story, told well. Congrats!

[milkit1]

awesome! I just completed my T202 set and am waiting on the last card in the mailnow. I had a similiar experience to finding it on ebay early and adding a snipe. I made the mistake of bumping the snipe up via my cell phone. I think after i hit enter I backed out of it and it undid the snipe! I lost the card andit went cheap
Thankfully I found another pretty quick.
Gotta love completing a tobacco card set in this day and age

[mattsey9]

Originally Posted by Rob L

And the box:

Nice set. I've seen a few empty boxes for sale on Ebay, but never pulled the trigger as I don't know what to look for when determining authenticity. Any tips to tell a real Mecca pack from a reproduction?