For The Fellow Obak Fans

[wonkaticket]

Hey Guys,

Thought I would share some images with the Obak fans. Easily my second favorite series of baseball cards. These are the sets from the recent REA auction this adds even more Obaks to my already existing copies and finishes all 3 sets for me.

These all came from one collection of hobby veteran and collector P "Jack". Pollard. Pollard also was the original owner of the Zeenuts, T210’s, T211’s and T209’s sold in REA and was quite the minor league collector.

I was so excited to get the collection and keep them together for future generations of collectors. All were old school and I love it in sheets I have been slowly taking them from their sheets and prepping for grading with SGC. I’ll post them as they return if you would like?


The cards themselves are amazing and some of the best condition tobacco cards I have seen in 25 years of collecting, real gems.


Kudos also goes out to the REA staff. We hear all the horror stories when cards aren’t as described or when the scandals are juicy but not often do folks come on and say perfect as described, which in this case they are.

If Mr. Pollards other cards look as nice as these the new owners are in for a real treat.


Not everything can always stay together (Carter, Conlon, Nagy etc.) but it’s nice at least for me to think that these and this little piece of hobby history will be together a bit longer. It was a neat feeling pulling cards from sheets that were most likely last touched when they were put in there by one of our hobby’s more prolific collectors.

Cheers,

John

P.S. Leon you know what this means now you have to sell me that 1909 Obak sheet too.

[matthew]

Thank you for the pictures. I've got a smile from ear to ear just getting to see them all displayed like that.

[GoldenAge50s]

Simply AMAZING collection of gorgeous cards John! Congratulations on winning them!

[Rob D.]

That's quite a mission you've accomplished, John.

Great images.

Congrats.

[HRBAKER]

Those are beauties!
Congrats on finishing the three sets and thanks for sharing the photos.

[Jay Wolt]

Wow! John that's impressive, thanks for showing the scans.

[Leon]

Nice display John...thanks for sharing.....I guess everything is for sale for a price .....

[M's_Fan]

This is some of the best tobacco-card porn in a long time...

[Kawika]

A pile of Obaks . . love it.

Originally Posted by wonkaticket

[3-2-count]

Stunning............

[wonkaticket]

Leon, I'd love a bigger image of that if you could email me one. So cool.

John

[baseballart]

Wonka

Great stuff. Now get working on a complete set of T4s!!

[wonkaticket]

LOL will do Max, was thinking of you notice who is front and center in the middle on the bottom. Now if I just had an oil painting....hmmm...where could one find that?

Cheers,

John

[teetwoohsix]

Beautiful cards John !!! They are in such amazing condition- congrats on the completion of the set, and I'd love to see how they look after coming back from SGC too. Thanks for sharing those !!!

Sincerely, Clayton

[baseballart]

Originally Posted by wonkaticket

LOL will do Max, was thinking of you notice who is front and center in the middle on the bottom.

I have six or seven Bob Browns, including one where my dog chewed up the bottom half, none as nice as yours. However, Ten Million is cut off at the top of your photo! Sacrilege!

(Here's another image with Ten:

[Rickyy]

Thanks for sharing them John...simply beautiful... It really is "fine" art!

[mrvster]

WOW!!!!VERY IMPRESSIVE JOHN

[toppcat]

Geez dude......that is some array. I am not really familiar with Jack Pollard's story but he seems like one of the big boys of yore.

[greenmonster66]

Simply Awesome John!! Congrats!

[jujudrum]

Wonka,

As Tony said....stunning.

An absolutely awesome representation of all 3 sets of Obaks.
I'm pleased that You were able to win the entire group.

Once again, congrats on a job well done.

Brian

[Mrc32]

Those are quite stunning.

In my view have much better images and colors than the t206 set.

[benchod]

I'll pile on with the stunning comments
Fantastic stuff; congrats

[wonkaticket]

Thanks guys.

Tbob you out there how long is it going to take me to knock down the 150's? I have a handful from earlier there were none in this collection.

Please feel free to share anything Obak love to see other stuff too. Now would eb sweet time for some Obak coupons or packs.

Cheers,

John

[baseballart]

Originally Posted by wonkaticket

Now would eb sweet time for some Obak coupons or packs.

Cheers,

John

Speak. Demand. We'll answer:

[deadballera]

very nice !!!!


love that picture with the group of raw cards just stacked loosely spread out.

[Matthew H]

Thanks for taking these pictures John. They are way more interesting then looking at slabs. I'm sure that's the last time they'll ever be in a pile like that.

[wonkaticket]

Yes sadly away from sheets and the pile, days gone by.

Max, that's a cool item already right clicked!

John

[tbob]

John- those Obaks are gorgeous! I thought my sets were nice but yours have to be at or near the top of the best sets around. Congrats!
tbob

[tbob]

Originally Posted by wonkaticket

Thanks guys.

Tbob you out there how long is it going to take me to knock down the 150's? I have a handful from earlier there were none in this collection.

Please feel free to share anything Obak love to see other stuff too. Now would eb sweet time for some Obak coupons or packs.

Cheers,

John

John- the 150's were very difficult to put together, I don't think many collectors realize how scarce they are. I believe my set is the only one on either Registry. When I had SGC slab my cards, they were still knocking off grades because of the blue stamped numbers on the back, luckily they don't do that anymore (I think). The really tough ones are the 6 or so which have different fronts from the 175 set of 1910s like Mundorf and McArdle etc. The one thing in your favor is that there don't seem to be any (or many) collectors going after them now so you might have a wide open field and not have to pay the premium they used to get on ebay when bidding was spirited. I hope you can get that set. I think the last card I finally found was the 150 series Wolverton so be on the lookout for it, it was a killer for me.
Again, congrats on the beautiful cards.
tbob

[Anthony S.]

I have 29 of the 40 150 series cards. That represents about 4-5 years of checking every auction. There aren't that many of us pursuing them, but with the exception of the ones rotting on Ebay with Buy It Now prices they don't pop up as often as I would wish. Ort seems to be the one I see most often. Incidentally, I have two 150 Wolvertons, so if anyone has any 150 doubles, but needs the Wolverton, let me know.

And Wonka, if that ungodly haul of yours means you now have 2 1909 Obak Speas, that's the last card I need to finish my 1909 Obak set (hint-ety hint hint)....

[wonkaticket]

Bob, very helpful thank you I recall you looking for a long time for Wolverton.

You are correct they have stop the ding for stamps which is a good thing.

Thanks for the feedback means a lot.

Cheers,

John

[wonkaticket]

Anthony,

Thanks for the input so this little 40 more card project or more like 35 or so I have a 5 150's is going to be fun.

I have a few extras of 1909's I will check if I have him he's yours.

John

[deadballera]

still need about 25 cards for the 1910 175 series set...and around 40 cards for the 1911 set.

[M's_Fan]

John, please put these sets on the SGC registry, it would be great to see how they all graded out. Thanks again.

[wonkaticket]

I may add these to the Reg, good idea.

[jmk59]

Holy %#@$! That loose pile of cards might be the coolest vintage card scan/photo I've ever seen. I'll have to think that one over, but it has to be at the top. And the cards themselves are so perfect.

Good for you John - couldn't be happier that you got these.

J

[Michael Peich]

Hey, John,

Just got back from Chicago and saw your Obaks. Wow--they are gorgeous!

Regarding the 150 Subject backs, Bob is correct in stating that they are scarcer than most folks realize. I started collecting them a few years ago and currently have 34 of the 40. And as these scans attest, mine range in grade from the Brackenridge Ex+ to Williams, which is probably a 10 at best. Most of the rest of mine grade at 30 or 40. That being said, I grab them no matter the condition, and if anyone has a spare Hiester, Hogan, Mohler, Perry, H. Smith or Willett, I can join TBob as having a complete set!

Good luck on the quest.

Cheers, Mike

[wonkaticket]

Thanks guy, thank you JoAnn for the nice words.

Mike, I knew they were tough I only have about 4 or so but I never was really activly looking but with you guys on the hunt it seems it's going to be a while unless I can talk Tbob out of his set...fat chance.LOL

Thanks for the input, BTW that Brackenridge is really nice.

Cheers,

John

[brianp-beme]

I love Obaks...that loose pile would make an awesome wall poster. I compliment you on your obviously advanced piling techniques...an artistic piler by all means.

Brian

[jrhatchjr]

That is a fantastic looking group of Obaks! Congrats on such a nice pile!