What's a good "first" vintage set to collect?

[ValKehl]

Jeff, if you put much emphasis on your first criteria, especially the "major criteria for me on this are images that really look like the player" part of it, then IMHO, your two best choices by far are the E121 and M101 sets. Another choice is the E120 set. I do confess that I very much prefer the B&W, real-photo sets over the colorful, artists'-rendition sets.
Val

[Kawika]

I asked myself the same questions as the OP a few years back and also came up with the E93 set. This was in 2009 so I don't remember specifically what I paid for the cards but I don't recall any one being a particular toughie. There's not a clunker in the set - the Cobb, Matty and Wags are all appealing - and the Leach and Phillippe are breathtaking in almost any condition.

Thinking about these cards makes me miss Jim Blumenthal. What a wonderful guy he was.

My humble set: https://tinyurl.com/manpbkx

[MVSNYC]

I know T206 is a massive set, but the beauty of it, is that you can collect it so many different ways- pick a team and collect those players, or southern leaguers, or HOFers, or collect some different backs, etc.

[KMayUSA6060]

T206 set. Can't go wrong with it.

Go big or go home, right?


Regardless of what you decide to do, good luck with the journey!

[Sean]

Originally Posted by ValKehl

Jeff, if you put much emphasis on your first criteria, especially the "major criteria for me on this are images that really look like the player" part of it, then IMHO, your two best choices by far are the E121 and M101 sets. Another choice is the E120 set. I do confess that I very much prefer the B&W, real-photo sets over the colorful, artists'-rendition sets.
Val

Here's an e121 for example:

scan0049.jpg

[effe]

I'd go with t202s. Great looking and nothing that will break the bank.

[irishdenny]

OKay...
So, I'v Read Thru This Thread
& I'v Been Patient WaitiN fir Sumone ta Mention
What I Believe ta be, the "Crown Jewel"
of the OP's Question...

imho... The T200 Set Answers ALL Of His Questions & Desire's!

http://www.oldcardboard.com/t/t200/t...?cardsetID=693

http://www.psacard.com/cardfacts/bas...-team-t200/128

Every Hall of Famer's is Present, EVeN the Managers,
Mr. Thorpe & the Team Mascot's ...

iN 2011 I presented the Same Question to myself!?
I Came uP Wit the T200 & E90-1 Set!?
I WeNT Wit the E90-1 Set!
And Although I'm much more of a Player, Type Card Collector,
I am a Gluten fir punishment...

When I Finish my E90-1 Set(wit strict guide lines!)
The T200 Set is Next!!!

JuST my T200 "Food fir Thought" fir the OP

[ValKehl]

Denny, one big negative to your "crown jewel" recommendation is there's no Babe Ruth in the T200 set!

[yanksfan09]

I'm a big fan of black and white sets too and love e121's.

Another option that bridges the gap of Cobb-Ruth era would be 1921 exhibits (First year for exhibits too!). Not too big at 64 cards. Some nice images!

[Jerry G]

It's a little later than Ruth, Cobb and Mathewson, but it still is pre-war. There are 72 brightly colored cars in art deco style. Compared to the T and E cards, they can be found pretty reasonably.

It has early Joe DiMaggio and Ted Williams and quite a few Hall of Famers. Off the top of my head there's Dickey, Reese, Cronin, Klein, Foxx, Gehringer, Greenberg,... Then, there's interesting players like Dominic and Vince DiMaggio and Johnny "Double No Hit" Vander Meer.

I recently put a VG set together in about a year. So, the supply is good.

[Topnotchsy]

Originally Posted by yanksfan09

I'm a big fan of black and white sets too and love e121's.

Another option that bridges the gap of Cobb-Ruth era would be 1921 exhibits (First year for exhibits too!). Not too big at 64 cards. Some nice images!

Those Exhibits are beautiful. I never really understood how those worked/what they were. They are oversized correct? Are they technically cards? Are they all the same size?

Thanks

[irishdenny]

Originally Posted by ValKehl

Denny, one big negative to your "crown jewel" recommendation is there's no Babe Ruth in the T200 set!

Hey there Val...

"Who's Babe Ruth!?"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xyFa...VpVm0gXVmJiwjb

[ValKehl]

Originally Posted by irishdenny

"Who's Babe Ruth!?"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xyFa...VpVm0gXVmJiwjb

Denny, I think he's the guy who developed a popular candy bar that he named after himself.