In Which Universe?

[Bocabirdman]

I just posted an update on Frank's Monster Number thread and it got me to thinking. I have a handful of "Commons" to go in addition to a few Southern Leaguers and a pile of HOF guys. This is not a misplaced BST, but merely a question. In what freakin' universe are these guys common?

55bv. George Brown (Browne) (Washington)
115bv. Bill Dahlen (Brooklyn)
122bv. Ray Demmitt (St. Louis)
143av. Joe Doyle (NY Nat'l Hands Above Head)
143b. Joe Doyle (NY Hands Above Head)
155bv. Kid Elberfeld (Washington) (Portrait)
249av. Red Kleinow (Boston)
285av. Carl Lundgren (Chicago)
287av. Sherry Magie (Magee)
287b. Sherry Magee (portrait)
355bv. Bill O'Hara (St. Louis)
373. Barney Pelty (Horizontal Photo)
438bv. Frank Smith (Chicago & Boston)

Don't you guys think that there needs to be an additional designation besides HOF/SL/Common? or at least a Roger Maris-esque "*" on the checklist?

[edhans]

The "SP" designation is widely used to denote cards that were printed in lesser quantities. Most of the cards on your list would certainly qualify. I can't recall ever seeing that in any T206 discussions.

[Pat R]

Mike I think the Doyle (NY hands above head) is a common but was effected
by Fritsch hoarding them. The Titus is becoming a tuff common for a similar
reason. I will probably never own one because I will never pay the stupid
prices they are bringing. I will likely own a Magie before I own a Titus.

[Bocabirdman]

Guys, I was making reference to the checklist that I am working from. I wish I could recall where I snagged it from.

There are a few others that could be on the list, Bull Durham, both Merkles, all of the Hal Chase cards etc.

The cards all have a story as to WHY they carry a premium added. That is not in question.

I am imagining some poor Newbie looking at the list and seeing them as "common".

Personally, I think a common price multiplier could be implemented. Pick a price. For the sake of this statement, let's say that a "true" common can be had for $25. A Fred Merkle might be considered a 2X common, a Black Sox Chick perhaps a 2.5X or even a 3X common. It would get insane with the Doyle or the Magie, though

[Pat R]

I do understand what you are saying but the list you have are not listed as
commons in most price guides. Take SMR for example they group all the commons at one price for a certain grade but all the cards on your list have there own listing with higher prices with the exception of Doyle (NY) ,Pelty
and Magee.

[bigtrain]

Mike,
I am in the same boat with you as what I have left is primarily Hall of famers, Southern Leaguers and the uncommon commons. I am at 417 but expect slow going from here on. With the exception of Magee, every card you listed is on my wantlist, too.

[Bocabirdman]

Originally Posted by Pat R

I do understand what you are saying but the list you have are not listed as
commons in most price guides. Take SMR for example they group all the commons at one price for a certain grade but all the cards on your list have there own listing with higher prices with the exception of Doyle (NY) ,Pelty
and Magee.

Pat, Yes I know that there are places where the true values are indicated. Heck, a quick check of Completed Sales on the 'Bay or previous actions at various auction houses would quickly educate a Newbie. I think my original post was more a post out of frustration. I have burned through all of the "easy" guys and the 76 remaining are going to get expensive. I think it is safe to say the a Grant (Portrait) won't get the job done for any of them.

[slipk1068]

It is kinda funny what is called a common. The SP label will not work because none of them are tougher due to being a Single Prints.

In recent months, I have been focusing some on the tougher commons. I don't want the last 100 cards I need to complete the set to be the same 100 cards everyone else needs. I have a bunch of doubles and upgrades of tougher commons that should serve me well as trade bait.

[Bocabirdman]

Originally Posted by bigtrain

Mike,
I am in the same boat with you as what I have left is primarily Hall of famers, Southern Leaguers and the uncommon commons. I am at 417 but expect slow going from here on. With the exception of Magee, every card you listed is on my wantlist, too.

Tom,

You and I are two of the biggest movers on Frank's thread. We both still have a tough row to hoe ( I guess that's better than a tough ho' to row). Things WILL get expensive from here on out...........

[Pat R]

Originally Posted by Bocabirdman

Pat, Yes I know that there are places where the true values are indicated. Heck, a quick check of Completed Sales on the 'Bay or previous actions at various auction houses would quickly educate a Newbie. I think my original post was more a post out of frustration. I have burned through all of the "easy" guys and the 76 remaining are going to get expensive. I think it is safe to say the a Grant (Portrait) won't get the job done for any of them.

Agree 100% Mike, and with some of them Franklin (port) may not get
the job done.

[Bocabirdman]

Originally Posted by Pat R

Agree 100% Mike, and with some of them Franklin (port) may not get
the job done.

And that is my unintentional line in the sand at the moment. I have reached 448 cards without spending over $100 (actually $95) for any one card as yet.

[Sean]

Originally Posted by slipk1068

It is kinda funny what is called a common. The SP label will not work because none of them are tougher due to being a Single Prints.

In recent months, I have been focusing some on the tougher commons. I don't want the last 100 cards I need to complete the set to be the same 100 cards everyone else needs. I have a bunch of doubles and upgrades of tougher commons that should serve me well as trade bait.

Slip, that's a good idea. Eleven years ago, when I was just starting out, I had a shot at a Plank, but $12,000 seemed like too much to pay. I could buy so many commons and even HOFs with that much money.
I didn't realize that I could get the commons anytime, but not the Plank. I kicked myself for years about letting that one get away. I think that it's worth about $35- $40K now.

[Sean]

Originally Posted by Bocabirdman

And that is my unintentional line in the sand at the moment. I have reached 448 cards without spending over $100 (actually $95) for any one card as yet.

Mike, I'm just curious. How many HOFs have you gotten for under $100?
Besides Waddell.

[Bocabirdman]

Originally Posted by Sean

Mike, I'm just curious. How many HOFs have you gotten for under $100?
Besides Waddell.

Rube is not typical of my HOF guys. I bought him "just because". Except for the Chesbro and the Iron Joe, the rest of this list is "good enough" for me. My threshold on HOF guys is a LITTLE lower than Commons and SL but they are not trashed. Most are raw but some are slabbed in the SGC 30/PSA2 range. Most are under $70

29. Jake Beckley
33. Chief Bender (Pitching Trees In Background)
51. Roger Bresnahan (Portrait)
52. Roger Bresnahan (With Bat)
77. Frank Chance (Portrait Red Background)
86. Jack Chesbro
90. Fred Clarke (Pittsburgh Holding Bat)
91. Fred Clarke (Pittsburgh Portrait)
100. Jimmy Collins (Minneapolis)
117. George Davis (Chicago)
161. Johnny Evers (With Bat Chicago On Shirt)
170. Elmer Flick
189. Clark Griffith (Batting)
190. Clark Griffith (Portrait)
226. Hughie Jennings (One Hand Showing)
238. Addie Joss (Pitching)
243. Joe Kelley
294. Rube Marquard (Hands At Thighs)
296. Rube Marquard (Portrait)
309. Iron Man McGinnity
482. Rube Waddell (Portrait)
487. Bobby Wallace
492. Zack Wheat

Here is the only scan I have handy

BRES FR 001.jpg

[slipk1068]

Originally Posted by Sean

Slip, that's a good idea. Eleven years ago, when I was just starting out, I had a shot at a Plank, but $12,000 seemed like too much to pay. I could buy so many commons and even HOFs with that much money.
I didn't realize that I could get the commons anytime, but not the Plank. I kicked myself for years about letting that one get away. I think that it's worth about $35- $40K now.

I can see how that could haunt you for many years. I have many cards over the years that I regret not buying but nothing that large