1914 Cracker Jack Set Collecting

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Posted By: Joe D.

I am thinking this might be my endeavor starting in 2008.

I try to convince myself not to be a set collector.... but I do enjoy the chase of trying to complete a set.


For those who are collecting this set - any advice / words of wisdom would be appreciated.

I know that Matty is a biggie... of course, Joe Jax and Cobby are going to cost me $$$ -


anything else to look out for?


I am thinking of going for a set in the PSA 4 to PSA 5 range.

Any idea on the cost of a common in that grade?


thanks in advance.

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Posted By: Bobby Binder

PSA 4: $200-300
PSA 5: $300-500

These are for commons only of course..

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Posted By: Steve Murray

You're going to need some real deep pockets for this one. Your common 4's and 5's will run you $200-$300 I suspect. Cobb in those grades will run you $6,000-$8,000. Jax and Matty more! Even your mid stars would likely run a grand each.

My guess is you're looking at $60,000 to $80,000 to do the set.

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Posted By: Joe D.

I think an expensive undertaking is just what I need.

It will slow me down a little!

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Posted By: Steve

I have been working on this set for about 2 years now, and am about 70% complete. My goal is to find every card first no matter what the condition and then to upgrade along the way. When you look at the card in the 90-144 range there are less than 20 of every one of them, so getting condition sensitive becomes very difficult. I recently got matty which is one of the greatest checks off my checklist. Good luck to you.

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Posted By: Joe D.

so the higher number cards are more difficult?


I agree with the 'buy what you can' and then upgrade strategy - but I think in this case I will enjoy the slower pace of pickups. Maybe I will expand it to include PSA 3s.

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Posted By: anthony

depending on front appearances, even 2's look good sometimes. may only have slight paper loss on the back and a 6 front but SGC is giving it a 20 or 30 tops...this might save some dough

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Posted By: Dave S

Joe-quite an endeavor, and I truly think you'll find the above price estimates to be too conservative. IMO, think those estimates reflect 3-4 years ago. And indeed a chore to find the '14's in the 4-5 range...
Don't know if you've considered the 1915's and even though you're dealing with an additional 32 cards, definitely a lot more do-able set...
But then again...nothing like the '14 Matty!!
Good luck..

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Posted By: Mark L

I've seen plenty of CJ's that were graded PSA 3's but could pass for 4's and 4's that could pass for 2's. I wouldn't mind a complete set of 3's.

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Posted By: Joe D.

Eye appeal is most important to me. Not technical grading.

So I am sure there are some '1s' that I would look to grab as well.


edit:

Dave - I want to stick with the 14s (or at least try to for now). But - as far as the Matty... dare I say - I like the 15 better!

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Posted By: Kelly

I would agree that this is quite a task to try and assemble a 1914 set. I too have tried to collect the set in the past, but have diverted back to just picking up some of my favorite '14 poses. One thing that is impotant to help you "go into this with your eyes wide open" is to realize that the '14 cracker jack set is much more difficult to collect in an eye appealing manner.
If you look at any major auction, you will see a group of 1915 cracker jacks in PSA 7 or 8 or SGC 84-88 and they look spectacular with their deep bold red background and almost copy paper white backs and front borders. When collecting the '14 set you have to put these images out of your mind, because they almost never exist in that condition. You have to be ready to ACCEPT the stains (big or small) on the front or back. Also, the '14 cards , although hard to believe, were printed on even lower quality paper than the '15 which IMHO makes them more succeptible to toning.
If this is something that doesn't bother you, then I say "Go for It !!". You will have alot of fun along the way.

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Posted By: sean

What would be the top 10 most valuable from this set?

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Posted By: Dan Paradis

FYI.
I just found a 14 CJ Matty while looking through cards for a friend. Unfortunately it will probably only grade Auth because of the edges being torn. I will be sending it to PSA tomorrow and selling it for him soon after.

The card is nice other than the two bites someone took out of it!!

Dan

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Posted By: Jeff Lichtman

Joe, unless you're a masochist (and being from Staten Island I suppose it is strongly possible), this is some unenviable task.

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Posted By: Joe D.

my recent acquisitions have left my Want List - empty.

completely empty.

I am fortunate and surprised that all items have been checked off the list.


Last night I picked up my two most wanted Golf Cards (and I thought it would take me a year or so to get them). I was thinking those cards would be my focus for a while.


So - with nothing on the want list - I thought.... what the heck.... go after a set, little by little.

I am sure I will lose focus and patience half way through or sooner.

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Posted By: Jeff Lichtman

Wow, an empty want list. Damn; that's not a bad place to be. But that 14 Matty...even in PSA 2...such an iconic card and so damn expensive.

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Posted By: Matt

Here ya go Joe:
http://www.sgc1914crackerjack.com/gallery.html

Make it happen!

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Posted By: Steve Murray

I don't recall ever seeing a vintage SGC 98 before much less a 1914 Jackson. Wowzer!!!

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Posted By: Joe D.

those cards are ridiculously nice.



Jeff -
no want list is not all its cracked up to be. It was great picking up those two cards last night.... but not much to look forward to now.

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Posted By: Bobby Binder

Those perfect CJ's belong to Randy

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Posted By: Jeff Lichtman

I've never seen a 14 Mathewson in that condition. It's shocking to see it looking that good.

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Posted By: Steve Murray

All of a sudden there are a number of mid-grade 1914's on ebay.

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Posted By: JimB

It seems strange to say it, but at $800k, that set was a bargain.
JimB

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Posted By: sean

still wanna know the top ten in this set

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Posted By: Brian

In regards to the top ten cards, the population reports are the best place to look. The one card that gets overlooked, and could potentially hold up any set is #93, Del Pratt. Like the Matty, the pose changed from the '14 to the '15 set. Unlike the Matty, it has a population report of 3 for PSA and 3 for SGC. There are more of them out there ungraded for sure, but with that number, there can only be 6 complete graded sets. The price guides haven't caught up with that fact yet, but when you put into account that the "Miracle Set" has one, and Peter Garcia (Top PSA set holder) has one, the field becomes even smaller. High number cards are difficult, and trimming is a real problem when you buy raw cards. It is a challenge for sure, but a worthy hunt.

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Posted By: Joe D.

I just looked at the PSA and SGC registries.

There are zero complete 1914 Cracker Jack sets in the PSA registry -
and just 1 complete 1914 Cracker Jack set in the SGC registry.

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Posted By: Matt

Brian said someone named Peter Garcia is the top PSA set holder, so something is off...

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Posted By: Joe D.

Peter is at the top of the PSA set registry.... but he does not have a complete set on the registry.

Nobody does.

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Posted By: Dave S

I will attest to the fact that Peter G. knows E145's as well as anyone in the hobby. But unless something's changed, he's not a 100% PSA'r. I've dealt with him on many SGC slabs as well...

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Posted By: Brian

There is one complete set registered on SGC and PSA, that is the miracle set from a couple years back. Peter Garcia and one other on the PSA set registry are only a couple of cards away. Pulling a set together can be difficult, but there are some GREAT cards in the set, well worth the challenge if your goals are long term.