Nice card Pete.

thanks mike...Jeff...WOW...what an image!!!!!! Chris...you are most likely correct...I sold it back in 2001 or so to buy a leather recliner...that my cat destroyed...I'd rather have the card!!!!

Here are a couple more of my favorite tough ones

The below rank as my personal favorites in my collection as well as some of the absolute toughest cards I have. Many of these weren't really cards I sought out, except maybe the B&W m116, but were rather cards I just stumbled into and had an opportunity to obtain.

The e94 represents not only a unique player with a silver background in the e94 set, but an entire unique variation as a 2nd e94 silverback has never been found.

The d311 bluegrass variation maybe unique to this player but I'm thinking other examples exist that are missing that color pass.

The e95 Cicotte is the only distinct background color variation I've ever seen from the e95 or e96 set.

The m116 is one of only two black and white m116s that I'm aware of.


Attachment 72129

Attachment 72130

Attachment 72131

Attachment 72132

Amazing stuff here!

Pete, that Lowdy is unreal. Jeff, that Matty PC makes me drool.
Is that a JuJu Matty? Wow!

Jeff: That Matty is IMPRESSIVE!

each page in this thread is worthy of a museum. Great cards everyone. I don't think I've ever seen that Juju before.

Jeff, that Matty is so great. Love the writing in the bottom corner as well.

I've never seen the JuJu Matty either, thanks for sharing! It's awesome.

Great cards everyone!

Here is the rarest partial card that I own

<a href="http://s69.photobucket.com/albums/i52/rman444/prewar/Other/?action=view&amp;current=1913BostonGarterTyCobbFro nt.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i52/rman444/prewar/Other/1913BostonGarterTyCobbFront.jpg" border="0" alt="1914 Boston Garter Ty Cobb Front"></a>

Wow
 

Wow, Jeff, what a great Mathewson PC!

And can someone tell me more about the T215 Pirates miscut? It's been years since *any* T215 has traded publicly. To see a major miscut like that is absolutely phenomenal -- would love to hear any background on that...!

I really like this thread so I will add another of mine. Would be better if a chip was not missing from the top but never seen another one...............

I ditto what has already been said...brian..great varios...I was eying that cicotte...I love it!!!! And thank god there aren't more of those "silver" e94's or I may need one!

Never seen the JUJU matty either...wowsers...very cool...and that piece of a BG cobb is real nice too!!!!!!

Certainly not the toughest card in the world, but my small contribution to this thread:

http://photos.imageevent.com/vanslyk...dell%20Doc.jpghttp://photos.imageevent.com/vanslyk...ell%20Back.jpg

Thanks Jason
 

Thanks Jason. Fred Toney was a really good pitcher that time has pretty much forgot. He kind of did it to himself though because he wasted a few years in the Chicago Cubs system not really trying hard because he never really wanted to pitch in the majors. He was content to pitch in the minor leagues. As a result he lost roughly 3-4 seasons of his prime that he could have used at the major league level.

Tony

my contribution
 

My contribution. I looked for a Wright that I liked for well over 10 years. I looked for Charleston for what seemed like quite a while. Mackey I lucked into soon after I learned of its existence, but it is sure hard to find now.

Toughest card (for me) as a function of various sets
 

Pre-WWII


N162 ..... Sharp examples of either Anson or Kelly are tough simply because of the law of "supply vs. demand" for these two cards.

http://i529.photobucket.com/albums/d...ansonkelly.jpg



E90-1 ..... Either one of these two cards in my current set of E90's are the toughest; as, they were when I completed my 1st set (circa 1990's).

http://i529.photobucket.com/albums/d.../atrispeak.jpg ...... OR ...... http://i603.photobucket.com/albums/t...6/e90duffy.jpg



T206 ..... Any card with this back

http://i529.photobucket.com/albums/d...eaf460back.jpg



T207 ..... For me Chet Hoff was the toughest

http://i529.photobucket.com/albums/d.../achethoff.jpg


Post WWII


1949 LEAF

http://i529.photobucket.com/albums/d...zaz/paige2.jpg ...... OR ...... http://i529.photobucket.com/albums/d...flarrydoby.jpg



1949 BOWMAN PCL ..... Any one of the 36 cards in this very scarce set

http://i603.photobucket.com/albums/t...bowmanpcl1.jpg



TED Z

There you go - trying to make me throw up again. Any time I see a BL 460 back, or even hear of their existence, I have that reaction, because of the two I sold and the one I failed to buy. Oh well.

Thanks Ted.

That George Wright has got to be one of the coolest cards I've ever seen. Not that the other two you posted are exactly slouches.

My toughest card surfaced ...
 

several years ago in a find from menber of the Griffith family of a small group of 1922 W573-like cards with advertising for the Leader Theatre (in Wash., DC) on the backs, all of which cards I believe are autographed (in pencil) Wash. Senators cards (if my early-Alzheimer's-like memory serves me correctly, which it often doesn't). I think this lot of a dozen or so cards constitutes all or almost all of the Leader Theatre cards of this type (There is also an E121-like card with a Leader Theatre back that I think is even more rare) that are known to exist.

This lot included cards of Walter Johnson and Sam Rice, whose cards I enthusiastically collect. Not too long thereafter, all or most of these cards appeared in eBay auctions, much to my delight. However, as the bidding escalated beyond what I thought I might win these 2 cards for, and seeing that my main competition was someone (another Ner 54 member) with deeper pockets (as I recall, this was before eBay started disguising the bidders' IDs), I regressed into a no-guts-no-glory bidding funk and failed to win either of these cards! Shortly afterwards, the Net54er who won them both, told me that he had placed his max bid for the WaJo, and that if only I had bid a teensy bit more, I would have won the WaJo card! To this day, I still have nightmares about this!!

I should mention at this point that when I was a kid in the late 1940's and early 1950's, my dad would take me to see cowboy movies at theaters in the area of DC where the Leader Theatre was located; hence, I very likely saw a movie or two in this theatre before it closed down!

Continuing my story, I somehow managed to carry on with my life! Fast forward a number of years to March of 2011. By this time, I think this Net 54er was feeling sorry for me, for he let me purchase the the Sam Rice card from him at a reasonable (I guess!) price, and I have attached scans of my pride-and-joy below.

Being as this Net 54er is also partial to WaJo cards, I know that my only chance of ever acquiring this one is by outliving him - and, he is significantly younger than me! But, I want him to know that I am doing everything I can (such as eating healthy, taking my vitamins, etc.) to increase my "slim-and-none" chances! :D

Seriously, Dan, again many thanks for this Rice card, and I'll always wish for the best for you and "Pops."
Val

T206 cycle 460 Germany Schaefer. I have never seen another.

Old Puts
 

Here are a couple of the only ones known...

Not my rarest, but one of my favorite rarities. This one does not get mentioned much (maybe due to its rarity) but to my knowledge there are only four or five known.
JimB

http://photos.imageevent.com/jimblum...ba%20front.jpghttp://photos.imageevent.com/jimblum...bbb%20back.jpg

Most N167s are tougher than the Mello Mint Cobb.
JimB

http://photos.imageevent.com/jimblum...0Gillespie.JPGhttp://photos.imageevent.com/jimblum...50%20back.jpeg

Rough shape but difficult to find in any condition

[IMG]http://www.net54baseball.com/picture...pictureid=7695http://www.net54baseball.com/picture...pictureid=7696

That's my dream card Jim. Beautiful card.

It lives! :eek: Nice to see it in a higher res scan then whats been shown prior. Amazing f/b combo, congrats!

That card is off the charts!!! :eek::eek::eek:
JimB

Mine would have to be this one....

Here are a few...

My toughest card
 

I really enjoy looking at all of the great cards on this thread. Makes me want to concentrate more on the rarity of cards instead of the grade. Here is my humble entry.

I have not seen many of these come up for sale in the last three years. I was pleased when I got it, and even more pleased when I got it placed in an SGC holder.

Best regards,

Joe

I agree with everyone else...simply awe-inspiring thread!

Two...
 

Ummm I would have to say these two (guess my Gehrig won't attach), for now...

I'm going to post this one just once more. I don't know why it says photograph. It's a 1936 R313 National Chicle.

http://s107.photobucket.com/albums/m...jams/Honus.jpg

Joseph Laughlin Old Mill Cabinet
 

One of my toughest and one of my favorites!

Patrick

Toughest Card
 

Nice thread. I have to say my toughest card to date would be a reasonable condition T200 Fatima Boston NL. I have seen only a few in total...

Yeah don't submit to PSA/DNA, (if you did), submit to regular PSACard, and check the box for autograph authentication (a ton cheaper), and they'll list the card. Maybe previous owner didn't if you didn't send it in...

Not baseball but;
n175 Gypsy Queen Pete McCoy

http://photos.imageevent.com/exhibit...75%20style.JPGN

Ruth Willard's Chocolates Premium
http://www.goodwinandco.com/LotImage...ot02a_med.jpeg

Tough variation from tough set
 

http://imagehost.vendio.com/a/204295...NNXTWO_NEW.JPG

Finding the Worch Joe Glenn with the partial background variation , in any condition , took me six years ; naturally it cost 'way more than the regular issue , even as a 1.5 --- I remember a recent thread about the terms '' rare'' versus ''scarce''.... I'd like to add '' Anal-Retentive Obscure'' to our glossary and would like to be the second to sign up ......we all know who's first.....

very nice pair , Mike
Never saw those two together

Some more to add to the mix......
 

http://i603.photobucket.com/albums/t...ottonchase.jpghttp://i603.photobucket.com/albums/t...ottonchase.jpghttp://i603.photobucket.com/albums/t...dleaf350xb.jpghttp://i603.photobucket.com/albums/t...adleaf350x.jpg




http://i1255.photobucket.com/albums/.../W600matty.jpg



TED Z

Ted- love the cards, great w600.

As a set collector these were the toughest for me. I'm proud of them and feel fortunate to have them.

A Kurowski that is well registered.
A Cohen that is bright and clean.
An Old Mill Mullaney with 4 nice corners.

Loving the BL Ted!

I have rarer cards but this is one I could not do without and probably would not be able to replace.

[IMG]<a href="http://s170.photobucket.com/albums/u266/Wite3/?action=view&amp;current=magie.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u266/Wite3/magie.jpg" border="0" alt="t206 magie"></a>[/IMG]

Joshua- looks like someone took a bite out of that.