Keith Olbermann's 3 favorite t206 cards
 

I've known Keith a little bit for the past decade, as I was on his MSNBC and then Current shows numerous times. Occasionally we got to talk a little about cards in the green room etc. Tonight on Twitter I asked him what his three favorite t206 cards were--based purely on aesthetics. At leas two of his choices surprised me. Care to guess what he might have chosen, knowing a bit about his collecting? Then I'll post his three picks.

going out on a limb, I`m guessing three lefties .

I'm guessing three cards that, "doesn't look trimmed to me":DDave.

Just looked it up on Twitter so I won't ruin it. Personally, my favorite T 206 based on aesthetics is the Lajoie bat on shoulder.

Any hints?
 

I dont know anything about his collecting...
How about Beals Becker, Dummy Taylor and Tinker Bat on?

I'd be shocked if Fred Merkle isn't one of the three.

Guess
 

Merkle, Wagner and Doyle

Well for starters, Mr. Olbermann is the man because he is a T206 guy.

I would say his first favorite card is his Schulte (Chicago).

Second would be his Eddie Collins (batting) pose card.

Thirdly, I would say the Doyle (hands Above Head) NY Nat'l card.

Interesting, because these are also my favorite three.

Craig

I will say Matty portrait as one of them because I remember an Olbermann column painstakingly analysing Mathewson pitching footage discovered in recent years. Olbermann also had gave time on his show to Eddie Frierson, who frequently stages a one-man play about Mathewson's life at venues all over the country.

So far one correct pick.

Honus Wagner, Cobb Green Portrait, Wojo Portrait

Wagner, Merkle, Green Cobb

:)No intention to hijack this thread but isn't Olberman the guy who said the psa8 Wags"didn't look trimmed."?https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0CvAzd3wIDQ:)Dave

I would vote wojo portrait, Cobb red, waddell port.

Green Cobb, Lajoie portrait, Wagner

Merkle throwing, Matty port, Rebel Oakes

I'm going to say Merkle, Wajo portrait, and John Titus (b/c he's envious of that sweet 'stache).

I'll go with Mattern, Shag and Collins batting.

Who cares which cards he likes? He is a man short of any logic at all, so what that he owns a Wagner t206. He can't even tell when one is trimmed. He may not even be able to tell that Burns glove is backwards and may think Dunn is a horizontal. For all I know he thinks the Shannon is the best looking t206.

I don't really like that such a hate-filled man is one of the main stream faces of our loved hobby.

Nice andy!

Okay, here are Keith's 3 favorites as told to me:

Matty dark cap
Paskert
Oakes

Paskert and Oakes not even in my top 100. Yours?

Not even close! Strange choices in my opinion.

I couldn't disagree more.

Oakes was the first T206 card I bought and is responsible for starting my addiction, oops I mean collection. I thought the composition was cool, but it is by no means one of the best looking T206's. Now, if we were talking about the Oakes E90-1, that would be a different story.

-Jason

Perhaps one might want to ask him as to why he feels that way about the Oakes & Paskert?
Maybe there is a reason

Favorite Cards
 

Wow...interesting! I have to admit, I also like the Paskert and Oakes, but I like anything Cincinnati!!

No offense to the OP, but the only thing I care about in terms of Olberman's opinion, is that the mute button is squelching it in case I accidentally surf past him on the television.

These would be my 3 choices. I don't know what he sees in the 3 he picked. Perfect example of "beauty is in the eye of the beholder" I guess.

If I could photoshop I'd put glasses on Paskert and then do a side by side with an Olberman shot. And caption it something like, "now I see why he likes the Paskert so much."

People with photoshop skills get to have all the fun.

Proofs
 

You would think at least 1 of his proofs would be in the top 3.

Great, I'm trying to complete a Paskert back run and it's one of his favorites. He's probably the reason that the Tolstoi went for $300.00 in the last Sterling auction. Damn you Olbermann, damn you!!

Just kidding guys :D

Well, not really...

Keith is one of the most knowledgeable, passionate collectors I know. He has no trouble separating politics from baseball cards; perhaps you should act in the same manner.

Proudly submitted by Jay Miller

As noted by a few others, I couldn't disagree more. Keith is not what you describe and he probably knows more about this hobby - especially when it comes to tobacco cards and vintage Topps issues - than most of the rest of us combined. I may not agree with all of his political views, but I also don't agree with all my wife's views or my Dad's views, etc, but so what! We're talking about baseball cards. It kills me when people turn off their ears and minds to potential knowledge about a topic - or a hobby in this case - just because they dislike a person (a person they've likely never met) or because they have different poilitcal views.

BTW - he doesn't own "a Wagner" - he owns three. Actually, I believe it's now just two because he recently sold one so that he could donate a large sum of money to an institution that is near and dear to his heart.

Perhaps your full name needs to be in your posts if you are going to give your opinion of a person or company.

Everyone please chill out and stick to baseball cards. Thank you. I was enjoying this thread until the politics started.

Name added to post

On aestheics only ...
 

Dougherty portrait
Cobb green
Lobert

My 3-4 favorite and best-looking
 

Ty Cobb - Green

Ed Walsh

Addie Joss - portrait

Christy Mathewson - dark cap


--Brian Powell

My three favorite
 

Bradley Portrait
Magee Portrait
Schlei Portrait

Agree with this. If Rush Limbaugh or Sean Hannity weighs in with their favorite T206s, I think it would be just as interesting. I don't get turning a thread that isn't political in the least into a thread to preach political views.

Why does anybody really care what he thinks.

+1 I don't really care about his politics or what t206 cards he likes best.

Even within the Reds team I'd go with Lobert, Karger or Griffith (portrait) before these two:

Jeff

I certainly agree with the second clause.

I think what some are missing is that if you have very little respect for someone, and they are a public figure, then you probably aren't going to give a shlt about their other views either, especially when it has to do with a hobby that you enjoy. To those of you who disagree with my statement - that's certainly your right, but it isn't going to change my thinking.

I like Keith and I think he is very good for the hobby. That being said, I disagree with his choices for aesthetic T206 cards. No big deal, I am sure people will disagree with my choices. The selections that people have made so far make for an interesting thread.

My selections:

1. Lajoie Bat on shoulder
2. Engle
3. Brownsfield
3B. McIntire

Does anyone know the favorite cards of Mother Teresa, Justin Bieber or Vanna White?

I'm obfuscated by the relevance of this thread.

If anyone of those people owned two (or three) Wagners I might be interested. :)

Mother Teresa = Sleepy Bill Burns
Justin Bieber = Chick Gandil
Vanna White = Hal Chase (Trophy)

They all like the bad boys. :D

I'm just happy to see a post with the word "obfuscated" in it. Touche' Frank!!

I'm pretty sure they all like Johnson.:)Dave

Frank,

If your name would have been imposed where Keity Olbermann's name was; I would still be interested in your selections as I find it interesting in the way that certain people think.

Now if my name would have been imposed where Keith Olbermann's name was, the thread would have taken a nose dive in the first few minutes of it being posted.

I just hope Greg post the answers fairly quickly so this thread doesn't get too out of control.

Craig

Why does every thread have to take a negative turn?? It was a nice civil discussion until this occurred.

Rich

Who is Brownsfield?

2 facts surrounded by 4 baseless accusations followed by 1 biased opinion, disguised as fact. Someone understands how Fox News works!

I was thinking this myself, or, what would my top three favorite T206's be in Keith Olbermann's collection; and my answer would be "any of the proofs" :D

Sincerely, Clayton

Back to cards
 

My Favs-
Lobert
Schlei-fielding
Waddell-throwing

I'm unable to post an opinion at this time due to forum regulations, but on a side note,



i like pie.

Traynor's in the t206?

my top 3 ( i think! ) ...

cobb ... bat off

lajoie ... bat

pattee horizontal ... my favorite background in the entire set!

I could careless about his political views...this to me was simply a fun thread in my view....oh well that's just me.... Btw...What's Glenn Beck's favorite card? Glenn Beckert? If it is..that'll be cool.

Ricky Y

Ah, the old gratuitous Fox News cheap shot. Most folks with anything of value to say and not totally devoid of critical thinking skills can do better than that.

Ah the belittling of the truth
 

Must be a fan of the fair and balanced network. For the record if Mr. Limbaugh collected cards and had the knowledge and experience in the hobby of Mr. Olbermann I'd care about his card positions. Not being able to separate the two is silly. I can watch Frasier and laugh hysterically but find Kelsey Grammer's politics to be distasteful. If you are unable to do such things you are only short changing yourself.

+100 Derek, Pattee is my favorite card in the set and has been for about 30 years. I love the background on that card!!!

Sorry.. I meant Kitty Bransfield. This is what I get for multi-tasking during the hockey game last night!

+1

I remember Rush Limbaugh on ESPN...it was difficult for me to even listen to him without being repulsed so I understand how some of the conservatives in our forum may feel about Keith Olbermann, but I think skipping the thread is a better choice than stirring the pot, so let's all keep the politics out of it.

I really hate the "us vs. them" mentality. Conservatives blame liberals, and liberals blame conservatives for all of our problem. It's America folks, and we all have to find a way out of this mess together. And you can look at Keith's cards without politics even being a factor.

Now that's what we need more of. Thanks Barry:D

Steve B

His favorite 3 T206- maybe- Merkle, Collins (proof) and Wags.....

It would be fun if he would come on and tell us. He has posted on our forum and is a member....

Top three
 

Somebody JUST asked me a variant of this question on twitter - top three t206 just for aesthetics.

1. Rebel Oakes
2. Dode Paskert
3. Mathewson (black cap)

The three overall favorites? If you have a Wagner and don't say "Wagner" it should be taken from you.

1. Wagner
2. Meek (minor league proof)
3. Mathewson (black cap - first name t206 I ever got, about age 12)

Happy Father's Day...

ko

I read the thread from the bottom, sorry
 

Should've realized it was too much of a coincidence for Greg to have asked AND this thread to have started separately. Sorry!

And aesthetics are clearly in the eye of the beholder.

Thanks Keith....I got one of three correct. I am sort of surprised the Collins proof wasn't one, or the Merkle (hence your id's)......take care and Happy Fathers Day back to you!!

Matty
 

My grandfather - who said he saw Mathewson pitch - explained his legend to me long before I understood the Merkle saga. Plus there's something iconic about that image (the black cap version). Cards issued the season after the Merkle play now carry a certain grimness for me.

As to the Collins proof it's a great card and I'm fortunate to have it. But I'm convinced they pulled it because it looks like he's melting. It's almost as bad as Spike Shannon.

So tough to single out only three. Guess I'd go with

Lajoie w/bat
Joss pitching
George Davis

Guess I'm a sucker for green foregrounds and orange skies.

LOL....looks like he's melting. For some reason I am getting a flashback to Apocalypse Now, but I digress. Thanks again for being a good sport and chiming in. (and I am partial to Matty white cap, myself)

Hi Keith- I was thinking at least one of those proofs had to be among your favorites. They are so amazing!

Any pics to share of the proof/s?
I watched you on CBS 2 in Los Angeles when you had a late night show i believe 10 and bring cards to show and talk. It was great and i wish we had something like that today.
Nice to see you follow these forums :)

The proofs
 

Here's Art Martineau's website and the page with all the proofs illustrated: http://t206resource.com/Olbermann%20Proofs.html

Thanks for posting! I love the Joe Pepe proof, that is a great looking card. It almost has an Obak feel to it with the fielding pose and the colors used.

I can see why a few lists would include the Pattee. Cool pose, great background, and it's a horizontal. Definitely my favorite non-HOFer in the series...

http://www.collectorfocus.com/images...6-harry-pattee

I'd round out my trio with Lajoie batting and Mr. Cobb holding a piece of lumber (a card that I still need to acquire someday).

All the talk of T206 proofs makes me think of the proofs available for the Old Judge set. While most photographer's proofs that have been found were of poses that appeared in the set as N172s and/or N173s, there are a small number that picture poses that either never appeared in the set, or if they did have yet to be discovered. In only one case can I think of a case of a proof of a player who did not make it into the set, that of Geoge Toffling. This story is detailed in the Old Judge book. I have provided an image of an "unissued proof" of Jake Wells, one of the scarcest players in the set, below:

Amazes me how many people here seem unaware of Olbermann's long collecting--and writing about it--going back decades and before hardly anyone else cared. So his picks, especially since somewhat surprising, should have a little extra interest.