Four months is a long time without the E-Monster...the Kraken must have been in hiding. Here is a E90-1 Hartzell that has come out of hiding after apparently kraken himself up.

Brian

Kraken
 

I'm in. Start me out with 18....

Welcome aboard, and keep us updated!

Brian

Still slogging along...177.

Congrats...you slogged your way past me. Keep it going!

Brian

Sunset
 

It’s apropos that I waited until almost the end to acquire a Miller Sunset version for my Kraken Kwest.

The sun is setting on my set.

This gives me 119/121 cards.
223 Kraken Points.

I would like to thank new pal Denny Walsh for this opportunity. A neat guy to deal with as you may already know.

Mr Kraken Kounter, can I get three points please?

Damn Toad, 119/121 is very impressive. Great job picking up the sunset Miller. Such a nice looking card and tough too. Who do you need besides Jackson now?




.

Nice Brian...the Miller sunset card is probably something I would have snagged back in the day, if I had known about! Now it is something I am content to admire at a distance.

You have been Krakened upward on the Kraken Kwest list.

Brian

Hey Andy…Thank you for the encouragement:-)

Wagner (Batting) is gonna be the last Kraken card for me.
I’m not envisioning the Jackson card coming my way.
I’ll be ecstatic with 230 Krakens!
I’ve got a few that could use an upgrade so I’ll be working on this set for a bit longer.

What abacus type set is next? I enjoyed the point system here !
What else ya got , BP?

my kraken # is approximately 8

wagner throwing
cy young boston
miller w/sunset
miller no sunset
keeler pink
a few other highlanders

Welcome aboard Pete, but you do have more than eight Kraken points. Here are the values of the cards you listed:

wagner throwing - 10
cy young boston - 4
miller w/sunset - 3
miller no sunset - 1
keeler pink - 1
a few other highlanders - ?

You have 19 points with what you have specifically identified. Check out those Highlanders...I believe all the rest of the Highlanders besides the two other Keeler cards would be 1 pointers. Let us know the results, and I should be able to eventually get you up on the leader board.

Brian

Count me in for 21 kraken points then!!!

Pete, consider yourself officially enshrined in the Kraken Hall of Fame, dental (bite) wing.

Brian

Brian, just moved my number to 26 with a couple of solid pickups. Long way to go!

holy MOLAR!!!!!

Must have been a couple of toughies to move 8 up on the K-Scale. Keep up the solid work!

Brian

I have been working on this set, but failed to report my progress. I'll have to go back and figure it all out. I know I added Bescher, O'Connor, and Chance. Oh yeah a crappy Plank. Maybe a couple more. Should move me up a bit in the Kraken list. I'll make an official report in a couple of days.

This REA win represents one more halting step in the long, slow march toward the Kraken's lair. A weary 181.

Joining the list here, i have 19 cards, but some of the harder ones already clocking in at 61 points. Slow slog…picked up 2 in REA last night, got fatigued on all the lots…would have preferred a group! My best are a speaker (psa 2), a Mitchell (raw), Cobb and Red Keeler. Wish I had prioritized a long time ago (as I am sure you all are thinking….). It has become one of my favorite sets.

That's a great Speaker, Paul. A PSA 1 sold for $5760 last night.

That was a strong number! Saw that. I love that Speaker card and pose, it’s one of the best cards period.

I remember when i bought most of the tough ones in a Clean Sweep Auction (8 years ago?), i would buy cards like that i liked and then think, what am i doing buying random cards (i am pretty big on set collecting and having a purpose to my buys besides “cool card I will buy some of those”)? If you are going to set collect you have to buy the big ones first or its hard to ever finish, and I did some of that with those E90-1s back then, but never got the Jackson and haven’t made much more progress yet…stared at many of them.

But BOY am I glad now that i did buy things like that…i also bought a Wilson Franks Williams like that, because I love the silly hot dog package floating on the cards…and it was Ted Williams, no great risk or leap of course….went for almost $20k last night??!

Nice posts today to reawaken the Kraken. And puckpaul starting strong with some heavy hitters...I too admire the Speaker and the red Keeler.

Brian

Release the Kraken again! A few pickups from REA takes me up to 44. Long way to go. Some awesome examples in this thread!

May your E90-1 journey be filled with twists and turns of the pleasant nature, such as tackled in mountain roads by a driving enthusiast.

Brian (always willing to stretch a nonsensical allusion to its maximum)

Three new pickups, some prettier than others. Sorry about the photo.
Should take me to 194 Kraken points.

In the upcoming LOTG auction (Happy Anniversary, Al) I have consigned a Walsh and Keeler throwing, both nice cards but only graded as 2's. Leon, I hope this kind of post is ok.

Sweeney is one of the cool looking E90-1 kids. I have updated you to 194.

Brian

Forget Leon (Leon, forget that I wrote this), it is okay with me, especially since I am still missing Mr. Walsh.

Brian

Brian,

Added a few recently. Release the Kraken number up to 73 for me! Duffy and Cleveland Cy helping my number along.

A Cy and a Duffy can do the Kraken Number wonders.

Maybe someday a Duffy will come to my Kraken number rescue.

Brian

Three more Kraken points. Please update me to 197.

I always liked the somewhat off-balance throwing pose seen on the Karger.

Here is my example for a closer look, and your Kraken has been boosted.

Brian

My score is 44

Andy Cook

Maybe he's been drinking and is balancing himself on the dugout rail.

Nice Andy, I would love to see you get crackin' on your Kraken.

Brian

That is a reasonable explanation for his off-kilter look.

Brian

Hi Brian,

I would love to play along here. I reached the point in several other sets where I might be waiting for years (or possibly forever) to finish them, so this will be enjoyable to collect.

I already had a few cards from the set, but I kinda cheated my way to a bigger number last night by buying the partial set in LOTG. I like getting a jump start, but I also think this was the Kraken equivalent of taking PEDs and juicing numbers.

So please list me with 184 points but throw an * onto my number. Once I upgrade a sufficient number of cards or otherwise put forth some real Kraken collecting grit, I'll request that the * be removed. :)

Here's my Young that I acquired from a nice board member last year.

Cheers,
Steve

Ah, you won that? I was an underbidder, thought hard about another go….I have a bunch of the toughies, but still need the Jackson and the two Wagner, so…decided that was the wrong order. But I think you got a very good deal and there are some real toughies and a lot of HOFers and they look good in lower grades, I wouldn’t upgrade unless something is really bad in there. Congrats!

Paul

Thanks! I guess we'll see how it really looks when the cards are in hand. Without all of the front scans and no back scans, there's always going to be some surprises.

I generally try to upgrade for eye appeal within reason, but I don't play the holder game. The Authentic cards, especially if they are missing any of the name/team captions or have major back damage, will be on the "upgrade desired" list. :)

Nothing wrong with revving up your E90-1 collecting career. It worked for Barry Bonds and friends in their athletic endeavors. I have added an asterisk by your Kraken number, and for fun added a bunch of other symbols too!

Brian

:D
Thanks, Brian!

Man, been a while since an update for me. But I picked up the Cy Young Boston a few months ago and, today, got this Sweeney. Nine more points has me up to 209 with only six cards remaining. Slowly chipping away.

Here's the latest addition.

E90-1 The Kraken
 

I would bump Jerry Upp from a 1 to a 4, a very tough card to find, in a high grade almost impossible with two psi 5's the highest graded

This Sweeney is my favorite of the two Sweeney cards in the set (different players). I love its different look. Way to narrow it down to the final six cards Anson, and congrats on the Cy Young Boston...another great card.

Brian

It definitely deserves more than just 1 in the Kraken point world. And in fact it is and has been a 3 pointer. I think it is about where it should be...a tough card at the cusp of ultra-tough.

As a visual refresher, here is a group shot from an old Huggins and Scott auction lot, featuring Upp on top row, second from right, twisting his backside toward the other Sweeney in the set.

Brian

Brian, these Kraken slayers now will be in Al's Spring Auction.

Time to revive the Kraken again!

This Lobert gets me up to 116/121 on the set. Three more points for my total whenever you get time, Brian.

Anson, another tough E90-1 nut you have Krakened...now you are only an impressive 38 points away from completion.

Brian

I first started the set, I don't know .. 5-6 years ago? Got about halfway and abandoned it. Not this time -- I really want to finish it.

Making progress
 

Count me up to 129. A few bigger pickups have helped including Wagner throwing. Slow but steady progress...

.

A Wagner throwing will certainly lift that number up for most.

Brian

Pretty impressive second push Anson. The last E90-1 I have picked up was over 5 years ago. But I do not give up hope...someday I may have a few more come my way.

Brian

Man, given what I've had to pay for the last several shortprints, I know there have to be more folks out there collecting this set. Show yourselves!

I agree...more E90-1 collectors should expose themselves. Until someone takes up the challenge, here is an American Caramel of the unceasingly creased Kraken variety to hopefully tease out some more E-Monsters.

Brian (I believe this Joss has what is referred to as a 'crackle' finish. It might be even more interesting to look at than a minty example)

I'm one card away (where are you, Ed Phelps?!) after securing a Cy Young Cleveland and a Vic Willis recently.

+20

Lucky enough to add the Shoeless joe to PC. Guess I have to finish the set now...

My first addition in nearly a year. I think this puts me at 200 (116/121).

Welcome aboard Jeff. Really, Ed Phelps has eluded you? Should be a relatively easy one to finish off your set. I will award you an awesome 249 number.

Brian

You wouldn't think a dude without shoes would be worth 20 Kraken points, but congrats anyways!

Brian

You are now at 200, about 96% towards set completion, but 80% of the way to the Kraken home port...some rough seas ahead. Good luck!

Brian

Glad to see that last post brought a few folks out of the woodwork.

A while back, I thought I was shorted three points. That must not have been true because after two pickups of three-pointers, my total should be 215 and not the 218 I thought it would be.

Added Shean and Stone one hand for six points in the last week. Here's Shean while Stone is still in transit.

Missing only Shoeless Joe, Wags Batting, and Stahl now!

So let's try this again -- my total is 215! Apologies for cheating the Kraken on three points.

Good you came forward Anson, because the Kraken himself (it might be herself, as I've been kinda afraid to ask) comes by on occasion and checks folks #'s for accuracy. Not sure how the Kraken knows everyone's true Kraken #'s, but if anyone would, it sure would be the Kraken.

Nice pickups, and all is revised in E-Monster land.


Brian

I'm such an idiot. Wagner batting is only seven points, not ten. I'm missing Joe, Wagner Batting, and Stahl -- 32 points missing from the 250 target. So 218 is indeed my total. You should probably leave it as 215 as a penalty for my stupidity.

Brian, happy to add Evers and Walsh to my total. Not cheap but......

Don't be so hard on yourself Anson. If this was the T206 Monster # we were dealing with, where practically every card is worth just one point, then I would get worried. The Kraken demands intense, intricate computation and constant vigilance, and slipups are not only expected, but to some degree should be applauded...it means your journey has been fraught with a boatload of danger, but in spite of this you have still made much progress across turbulent seas.

Thus, for the time being, 218 you are and shall be.


Brian

Hi John, I will put you down for a Kraken number of 6 because of these two cards. I do not see a previous Kraken number for you. Do you have other E90-1 cards that can be added to boost your score?

Brian

Brian, I do indeed and thought I was in the Kraken registry. Your computer must have dropped me. My current K. count, including the Walsh comprises:
1. Cobb
2. Young Boston
3. Lajoie
4. Matty
Tks. John

Only after I probably dropped the ball first.

With the Walsh and Evers (by the way, some heavy hitters and pitchers in that lineup), your total is 22.

Brian

Looks like I haven’t provided an update in over 5 years, my bad! I pathetically only moved up to 94. Got some work to do. Awesome to see so many of you close to the finish line, congrats!

Your pace is zippity-quick compared to mine. I have been able to add 5 Kraken points to my score since I started this thread, and those 5 came within the first few months. So nothing since your previous update. Definitely E90-1 is a long haul set to collect for most collectors.

Brian

This Speaker isn't very pretty (neither is the Kraken, I'm told), but it gets me to 210 (117/121).

That is the E90-1 Speaker of my dreams. I personally think it is the most difficult of all E90-1 cards to track down, not only because it is scarcer than most other E90-1 cards, but also since it is popular due to Tris being a big name Hall of Famer, and typically just plain expensive.

Just 40 more whacks at the Kraken for you!

Brian

Wee Willie wishes you all a happy St. Patkraken's Day. Either flash your E-Monster gang sign (number), or a hole in the greater neck region may be your pot o' gold result.

Brian