So how are our Cracker Jack collectors doing?
 

I feel somewhat outta the loop not buying one in 4 months or so, the shakes are getting worse, and wanted to check in with the community. It appears sales of 1915s and 1914 HOFers remain pretty strong and there's a new crop of 1915 set collectors out there. So how if everyone's project coming along?

I am still at the 180 I finished my set with back in October. I entertain thoughts of a master 200 someday, but there's lot of thoughts to entertain. Here are some of my favorites.

Hey Steven, sweet cards! Your 180 set is awesome. I just picked up my first two CJ's recently and now I'm hooked. I'm thinking about putting a 1915 Pittsburgh team set together (Federals and Nationals). It might be a pipe dream though considering the Wags. I'd also like to add at least one 1914 for my type collection. Good luck with your Master set if you decide to conquer it.

would like to add one of each year, one day it will happen

I just picked up my first one (from the BST board). I hope I don't like it too much, otherwise it could get a little expensive:)

I would like to pick up a reasonably priced Vean Gregg someday.

Still only doing 1914s but got my "realistic" dream card last month (have suppressed dreams of Wagner, Cobb, Johnson, Matty...) via BST here. And a 3 that looks like a 5 a nice goal.



http://www.net54baseball.com/attachm...1&d=1393265011

I picked up my first 1914 CJ last year, and will buy another one this year. I'll never complete the set, but it will be fun to look and watch for cards to add every year.

Still looking for a PSA 1 1915 Jackson and a PSA 1-3 Walter Johnson. Been quite some time since I've made any purchases :(

Was grateful to of picked one up recently I needed for my HOF sub set. It was a biggee!!

http://photos.imageevent.com/ltsgall...kcobbfront.jpg http://photos.imageevent.com/ltsgall...bbyreverse.jpg

Tony- stunning, congrats, bud.

PS- looks like you & i have about the same posting average here ;)

Thanks Mikey!! :)

Whoa!

Wow is that beautiful, just the right amount of off color aging while still maintaining a perfect eye appeal ;)

That's a keeper!

Agree that is a sweet pickup Tony :)

Thanks fellas. I appreciate it!

Great cards in this thread guys! I'm down to just under 20 more cards to go for my 1915 set. Once I complete it I will probably do a few upgrades to some of my roughest ones from time to time. I still got a few big ones to go, but got jackson and Cobb out of the last year! I started the set in 2004, so it's been a long road but I can see the light at the end now as I begin to come down th stretch. Since last fall I really made some great progress. I hope to continue that this year.

What do you think of prices lately, buying and selling? Has seemed in past two years there are cycles of surging prices, then decline--not the usual up-up-up or down-down-down. At least with the 1914s. The 1915s too? Seems odd to me. So what do think of that--and longterm market?

I'd completely agree on the 1915s. In the fall of 2012 prices were high and seemed to dive again on commons. Prices now seem to be higher than they were then, commons I was paying $85 for are now $100+ and they always seem to sell rather fast. 1914s seemed to have crashed currently. With no set collectors the prices on some commons have really fell...HOFers will always be strong. I think long term this is just how CJs roll, enjoy the ride.

As with every set, I just collect the Yankee cards, and right now I have 5 Cracker Jack Yankees. Nice cards!

Love to read about what other Cracker Jack collectors are doing. I started in earnest about a year and a half ago and am knocking on the door of 100 cards. It's a mixture of '14s and '15s. I recently acquired Smoky Joe, Nap, and Three Finger Brown, so I'm enjoying the heck out of those. Rainer has helped me out with some cards, but if anyone else is looking to sell or trade, let me know.

Thanks,

Doug

Nothing like sending cards to ALASKA!

I like the CJs but they are pretty price right now.


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The top card in my entire collection is a best-graded CJ HOFer so it's very hard to guess current value, let alone future. Tempting to find out because it could get almost anything via, say, REA--or prove a bit disappointing. Anyone have any experience at that level?

CJ
 

After reading the Cracker Jack collection late last year, I decided to start my own CJ collection, focusing exclusively on 1914! I love the challenge of 1914 because of both scarcity and condition sensitivity. It's insane to think I'll actually complete it in VG-EX one day but I'm willing to be very, very patient :D. I will also have my vintage photography to keep me busy between dry spells.

In two months time I am up to 10 cards thanks in large part to board member T0M Pr!nce. Thanks, Tom.

In my limited experience with the set and research on historical prices, I think prices on VG-EX to EX commons are strong ranging from $175 - $500+ depending on scarcity. I think there are so many private transactions on these cards that it's even difficult to review VCP or CardTarget to accurately price them. Much of it also has to rely on pop reports (which have their own limitations, of course). So ultimately, it's a coordination of multiple points (including your own motivation:)) to come up with a fair price.

I look forward to learning more about the set and working with board members to help me make slow (but steady) progress toward my goal.

So how are our Cracker Jack collectors doing?
 

Oh, fine......:):

Steven, beautiful collection you have there, good luck on your quest to 200 should you accept the challenge!
Greg M. - Loving that Walsh, wish I'd seen it on the b/s/t sooner, great pickup
Tony A - BEAUTIFUL Cobb! Wow, stunning centerpiece of a collection!
EJW - I too have had nothing but great experiences dealing w/Mr. Prince. Can I assume you stole that Zeider he had up on ebay that I was hoping to bid on!? :)
Brian, awesome Pratt what a rarity! One of the cards I'll likely never fork the money over for :(

I have around 49 of 144 in the 1914 CJ set. Always back & forth whether to keep going for it, as its very expensive, but its fun picking up a new one every now and then when the price is right. Here are a couple of random ones ...

Rob
:)

Good luck on the 1914s set, very tough set with tons of scarce cards. I'd completely agree about the private transactions, its also the only way to finish the 1914 set.

Rob, as I posted last week, love the Heinie Wagner pose. Many of the CJs don't do anything for me so I stick to the ones that do...

Nice - that Clarke is very familiar to me. Glad he is off the bench, and that you got him! Congrats!

100% agreed Steven. I wouldn't have many of the cards in my collection without the private transactions I've had with friends in the hobby.