The Fall of Red Kleinow
 

A little while back I picked up a T205 Cycle-backed Red Kleinow (attractive SGC 40) for a very nice price - under $80. And nobody bid against me. Not one.

It occurred to me that 15-20 years ago, the name of Red Kleinow was a hugely important one to T-card collectors...but not really today.

In terms of the T206 Kleinow (Boston) card, old-time collectors will remember that this was considered one of the most valuable cards in the entire T206 set a couple decades ago. Now, that card does not seem to generate any excitement at all. AFAIK, the card is still regarded as a tough one. I believe in Scot Reader's earlier version of his T206 work, he ranked it as one of the 5 toughest non-SL common players in the set, excluding Demmitt, O'Hara and the Doyle variation (I don't have it in front of me, but I'm pretty sure that is correct).

The T205 was - and still is - a known short print, available only with Cycle, Hassan and Piedmont 25 backs. This card seems to cost less each year. It seems to still be a tough card - if you check PSA's pop report, for example, there are more than 4 times as many T205 Speakers as T205 Kleinows.

Any theories as to why the shine seems to have come off Kleinow's T-cards?

Cheers,
Blair

I'm not sure why, but I love mine. It's a beautiful SGC 40 and the design of the card is truly unique. Great post!

Blair over the past few yrs there has been more 205 Kleinows available. The Cycles, at one time, I can recall seeing several on the market at one time. Supply and demand just like the Raymond last yr at $700+ for VG and Now a VG Cycle Raymond can't sell at $350

I've noticed several of the tougher T205s have come down closer to the prices of commons, Wagner, Kleinow, Donahue, Suggs, etc. I don't have an explanation. I still see sellers putting strong BINs on them but you are right, in auctions they seems to not be as strong as they were 15 years ago.

Thanks for your comments, fellas. Maybe short-print cards like the T205 Kleinow won't increase in value unless the T205 set generally gets hotter. The last few years I think it is safe to say T205 has been mostly "cold" for some reason :confused:.

Cheers,
Blair

there is a Red Kleinow on ebay now that bid up to $71, with 6 days left its a PSA 4, not a bad price with 6 days left to push it up more.