Why Shag?
 

I'm putting together a mini-subset of T206s: the Virginia League SLers. Two players each from six teams. All but one (Al Orth) are portraits and none are big names and most can be had fairly cheaply - except Shag Shaughnessy who always seems to be priced at a premium over the other 11.

Any conspiracy theories or ideas why Shag brings a premium over the other Va League SLers? Is there some unspoken 'Titus' effect or am I missing something? or am I just imaging this?

It's the hair... it's got to be the hair.

Distant ancestor of Kramer?

Same image was later used for the U.S. $20 bill.

No conspiracy. See the Wikipedia article Val linked to. He spent decades as a minor league baseball manager and executive, and a college baseball, football, and hockey coach. He’s in the Canadian Football Hall of Fame, the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame, and the International League Hall of Fame.

Seriously, just look at the card. It is magnificent. One of the finest images on a card. He's like Dracula on this one. The Count.

Actually, like Titus, someone has hoarded him.

Unlike Titus, he is legit more difficult than other cards in the set. An interesting baseball man...his WWG card makes a dandy companion.

http://bmwcards.usanethosting.com/im...ghnessy_fr.jpg

This! He was as important as anybody in organized sports for decades.

As a side note SHAG is also pictured on one of the 1964 Topps Banquet cards as well, he is pictured along with Jackie Robinson and Joel Shorin (President of Topps Chewing Gum). Pretty interesting card.

Who wouldn't like a nice Shag now and then... ;)

For anyone interested in learning more about Shag, here's the link to his SABR bio: http://sabr.org/bioproj/person/022eb7f7

Val, David, and Rhett are correct--He was a major sports figure, especially as a coach in both baseball and football. He has the same collecting crossover appeal as Greasy Neale, although Shag never won a World Series.

Happy holidays,
Mike

+1, Michael is right based on the collections of these two cards. I also think his later career contributed somewhat to the value, he was quite a figure...

Thanks, Val. The article clarifies a matter in Shaughnessy's bio. I had previously learned from brief bios on the net that Shag had coached football at Washington and Lee, my alma mater. Yet, the W&L website did not show him listed among its head coaches. Turns out, he coached freshman football, circa 1910.

That’s a drop dead gorgeous E222!

Just looking over a few threads and have to agree with this.
Love the colors and the image....and the rarity of it.

"Oh behave!!" - Austin Powers

What did I do? :)

Thanks guys, almost a complete set now, I have two. Should take about 40-50 more years. Shag is my favorite, if you can't tell.

I did not know Shag was so popular. I guess I have a good one with a Hindu back......PSA 1 though.

If you find a Shag collector doing a back run (or better yet two collectors doing a back run of him) you might have hit gold. I don't think there are as many Shag hoarders as there used to be though.