I "found" a T209-2 BE Thompson in a pack!
 

Two months ago, I did what I normally do during MLB season, and I bought myself some modern shiny cards to enjoy the experience of ripping open a few packs. To my amazement, I wound up pulling out a Shohei Ohtani atomic refractor which, at the time, was going for around 10k on ebay. This felt like finding a bunch of bitcoin: the prices were insane, but it was an obvious bubble, so I sent the card off to get graded and then to PWCC to sell on ebay. In the meantime, Ohtani went on the DL, and my profits took a big hit, but anyway I found the card in a pack, so I wasn't complaining.

Last night, I found exactly what I wanted to roll my profits into: I'm delighted to have acquired, finally, my white whale, the T209-2 B.E. Thompson, in last night's LOTG auction. The end price was just about what I got for my Ohtani, so it's a fantastic trade as far as I'm concerned: I feel like I found my most wanted card in a pack. Those of you who have sold me T209s in the last decade or so know that this is the only set, besides a recent T206 mini-obsession, that I collect with any consistently. I've been an underbidder on these Thompsons for years, including, I recall, an example that was "too expensive" for me on ebay in like 2005 for $400 or so. I'm now 36 cards away from a (probably impossible) T209-2 set, and I've crossed the biggest want off my list. Super excited about this!

(P.S. if you're wondering if I miss the Ohtani, yes, it was kinda cool.)

Total stoke on getting a whale. Feels really good to get something you've wanted for a long time. Congratulations. Seriously, that Ohtani was going for 10 grand at one time?

That's an awesome Thompson Seth. I was watching that one because it has the BE Thompson back. I'm sure you know more than me about the set, what would you say the rarity of that back is?

AndyH

Thank you!

Yeah, the things people will pay $$$ for! When the set first came out, I saw some completed auctions on ebay for 10k, but to be honest when I opened my pack the cards were going in the 4-6,000 range, and then they went down to $1,5-2,000 or so after he got hurt. Asian market is helping this here, I am absolutely sure.

Andy, the Thompson back only appears on Thompsons as far as I know. Check out Mike Peich's excellent website on this:

https://t209-contentnea.com/t209-con...-photo-series/

About half way down, you'll see his discussion of these. There are actually quite a few variations of the Thompson back but all appear on Thompson's card. If I had to guess, I would say there are probably 20 or so Thompsons in existence? Maybe someone knows that better than me!

That is a pretty good trade up Seth! And a nice Thompson back to boot. Glad to see you get a step closer to finishing off the T209-2 set! Keep up the good work.

I will say though you had me thinking you actually found an old Contentnea pack with good old B.E. in it;)

Hey Seth, thanks for the link to the T209 site. I don't know how I've never seen that before.

Ha, no, I see how the thread title may have been misleading! :D

You hooked me in with that title as well. Congrats. It's a great card. Sorry but I was a major factor in driving that price up for you. I had to bale out in the end. I'm glad you've got though and the search for a BE Thompson continues for me!

Congrats this is something I want to do. I’ve done it I. A smaller scale but never with a card like that. I have no idea who BE Thompson is. Enjoy good for you.

I think B.E. does those $5 fill up commercials.