Our journey started about seven years ago after we purchased approximately 180 of the most ratty T205's you could imagine (corners missing, heavy creases, paperloss, trimmed to the bone, etc.) at a Columbus, OH card show.
The initial plan was to fill in the holes and then get the set graded by SGC. But as time progressed, my Dad and I found ourselves upgrading on a regular basis as 1's became 2's, 2's became 3's, 3's to 4's and so on. We finally settled with the idea of building a T205 master set in all 4's and 5's which we finally completed in Baltimore this past summer (minus Hobby No stats). It took us roughly seven years to finish.
Today's favorites:
Here is some info regarding the T205 set...
Backs that command the highest premiums:
1) Hindu (Always believed that the Hindu was tougher than the Drum)
2) Drum
3) Broad Leaf (Green or Black; about the same in terms of rarity)
Backs that command a very small premium, and in some cases, no premium:
1) American Beauty*
2) Cycle*
3) Piedmont 42 (Much, much easier to find than a T206 Piedmont 350-460 42)
*Prices have been catching on lately
Backs that command no premium:
1) Hassan
2) Honest
3) Piedmont 25
4) Polar Bear
5) Sovereign
6) Sweet Caporal
Also, here is some information relating to the Minor League players...
ML Players found in T205 set
Doc Adkins
Email Batch
Hick Cady
Jimmy Collins*
Jack Dunn
James Frick
Charles Hanford
Wyatt Lee
Sport McAllister
George Merritt
John Nee
James Phelan
* = Toughest Minor Leaguer
Honorable Mentioned: Hick Cady; can be tough to find in higher grade
Lastly, here is a list of all variations listed in the T205 set...
Edward Barger (Full "B" on Cap)
Edward Barger (Partial "B" on Cap)
Roger Bresnahan (Mouth Closed)
Roger Bresnahan (Mouth Open)
Hal Chase (Both Ears Show, Frame Extends Past Shoulders)
Hal Chase (Both Ears Show, Frame Ends at Shoulders)
Hal Chase (Only Left Ear Shows)
Eddie Collins (Mouth Closed)
Eddie Collins (Mouth Open)
Otis Crandall ("t" Crossed in Name)
Otis Crandall ("t" Uncrossed in Name)
Patrick Dougherty (White Sock)
Patrick Dougherty (Red Sock)
Russell Ford (Black Cap)
Russell Ford (White Cap)
George Graham (Rustlers)
George Graham (Cubs)
Dolly Gray (No Stats on Back)
Dolly Gray (Stats on Back)
Robert Harmon (Both Ears Show)
Robert Harmon (Only Left Ear Shows)
Richard Hoblitzell (Cin. after 1908 Stats)
Richard Hoblitzell (Name Incorrect, No Cin. after 1908)
Richard Hoblitzell (Name Correct, No Cin. after 1908)
Richard Hoblitzell (No Stats on Back)
Arlie Latham (A. Latham on Back)
Arlie Latham (W.A. Latham on Back)
Lefty Leifield (A. Leifield on Front)
Lefty Leifield (A.P. Leifield on Front)
Christy Mathewson (37-11 Record)
Christy Mathewson (37-1 Record)
Patrick Moran (No Stray Line of Type)
Patrick Moran (Stray Line of Type)
David Shean (Rustlers)
David Shean (Cubs)
Bobby Wallace (With Cap)
Bobby Wallace (No Cap, One Line of 1910 Stats)
Bobby Wallace (Two Lines of 1910 Stats)
Irvin Wilhelm ("suffe ed" in 18th Line of Bio)
Irvin Wilhelm ("suffered" in 18th Line of Bio)
George Wiltse (Both Ears Show)
George Wiltse (Only Right Ear Shows)
The five examples that appear in bold are what I would consider the toughest variations to find.
Always happy to answer any T205 questions.
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