[atomic175]

Hi everyone. My second ever post on the board, but I figure this is exactly the right crowd to open this discussion. Like many people when covid hit and I had extra time, I restarted my card collection. I always had the goal of collecting one "base card" from the playing years of every player in the Hall of Fame. Post WWII is frankly pretty straightforward on what sets to consider for "base cards". Pre WWII is murky. I am hoping to get some comments on the tough pre-WWII card sets to include and exclude.

If you will indulge the discussion, here are my parameters:

1) The cards need to come from sets of what I currently consider to be qualified cards... no cabinets, postcards, exhibits, coins, discs, stickers, stamps, tatoos but this clearly will be a point to re-evaluate and consider - and actually the reason for my post. I am happy to be argued into or out of a set to consider. Nothing wrong with those exhibit collections - I just have to scope things somehow!

2) As an extension of 2, a big delineating factor for me was card size and much of this is for display purposes (I built several framed shelves and large cards like cabinets dont display well next to something small like stamps).

3) I am on a budget - no dropping thousands on each card (yea, I know good luck on the Ruth). I also decided to eliminate all 20th century-only players for this reason... at least for now! I did decide to include players like Beckley and Flick who barely have 21st century cards during playing years. Also, to be clear, this is for the fun of collecting--not investing--so I am not overly focused on condition.

4) Many will disagree but in order to live within a budget, I am considering some cut strip cards as qualified although I admit this doesnt set well with me. I picked strips, at least initially, with a relatively large number of HOFers in the set.

Within those constraints, here are the sets I currently have on my list:

1903-04 Breisch Williams E107
1908-10 American Caramel E91A/B/C
1909-11 American Caramel E90-1/2/3
1909-11 T206
1909 Ramly T204
1911 Gold Border T205
1912 Brown Background T207
1914-5 Cracker Jack E145
1915 American Caramel E106
1917 Collins-McCarthy E135
1920-21 W-516
1921 American Caramel E121
1922 American Caramel E120,122
1922 W-573 / V-61 Neilsons
1922 W-575
1923 Fleer W-515
1923 W-572
1927 American Caramel E126
1933 Goudey
1933 Delong
1934 Goudey
1934 Diamond Stars
1936 Goudey (R332)
1937 O-Pee-Chee
1939 Play Ball
1940 Play Ball
1941 Play Ball

I very much look forward to hearing your expert opinions on any other sets to include or sets you do not think should count. Thanks in advance!

--Shawn