[GeoPoto]

Card 8: Norman A. "Kid" Elberfeld. "The Tabasco Kid". Shortstop for the Washington Senators 1910-1911. 1,235 hits, 10 home runs, and 213 stolen bases in 14 MLB seasons. Fiery temper involved him in numerous ferocious arguments and assaults on umpires. Managed the New York Highlanders in 1908. Debuted with the Philadelphia Phillies in 1898. Had a career OBP of .355 and 7 MLB seasons with at least 500 plate appearances.

Kid Elberfeld Washington Portrait Piedmont 350: Elberfeld Portrait T206 cards are less common (PSA-328) than most. PSA has graded fifteen Elberfeld Washington Portrait T206 cards at PSA 6, five at PSA 6.5, five at PSA 7, and two at PSA 8. There is another Elberfeld Portrait card in the T206 set, the Elberfeld New York Portrait card. The Elberfeld Washington Portrait T206 card is in Print Group 1, 350 Series Only.

Heritage/Rounders Entry: Here we have a card graded PSA 6 that presents very nicely, with a clean, clear image and strong corners, edges, and surface. Overall, the borders are not bad, but the card is badly centered high and a skosh left, with a sliver of a top border. The back is okay with moderate fading.

My Entry: SGC graded my card an SGC 3. It presents well with a clear image and reasonably good edges and corners. The surface evidences minor wear and staining. The card is very well-centered. The borders are good. The back has good centering and color, showing only minor fading and moderate surface wear.

Comparison: I find both of these cards presenting attractive, clear images. The H/R card has stronger corners and edgers, but my card is equally pleasing to look at. Where my card pulls ahead is in the borders and the centering. My card's back is also nicer.

My conclusion: I like my card much more than the H/R card because it has a bigger top border and, as a result, is better centered. If I am able to upgrade my card, it will not be to a card with less border and poorer centering. Until then, I will keep my card.

The bottom line: If we ignore resale value, I would not trade my card for the H/R card. I like my card better.

Additional Kid Elberfeld Fun Fact: In 1908, Baseball Magazine reported that he wouldn’t select the team’s (New York Highlanders, who he was then managing) starting pitchers without first consulting his wife.