Request for help 'defining' pre-WWII sets for my HOF collection

[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

[hcv123]

Definitely encourage you to rework your display shelves to be able to include/consider exhibit cards - There are some AMAZING images on them, with some rare exceptions they for now are some of the best bang for the buck cards you can get. Seems like you have the rest covered pretty well. T202's maybe - could knock down 2 players with 1 card!

[atomic175]

Originally Posted by hcv123

Definitely encourage you to rework your display shelves to be able to include/consider exhibit cards - There are some AMAZING images on them, with some rare exceptions they for now are some of the best bang for the buck cards you can get. Seems like you have the rest covered pretty well. T202's maybe - could knock down 2 players with 1 card!

Thanks, yes, I am considering exhibits - they will actually fit on the top shelf. For example the W461 set is interesting.

[Casey2296]

Welcome and thanks for posting. To be clear, are you looking for 1 card of all HOFers in the pre-war era spread amongst the sets you listed?

So, one Ty Cobb card chosen from any one of those sets?

[atomic175]

Originally Posted by Casey2296

Welcome and thanks for posting. To be clear, are you looking for 1 card of all HOFers in the pre-war era spread amongst the sets you listed?

So, one Ty Cobb card chosen from any one of those sets?

Yes, OMG, I dont have that kind of cash to buy every card of every HOFer!! Maybe someday... Right now I have ~25 pre-WWII era players covered and only a couple players where I have more than one card so Im only displaying one of each player (and will trade/sell the other).

[Casey2296]

Originally Posted by atomic175

Yes, OMG, I dont have that kind of cash to buy every card of every HOFer!! Maybe someday... Right now I have ~25 pre-WWII era players covered and only a couple players where I have more than one card so Im only displaying one of each player (and will trade/sell the other).

Got it. I would consider postcards also like Howard suggested. That way you could knock out 3-4 HOFers with one 4-on-1 exhibit, see below. List looks good, you could also consider some other Candy or Bread issues to fill in.
-

[atomic175]

Thanks Phil! Nice card you have there too!

[Cmvorce]

Your list looks really solid. I’ve embarked on a somewhat similar journey, going back a little further and expanded beyond the HOF to include notable players who didn’t quite make it, and am trying to stick to:

N172 Old Judge
N175 Gypsy Queen
N28 and N29 Allen & Ginter
N162 Goodwin Champions
Just So (damn Jesse Burkett)
N300 Mayo Cut Plug
E90 American Caramel
T206
T212 Obak
E91 American Caramel
T205
T207
E145 Cracker Jack
W515
E121 American Caramel
E220 National Caramel
E120 American Caramel
Zeenut
1933 Goudey
1934 Goudey
1934 Diamond Stars
1938 Goudey Heads Up (damn Rudy York)
1939-1941 Play Ball

[ValKehl]

Shawn, I suggest adding the following to your list of sets:

- 1916 M101-4/5 with Sporting News and several other advertising backs.

- Many of these "E" card sets, as listed on the Old Cardboard web site: https://oldcardboard.com/cardSetList.asp?GroupID=3

[Wanaselja]

Originally Posted by ValKehl

Shawn, I suggest adding the following to your list of sets:

- 1916 M101-4/5 with Sporting News and several other advertising backs.

- Many of these "E" card sets, as listed on the Old Cardboard web site: https://oldcardboard.com/cardSetList.asp?GroupID=3

I was going to suggest the M101-4/5 as well.