How 'Bout a Little Love for The Sporting Life M116 Set

[clydepepper]

While clearly existing in the long shadow of the T206 set, it's simplistic style is becoming a favorite target of my disposable income.

It doesn't have the wide variety of backs, action poses or total cards, only portraits executed with it's own level of beauty.


TY COBB 1911 Sporting Life -pastel- PSA-5.jpgCHRISTY MATHEWSON 1911 Sporting Life - Pastel SCG-70.jpg

[arcadekrazy]

I actually just started putting together a collection of these (pardon the difference in scale. Don't have time to play around with equalizing the scan sizes).

[T206Collector]

Still can't believe I own it!

[Bpm0014]

That Wagner!!! Wow!!!

[Prince Hal]

How rare are the "300 Subjects" backs?

[sterlingfox]

Originally Posted by Prince Hal

How rare are the "300 Subjects" backs?

Oldcardboard has a good page on the rarity of each card. Back type "3" is the 300 subjects back.

http://www.oldcardboard.com/m/m116/m116SearchIndex.asp

[sb1]

Actually there are two runs of the 300 subjects cards. The original and very tough cards from the first 24 series and then the reissue of team sets, which includes several players issued with 300 subjects backs, that were not originally. The Mathewson above a good example of the latter.

[Jobu]

Really the thread should be locked after Paul's Wagner, but here is my only M116.

[Bpm0014]

Correct. Leon can you please lock this thread after post 3. Nothing else to see here.....

[brianp-beme]

M116 cards fall into the underappreciated category--they have a somewhat uniform look like the very popular Cracker sets, but are mostly subdued pastels and have just never grabbed a lot of collector attention.

That said, they are a great set with plenty of desirable cards, and one of the vintage sets that is chock full of various levels of scarcer cards, and an issue where discoveries are still being made (like the E121 series of 80 and associated sets, just to a lesser degree). Here is a Smith card with Boston team variation that was just discovered about 4 years ago, and is still one of a kind.

Brian

[VoodooChild]

One of my favorite sets. My Pittsburgh collection would look a lot better with that autographed Wagner though!

[DeanH3]

Great cards everyone. Paul's is a showstopper for sure. Congrats again on landing that beauty.

Can't agree more with it being a vastly underrated set.

[clydepepper]

Originally Posted by deanh3

great cards everyone. Paul's is a showstopper for sure. Congrats again on landing that beauty.

Can't agree more with it being a vastly underrated set.

wow!

[sb1]

Blue Wagner and some other material. As you can see the M116 set was actually issued 1910-1912, not 1910-11 as in the guides. I have later material from the 80 and 90 series as well.

[CardMD]

Originally Posted by T206Collector

Still can't believe I own it!

COME ON!!!!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[TUM301]

One of my favorite sets, under the radar with many affordable stars of the day !

[GasHouseGang]

Originally Posted by sterlingfox

Oldcardboard has a good page on the rarity of each card. Back type "3" is the 300 subjects back.

http://www.oldcardboard.com/m/m116/m116SearchIndex.asp

It figures I own one of the most common cards. But I still like it.

[Kawika]

Always have loved the M116s.
At one point I thought my autographed Joe Wood was the only signed Sporting Life extant. Wasn't aware of the Wagner. It is beyond phenomenal!

[clydepepper]

My Want List includes the Wagner, Johnson and Wood cards...

just in case anyone is looking to part with them.


Be gentle...I can't afford the higher grades.


-Raymond

[ecRich]

My only M116

[paul]

Here's my favorite.

[Kawika]

Originally Posted by paul

Here's my favorite.

Mine too. It inspired this beautiful Kreindler painting.

[milkit1]

m116.jpg

[Kenny Cole]

Agree with Paul. Wood is by far my favorite. But I like Speaker too.

[tiger8mush]

Originally Posted by Kawika

Mine too. It inspired this beautiful Kreindler painting.

holy cow, that painting is amazing. The shirt laces are SOOOO life-like!

The only three I own. Would love to add a Cobb at some point

[MartyFromCANADA]

IMG_20170202_0002_NEW.jpg

Looking for RUSS FORD from this set.

[scotty21690]

Quit teasing me with the the Wood's and Speaker guys

One of my favorite sets, I love the pastel colors and the clean looking portraits. I admit that the Jack Thoney is arguably the ugliest card in my collection, though thankfully it's offset by how great the McConnell looks in person.



...and that Wagner, wow! What a card.

[Koufax32fan]

Here is the only one I have

[mechanicalman]

Love the set, love this card, just not fond of this particular XL holder.

[pherbener]

I've got a couple. Underappreciated set as far as I'm concerned.

M116 Joe Tinker by Paul Herbener, on Flickr

M116 Matty by Paul Herbener, on Flickr

[TUM301]

Man that SGC Tinker is awesome, almost a haunting characteristic to it with the different shades of gray.

[cool-vintage]

Picked my first one up a few days ago.

[pherbener]

Thanks Hugh! I agree, it's one of the nicest 116's I've seen. Your uncut panel is amazing! I love it!

[Angyale]

Of course.

[Kawika]

I must have three or four dozen Sporting Lifes scattered around the basement. Here's some of the ones I particularly like, stars and ham'n'eggers mixed together. Most of the cards in my collection are "collector grade", i.e. twos, threes and fours, but M116s seem to have survived the ravages of time better than many other issues and the cards are nicer as a consequence.

[clydepepper]

Anyone know anything about how many of each card back exist?

On this thread, I have seen only a few Black Backs. I assume black backs are substantially more scarce than Blue or Pastel.


Great Cards! Thanks for Sharing,

Raymond

[pherbener]

Just picked up this one. Great looking for the grade I thought!

[DeanH3]

Originally Posted by pherbener

Just picked up this one. Great looking for the grade I thought!

Nice pick up. I was watching that one too. Congrats!

[Angyale]

Rowdy Jack O'Conner - he was an SOB when he played regularly in the 1890's and he was a bad apple as a coach as he tried to affect the outcome of a batting title between Cobb & Lajoie. Subsequently he was banned from baseball. He somehow got into one game in 1910 and for (possibly) that reason he is in the M116 set. Not my card - scan from an on-line site.

Angyale

[irishdenny]

"Dignified..."

[pherbener]

Denny, I love that Matty!

[irishdenny]

Yeah...
He's Pretty Sweet Aye?!
Mr.Carter had an eye fir detail..."RiGHT!?!?"

[Leon]

Originally Posted by irishdenny

"Dignified..."

That is a great looking Matty!!

I have 0 M116s right now but I have one that is close to one. (as shown many times)

[svtPONY95]

Wow !!! What a great looking Matty that is irishdenny. Here is what I currently have.

[birdman42]

I think a good word for this set is "quaint." Notice how many players in the set have their hair tinted some shade of red?

Originally Posted by svtPONY95

Here is what I currently have.

[Leon]

Just looking over some of those cards again really makes me want to get back a few M116s....

[irishdenny]

"Thankz Gentleman, Fir All Your Kind Words!,
You Too Leon "

Mr. Wood & Mr. Wagner's Auto Cards "ARE JuST STuPiD ~ Bou Ya BaBy!!!"

Mr. Carter Surly Had an Eye fir M116's!

I'm Slowly PuttiN Tagether Mr. McGraw & Mr. Mathewson's Cards
From as Many Sets as I Can Realize...
Away we Go!!!