Best value in HOF T206 Portraits?

[jchcollins]

I was curious to see if you all could recommend a “best value” trend right now, for lower grade HOF portraits in T206. I have picked up a few recently - and must admit these things are more addictive than drugs. Lower grades, I’m probably in the price range for presentable 1’s and 2’s. I don’t mind wrinkles or corner wear, would prefer to avoid severe creases or paper loss over the face or anything “true beater” like that. Minor paper loss on the front is ok, back more so. Authentic is probably fine as, well, so long as trimming is not severely obvious. As I’m just starting out, backs are not really a concern - garden variety Piedmont or Sweet Cap will suit me just fine.

Thoughts? I already have the Young, Johnson, and Lajoie portraits in grades ranging from 1 to 2(MC).

Thanks.


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I still think Tris Speaker is a great value card with upside. I don't own one but hope to sometime in the near future. Edit: Sorry, I missed the portrait part. Nevermind

[luciobar1980]

Eddie Collins

[bbcard1]

I don't really think there's any under the radar cards. They are nice items that have appreciate and it makes it tough to get a great value on it. Were I trying to do so, I would make sure I have a Dahlen or two and a Bill Dinneen. Both have a chance to get into the Hall of Fame which will lead to a run up on their cards. Dahlen already enjoys somewhat premium pricing, but Dinneen less so. He became a very respected umpire with would be his ticket. He was behind the plate in the first all star game.

You might also just pick up players that are particularly interesting. I have worked on a Davidson run for some time...though I don't think it's likely I will ever find a Drum back I have all of the rest of them. Deacon Phillippe is an interesting pitcher who started 5 games in a single World Series.

[packs]

Lajoie

[Jstottlemire1]

Lajoie has skyrocketed as of late. Wallace, Bresnahan, McGraw, Griffith, Jennings, and Marquard are all fairly priced not marquee names but HOF cards well priced for any budget.

[bbcard1]

Josh, although it could be argued that he is a lesser HOFer, one thing I really like about Marquard is that you can actually listen to his story on the old Glory of their Times recordings which are widely available. Actually a collection of the players featured on the audio recordings would be pretty interesting and fun.

[packs]

Joss is a good buy too. His portrait is one of my all time favorite images.

[Goudey77]

I know you are asking for sleepers so this won’t be the obvious choice but Cobb red portraits will always lead the way with price trends on t206 portraits. It’s as high volume stable trading as you can get. Still a great value. I wouldn’t mess with the other portraits until a Cobb red is in the bag. It’s inevitable that you need one.

[Donscards]

Well first it was the Green Cobb a couple of years ago---Then the Cy Young took off and last was the Nap Lajoie.----I like the Red Cobb to take off on Portraits, Eddie Collins, Evers and Matty.

[jchcollins]

This card clearly has its issues, but at least for right now I’m more excited about this type of thing than I am cards that would grade 5 or 6 from the 1960’s




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[MR RAREBACK]

If you can find one with a harder back in your price range, I would go for it

[DeanH3]

I would go after a Matty portrait. Still fairly reasonable in a 2.

[sreader3]

Jennings Portrait is on the tougher side of the HOF ledger and somewhat underappreciated. Also a nice looking card.

[Leon]

Originally Posted by Goudey77

I know you are asking for sleepers so this won’t be the obvious choice but Cobb red portraits will always lead the way with price trends on t206 portraits. It’s as high volume stable trading as you can get. Still a great value. I wouldn’t mess with the other portraits until a Cobb red is in the bag. It’s inevitable that you need one.

And if you can find a low grade one that you are happy with, all the better. Otherwise I still think Young Portrait is a good value. The Cy Young award will always keep his name in the forefront.

[jchcollins]

Originally Posted by sreader3

Jennings Portrait is on the tougher side of the HOF ledger and somewhat underappreciated. Also a nice looking card.

I do like that.


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[JohnP0621]

Bender Portait is a classic.

[TheBig6]

I would add these two

[MVSNYC]

I still own it, Leon.

[Goudey77]

Originally Posted by Leon

And if you can find a low grade one that you are happy with, all the better. Otherwise I still think Young Portrait is a good value. The Cy Young award will always keep his name in the forefront.

See...this is the kind of card that money can’t even buy at times. Rarely does the good eye appeal stuff come up for sale. Tremendous value and nice pickup Leon.

[jchcollins]

I don’t think anyone has said yet - but as a Cubs fan, the Mordecai Brown portrait is definitely on my list.


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[jchcollins]

Originally Posted by MVSNYC

I still own it, Leon.

That’s gorgeous.


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[Bpm0014]

Joss because it's pretty undervalued. Matty because it's a great looking card and is somewhat undervalued.

[Scocs]

Ed Walsh portrait

[MVSNYC]

Thanks John.

[Kenny Cole]

Originally Posted by MVSNYC

Thanks John.

I would agree that the Cobb red portrait is the cheapest. Not sure it is undervalued. Agree that it will keep going up, as it seems will every other T206 Cobb card. But the question is relative value.

This is actually a hard question imo, because, at least in terms of answers, it essentially is asking which of the first tier HOFers is the most affordable. If so, I would say Matty or Cy. But they certainly are not cheap even now. If you are asking beyond that, I would say Collins, who is criminally underrated, maybe Lajoie despite his price increase, Walsh, who was a great pitcher in the day and whose card is gorgeous. Maybe Chesbro and Keeler., although they wouldn't be my pick to increase. For T206 non-HOFers, clearly Dahlen, who has (IMO) deserved election for years and will have anther shot in 2021. My brother and I, who agree on almost nothing else, agree that he should be elected. I guess we'll see.

[daves_resale_shop]

Definitely collins... like speaker, its one of his earlier cards... Stats are comparable to lajoie, but card values seem to trail his...

Registration on that card can be tough but every mow Nd agIn you can find one thT is nice on the eyeS

[packs]

Now that I've thought about it, if you're chasing the Lajoie portrait I'd change gears and go after the Lajoie with bat. That card is a real card's card.

[jchcollins]

Originally Posted by packs

Now that I've thought about it, if you're chasing the Lajoie portrait I'd change gears and go after the Lajoie with bat. That card is a real card's card.

I have a lower grade copy of the Lajoie portrait. I'd like to go after some more portraits first (for whatever reason they are what's holding my interest right now...) before venturing out. But yes the Lajoie w/ bat is a nice card.

[jchcollins]

Originally Posted by daves_resale_shop

Definitely collins... like speaker, its one of his earlier cards... Stats are comparable to lajoie, but card values seem to trail his...

Registration on that card can be tough but every mow Nd agIn you can find one thT is nice on the eyeS

Given that I'm also a Collins, I guess I should be interested in Eddie...

[brianp-beme]

Originally Posted by jchcollins

Given that I'm also a Collins, I guess I should be interested in Eddie...

And don't forget about your other Collins ancestor with a T206 Hall of Fame portrait...Jimmy.

Brian (image courtesy of the internet)

[Rhotchkiss]

I have been following this thread for a week now, and only now am I able to form my opinion on the subject matter: Unless you are looking to sell the card in the relative short term, current “best value” is irrelevant.

I am long on the cards I own, which means I consider where I think value will be in the relatively distant future. Under these circumstances, I have confidence in T206s generally, and Cobb, Young, Wajo, and Matty, specifically, bc they are absolute studs. I also believe that Tinker-Evers-Chance as well as Speaker, Lajoie and E Collins will have continued appeal; this is not only bc they were great players, but also because they are from big markets and historic teams and/or have a unique lore that transcends their career (Tinker-Evers—Chance poem; 1933 Goudey Lajoie, etc).

I think players like Walsh, Waddell, Joss, Bender, Baker, etc. will have on-again, off-again appeal, and if you time the market right, you could make a few bucks. But I am not a gambler and am not interested in timing the market. I would rather go with the “sure thing” (or as close as it exists in cards). To me, that means Cobb, Young, Wajo and Matty, as well as rare backs on higher-end HOFers.

Note, this post assumes Wagner and Plank are non-factors for the OP, although I believe both are tremendous longterm investments.

[Exhibitman]

Originally Posted by Leon

I still think Young Portrait is a good value. The Cy Young award will always keep his name in the forefront.

I agree. For as long as I could remember the green portrait Cobb and Young cards were pretty much at the same tier. Then Cobb soared. I thing Young has room to move.

As for undervalued, I don't think there are really any sleepers. I agree with Kenny that the Walsh is one of the nicest cards in the set and that Collins is spectacular. I am very happy I got mine years ago:





Another group you cannot go wrong with:



Also gotta give it up for the Chief:



I always thought it was one of the nicest ones in the set.

[MVSNYC]

Ryan, agreed, well said.

Adam, great cards.

[Yoda]

I like the Frank Chance - Red, particularly since the yellow was, I believe, double printed, like the Cobb Red. I also like the Waddell and Keeler.