T206 Centering

[Gorditadogg]

For all of you T206 collectors, I am wondering what you consider to be ideal centering for T206's and similar cards. I usually think of 50/50 cards as having all borders with the same width, but because the T206's have lettering on the bottom border does that change things?

Here are three different cards from the Heritage Auction that just closed. (If you won any of these, congratulations to you!) These cards are all about the same left-to-right (all are a bit thicker on the right side), but are different top-to-bottom.

Doc White - this card has a top border that matches the width from the lettering to the bottom of the card.

Red Cobb - the width of the top border matches the side borders.

Orval Overall - the lettering is centered within the bottom border.

Which of these cards do you think is the best centered from top to bottom? Are any of these ideal or do they all come up short in some respect?

[D. Bergin]

I'm not an expert in T206's...but as far as T206's go, they all look pretty good to me, as long as none of them are trimmed.

[brianp-beme]

This is really a thread for the OCD crowd...which in the hobby refers to those with Obsessive Centering Disorder.


Brian (these E220 Hollocher cards thank me every day for giving them a good home, though the one on the left is not only fit and trim, but also has a well-centered personality)

[drazz5]

Interesting question. I generally prefer centering similar to the red Cobb. Uniform on left right and top borders, with slightly wider border on bottom. To me, this centering creates intentional footer space for the name, rather than a name that is squished into a border frame that is barely large enough. No idea if this is the correct centering, but definitely what I prefer.

That being said, I own a few cards where there is way too much space on the bottom border, and that really bugs me.

[Leon]

I like mine top heavy, and I include all of the white border on the bottom front, where the names are too. Some others may not...
And literally, 97% of the time someone says "perfect centering", it isn't. Sometimes it's not even close.
I would call this one 50/50 L-R and 55/45 (maybe even 60/40) top to bottom. It's not perfect but I would say "great" centering. Perfect needs to be within a few percent in either direction, to me.

[drazz5]

Originally Posted by Leon

I like mine top heavy, and I include all of the white border on the front, where his the names are. Some others may not...
And literally, 97% of the time someone says "perfect centering", it isn't. Sometimes it's not even close.
I would call this one 50/50 L-R and 55/45 (maybe even 60/40) top to bottom. It's not perfect but I would say "great" centering. Perfect needs to be within a few percent in either direction, to me.

Sheesh Leon, what a great looking Cobb. Is there something I’m not pickup up on the scan? Not sure how that’s only a PSA 1.5.

[3-2-count]

I'm not sure if there's even a right or wrong answer either way here quite frankly, as long as the bottom and top borders aren't totally out of whack each way. Now side to side centering is a whole different ball of wax!

Every example here looks great to me in regards to top to bottom centering, except of course those E220's My apologies in advance to the owner of those as they are beautiful in their own right!

[3-2-count]

And a card centered nicely enough for me I'd like to contribute to the thread!

[BioCRN]

Originally Posted by brianp-beme

these E220 Hollocher cards thank me every day for giving them a good home

Hollocher may have been a HOF'r if not for his mental illness that had him leave the game various times during his career, often having to be talked into returning to the team. Many of these absences were referred to as "stomach issues."

He eventually committed suicide in his mid-40s.

[brianp-beme]

Originally Posted by 3-2-count

I'm not sure if there's even a right or wrong answer either way here quite frankly, as long as the bottom and top borders aren't totally out of whack each way. Now side to side centering is a whole different ball of wax!

Every example here looks great to me in regards to top to bottom centering, except of course those E220's My apologies in advance to the owner of those as they are beautiful in their own right!

Thanks Tony...my Hollochers feel better now.


Just to show that I am not anti-decent centering, here are a few T206 cards worthy of the OCD gang.

Brian

[Eric72]

Originally Posted by Gorditadogg

...what you consider to be ideal centering for T206's...

For me, it's when the top, left, and right borders are of equal width. At that point, the bottom border will be wider. This gives the image (to my eyes, at least) the appearance of a matted, framed picture with a caption. It looks "right" to me.

[Beercan collector]

Originally Posted by Eric72

For me, it's when the top, left, and right borders are of equal width. At that point, the bottom border will be wider. This gives the image (to my eyes, at least) the appearance of a matted, framed picture with a caption. It looks "right" to me.

+1 , At the top , If I could draw a line from the outside tip of a corner to the corner of the image (I’d be looking for a couple 45° angles).
3-2-count’s Cobb looks centered to me

[T206Collector]

I like a little fatness at top and below the letters in the name. Gives me more comfort that the evil trimming people haven't visited my card. Here's an example from my collection:

[MVSNYC]

Some great examples in this thread. Paul, that card above is awesome.

Been collecting T206 since 1991...For me, I lean towards the original poster's Cobb example, equal border thickness top & sides, and a little meat below the name/team caption.

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

what pleases my eye the most is if side and top borders are all equal. Because of the writing on the bottom border that has more leeway to my eye.

[BRoberts]

Originally Posted by MVSNYC

Some great examples in this thread. Paul, that card above is awesome.

Been collecting T206 since 1991...For me, I lean towards the original poster's Cobb example, equal border thickness top & sides, and a little meat below the name/team caption.

Wow! 1991! That's AMAZING!!!

[MVSNYC]

Thanks Bill, yes. Bought some of my first cards from our own Jay Wolt. I was hooked right from the start; was especially into (still am) all the different backs.

[Gorditadogg]

Nice cards, everybody. And thanks for the feedback from all you experienced T206 collectors.

Sent from my SM-S906U using Tapatalk

[anchorednw]

Centered enough for the girls I go out with.

[tschock]

Most cards with borders on 4 sides (that contain all the card information within those borders) have the same distance from the border to the edge of the card. Geometrically speaking, T206 cards are centered if the distance between the black border and the edge of the card on the left, right, and top side is the same, therefore the bottom of the card is centered as well by definition (assuming non-trimmed cards). The proof is left to the collector. (Though some well trimmed cards could be centered as well)

If cards are trimmed inside the borders, these are known in the medical community as "doctored without borders" cards.

[Eric72]

Originally Posted by Aquarian Sports Cards

what pleases my eye the most is if side and top borders are all equal. Because of the writing on the bottom border that has more leeway to my eye.

There's also the fact that the writing (name/team caption) isn't always struck in the exact same spot. For example, Doc White Portraits typically have the writing closer to the image than Cobb (red) Portraits.

[Johnny T]

Originally Posted by 3-2-count

And a card centered nicely enough for me I'd like to contribute to the thread!

Damn Tony...that's a beauty!!!

[Beercan collector]

Originally Posted by anchorednw

Centered enough for the girls I go out with.

I have that card on my eBay watch list with some of your others

[3-2-count]

Originally Posted by Johnny T

Damn Tony...that's a beauty!!!

Many thanks John.

[2dueces]

I purchased some in the 70’s from dollar boxes. I had no idea about centering, corners etc. I just wanted portraits. So when I had them graded 20 years ago they are all over the place. I’ll have to pull some out and look

[Snowman]

Originally Posted by Eric72

For me, it's when the top, left, and right borders are of equal width. At that point, the bottom border will be wider. This gives the image (to my eyes, at least) the appearance of a matted, framed picture with a caption. It looks "right" to me.

This ^

[t206blogcom]

I'm not too picky. I like both of these.

[BrooksRobinson]

My preference is centered all around. Both of my Cobb Reds are well centered but to each their own. I actually prefer the PSA 4 (on right) better but the PSA 3 has a authentic tobacco stain that I love also. What are y'alls thoughts on back centering? (left is PSA 4, right stained is PSA 3)

[BrooksRobinson]

I like 'em a bit top heavy also (cards too). Besides perfect centered, I try to get them like this one.

[Leon]

Some nice centering in this thread. I still like the big tops..

[Leon]

Back centering, even if not too good, doesn't bother me. IF it's missing some letters that might be a different story. Personally, I like the 3 as I like big tops...

Originally Posted by BrooksRobinson

My preference is centered all around. Both of my Cobb Reds are well centered but to each their own. I actually prefer the PSA 4 (on right) better but the PSA 3 has a authentic tobacco stain that I love also. What are y'alls thoughts on back centering? (left is PSA 4, right stained is PSA 3)

[LEHR]

I'd be fine with the centering of any of those cards, but I prefer the centering on the Doc White.
On a card like a T206, centering is extremely important to me. On a card like a N172 Old Judge, the quality of the image is far more important to me than the centering.

[GeoPoto]

I don't like the names to look cramped at the bottom. Top's gotta have some meat, but the ideal bottom centers the name as well. Centering on back is not vital.

Sent from my motorola edge 5G UW (2021) using Tapatalk