If you could have any pre-war card...

[darwinbulldog]

If you could have any pre-war card in the world on the condition that a) you actually have to pay market value for it, but b) "market value" is just defined as the currently listed SMR price, which card would you most like to buy right now?

[bnorth]

I would be happy with any T210 Series 3 Ft Worth player I don't have with a Y shaped hole punch.

[familytoad]

T208 Cullivan's Fireside Eddie Plank
E210 York Caramel Paul Waner

I don't know what the SMR is, but I'd like to add these cards to my collection, so I would raise the money some how. ( Waner should not be too expensive, but he has eluded me so far)

Trying to limit this question to one is very difficult for me.
I would also like to acquire more of the classic cards I saw in Phoenix, the Kendricks collection. I have 15/40. Getting more than half, albeit mine will be in low grade seems like a good worthy goal.

[Piratedogcardshows]

I would say a T210 Orange Border Thebo. Anyone out there looking to move one I will happily pay above SMR

[packs]

E90-1 Tris Speaker. I'd pay book value all day because the "real cost" will be ten times more.

[cracker_jack]

First thought, but not knowing the SMR price, would be an E104-2 Wagner. More realistic, a decent Tip Top Wagner.

[cracker_jack]

First thought, but not knowing the SMR price, would be an E104-2 Wagner. More realistic, a decent Tip Top Wagner.

[4815162342]

The SMR for a PSA 1 E105 Cobb is $900. I would gladly pay that price!

[atx840]

T206 Chase blue portrait Drum or Carolina Brights.

[deadballfreaK]

I guess it would be the T206 Polar Bear O'Hara. I have been stuck at 519 for years and 520 is the best I will ever be able to afford. And I am thinking of going all in as a St. Louis collector and dumping all the other stuff. Still it is a pretty crappy card IMO.


















+

[ValKehl]

N172 Old Judge of Medoc Wise or Honest John Morrill - with a Washington team designation. Or, any Sam Rice card I don't have.
Val

[SMPEP]

1923 W572 Rapp or Barbare. Just to prove that either even exists.

Cheers,
Patrick

[the 'stache]

Oh come on, guys, where are the pictures? This is the perfect opportunity to show some real eye candy!

I can't name just one. That's an impossibility. It would be like asking me, "if you could go out with any former SI Swimsuit issue cover model, which one would you choose?"

So, here are my top five. Avec eye candy!

5. 1909 E90-1 American Caramel "Wee" Willie Keeler. PSA 6 SMR $1,500.

This set, as a whole, blows me away. The Cy Young is a close second, but, right now, the Keeler is my favorite from the set.



4. 1909 E92 Dockman & Sons Christy Mathewson. PSA 4 SMR $2,200.

This card front appears in various set and back combinations (including the ultra cool E95 Mello-Mint), but the Dockman & Sons, in a PSA 4, has a nice, affordable price tag attached. I would be very happy with this beauty.



3. 1933 Goudey Babe Ruth #144. PSA 4 SMR $3,250.

A lot of great cards were issued during the Bambino's career. There were four in the '33 Goudey set alone. From those, #144 is my favorite, with #149 just behind it. A PSA 4 card would go for a good chunk of change, but you can find some examples with really gorgeous eye appeal, and it won't break the bank.



2. 1909-1911 T206 Napolean Lajoie portrait. PSA 5 SMR $625.

From a price stand point, this card, even in a strong mid-grade with a common back, is eminently affordable. While examples of this card exist as high as a PSA 8, I'm not one that has to have "the very best" to be happy. The example I'm sharing has great eye appeal; again, I could be completely happy with it.



1. 1934 Goudey Lou Gehrig #37. PSA 4 SMR $1,400

I have my favorite pre-war card of all-time, the T206 Walter Johnson portrait (though I will eventually upgrade it from the PSA 4 I have to a PSA 5); but of all the cards I'd want that are currently not in my collection, this one takes the prize. There is something about this Gehrig portrait, #37 in the set, that has always mesmerized me. There are lots of Goudey cards I love from '33 and '34-the '33 Ruths, the '34 Jimmie Foxx, Hank Greenberg and Paul Waner cards...the list could go on and on. But this Gehrig speaks to me.

I would go for an example with better corners, so maybe a PSA 5, with a $2,200 SMR would be best. But This is pretty close, otherwise.



These five beautiful cards would SMR for under $10,000. $8,975 total, to be exact. All will make their ways into my collection eventually. It's just a matter of time, and saving to get them.

Great topic, btw, Darwinbulldog. Thank you!