What's your "BEST" card?

[quinnsryche]

I don't know if best is the right term, but my gist is: what 1 (one only please!) card in your collection would you NEVER (unless unforseen circumstances arose) get rid of? Not necessarily the most expensive or rarest, but your personal favorite (and give a reason or story if interested). Please provide a scan so we can all enjoy! Mine's not in yet, I'll add it when it gets here.

[Leon]

As a type card collector I can't imagine a more important card to me...

[Robextend]

My favorite player to collect, and my most beloved card of him. The only way I would ever part with this, is to get another one in better shape; however, I think this one is very presentable.

[quinnsryche]

Leon, nice card but, PLEASE excuse my ignorance, why? I am sure there is a great reason and I would love to hear an explanation and learn more.
Thanks!

[baseballfan]

i haven't bought mine yet but it will be a t206 cobb when i can get one, soon i hope.

everything else can go

[Leon]

Originally Posted by quinnsryche

Leon, nice card but, PLEASE excuse my ignorance, why? I am sure there is a great reason and I would love to hear an explanation and learn more.
Thanks!

The T231 card shown is arguably the rarest ACC cataloged card in the hobby. Besides this one, and a Xerox of another.....and one other that is not 100% confirmed (but I believe probably exists) there are no others known. So, as a type collector, it is the holy grail for me. Had Burdick not put it in the ACC it would just be another dull looking card. Hope this helps....and btw, besides the one person that says he has one, I know of no one that has seen another physical T231. regards

[tennisguy]

Leon,

That Baker T231 is an amazing card! I would never tire of looking at it!

-Ryan

[kkkkandp]

[JamesGallo]

Hands down it is my 1915 Cracker Jack Joe Jackson.

I begged each of my parents to help pay for it and got a no. I went to Grandma and it showed up for my 16th birthday if I recall.

It's beat but honestly even in the 1990s I had a tough time finding jackson cards.



I will die with this card even when I do upgrade.

James G

[AK11]

It would be this because for a T206 Keeler Portrait, especially Piedmont back, this is a high grade example. Beautiful color and nice white borders. The only thing that would budge this out of my collection is a equivalent graded Nap Lajoie Portrait, but that won't happen for awhile until one pops up and I have the necessary funds to grab it. This is a T206 keeper

[Matthew H]

Leon, being the only copy, it's amazing it survived with all that eye appeal. Is there not one in Burdick's collection?

[Leon]

Originally Posted by Matthew H

Leon, being the only copy, it's amazing it survived with all that eye appeal. Is there not one in Burdick's collection?

Even though Burdick cataloged them I don't think (but am not positive) there is one in that collection. We have to remember too that Burdick really wasn't into sports cards any more than other cards. If you look at the ACC, most/much of it is not-sports cards. regards

[alanu]

Not vintage, but my "best":

1967rcmayor-a.jpg

[David R]

I've posted these before but my "best card" is actually three t206 printers scrap cards that were next to each other on the sheet and fit together to show the overprinted post card advertisement for a laxative product. Here's a scan of the fronts and backs lined up.

[M's_Fan]

Don't have a best card, but I have some favorites!

[jdubbs10]

My best

[smtjoy]

This would be mine, it was given to me by my parents on my birthday in 1982, it is my favorite vintage card and opened my world to vintage cards!

[Matt]

Scott - your parents trimmed your birthday present?

Beauty of a card.

[milkit1]

33 goudey welch.JPG

t202 tinker evers chance.jpg

[Doug]

It's not prewar, but it's the best I can do.

[HBroll]

My best.......

[albrshbr]

Sorry to break the rules, but I've got 2. They are 1979 Topps Clint Hurdle and Mike Krukow. Both are in pretty bad condition, so there's no chance of anyone else even wanting them. I started collecting in 1977, and finished my first team set (Orioles) in 1978. In 1979 I was just 2 cards short of finishing the whole set. I checked with other kids in the neighborhood, but no one had the cards. I went to a local card shop (yes...there was one near me in 1979), and there were 2 other collectors who already had them on their "need" lists, including 1 who also only needed these 2 cards. I then went to visit my grandparents for a week, and brought my cards with me. Everyday my grandfather and I would walk to the store and buy 5 to 10 packs. Still no luck. The day before I went home, my grandmother came back with an entire box. I broke them open, and found my 2 treasured cards. My first set was complete. My grandmother died in 1981.

These cards will be buried with me.

[Blunder19]

really like this thread.. love to see the picture of everyones favorite cards..

thanks for sharing..

Jamie

PS mine is my VG t206 Cy Young upsidedown 4 back miscut.

[nfbuckeye]

My favorite would be nothing special to most...a PSA 7 1959 Topps Rocky Colavito. Even though he's before my time, the Rock is my all time favorite Tribe player and it's my favorite card of his. It's also the card that got me back into the hobby.

[kkkkandp]

It is so hard to choose just one card from my OJ set, but the two below are right up near the top because of how long I pursued them (many years), how I obtained them (nail-biting auction for Williamson and trade with a top collector for Alcott) and what they mean to me (Williamson to match up with my Ewing and mascot and Alcott to complete my Old Judge team subset).

[Tyler]

My collection had very little focus before this purchase. I saw this card and had to have it. It is now the only card that I know will not leave my hands. It stands alone, and everything else I own is expendable.




Please check the B/S/T later this week, as this card may be yours...

[mcap100176]

My grandmother used to tell stories of babysitting Sandy Koufax in Brooklyn (never knew if they were true). In the mid-80's, I went to a show with my parents (I was probably 10 or so) and they bought me the raw 1966 Koufax and a 1961 Maris. They were the first two cards outside of the 80's that I owned. When I started collecting again about 3 years ago, I sent it in for grading. Here's the Maris:

http://i345.photobucket.com/albums/p...Marisfront.jpg

My First Matty and Pied 42 back

[egbeachley]

A non-sports card story. But true collectors looking for the "Holy Grail" will appreciate the story. If you are not interested in non-sports just assume I'm referring to a T206 Joe Jackson.

The T64 McAlpin set is documented in American Tobacco Cards as a 48-card set of Generals issued around 1902-1905. While many "regular" Generals were depicted, it was odd that the most famous US General of all was not, Robert E Lee.

For over 100 years it was speculated that this card may exist, but if so why didn't it show up. Afterall, the most famous athletes or celebrities are the first to be kept.

About 6 years ago I notice a T64 auction on Ebay that didn't sell. It was for 12 T64 cards, most in VG or better condition that didn't hit the reserve. High bid was $700 or so. I only noticed it after the auction had ended when looking at other items. It was completely misclassified.

So I spent the next 2 months sending many emails to the seller trying to find out his reserve. No response. I don't even know if Ebay delivered the emails. I used every trick I could think of to get his direct email address. Then one day he emailed me back. It turns out someone (I assume the reserve underbidder) had purchased every card except 1, the Robert E Lee card. They couldn't agree on a price for that one. I said I was interested and he asked me to make an offer.

I debated on what to offer. If I went too low he may not reply (since he took so long already). I already knew that they couldn't agree on a price so he put a premium on the Lee card. And going too high is bad for me. Anyway, cheap beat out smart and I offered $250. I waited 3 long weeks for a reply without emailing him again. I just knew I blew it. Finally he said he would take $275. I decided not to call him immediately and tell him I'm taking the first flight down, but rather waited 2 days and calmly said, "sure".

I couldn't believe it when it came a week later. The only example known of the most popular general in one of the hardest sets to complete.

[ethicsprof]

first T206 i ever bought, soon after getting married in '84(i had been given a few via inheritance a couple of years earlier).
and
and (almost a tie) a T206 with Drum back, sold to me at a price from over 20 years earlier
and my favorite provenance.

best,
barry

[lharri3600]

hard to say there are more

[HercDriver]

Here's mine - so I guess Sean and I think alike! Can't beat three North-Side HOFers on one card!

Take Caare,
Geno

[old-baseball]

More than one and all were collected by my father as boy. These are really what got me started with prewar collecting.

[milkit1]

Originally Posted by HercDriver

Here's mine - so I guess Sean and I think alike! Can't beat three North-Side HOFers on one card!

Take Caare,
Geno

thats true Geno! You got me beat on condition thats for sure. i cant complain though, mine was only $50

[B O'Brien]

This is the one that brought me back to PW cards after selling my last T206 about 8 years earlier.
Thanks,
Bob

[Jerry G]

You could randomly pull out any card from my '33 Goudey set and I would call it my "BEST". If I had to be pinned down and pick one best, I would still cheat, as it has to start with Ruth and Gehrig. Although, it could just as easily be Dizzy or Lefty or Benny Bengough or Lazzeri or Moe Berg or Double X or Frisch or Marty McManus or Taylor Douhit or...

The entire set is "one" to me. My apologies for not posting a straight answer to the question.


Note: Post-war if asked, has a much simpler answer. 1953 Bowman #32 Stan Musial.

[E93]

Originally Posted by egbeachley

A non-sports card story. But true collectors looking for the "Holy Grail" will appreciate the story. If you are not interested in non-sports just assume I'm referring to a T206 Joe Jackson.

The T64 McAlpin set is documented in American Tobacco Cards as a 48-card set of Generals issued around 1902-1905. While many "regular" Generals were depicted, it was odd that the most famous US General of all was not, Robert E Lee.

For over 100 years it was speculated that this card may exist, but if so why didn't it show up. Afterall, the most famous athletes or celebrities are the first to be kept.

About 6 years ago I notice a T64 auction on Ebay that didn't sell. It was for 12 T64 cards, most in VG or better condition that didn't hit the reserve. High bid was $700 or so. I only noticed it after the auction had ended when looking at other items. It was completely misclassified.

So I spent the next 2 months sending many emails to the seller trying to find out his reserve. No response. I don't even know if Ebay delivered the emails. I used every trick I could think of to get his direct email address. Then one day he emailed me back. It turns out someone (I assume the reserve underbidder) had purchased every card except 1, the Robert E Lee card. They couldn't agree on a price for that one. I said I was interested and he asked me to make an offer.

I debated on what to offer. If I went too low he may not reply (since he took so long already). I already knew that they couldn't agree on a price so he put a premium on the Lee card. And going too high is bad for me. Anyway, cheap beat out smart and I offered $250. I waited 3 long weeks for a reply without emailing him again. I just knew I blew it. Finally he said he would take $275. I decided not to call him immediately and tell him I'm taking the first flight down, but rather waited 2 days and calmly said, "sure".

I couldn't believe it when it came a week later. The only example known of the most popular general in one of the hardest sets to complete.

Great story.
JimB

[Mikehealer]

That is a cool story, thanks for sharing.

[gabrinus]

maybe not the best but the rarest.

[terjung]

Why did the E93 Cobb B&W get an "A"?
Great card, btw.

[Bicem]

amazing card, thanks for posting that!

[Jacklitsch]

Hard to chose just one...

[E93]

Originally Posted by gabrinus

maybe not the best but the rarest.

AWESOME CARD!!!

[ErikV]

My best card? Hummm? That's kinda like asking me to pick a favorite
child, Damn it! Well, I suppose if I had to pick just one, this would be it.

[gabrinus]

Originally Posted by terjung

Why did the E93 Cobb B&W get an "A"?
Great card, btw.

I won the card in Dec 2009 Huggins+Scott auction. If I remember correctly it got that designation because they weren't exactly sure what to call it. It is the correct size, not trimmed.

[Kawika]

Hard to pick one. Going with this beauty:

[3-2-count]

Easy decision for me. I'd add a story, but it's pretty self explanatory isn't it??

[williamcohon]

http://www.net54baseball.com/images/...attach/jpg.gif

This is my rarest card (not the most attractive), and the story of its acquisition.

My wife tolerates my baseball card affliction admirably. She knows the cards are worth something, and she knows I spend money on them, but she prefers not to know the details. Fine with me - I keep a separate baseball card fund off the household books, and handle purchases discreetly.

Unfortunately, the ebay auction that brought me this treasure was scheduled to end in the middle of a dinner party we were hosting. There was no choice, I had to tell her about it! And I knew I would have to bid about 25 times what she thought it was worth. Sticky situation.

I excused myself from the table with five minutes left in the auction, and prepared to snipe. Praying that no one would join me in the computer room, I typed in my bid. As I nervously counted down the seconds, guests were shouting from the dining room "Is it over? Did you get it?" Finally, I pushed send.

Needless to say, I was overjoyed with the result. But for the rest of the evening, I had my hands full, ducking the question of what I paid.

[williamcohon]

Sorry, here is the scan.http://www.net54baseball.com/images/...attach/jpg.gif

[Tsaiko]

Not the nicest, but my favorite.