The other side of the fence

[familytoad]

Hello my name is Brian and I am a prewar baseball card collector/addict.

But...I don't collect T206.

Sure, my collecting tends to favor HOFers so I have some of the (76?) T206 HOFers in my collection...but I skip over the commons, SLers, rare backs, miscuts, 350-460 factory designation stuff rather easily. They are neat cards but they don't fuel my addiction at all...

The recent abundance of them on BST, from Steve's Beanie lots to other lots and singles barely tempted me at all...

So, who is with me? I am not a hater, believe me...but I haven't felt the Monster's urge in the 40 years I have been collecting baseball cards (22 vintage, prewar)

Maybe there are too many out there?
Who else feels lukewarm on the classic white borders?

[Kawika]

I hear you, Brian. I'm not enslaved by the Monster although I must have about 75 or so. I enjoy all the T206 sidebars like back brands, Southern Leaguers etc but the main reason I have collected T206s at all is that some of them are just so damn beautiful. Throw in all the fascinating bits of history, they become irresistible. The same can be said about cards from many other issues, so my collecting habits are all over the map. It's like looking at pretty girls (my second favorite hobby); they're hot in any language. I love 'em all.

[Trl3789]

While I find the t206's interesting, the T205's have consumed my life

[ls7plus]

I'm with you too, Brian. I collect stars and hall-of-famers, and try to emphasis very scarce to downright rare! It gives me a lot more freedom to go after some really neat cards that I like, and I think the upper echelon hall-of-famers will always be worth more than commons in many cases, even though the latter may be much more rare in some instances. The overall demand isn't there.

Larry

[53Browns]

I am with you guys, I only have one T206 (pictured). Hey Kawika, what is that Cracker Jack Matty in your posting? Is that a tin sign or a print of some sort? I love it and want one! Thanks!

~Bill

[DixieBaseball]

While I think it is a wonderful set, I don't actively collect them, but do own 13 T206's... the reason I own the 13 cards is b/c they relate to my collecting focus of Nashville baseball players. I owned a 48 card sub-set of the Southern Leaguer's years ago, but have not felt any urge to get back into the T206 game. I will say that the variety of backs is probably one of the more cool things about the set. Here is a sampling of my T206 collection... 4 Brown Hindu's :

[usernamealreadytaken]

Jeremy. Glad to see Harry is still doing well. I will show off my Ellam too.


Back on topic, I am the opposite. I have tried to collect caramels and other tobacco issues, but just cannot get into them. Other than (1) 1910 Coupon (which I think is a T206 anyway) there are only T206's in my collection...

[Big Six]

I'm in the T205 camp...just beautiful cards and not as many "uglies" like the Egan among others. Seriously, is there a more perfect Mathewson than his T205??? Great set...

[Ladder7]

*whew*

Relieved, Brian didnt start this thread three weeks ago!

[Ease]

It's t205s for me too, nothing against t206, as I like the action poses, but there are so many improvements in the t205s imo. Bold colors, team logos, the shiny, delicate gld borders, and best of all, a period writeup and stats on back + the ad.
I can almost hear all the stories kids would have had about the borders: "there is real gold in them!"

[smtjoy]

I am in the non monster camp, I have more T209-215's than I have T205-207's, haha.

[DaveW]

I have to agree also. I'm not a huge fan of the T206s although I own a few.
I prefer cards with real photos or at least a write up about the player and some stats. The T206s don't even give you the player's first name or what position he played or where's he's from. I prefer the T207s or T201s or T205s. Of course, I like the cards from the 1920s also, so maybe I'm a bit different.

[Kawika]

Originally Posted by 53Browns

Hey Kawika, what is that Cracker Jack Matty in your posting? Is that a tin sign or a print of some sort? I love it and want one! Thanks!
~Bill

Bill: The Matty is an acrylic painting done by Jennifer Ettinger, wife of Max Weder who posts mostly on the memorabilia side. It was a commissioned work a few years ago. She has done numerous other "cards" for other collectors. Here is a link to a page on her website that shows some of them (small pics unfortunately): http://www.ettinger.ca/lewis.html

She and Max are big-time supporters of minor league baseball in Vancouver, B.C. Reproductions of Jen's work grace the local stadium.

[HRBAKER]

I have about a dozen and a half HOfers, other than that they hold no special pull for me. I do think they are beautiful cards, I just prefer real photos more.

[prewarsports]

I have always thought the T206 set was by FAR the most overrated in the hobby. I get why people collect them, I just dont get the obsession. To each his own but I think they are like eating the same food everyday and loving it. Some people are like that, but its not for me. I look at T206 cards the same as Topps cards from the 50's. Tons of them out there and I have seen them all so many times that they just dont do a thing for me.

Rhys Yeakley

[DixieBaseball]

Originally Posted by Ladder7

*whew*

Relieved, Brian didnt start this thread three weeks ago!

Steve - Nice Dutch Bronkie !

[DixieBaseball]

Originally Posted by usernamealreadytaken

Jeremy. Glad to see Harry is still doing well. I will show off my Ellam too.


Back on topic, I am the opposite. I have tried to collect caramels and other tobacco issues, but just cannot get into them. Other than (1) 1910 Coupon (which I think is a T206 anyway) there are only T206's in my collection...

Chris - That Bay will reside for a long time in the Nashville Collection ! Unless of course a higher grade comes along, but that is doubtful. A sweet card indeed and I thank you for it. By the way, it is at SGC right now... I busted it out and sent it in raw for that surprise attack effect !

[familytoad]

SSSsteverino...timing is everything!

There are surely more on the T206 Side of the fence than on "my" side...I'm first to admit that its a fascinating set that I could always change my mind about. In fact after I finish the T208 set, I will be all over those Aught 6's
So keep looking for more Beanie Lots for me...but you have a little time!!

[Gradedcardman]

I have wavered on the monster and whether to try and finish it again less the big 3. I had the set once before and sold it...the Magie I had is one of the PSA 3's currently in the REA auction. I have decided to try and initially complete the set with at least 50% of the cards having backs other than SC and Piedmont. That has made the challenge much more fun. The 205's are beautiful and the Beantown lot from Steve was great. I may start from there but will wait to decide after the grades come back.

[PolarBear]

The T205's are more like "true" baseball cards in that they have team logos, write ups and stats on the back instead of being just a tobacco premium like the T206's.

T205's and T218's are probably my favorite sports sets of the tobacco era but I'm really disappointed that the T205 set doesn't have many of the big stars of the era. If only they had really made it a 400 subject set.......

[rhettyeakley]

I'll take it one step further...

Hello my name is Rhett and I am a prewar baseball card collector/addict.

But...I REALLY DISLIKE (Borderline hate?) T206's!

I own over 3,500 pre-WW2 baseball cards and I literally own ZERO T206 cards (on a similar note I own (3) T205's, (1) 1933 Goudey, and (0) 1934 Goudey's)

[Rob D.]

Originally Posted by rhettyeakley

But...I REALLY DISLIKE (Borderline hate?) T206's!

I think that would be "white-borderline" hate.

[nolemmings]

Geez Rhys and Rhett, don't sugarcoat it, tell us what you really think

I'm not a T206 guy either--once tried it (didn't inhale) and still have a handful of them, so I don't consider them poison or anything.

Actually, I believe T206s to be a great example of the "to each his own" doctrine. The cards are very attractive, IMO, and the great number of ways to collect them makes them a solid hobby choice. I no doubt will add some from time to time.

Still, the collector in me wants a bit more of a challenge. I consider T206s a set that (absent the big 3-4) is fully doable at any time at almost anyone's grade of choice, limited only by dollars. You can finish it pretty much whenever you want if your wallet allows, assuming you're not trying to snag only the scarcest backs. That is actually a positive for many collectors, who don't want to bog down on sets that have some cards so elusive it could take decades to finish. I get that.

Me, I like to chase sets that will take time to complete due to some level of scarcity, such that no matter what money I might have at a given time there are going to be cards that just aren't readily available to buy. I also don't see set completion as such an accomplishment that it must drive my collecting--I prefer to meander over time and fill in what I need the best I can. This is what is most attractive to me about type collecting, although I like chasing a set or three also to satisfy other hobby hungers.

[mybuddyinc]

The day can come when you get old and sick and tired of life
You just never realize
Maybe the choice you made wasn't really right
But you go out and you don't come back at night, so

I'm just sittin' on a fence
You can say I got no sense
Trying to make up my mind
Really is too horrifying
So I'm sittin on a fence



Once did the Southern Leaguers, fun, doable, and sold them.

I think I'm with Jeremy on this one ...... luckly Ernie hasn't been documented with any other backs .......

howb.jpg


In the back of my mind, I always thought I might try a "150 Series only" run. The best looking cards in the series (IMO) and cuts down on the numbers.

[terjung]

I too have no affinity for T206s. I think the set is so popular first because of the Wagner's mystique. That probably introduces most to the set. The relative inexpensive nature of individual cards in the set and ease of acquiring them. Once that is done, the intricacies of the set likely begin to enamor those who collect it. This probably then leads to wanting to collect the set and thereby leads to wanting / "needing" the Wagner and elevating its desirability further.

Personally, I understand addiction to a particular set and obviously can see how it can happen for so many due to the ease of starting that set. Personally, though, the T206 set itself and its artwork does nothing for me. I like the era and the players, but prefer photographs of the players over an artist's rendering. Due to the photography, I much prefer the E107, W600, T204, Rose PC, etc. That is just what appeals to me. I also prefer not to have to flip a card over in order to understand how rare something is.

I'll admit that I do have some "artist rendering" cards in my collection (E103 HOFers), but on those, I enjoy that the "Williams Caramel" listing is shown on the bottom of the front of the card, so one doesn't have to flip it over to gain an appreciation for what it is.

We all have our own addiction to these little pieces of cardboard and slices of history. There is no one way to collect and the diversity in the hobby is really what makes it so great. I'm glad that not everybody collects the same way. That would just be... boring. So, to the T206 fans... have at it! ... and enjoy it!

Just my $0.02