T206 HOFers - Beauty in the Eye of the Beholder

[usernamealreadytaken]

There have been several polls as to which T206s have the most desirable image, with Johnson, Cobb, Mathewson, and Lajoie usually winning or in top 10. The question is whether these are the most desirable because:
1. We associate beauty with value, hence HOFer cards are more appealing as they are more valuable;
2. The artist(s) devoted more time/attention to the popular players of the era(subsequent HOFers), thereby drawing more attractive images for such players, or
3. Great ball players were simply more photogenic and made better looking images/cards?

[that T206 Guy]

There are alot of Common Players that I think have Great Pictures.

I do Like LaJoie (Portrait) and Cobb (Bat off Shoulder) though

Interesting Point about the Artist Spending More Time on HOF Players.

[Prince Hal]

I agree that some commons are among the best images. The Merkle throwing is one of my favorites

[Jobu]

Conroy batting is one of my favorites and he is a common. Had to get that out first.

I think part of this has to do with the photos available for the artists to use. The better players had a lot more photos given the greater interest, so it was easier to start with an excellent image. On the flip side, I think my Ellam RPPC was probably the only choice to make the Ellam card and I suspect that was the case for a lot of the lesser known players.

Another layer, as you mention, is that the artists used clearly were not equally talented. And sometimes, in a pinch, they even let the 5-year-old kids of the artists create the artwork, e.g. Pat Moran (just kidding!). However, there are some images of the stars that I don't think of as being high art even if they are appealing - Cobb bat on and WaJo hands at chest come to mind - those don't compare with the artistry of their other cards in the set.

Fun thread!

[trdcrdkid]

Originally Posted by Jobu

And sometimes, in a pinch, they even let the 5-year-old kids of the artists create the artwork, e.g. Pat Moran (just kidding!).

Don't forget Spike Shannon!

[that T206 Guy]

Originally Posted by Jobu

Conroy batting is one of my favorites and he is a common. Had to get that out first.

I think part of this has to do with the photos available for the artists to use. The better players had a lot more photos given the greater interest, so it was easier to start with an excellent image. On the flip side, I think my Ellam RPPC was probably the only choice to make the Ellam card and I suspect that was the case for a lot of the lesser known players.

Another layer, as you mention, is that the artists used clearly were not equally talented. And sometimes, in a pinch, they even let the 5-year-old kids of the artists create the artwork, e.g. Pat Moran (just kidding!). However, there are some images of the stars that I don't think of as being high art even if they are appealing - Cobb bat on and WaJo hands at chest come to mind - those don't compare with the artistry of their other cards in the set.

Fun thread!

Interesting.

Anybody know how many Artists were used on the Set?

[Sean]

Originally Posted by that T206 Guy

I do Like Cobb (Bat off Shoulder) though

Interesting Point about the Artist Spending More Time on HOF Players.

I don't know if the artist spent more time on this one because it's Cobb, but the combination of colors in the background make this card my favorite in the set; that and the fact that it is Cobb on the card.


scan0001.jpg

[Sean]

Originally Posted by prince hal

i agree that some commons are among the best images. The merkle throwing is one of my favorites

scan0025.jpg

[Sean]

On a somewhat related matter, does anyone know why the Brooklyn players seem to have backgrounds featuring combinations of pastel colors such as pink when few other cards use them?

Jordan and Rucker come to mind as examples.

[brianp-beme]

It has always seemed to me that a good chunk of collectors seem to find the cards of HOF to be the most attractive. I believe this is a more the result of the card being artistically well done AND that it depicts a popular player that is in demand.

As others pointed out, the T206 set is littered with good looking artwork with great use of colors. Just with an available scan for example, many of these portraits would be qualify, and imagine if Lefty Leifield had a HOF career how many more admirers would rate this card near the top of the T206 heap.

Brian