What Beauties: The T202 Hassan Triple Folders

[marzoumanian]

Like hundreds of thousands of other vintage baseball card collectors, I’m a Topps man through and through. That was the only company I knew buying cards in the late 1960s at the local delicatessen. And I stuck with buying Topps cards for decades.
I have to admit I was only vaguely aware of tobacco cards when I was a kid. The same holds true when I was an adult and jumped back into collecting in the mid-1980s. Sure, I would see them at shows. But they just didn’t do anything for me. Why? I couldn’t relate to the noble men pictured. When I started collecting, the players on Topps cards played every day. I saw their names in my local paper’s baseball box scores. I would see them on television and occasionally even saw them play in person at Yankee or Shea Stadium.
Now that I’ve retired and stopped collecting cards, I’ve been pondering the following: If I had to collect one pre-1952 set today, starting fresh, what would it be? I conducted a bit of research by checking out some ongoing auctions and quickly concluded it would be the 1912 T202 Hassan Triple Folders. I know, I know. I am far from the only admirer of this 132-card set. This number includes all combinations. Many in the hobby consider this set one of the top 10 ever made.
What struck me in particular about the cards? They’re beautiful. These were produced more than a century ago and yet the blues, greens and reds still jump out at you. Second, the end panels can be folded over to completely cover the center panel, resulting in the nickname triple folders. I think that’s cool. Two color photos are at either end of a black and white action shot. I learned that the folding occurred when they were originally inserted into cigarette packs. So you can forget finding a PSA 10 triple folder. When fully open, the cards measure about 2 ¼ by 5 ¼ inches.
The stars in this set are heavyweights, including such Hall of Famers as Ty Cobb (appearing multiple times), Christy Mathewson, Walter Johnson, Nap Lajoie, and Tris Speaker. The biographies on the back of each of these cards are detailed.
In doing research, I was surprised to learn that collectors would often separate each card. I shudder at the thought. How could they?!? But collecting cards when these first came out was far different from what collecting is today.
I wondered if I could enjoy this set somehow without having to dish out thousands of dollars to buy all 132 cards. At this point in my life I have no interest in spending the big bucks required. Well, I found on Amazon a paperback book put out by Trading Card Enterprises LLC called, simple enough, T202 1912 Triple Folders Baseball Cards. I bought it immediately. It cost me $35, plus tax. I can’t wait to receive it.
If I had to buy this set today, how much would I have to pay? Hard to say with any certainty. My due diligence revealed that it would be very difficult to buy a complete set quickly. When these cards do come up for sale, they’re not more than two dozen in a group at most and, more typically, eight, nine or less. When I went onto auction house REA’s archives I saw that back in the fall of 2015 a complete set sold for $36,000. At the time it had been number seven on the PSA registry. What would that set cost me today? I would estimate easily over $100,000.
Speaking of REA, in its just-concluded spring auction a Ty Cobb autographed Hassan sold for $300,000, a record for any Cobb card. So, my $100,000-plus for that aforementioned complete set is conservative, to put it politely.
Finally, what else occurred in 1912? That’s easy. In April, Fenway Park in Boston opened. And a few days later the luxury liner Titanic sank. Two major historical events. Now, I’m not saying that the release of the T202 Hassan set is anywhere nearly as significant as these two noteworthy moments. But 1912 has to stand out if you’re a vintage card collector who’s into pure aesthetics, not monetary value.

P.S. Feel free to show me your BEST triple folder. Limit to one, please!

[ValKehl]

Mark, I hope you do decide to collect the T202 set. I have only a few t202s, as I am not a set collector. My favorite is this WaJo-Street card with a scarce Factory 30 back printed in black, instead of the usual red.

[boneheadandrube]

T202 36 Wood-Speaker SGC 4.jpg

[ullmandds]

love these...I have maybe 6 of them. One of my favorite things about them is the detailed descriptions on the reverse center panel really give insights to the players talents.

[jayshum]

Here's the T202 that there seems to be agreement on that Shoeless Joe Jackson is the sliding player pictured in the center panel.

[BabyRuth]

I finished this set last year and I just love the look of these cards!!!

[benge610]

I love Connie Mack's, "$100,000 Dollar Infield".



Ben

"I love baseball history backstory; especially when it involves cards."

[brianp-beme]

One of the advantages of just collecting the separated T202 pieces is that I can create my own T202 card. Here is a Tinker to Evers to Chance that I just cobbled together on my scanner. And further yet, I can Frankenstein my own fantasy T202 card. Here is my bad boys of baseball featuring Eddie Cicotte, Joe Jackson and Hal Chase.

Brian (sorry about showing two, but I had to showcase what a piecemeal collector can pull off, including different color printing on the back)

[carlsonjok]

For what it is worth, Upper Deck produced the All-Time Heroes set in 1993 that is based on the T202, and included 10 cards that were reprints of the originals. Boxes can be found on Ebay for less than $50. It was a fun rip.

[HercDriver]

You may think there's only 132 cards, but there's three different factory numbers on the backs of them. Well, actually two factory numbers, but one comes in red and black. That will keep you busy for a few years...

Cheers,
Geno

[cubman1941]

Originally Posted by carlsonjok

For what it is worth, Upper Deck produced the All-Time Heroes set in 1993 that is based on the T202, and included 10 cards that were reprints of the originals. Boxes can be found on Ebay for less than $50. It was a fun rip.

I have most of the Cub ones and also put together the Upper Deck set in 1993.

[G1911]

In addition to the Upper Deck issue, Topps made a set of them in 2003, as 1 per pack inserts with their T205 set. They are a pretty neat modern take on it as well.

[cubman1941]

Originally Posted by HercDriver

You may think there's only 132 cards, but there's three different factory numbers on the backs of them. Well, actually two factory numbers, but one comes in red and black. That will keep you busy for a few years...

Cheers,
Geno

I am looking for the checklist that shows this. I know several years ago someone said they did a checklist but I don't remember if it was printable or not. Thanks. i am going through my Cub T202's to indicate back color and Factory numbers.

[T206Collector]

[itjclarke]

Originally Posted by T206Collector

ditto

[itjclarke]

Breaking the rules of this thread, posting a 2nd card, but seemed it deserved a bump. I'm with the OP, T202s are the absolute best! Each is a self contained little treasure, with player images, 3x funky period write ups, and real action shots!

IMO- Cobb Steals Third is by far the best card in the set, and Tinkers Evers Chance is pretty amazing too, but those have been shown. So I'll go with Matty/Devlin. Love the ball frozen in air in this action shot. And I love Devlin's funny little ballcap.

[benge610]

Originally Posted by itjclarke

Breaking the rules of this thread, posting a 2nd card, but seemed it deserved a bump. I'm with the OP, T202s are the absolute best! Each is a self contained little treasure, with player images, 3x funky period write ups, and real action shots!

IMO- Cobb Steals Third is by far the best card in the set, and Tinkers Evers Chance is pretty amazing too, but those have been shown. So I'll go with Matty/Devlin. Love the ball frozen in air in this action shot. And I love Devlin's funny little ballcap.

I like this one too, Ian.
Has it been identified as a Conlon shot? Or has a photographer been credited?
It wasn't just luck, that the ball made the pic; just curious.
Devlin, with the Rustlers!

Ben

"I love baseball history backstory; especially when it involves cards."

[milkit1]

First completed set for me complete set.jpg

cobbs.jpg

[luciobar1980]

Originally Posted by cubman1941

I have most of the Cub ones and also put together the Upper Deck set in 1993.

Love this one. Has to be the first card to feature 3 HOF players (right?).

edit: aside from Team cards?