Most Important Cards of Each Decade

[Archive]

Posted By: Seth B.

Let's trace a little baseball card history; this might be fun. Difficult to place the T206 cards, but let's say they're 1909-10 for the sake of argument. Feel free to add other decades.

1881-1890
1. N162 Kelly (Close call over the Anson for tops from this gorgeous set)
2. Four Base Hits Kelly (Rare beauty of 19th c's biggest character)
3. WG1 Anson (First baseball card game with actual players)
4. N172 Delehanty Pitching (One of the most storied 19th century players, one of his better cards)
5. N167 Keefe (Major HOFer from the precursor to the first major card set, see #4)

1891-1900
1. Just So Cy Young (Clearly, the greatest card of the decade)
2. Alpha-Photo Engraving McGraw (The key card, if there is one for a 1-of-a-kind set)
3. Mayo Anson (Key? from this set)
4. 1894 Mayo Football, any (First football card, I know, a little OT, but still...)
5. Cabinet with the 1894 Orioles (THE team of the decade, have seen such card, don't know #)

1901-1910
1. T206 Wagner (not Heinie! Obvious)
2. T206 Magie (First noted error card)
3. E107 Wagner(Important card from first major series of 20th century)
4. T210 Jackson (Biggest "prookie" of them all)
5. T205 Joss (First card of a deceased player)

1911-1920
1. Baltimore News Ruth (Next biggest "prookie")
2. 1914 CJ Matthewson (Most popular card of most popular set of the decade)
3. CJ Jackson (See above. Most attractive Jackson card of all?)
4. 1912 Obak Weaver (Key from this important minor league set, hard to find Black Soxer)
5. T202 Tinker/Chance/Evers Slides (The famous infield on a single card!)