Cards As Art - Post Some (Pre or Post War)

[MattyC]

I was looking at some cards of HOFers today, and one really rose above the others; its image struck me like a piece of art. I think cards are not unlike art in general, but the colors of this piece, the way the eyes have such personality, it's just not your average baseball card.

So it got me wondering: what other cards do we have of HOFers, that we feel are in this rarefied class-- that strike us as art, are beautiful on an aesthetic level, but also capture the essence/personality of the player?

I'm betting this will be a great way to get put onto some new cards I haven't seen or paid adequate attention to thus far. This was the image that did it for me.

It was actually the first Pre War card I ever purchased, because the image made such an indelible impression on me years ago, when I first laid eyes on it. I knew little about Cobb beyond his hitting prowess, and knew nothing about the issue-- other than it was striking and I felt compelled to own one.

[Leon]

Matt- as you might know, that is the card that was on our first Net54baseball t shirts. That tells you how I feel about it. I think a lot, if not most of us, think of our cards as little works of art. And even though this one is black and white and a photo, it is art to me....

[yanksfan09]

I never get tired if that one Leon.... Great card. The image in my avatar is one of my faves as well.

[HRBAKER]

[MattyC]

Did not know that about the D304 on the shirts. Cool bit of net54 trivia.

Love these images. Mathewson has several examples that come to mind as art. Hope to see a bunch on this thread. A card of his is high on my list.

[DeanH3]

This one for me.

[itjclarke]

Always loved Matty's look in this pose. Never thought the T206 white cap (looks boyish) captured Matty's focus like the dark cap... and then the E93adds some fire to it.
T206 Mathewson- N54.jpgE93 Christy Mathewson PSA-3 close.jpg

Also really like the E95 Wagner. It has a certain poignancy to it.. maybe a more elegant 1909 equivalent to the 1973 Topps Clemente.
E95 Honus Wagner.jpg

[CW]

These are two that epitomize "art on cardboard" to me, both commonly seen, but both worthy of mention.

The Mathewson's yellow and blue background shows the beauty of the lithography from the time period, while somehow capturing the grace and dignity of "the Christian Gentleman". (card shown is an E92, but the image exists in other E sets)

The Speaker is one of many pieces of art from the T3 Turkey Red set, showing Tris in mid-swing, most likely ready to unleash one of his 792 career doubles (yep, I looked it up! ). It's a still image, but you can imagine the fluidity and motion of the swing. The intensity in Speaker's face, the ripples in his uniform, and the red socks all come together to form a piece of art on cardboard.

[soccersaver97]

Originally Posted by CW

These are two that epitomize "art on cardboard" to me, both commonly seen, but both worthy of mention.

The Mathewson's yellow and blue background shows the beauty of the lithography from the time period, while somehow capturing the grace and dignity of "the Christian Gentleman". (card shown is an E92, but the image exists in other E sets)

The Speaker is one of many pieces of art from the T3 Turkey Red set, showing Tris in mid-swing, most likely ready to unleash one of his 792 career doubles (yep, I looked it up! ). It's a still image, but you can imagine the fluidity and motion of the swing. The intensity in Speaker's face, the ripples in his uniform, and the red socks all come together to form a piece of art on cardboard.

That Speaker pops! I think I might have found one of my favorite cards/artwork!

[GaryPassamonte]

hand colored masterpiece.

[I Only Smoke 4 the Cards]

That Cobb is great. I would love to know what he was grinning about.

[3-2-count]

One of my all time favorite shots that is no doubt art in my opinion...

[CW]

Originally Posted by soccersaver97

That Speaker pops! I think I might have found one of my favorite cards/artwork!

Welcome to the club, my friend, welcome to the club. (thanks, btw)

Originally Posted by JasonL

The baseball card is its own medium within the art world.
My all time fave is the T206 Lajoei with bat....to such an extent I devoted a page on my website to that card. For me, that one sums up an entire era. I also started a thread on this Board several years ago that ran for a while on the T206 sunsets...fanastic artistic images in so many pre-war card sets...

http://www.thetriple-l.com/themythicalrelic.htm

^^^ That's a cool little tribute there to a great card.

Originally Posted by Leon

You are like I was several years ago. You see cards and think you just have to have one . The Oakes is a great pose.

I think that's how I built the majority of my collection, and what a great way to collect! Some cards just grab you, and you add it to the watchlist.

I was also turned onto the Oakes card by this very forum years ago (the old style Net54), and I was turned onto the '33 Goudey Gehringer by the CU forum when someone posted one there years ago.

Here's a few more...

T216 Tris Speaker (see also E90-1, which is also fairly tough to find)
E92 Sherry Magee (almost on par with the Rebel Oakes card)
'41 Play Ball DiMaggio
'49 Leaf Musial
'33 Goudey Gehringer
N43 Buck Ewing -- doesn't get much better!

[slipk1068]

I have said it before. This is a work of art.

[MattyC]

The Tris and that red Matty are really powerful images. The T206 dark cap image is beautiful, one of my favorites in the hobby.

That Tris image is mesmerizing, really. Looks like it could come to life if you stare too long. Then again...pot.
I think the Tip Top Wagner has such a haunting aspect to it, worth a mention.

For Ruth, that 144 has an almost ethereal quality to the uniform. I believe his rookie photo captures his essence the best-- the killer instinct competitive glare is awesome on the RC. Other Ruths just don't show that side of him.

[EvilKing00]

not my card but ill have one of these eventually

Here are some through the years

[Theo_450]

One of my favorites.

[Theo_450]

Couple more.

I love the colors in this one...may be my favorite card aesthetically speaking

[brewing]

David, that Mona Lisa looks trimmed.


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[Cardboard Junkie]

No way man, that bitch is professionally graded!

[kkkkandp]

http://www.northjersey.com/arts_ente...ng_cards_.html

[kamikidEFFL]

First off love the topic. I myself went to college to study Graphic Design so I love art and always loved the designs of baseball cards. I have found a bunch of the old school cards that have caught my eye along with many other people. The one set that sticks out is the 1938 Goudey Set. Cartoon-ish but yet the face has the realistic look to it. Then hey who doesn't love the design of the 1934 Goudey Gehrig??? These are yes two of the seats I personally collect but hey come on now who can't agree with me.

[Runscott]

Thanks, I've always wanted to do this.

[MattyC]

These T206 backgrounds are surreal. Gorgeous colors.

And the 1941 Playballs have such a distinct style to them.

[brewing]

Does anyone own a Miners Extra Cobb? That card belongs in this thread.


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[mrvster]

That was great! I love the gallery.....especially knight...

I feel all my freaks are "ART"

[T206Collector]

I've had this beauty in my collection for 25 years...

[T3s]

Artwork - plain and simple.

Greg Mitchell - Bridwell is a cool T3. Look closely and you can even see the hairs on his head. A few grey hairs maybe. Thanks for posting it.

[atx840]

[the 'stache]

Not mine, but the first thing to pop into my head:



Can't do much better than the iconic '53 Bowman Color Pee Wee Reese.

[Kawika]

Wonka: Love the modern art gallery.
If this ain't "art" then I don't know what is.

[JoeyF1981]

Originally Posted by Kawika

Wonka: Love the modern art gallery.
If this ain't "art" then I don't know what is.

wow!

[shernan30]

That Cobb is quite impressive. I bet it only looks better in person.

[Pythonfactory]

Thanks for sharing everyone. Definitely added several new cards to the want list.

Every time I look at these cards, I can't believe that the lithography looks just as good (if not better) as any cards made since then. I wish more pre-war cards had the vibrant and variety of colors, attention to detail, and image quality that the N43's and N162's have.