M101-2 Sporting News Supplements: Gaining more attention, discuss

[GregMitch34]

Yeah, they've been around forever, I always had a few tattered ones (Merkle!), but never got much attention because of inevitable condition issues and mainly--no PSA grading! Only BGS. Still, I have always loved them. As a photog, I appreciate the quality of the images, the very large size and sepia. Almost nothing like them, and some captures are simply stunning.

The attention and value started changing a few years back when PSA started grading. Fit the PSA holder very well and look great. Very few noticed at first, as few graded, but now surging (relative to the norm for these), as top cards now boast at least half-dozen graded and some a dozen or more. Prices have soared at major auction houses while raw, flawed, ones are now frequent on eBay.

PSA has kept everyone guessing by being super-tough on grading, with any crease or invariable slight border nick or tear almost always earning a "1." Absolutely gorgeous examples with square corners but one tiny flaw still get a 1.5 at best. Man, to get a "3" you really earn it. Total number of "5s" so far: 5, and none higher. So in many cases it is buy-the-image-not-the-grade, with Cubs players seemingly getting a nice boost a value. BGS grades now seem inflated and no one seems interested in them now.

Anyway: If you want to add your two cents or two dollars here please do so. It will be interesting to see if prices hold or gain or fade as more graded. Or perhaps the universe of these in good condition is very small. The elite cards now are: Jackson, Cobb, Wagner, Cobb-Wagner, Johnson-Street, Matty, and Alexander (often called his rookie card)....

[calvindog]

[Peter_Spaeth]

My only one, though not elite apparently lol.

[michael3322]

Greg,

"BGS grades now seem inflated and no one seems interested in them now."

Respectfully, this is your opinion, and is not shared by most or possibly even any other collectors frankly.

Just check out the current Heritage Auction, which clearly demonstrates strong interest in M101's in BGS holders. To save you time, here is the link.

[GregMitch34]

Maybe "no one seems interested" is too strong, apologies, but the fact is--the number of BGS sales via auction and ebay in past two years is barely visible in comparison to PSA sales--even though BGS has to date still graded twice as many of these.

[michael3322]

Originally Posted by GregMitch34

Maybe "no one seems interested" is too strong, apologies, but the fact is--the number of BGS sales via auction and ebay in past two years is barely visible in comparison to PSA sales--even though BGS has to date still graded twice as many of these.

Fair enough Greg. But also it is possible that many with BGS are not selling, some might be crossing over now that PSA is grading them, etc. There are lots of possibilities.

Regardless, it is exciting to see interest is growing in these.

Do you think the increasing interest in the M101-2's parallels the uptick in interest in pre-war Type 1 photos (Conlon, etc.)?

[GregMitch34]

That's an interesting point about pre-war photos helping spark. Certainly the interest in the photos is long overdue. It may be that many or some others, like me, find the much larger images more gripping and great in the hand vs. the relatively tiny cards.

On people maybe crossing over these to PSA: Seems wise. This year a BGS 4.5 Bobby Wallace sold for 360. A PSA 2 for same this year went for 580.

The problem in crossing over, however, will be likely grade deflation in most cases. For example, that BGS 4.5 Wallace on close inspection had the kind of little nicks that guarantee a PSA 1 or 1.5. I know because I owned it.

[brunswickreeves]

These are a few of my favorite things

[Northviewcats]

I have picked up about 10 of these to add to my collection. They used to be cheap. No more. Here is my favorite.

[GregMitch34]

Another double-sized team card. Even harder to find in nice shape.

https://www.net54baseball.com/attach...1&d=1694882334

[michael3322]

Here is the issue date for the set:


1909-13 M101-2 Sporting News Supplements
Player Checklist

Card Issue Date Player

1909
(1) July 22 Roger Bresnahan
(2) July 29 Denton Young, Louis Criger
(3) August 5 Christopher Mathewson
(4) August 12 Tyrus R. Cobb
(5) August 19 Napoleon Lajoie
(6) August 26 Sherwood N. Magee
(7) September 2 Frank L. Chance
(8) September 9 Edward Walsh
(9) September 16 Nap Rucker
(10) September 23 Honus Wagner
(11) September 30 Hugh Jennings
(12) October 7 Fred C. Clarke
(13) October 14 Byron Bancroft Johnson
(14) October 21 Charles A. Comiskey
(15) October 28 Edward Collins
(16) November 4 James A. McAleer
(17) November 11 Pittsburgh Team (Pirates; 10x16 inches)
(18) November 18 Detroit Team (Tigers; 10x16 inches)
(19) November 25 George Bell
(20) December 2 Tris Speaker
(21) December 9 Mordecai Brown
(22) December 16 Hal Chase
(23) December 23 Thomas W. Leach
(24) December 30 Owen Bush

1910
(25) January 6 John J. Evers
(26) January 13 Harry Krause
(27) January 20 Chas. B. Adams
(28) January 27 Addie Joss
(29) February 3 Orval Overall
(30) February 10 Samuel E. Crawford
(31) February 17 Fred Merkle
(32) February 24 George Mullin
(33) March 3 Edward Konetchy
(34) March 10 George Gibson, Arthur Raymond
(35) March 17 Ty Cobb, Hans Wagner
(36) March 24 Connie Mack
(37) March 31 Wm. Evans, "Silk" O'Loughlin,
William Klem, Wm. Johnston
(38) April 7 Edward Plank
(39) September 1 Walter Johnson, Charles E. Street
(40) September 8 John C. Kling
(41) September 15 Frank Baker
(42) September 22 Charles S. Dooin
(43) September 29 Wm. F. Carrigan
(44) October 6 John B. McLean
(45) October 13 John W. Coombs
(46) October 20 Jos. B. Tinker
(47) October 27 John I. Taylor
(48) November 3 Russell Ford
(49) November 10 Leonard L. Cole
(50) November 17 Harry Lord
(51) November 24 Philadelphia-A Team (Athletics; 10x16 inches)
(52) December 1 Chicago-N. Team (Cubs; 10x16 inches)
(53) December 8 Charles A. Bender
(54) December 15 Arthur Hofman
(55) December 21 Bobby Wallace
(56) December 28 Jno. J. McGraw

1911
(57) January 5 Harry H. Davis
(58) January 12 James P. Archer
(59) January 19 Ira Thomas
(60) January 26 Robert Byrnes
(61) February 2 Clyde Milan
(62) February 9 John T. Meyer (Meyers)
(63) February 16 Robert Bescher
(64) February 23 John J. Barry
(65) March 2 Frank Schulte
(66) March 9 C. Harris White
(67) March 16 Lawrence Doyle
(68) March 23 Joe Jackson
(69) October 26 Martin O'Toole, William Kelly
(70) November 2 Vean Gregg
(71) November 9 Richard W. Marquard
(72) November 16 John E. McInnis
(73) November 23 Grover C. Alexander
(74) November 30 Del Gainor
(75) December 7 Fred Snodgrass
(76) December 14 James J. Callahan
(77) December 21 Robert Harmon
(78) December 28 George Stovall

1912
(79) January 4 Zack D. Wheat
(80) January 11 Frank "Ping" Bodie
(81) October 10 Boston-A Team (Red Sox)
(82) October 17 New York-N Team (Giants)
(83) October 24 Jake Stahl
(84) October 31 Joe Wood
(85) November 7 Charles Wagner
(86) November 14 Lew Ritchie
(87) November 21 Clark Griffith
(88) November 28 Arnold Hauser
(89) December 5 Charles Herzog
(90) December 12 James Lavender
(91) December 19 Jeff Tesreau
(92) December 26 August Hermann

1913
(93) October 23 Jake Daubert
(94) October 30 Heinie Zimmerman
(95) November 6 Ray Schalk
(96) November 13 Hans Lobert
(97) November 20 Albert W. Demaree
(98) November 27 Arthur Fletcher
(99) December 4 Charles A. Somers
(100) December 11 Joe Birmingham


Source: https://oldcardboard.com/m/m101-2/m101-2list.asp

[kcohen]

I put together a full set of these some years back. I had never detected much interest in these until reading this thread. A couple of mine are in Beckett holders. Though I think they present more nicely “raw”, I never bothered to break them out for fear of damaging the paper. Surprised to learn that PSA is slabbing them.

[GregMitch34]

KCohen, presuming you still have them--you might want to check out eBay auctions ending tonight with most of a full set raw. As usual, they are in pretty rough condition--some with tape on back and missing corners--but check out the prices for some of them, even with major flaws....

[kcohen]

Thanks Greg. That should be interesting. Fortunately the key player examples are in good shape without major flaws

[GregMitch34]

KCohen, you mean the ones you have?

[53toppscollector]

has anyone figured out a good way to display the larger 16x10 cards without damaging them? the standard size fit perfectly into a single pocket album page.

[kcohen]

Originally Posted by GregMitch34

KCohen, you mean the ones you have?

Yes. The ones I have.

[MGoBlue2007]

Does anyone know if psa will grade these if they have been glued to a paper backing?

[brunswickreeves]

PSA has rejected (No Grade result) cards which have evidence of scrapbook remanence affixed to even what seems a clean back.

[MGoBlue2007]

That sucks.. I sent it in today. Well.. I'm out $100.

[raulus]

Originally Posted by MGoBlue2007

That sucks.. I sent it in today. Well.. I'm out $100.

If they reject it and refuse to grade it, they often won't charge you. There's probably some exceptions to this rule, but it has been my experience. For example, from time to time my pack-pulled 1987T are ruled to not meet the minimum size requirement, and they don't charge me.

So you might not actually be out $100 if they won't slab it.

[brunswickreeves]

Originally Posted by raulus

If they reject it and refuse to grade it, they often won't charge you. There's probably some exceptions to this rule, but it has been my experience. For example, from time to time my pack-pulled 1987T are ruled to not meet the minimum size requirement, and they don't charge me.

So you might not actually be out $100 if they won't slab it.

That’s right, you should not be charged, however you’ll be out the cost to ship.

[MGoBlue2007]

Originally Posted by brunswickreeves

PSA has rejected (No Grade result) cards which have evidence of scrapbook remanence affixed to even what seems a clean back.

Will Beckett grade with scrapbook remanence?

[Lorewalker]

Originally Posted by brunswickreeves

PSA has rejected (No Grade result) cards which have evidence of scrapbook remanence affixed to even what seems a clean back.

Rejected or no grade? Those are different results. Scrapbook residue can result in no numerical grade, the fee charged and an Auth designation.

[GregMitch34]

I guess "altered" is only for adding tape to close up tears (common with this issue)?

[GregMitch34]

One might say that this issue is so "hot" now we have a new sepia reprint listing at eBay....

https://www.ebay.com/itm/145313370455

[todeen]

My one and only. Net54 member sold me his double a few years ago after he upgraded. Wish it was signed though. that's a cool piece above. 20230923_104316.jpg

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