I like my 1914 Cracker Jacks Stained

[Rhotchkiss]

I am considering trying to assemble a 1914 Cracker Jack set, and over the past few weeks I have been looking at examples for sale on ebay and at auction houses. With all these doctoring scandals, I am hyper-aware of potential alterations, and it seems to me that the #1 offender for 1914 Cracker Jacks is bleaching and/or some chemical stain that removes the caramel stains. I look at some examples and see a spotless, super-white back with no staining, and fronts equally devoid of caramel stains and they scream of bleaching to me. Perhaps some 1914 CJs made it through with no-to-nominal staining. But for me, I like my 1914 Cracker Jacks stained!

What are you thoughts and lets see those stained 1914 Cracker Jacks

[ajjohnsonsoxfan]

I like a bit o caramel myself. It's what sets the 14's apart from the 15. Would love to be transported back to the summer of 1914 and open up box after box, finding the hidden treasures within.

What's so maddening with assembling that set is the grading got really screwed up at PSA over the years in how they assess stains. It makes it really hard to put together a set that has an overall similar condition. But with the scarcity of some of the examples you don't really have much of choice in how they look.

Good luck in your quest!

[Sean]

Good luck with the hunt Ryan. You never struck me as a set collector before this.

[mq711]

Agree and feel the same about the 1915 CJ set. I don’t really care for the pretty, stainless, high grade ones that were obtained from the mail in promotion or later cut from a sheet; love the stained ones pulled from a box.

[brianp-beme]

I like my Cracker Jack stains shellacked for posterity.

Brian

[Rhotchkiss]

Originally Posted by Sean

Good luck with the hunt Ryan. You never struck me as a set collector before this.

Not sure I have the fortitude. Still toying with the notion and picking up the biggies while I decide.

Brian, that is quite a piece!

[swarmee]

What about the ones with unnaturally rounded corners with number grades?

[3-2-count]

Originally Posted by Rhotchkiss

Not sure I have the fortitude. Still toying with the notion and picking up the biggies while I decide.

Ryan if you do end up pursuing the set good luck brother!

As you said, the biggies are already in place for you!

Big CJ fan here......

[PhillyFan1883]

Ryan I have 78 from the set. It’s a fun set to try to complete, but a pain in the ass at the same time. You can’t be too condition sensitive unless you want to pay thousands for “commons.” I like my CJ’s more like your Matty! Staining is ok but I’d rather it be minimal. No variations except for Bresnahan. # or no # on the back.

If you pursue the set shoot me a text and I will help out best I can. I should have a handful of doubles.

Connor

[ValKehl]

Originally Posted by mq711

Agree and feel the same about the 1915 CJ set. I don’t really care for the pretty, stainless, high grade ones that were obtained from the mail in promotion or later cut from a sheet; love the stained ones pulled from a box.

Plus 1, even though I'm not collecting this set:

[JeremyW]

Originally Posted by swarmee

What about the ones with unnaturally rounded corners with number grades?

Rounded corners? That card does not look legit.

[Phil68]

Originally Posted by JeremyW

Rounded corners? That card does not look legit.

There is no dignified way of saying "Dude...wtf?!?!?"

That card looks like when you're in 3rd grade and the weird kid comes in with a drastic new do.
...okay...I was the weird kid...but...still

[MVSNYC]

If I collected CJ’s, I’d want them to be as “stain-free” as possible. Just my personal preference.

[GeoPoto]

https://net54baseball.com/attachment...&d=1582632517; https://net54baseball.com/attachment...&d=1582632566; https://net54baseball.com/attachment...&d=1582632578; https://net54baseball.com/attachment...&d=1582632591; https://net54baseball.com/attachment...&d=1582632603; https://net54baseball.com/attachment...1&d=1582632622

[Goudey77]

Stain or no stain. Whichever preference. Assembling the 1914 set in any condition would be an impressive accomplishment. I don’t think there is another mainstream manufactured set as difficult as this one.

[Sean]

Originally Posted by Rhotchkiss

Not sure I have the fortitude. Still toying with the notion and picking up the biggies while I decide.

Brian, that is quite a piece!

Get Del Pratt next.

[Leon]

Originally Posted by Sean

Get Del Pratt next.

They pop up but go for quite a bit. The 1914s get pricey quickly. If I collected them I think a few stains, in unobtrusive places, would be fine.

[Kidnapped18]

I like them all but prefer mine stained!
#87 Cady is a tough low pop Cracker Jack
#65 Speaker HOF 1937

[brianp-beme]

Nice cards everyone. I have always regretted not pursuing Cracker Jacks back when they were only priced a little higher than cards from other sets of the era.

But when I do collect them, I like my 1915 cards, like the one below, to be stained like the majority of the 1914's seen. 1915's that came out of the box were enjoyed by kids, as were most of the 1910 era candy cards, and not just ordered as a complete set and stashed away, ending up looking 100+ years later all fresh and pristine like a 2020 Topps issue.

Gregg has some bonus, non-caramel candy stains too! Stain City, Baby!

Brian

[hcv123]

To me - regarding this issue specifically - a few well placed caramel stains enhances the eye appeal!

[ValKehl]

Unstained Cracker Jacks of WaJo would be beyond my collecting budget!

[BeanTown]

Having a stain on the 14 CJ would be a must for me. Its like having a stamp with the postmark on the back of an old postcard. It validates it!!!! Plus you know it hasnt been cleaned!!!

[investinrookies]

Originally Posted by hcv123

To me - regarding this issue specifically - a few well placed caramel stains enhances the eye appeal!

This

[HexsHeroes]

I do not mind the staining on the 1914 CJ, but the grading disparities when stains are present was enough to discourage me from going any farther than the two Detroit Tigers cards I own. The condition of the #122 Bush is a decent mid-quality card, but I have no doubts PSA would “only” grade somewhere between a 2 or 3 with the present stains. #114 Moriarity not nearly that high. Then I note how strong the 2018- 2020 auction results have been for #122 Bush, and I am not as discouraged. Perhaps the prices realized reflect this card may be as scarce as the low PSA submission count indicates. It all just bogles my simple mind. And, as noted by other members, PSA has not remained consistent over time, on the consideration of staining in assigned final grade. Would be curious to know whether some of the highest graded examples were “treated” in prior years to minimize appearance of stains. Suppose it possible less stained examples survived their time in the box. All that said, my kudos to all of the Net 54 OC members that collect them. You are a hardy bunch ��
.

[commishbob]

I'd take a Chas. Bender any way I could get it!

[HexsHeroes]

So wondering which of the two grading services would be preferable to use when submitting stained 1914 Cracker Jack cards? Or is it a craps shoot?

[Browns1981]

We're these hand cut from the box or inserted?

[FrankWakefield]

Inserted... in there with the caramel corn... hence the stains.

[investinrookies]

Originally Posted by HexsHeroes

So wondering which of the two grading services would be preferable to use when submitting stained 1914 Cracker Jack cards? Or is it a craps shoot?

I think the eye appeal matters more on these then the overall grade does, especially on rare cards like 14 CJs. These are special to own regardlesss of the grade. Personally I prefer them in SGC holders because they look really good against the black background.

[Kidnapped18]

Originally Posted by HexsHeroes

So wondering which of the two grading services would be preferable to use when submitting stained 1914 Cracker Jack cards? Or is it a craps shoot?

1914 CJ's are going to have stains it just depends on how much!

I have seen 12 higher graded ones (PSA 7s and 8s) with the stain designator (ST) on PSA graded cards, I haven't seen them on any SGC graded cards.

This card is an example from PSA Card Facts currently in another collection.

Tony

[investinrookies]

For me CJs are hands down some of the best looking pre-war cards. I like them all but prefer some light staining.
Here’s a couple of my favorites-




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Popcorn]

great cards! a 6 ex-mt grade it the top for me for a vintage card, anything higher and it probably had work done lol

[oldeboo]

I can't be the only one in this thread that didn't think "Hmm, I should go check out some stained CJs on Ebay, might find one I like!"

ummmmm...

4 possibilities here:
1. I've got this totally wrong (distinct possibility, well not really, the card isn't even printed in the right direction!!!)
2. The expert graders got this totally wrong (I mean very unlikely, RIGHT???)
3. People are getting really good at cracking and swapping
4. There are some pretty nice counterfeit slabs with reprint cards

Which of the 4 do you think is most likely?

It looks like all kinds of wrong right from the jump to me. Just pointing out a few, of the many, red alerts.

Sad part is, it's got a bid and plenty of watchers already lining up to snipe it.

Keep in mind it does have the "fugitive ink technology" slab

[Seven]

Would it surprise me if PSA got this wrong? Of course not. But if this is a counterfeit slab, all I have to say is, Wow. That's a very good reproduction slab, if that's the case of course.

[oldeboo]

Originally Posted by Seven

Would it surprise me if PSA got this wrong? Of course not. But if this is a counterfeit slab, all I have to say is, Wow. That's a very good reproduction slab, if that's the case of course.

Yeah, I'm down to those two options. There really is no visible evidence of that case being opened. Certainly agree that if it's a counterfeit slab, they got the details correct it seems.

[ajjohnsonsoxfan]

wow! that certainly would be a big shock. the dover reprints are on a completely different type of card stock. the staining looks legit. if that's a fake, someone did a heck of a job

..now that I look closer, I don't like the look of the paper in the upper left where there's visible wear. doesn't look right to me at all

[Leon]

Those are great looking cards!

Originally Posted by investinrookies

For me CJs are hands down some of the best looking pre-war cards. I like them all but prefer some light staining.
Here’s a couple of my favorites-




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[investinrookies]

Originally Posted by Leon

Those are great looking cards!

Thanks Leon!

[investinrookies]

A few more of my slightly stained CJs. Recently added Matty thanks to Jay.






Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[pete zouras]

mouse

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

Actually they look more like punched hole to hang them buy that eventually got pulled through