Washington T206 Mini-Set Comparison to High-Grade Competitor

[GeoPoto]

Some time ago I began assembling T206 back runs for all of the players who were featured on T206 cards and played for Washington at that time. As time has gone by, I have accumulated most of the cards before you get to the very rare (and expensive) backs, which I have pretty much ignored. My back runs generally peter out around American Beauty. Along the way of course I have become much more knowledgeable regarding the cards and eventually developed my own opinions regarding what to look for in a T206 card.

Perhaps I should pause here to clarify the world I live in. I'm engaged exclusively with graded (encapsulated) cards and internet-based transactions. This means I make bidding/purchase decisions based on scans of graded cards. I realize and admire the skills and tools that many collectors have developed to evaluate raw cards in person at shows and in card shops. I don't do any of that. I'm not proud to say that, in fact it pains me slightly, but, for me, it's the best I can do.

So anyway, a couple of years ago I began focusing on "upgrading" the collection. I use quotations around upgrading because now that I have more mature opinions regarding how I prefer that a card look, improvements often involve swapping out cards that are more highly graded and replacing them with lower graded cards, that I find more desirable. This has been going on long enough that I am becoming somewhat pleased with the results. I have also been curious regarding how the collection would stack up against others.

An opportunity to compare my cards to those contained in a highly regarded collection was recently presented by the Heritage auction involving The Rounders Collection, which included a high-grade set of T206 cards, including one card for each player I collect. Heritage's description did its best to create the impression that the provenance of the Rounders collection was rooted in card collecting that began decades ago. In reality, however, Heritage is vague about that, and I suspect that the vast majority of the cards Heritage auctioned joined the collection fairly recently. At any rate, I didn't want to get into this publicly while the auction was running, but I saved images from the Heritage Auction. My plan for this thread is to use those images to compare my cards with their counterparts from The Rounders Collection.

Note that I plan to compare cards with identical backs. This means I am not choosing my "best" candidate card for each player to compare with the Rounders card from the Heritage auction. Instead, I am using the card from my collection that has the same back as the H/R card. The backs included in the Heritage/Rounders auction were all common. One (the first one, it turns out) is Sovereign. All the others are Sweet Caporal or Piedmont.

I plan to largely ignore the financial aspect of these comparisons. The auction prices paid for the H/R cards fully reflect their high grades. All of my cards cost substantially less. In fact, during my "upgrading", I have recovered significant value by selling cards that were once in my collection but have been "upgraded" to cards with lower grades. But I wasn't motivated to save or recover money. Each time I have "upgraded" a card it has been to replace it with a card I liked better, not to "save" money. For the record, the 25 H/R cards that are relevant here sold for an average (including BP) of $5,259; the 25 cards of mine that I will compare to the H/R cards cost me an average of $535.

Disclaimer: I am hoping that I can do this without appearing to throw shade at Heritage, the Rounders Collection, or anybody who may have won any of the cards discussed at auction. Everything I say will merely reflect my opinions and preferences, which are no better than anyone else's. The evaluations documented here are derived from the seat-of-the-pants comparisons I performed during the auction period to allow me to decide whether to bid on the items considered. I delayed until the auction (and some planned travel) concluded to begin this public discussion of some of the auctioned cards and how (I think) they compare to mine.

A few preliminary comments regarding my standards. I am not very concerned with edges and corners. Everything else equal, I'll take the sharper card, but edges and corners lose quickly to better centering and borders. I don't like surface wear but can tolerate some for other advantages. An attractive image is important. The big drivers are centering and borders. I do believe that backs are important, especially in a back run. I would avoid paper loss, but centering is not paramount for the back. Moderate surface wear, staining, fading, and toning are acceptable for backs, hopefully not all on the same card. Backs were not much of a factor in comparing my cards to the H/R cards. In general, all of the backs were acceptable.

I think that's enough introduction. My next post will address the first card up.

[GeoPoto]

Card 1: George E. Browne. Right fielder for the Washington Senators in 1909-1910. 1,176 hits, 18 home runs, and 190 stolen bases in 12 MLB seasons. Led the NL in runs scored in 1904. 1905 World Series champion. Debuted with the Philadelphia Phillies in 1901. His best season was 1903 for the New York Giants as he led the league in games played and posted a .364 OBP with 27 stolen bases in 652 plate appearances. In all he had 7 seasons with more than 500 plate appearances.

George Browne Washington Sovereign 350: Overall, George Browne cards are common (PSA has graded 809), but because they are split between Chicago (PSA-458) and Washington (PSA-351), getting the variant you want can be a little harder than some commons. PSA has graded eight Browne Washington T206 cards at the PSA 7 level and three at PSA 8. Browne Washington is in Print Group 1, 350 Series Only. When it comes to Sovereign 350 backs, the Washington variant is the only option and comes in Forest Green. All of the Browne T206 cards misspell his name as Brown.

Heritage/Rounders Entry: Graded 7 by PSA this card sports the sharp corners and edges you would expect for the grade. It also presents a clear image with an unblemished surface. The back is okay with moderate fading. The problem with the card is obvious and off-putting. It is badly centered high (also slightly right). This creates a cringeworthy upper border that barely exists. Overall, the borders are not horrible as the bottom border is excellent, benefitting from the skinny top border. The side borders are okay, but nothing to brag about.

My Entry: Graded 3 by PSA this card evidences its age and handling. The edges are fair, but the corners are well rounded. The image is good with a few minor surface scuffs. The centering is virtually perfect to my eye which favors a little extra bottom border to accommodate the name and team designation. The borders are very strong, providing some comfort that the card may not have been altered. The back is clean, marred only by one small stain.

Comparison: The H/R card is a clean, nice image with no blemishes and sharp edges and corners. My card has a nice image but does show some surface and edge wear with severely rounded corners. The backs are similar with my card showing one distinct stain. The H/R card is badly centered while my card is extremely well-centered. The two cards have comparable bottom borders, while my card has a significantly larger top border and slightly larger side borders.

My conclusion: I like my card. In my mind, the larger borders and superior centering more than offset the crispness of the H/R card, which is remarkable, but also hard to look at, with its vanishing top border. It is much easier to look at my card without being reminded of how easy it is to improve edges and corners through trimming. The backs are very similar, except my card has a small stain that doesn't detract much, to my eye.

The bottom line: If we ignore resale value, I would not trade my card for the H/R card. I think my card is better.

Additional George Browne Fun Fact: On June 29,1905, Browne played right field for the New York Giants in a game against the Brooklyn Superbas. At the end of the eighth inning, he was replaced by Moonlight Graham.

[bnorth]

I agree that your card is much nicer that the other. One thing I have noticed on high grade T206 sets/groups is that there are so many very obvious altered and extremely over graded stuff even Stevie Wonder would cringe when facing them. Collect what you like as there is really no reason to compare with others unless you are going all in on the PSA registry.

[stutor]

This is a well constructed, thought provoking thread.

I collect t206, and I would say that my preferences in card condition closely resemble yours. My set focuses on back rarity for the most part, but I have some higher graded cards sprinkled in. Inevitably, as I scroll through my cards, I find myself quickly passing by many of the higher graded cards that have centering issues, etc. That is to say that I enjoy the cards with great centering and full borders much more than those with sharper corners and 70/30 (or worse) centering. I have even ‘downgraded’ cards occasionally as you do. Perhaps I should consider doing that more often.

Can’t wait to see the rest of your cards. BTW, I like your Browne better than the other example.

[GeoPoto]

Card 2: William T. "Bill" Burns. "Sleepy Bill". Pitcher with the Washington Senators in 1908-1909. 30 wins and 2 saves in 5 MLB seasons. His career ERA was 2.72 in 717.2 innings pitched for 5 different MLB teams, ending in 1912 with the Detroit Tigers. He twice lost no-hitters with two outs in the ninth. He was key go-between in the 1919 Black Sox Scandal.

Bill Burns Piedmont 350: Bill Burns cards are common (PSA-580). PSA has graded seven Burns T206 cards as PSA 7s with one 7.5, four 8s and a 9. Burns is in Print Group 2. One of the features of this card that has always fascinated me, is that the image shows Burns awkwardly brandishing what appears to be a glove for his left hand but wearing it on his right hand!?

Heritage/Rounders Entry: Graded 7 by PSA this card also sports the sharp corners and edges you would expect for the grade. It also presents a good image with an unblemished surface. However, to my eye, the registration is off a tick. The back is okay with moderate fading. This card is centered significantly left but is well-centered top to bottom. With the exception of the left border, the borders are good. Unfortunately, it appears that the left border is missing half of itself.

My Entry: Graded 6 by PSA this card presents well. The edges and corners are sound, and the image is clear with a few minor surface scuffs. The centering is slightly left, but good overall. The borders are strong. The back is clean with vibrant color, marred only by minor staining.

Comparison: The H/R card is a clean, nice image with no blemishes and sharp edges and corners. My card has a nice image but does show some surface wear. The H/R back is okay, but my back has more vibrant color, which is offset by mild staining. The H/R card is not well centered and while my card is also centered left, my card's centering is much better. The top-and-bottom borders are similarly good on both cards. However, my card has a clear advantage side-to-side as the right borders are similar and my card has a larger left border.

My conclusion: I like my card. While the H/R card has cleaner surfaces, the blemishes on my card are minor and the underlying image is sharper than the H/R card. I think the clearer image would make my card slightly preferred even if it wasn't significantly better centered and didn't have stronger borders. But it is and does. Seems like a clear tilt in favor of my card.

The bottom line: If we ignore resale value, I would not trade my card for the H/R card. I think my card is better.

Additional Bill Burns Fun Fact: Twice in May of 1911, Reds manager Clark Griffith wanted to put Burns into a game as a relief pitcher, only to find that Burns was not warming up as instructed but was asleep on the clubhouse bench.

[GeoPoto]

Card 3: William E. "Wid" Conroy. Utility player for the Washington Senators in 1909-1911. 1,257 hits, 22 home runs, and 262 stolen bases in 11 MLB seasons. Debuted with the Milwaukee Brewers in 1901. He had at least 384 plate appearances in each of his 11 MLB seasons. He was the first-string SS on the NL champion Pittsburgh Pirates in 1902. He moved to 3B in 1903 with the New York Highlanders, twice leading AL third basemen in total chances per game. He was an opening day starter for the Highlanders for the first five years of the team's existence. In 1907 he swiped 41 bases second only to Ty Cobb. He finished his career with Washington and in one of his last games set an AL record with 13 total chances at 3B.

Wid Conroy Fielding Piedmont 150: Conroy Fielding is one of two Conroy T206 cards. Conroy Fielding appears to be slightly less common (PSA-430). The other Conroy card is Conroy with Bat (PSA-462). PSA has graded five Conroy Fielding T206 cards PSA 8 (none higher). Conroy Fielding is in Print Group 1.

Heritage/Rounders Entry: Graded 8, this card shows extremely well with good image quality; the corners, edges, and surface are all sharp. It is very well centered, straying only very slightly right. (For my taste, it is also slightly low, which crowds the name and team designation only slightly.) The back is clean with only moderate fading. The borders are fair all the way around giving rise to very good centering.

My Entry: This card is graded 3.5 by PSA. The image is clear, but the surface (particularly the borders) shows evidence of dirt and age. The edges show evidence of handling and the corners are moderately rounded. The centering is low, but not terrible overall. The back is okay with moderate fading and its surface also shows signs of grime and age. The appeal of this card lies in its borders, which are ample, particularly top and bottom. The bottom border is highly acceptable while the top border is very wide.

Comparison: The H/R card is an extremely nice card with no blemishes and sharp edges and corners. My card has substantial subtle surface imperfections. The H/R card shows better centering than my card, which is over-endowed at the top border. Both backs are okay, but the H/R back is cleaner and presents better than mine does.

My conclusion: I like my card but have to concede the H/R card is better to look at and I believe there is considerable room to replace my card with a better one. The H/R card has cleaner surfaces, sharper edges and corners, and is almost perfectly centered. My card is centered low with an abundant top border. But abundant borders is a good thing because it supports confidence that the card has not been altered. My card clearly has more border than the H/R card does. As I see it, the two cards have comparable left and bottom borders, but my card has a slightly larger right border and a much larger top border.

The bottom line: If we ignore resale value, I would not trade my card for the H/R card. I like my card better, and while I look forward to finding a better version of my card, I don't think the H/R card is the one I want. I would constantly worry that the near-perfect centering of the H/R card was achieved by alteration. Not worth the doubt.

Additional Wid Conroy Fun Fact: In 1902 he became Pittsburgh's starting shortstop, replacing Honus Wagner, who moved to the outfield.

[GeoPoto]

Card 4: William E. "Wid" Conroy. Utility player for the Washington Senators in 1909-1911. 1,257 hits, 22 home runs, and 262 stolen bases in 11 MLB seasons. Debuted with the Milwaukee Brewers in 1901. He had at least 384 plate appearances in each of his 11 MLB seasons. He was the first-string SS on the NL champion Pittsburgh Pirates in 1902. He moved to 3B in 1903 with the New York Highlanders, twice leading AL third basemen in total chances per game. He was an opening day starter for the Highlanders for the first five years of the team's existence. In 1907 he swiped 41 bases second only to Ty Cobb. He finished his career with Washington and in one of his last games set an AL record with 13 total chances at 3B.

Wid Conroy with Bat Sweet Caporal 350 Factory 30: Conroy with Bat is the second of the two Conroy T206 cards and is fairly common (PSA-578). PSA has graded fourteen Conroy with Bat T206 cards PSA 7, one 7.5, and another seven PSA 8. Conroy with Bat is in Print Group 3.

Heritage/Rounders Entry: Graded 7 by PSA, this card has sharp corners and edges and a good clear image. The back is okay with moderate fading. This card is centered a little left but is well-centered top to bottom. Overall, the borders are fair, although the left border is worrisome.

My Entry: Graded 5 by PSA this card presents very well. The edges and corners are sound, and the image is clear, and the surface appears unblemished. The centering is very close to perfect. The borders are fair. The back is clean with vibrant color, showing minimal fading.

Comparison: These two cards present very similarly, both with a clear, crisp image. My card shows corners with just a hint of softness/rounding, which supports its lower grade compared to the H/R card. Neither card has any obvious surface wear or blemishes. My card has better centering and stronger borders than the H/R does. Both backs are clean, with the edge going to my card's better coloring which is less significantly less faded.

My conclusion: I like my card. Both cards present very well, but my card has better centering and stronger borders (left and top), which more than offsets the extent to which the H/R card has slightly sharper corners. My card's back is also better. The tight left border on the H/R card is the difference maker here.

The bottom line: If we ignore resale value, I would not trade my card for the H/R card. I like my card better. The somewhat smaller borders on the H/R card would be a constant reminder that the card may have been altered. While alteration can't be ruled out regarding my card, the stronger borders provide some reassurance compared to the H/R card.

Additional Wid Conroy Fun Fact: Connie Mack signed him to play the 1900 season for the Milwaukee Brewers in the American League. The following year, the league attained major league status and Mack moved to Philadelphia.

[T206Collector]

“ hard to look at, with its vanishing top border “

Some collect flips. You collect cards. And your cards present way better than the tiny cards with sharp corners.

I applaud the discipline necessary to collect only graded cards, but to focus on the quality of the cardboard instead of the number on the flip.

[GeoPoto]

Card 5: Clifford C. "Gavy" Cravath. "Cactus". Right fielder with the Washington Senators in 1909. 1,134 hits and 119 home runs in 11 MLB seasons, mostly with the Philadelphia Phillies. He had a career OBP of .380 and was one of the most prolific power hitters of the dead-ball era. He led the NL in home runs six times and RBIs twice. He first played 5 seasons in the Pacific Coast League and picked up his nickname by hitting a ball that killed a seagull ("Gaviota" in Spanish) in flight. His MLB debut came in 1908 with the Boston Red Sox. The Senators moved him to Minneapolis after just four games in 1909 and he didn't return to MLB until 1912, when at age 31 he began 9 seasons with Philadelphia. One of his better seasons came in 1913 as he posted a .407 OBP with 19 home runs and 128 RBIs in 594 plate appearances.

Gavy Cravath Piedmont 350: Cravath T206 cards are common (PSA-538). PSA has graded twelve Cravath T206 cards at the PSA 7 level, one at PSA 7.5, and five at PSA 8. Cravath is in Print Group 2.

Heritage/Rounders Entry: Here we have another card graded 7 by PSA with sharp corners and edges and a good clear image. The image is good with minor issues regarding registration and surface wear. The back is clean with moderate fading. This card is centered almost perfectly to my eye, perhaps slightly high and slightly right. Some might say it is centered more than slightly high, but I like the fatter bottom border, which provides ample room for the name and team designation. Overall, the top-to-bottom borders are good; side borders are a little tight, especially the right.

My Entry: Graded 5 by PSA this card presents well. The edges, corners, and surface all show moderate wear, but the image is clear. The centering is also very close to perfect, only slightly high and right. The borders are fair. The back is okay, showing moderate staining and fading.

Comparison: These two cards present very similarly, both with a nice image. The H/R card has crisper edges, corners, and surfaces, but also has a minor registration issue. Both cards have comparable top-to-bottom borders, but my card has a clear advantage with wider side-to-side borders.

My conclusion: I like my card. The H/R card delivers a lot of advantages for the higher grade -- corners, edges, and surfaces are all noticeably superior to those of my card. Both cards present very well. Again, the difference-maker is the borders. Could my card be improved? Probably, but certainly not by replacing it with the H/R card.

The bottom line: If we ignore resale value, I would not trade my card for the H/R card. I like my card better. The issue for me is again borders: my card has better/bigger side borders, which reduces concern regarding the probability of alteration. For me, the enhanced peace of mind provided by the wider borders outweighs my card's technical disadvantages, which, while significant, do not ruin the appearance of the card.

Additional Gavvy Cravath Fun Fact: In 1898 Cravath and his fellow Escondido footballers lost the first-ever high-school gridiron match-up in the history of San Diego County, 6-0, to San Diego High School.

[GeoPoto]

Card 6: James C. "Jim" Delahanty. Second baseman for the Washington Senators in 1907-1909. 1,159 hits, 19 home runs and 151 stolen bases in 13 MLB seasons. Debuted with the Chicago Orphans in 1901. His best season was 1911 as he posted a .411 OBP with 15 stolen bases for the Detroit Tigers in 628 plate appearances. In all he had 5 MLB seasons with more than 500 plate appearances. His final years in MLB were with the Brooklyn Tip-Tops in 1914-1915.

Jim Delahanty Piedmont 350: Jim Delahanty T206 cards are fairly common (PSA-517). Jim Delahanty Washington is generally used to differentiate between Jim's cards and Frank Delahanty Louisville cards, which feature his brother. PSA has graded six Jim Delahanty T206 cards at the PSA 8 level. There are none graded higher. The Jim Delahanty T206 card is in Print Group 1.

Heritage/Rounders Entry: The edges and corners of this PSA-graded 8 are spectacular. And the surface is unblemished. But the image clarity is degraded by poor registration. The card is very well-centered, although the top and bottom borders look tight at first glance. The back is clean with only minor fading.

My Entry: Graded 4 by PSA this card presents a clear image but also significant evidence of handling, with soft corners and edges and visible surface wear. The centering is a little high and right. The borders are outstanding. The back is centered left and shows moderate fading and minor surface wear and staining.

Comparison: The H/R card presents like a PSA 8 but suffers from two unsightly flaws: the image is not clear, and the borders are tight. My card, on the other hand shows its weaknesses readily enough, but also presents a clear image and has generous top-to-bottom borders, well in excess of the H/R card, particularly the bottom border. The H/R card has the cleaner, better centered, and nicer of the two backs.

My conclusion: I like my card. A lot. The H/R card delivers a lot of advantages for the higher grade -- corners, edges, and surfaces are all noticeably superior to those of my card. Those advantages, however, are far outweighed by my card's superior image and borders. I don't see it as close.

The bottom line: If we ignore resale value, I would not trade my card for the H/R card. I like my card better. Period.

Additional Jim Delahanty Fun Fact: He was dubbed the “Yellow Kid” after an American comic-strip character that appeared from 1895 to 1898 in Joseph Pulitzer's New York World, and later William Randolph Hearst's New York Journal. Created and drawn by Richard F. Outcault in the comic strip Hogan's Alley (and later under other names as well), the strip was one of the first Sunday supplement comic strips in an American newspaper.

[GeoPoto]

Card 7: Norman A. "Kid" Elberfeld. "The Tabasco Kid". Shortstop for the Washington Senators 1910-1911. 1,235 hits, 10 home runs, and 213 stolen bases in 14 MLB seasons. Fiery temper involved him in numerous ferocious arguments and assaults on umpires. Managed the New York Highlanders in 1908. Debuted with the Philadelphia Phillies in 1898. Had a career OBP of .355 and 7 MLB seasons with at least 500 plate appearances.

Kid Elberfeld Washington Fielding Piedmont 350: Elberfeld Fielding T206 cards are common (PSA-604). PSA has graded nine Elberfeld Fielding T206cards at PSA 7 and another six at PSA 8. The Elberfeld Fielding card is often designated as Washington despite it being the only Elberfeld Fielding card in the T206 set. However, there is another Elberfeld card in the T206 set, the Elberfeld Portrait card. The Elberfeld Portrait does come with different team designations, which requires the use of Washington and New York in titling Elberfeld T206 cards. The Elberfeld Fielding T206 card is in Print Group 3.

Heritage/Rounders Entry: This is another PSA 7 with strong corners, edges, and surface, suitable to the grade. The centering is excellent, debatably a tad high, which is exacerbated by the odd location of the name and team designation. The borders are good. The back is a disappointment with moderate fading and staining.

My Entry: This PSA 3 presents a clear image, with corner, edge, and surface wear typical for the grade. The centering is quite good, probably a little high. Note the more pleasing location for the name and team designation in contrast with the H/R card. The borders are good. The back is not good, showing moderate fading, staining, and maybe even a spot of paper loss.

Comparison: The H/R card presents extremely well with two minor exceptions: the back is drab compared to the front; and the name and team designation is located oddly. My card can match the H/R card for centering and borders but concedes the technical ground to be expected in a PSA 3 compared to a 7. The H/R card's back, while hardly excellent, is superior to the back of my card.

My conclusion: I can go either way on this one. The H/R card is quite attractive. My card is hard to dislike, however, as it presents well for centering and borders. This is another one where I would hope to upgrade my card to one with stronger borders, if I can find it. The H/R card is not that card as its centering and borders are no better than my card.

The bottom line: If we ignore resale value, I might trade my card for the H/R card. Probably, wouldn't. I think it is a close call. I'll call it a tie. I'm probably biased in favor of the sincerity of my card over the technical excellence of the H/R card. Plus, I don't like the location of the name and team designation.

Additional Kid Elberfeld Fun Fact: He still ranks 13th on the career hit by pitch list, with 165.

[GeoPoto]

Card 8: Norman A. "Kid" Elberfeld. "The Tabasco Kid". Shortstop for the Washington Senators 1910-1911. 1,235 hits, 10 home runs, and 213 stolen bases in 14 MLB seasons. Fiery temper involved him in numerous ferocious arguments and assaults on umpires. Managed the New York Highlanders in 1908. Debuted with the Philadelphia Phillies in 1898. Had a career OBP of .355 and 7 MLB seasons with at least 500 plate appearances.

Kid Elberfeld Washington Portrait Piedmont 350: Elberfeld Portrait T206 cards are less common (PSA-328) than most. PSA has graded fifteen Elberfeld Washington Portrait T206 cards at PSA 6, five at PSA 6.5, five at PSA 7, and two at PSA 8. There is another Elberfeld Portrait card in the T206 set, the Elberfeld New York Portrait card. The Elberfeld Washington Portrait T206 card is in Print Group 1, 350 Series Only.

Heritage/Rounders Entry: Here we have a card graded PSA 6 that presents very nicely, with a clean, clear image and strong corners, edges, and surface. Overall, the borders are not bad, but the card is badly centered high and a skosh left, with a sliver of a top border. The back is okay with moderate fading.

My Entry: SGC graded my card an SGC 3. It presents well with a clear image and reasonably good edges and corners. The surface evidences minor wear and staining. The card is very well-centered. The borders are good. The back has good centering and color, showing only minor fading and moderate surface wear.

Comparison: I find both of these cards presenting attractive, clear images. The H/R card has stronger corners and edgers, but my card is equally pleasing to look at. Where my card pulls ahead is in the borders and the centering. My card's back is also nicer.

My conclusion: I like my card much more than the H/R card because it has a bigger top border and, as a result, is better centered. If I am able to upgrade my card, it will not be to a card with less border and poorer centering. Until then, I will keep my card.

The bottom line: If we ignore resale value, I would not trade my card for the H/R card. I like my card better.

Additional Kid Elberfeld Fun Fact: In 1908, Baseball Magazine reported that he wouldn’t select the team’s (New York Highlanders, who he was then managing) starting pitchers without first consulting his wife.

[GeoPoto]

Card 9: Frank E. "Jerry" Freeman. "Buck". First baseman with the Washington Senators in 1908-1909. 142 hits in 2 MLB seasons.

Jerry Freeman Piedmont 350: Freeman T206 cards are a little less common than some (PSA-437). PSA has graded thirteen Freeman T206 cards at the PSA 7 level and four at PSA 8. The Freeman T206 card is in Print Group 2.

Heritage/Rounders Entry: PSA graded this card PSA 7. The image is clear and clean, and the edges and corners are sharp. The card is significantly cut on a slant. It is also centered high. The borders are fair, but the slant-cut makes them look tight. The back is centered right with moderate fading.

My Entry: Graded PSA 4.5, this card shows minor wear to the corners and edges and moderate surface wear. The card is very well-centered, just the slightest bit left. The borders are outstanding. The back is well-centered with moderate fading and staining.

Comparison: The H/R card presents a nicer image; the surface clutter on my card, especially near Freeman's face, is not ideal. The backs are comparable. The slant cut is an undesirable feature that offsets the surface advantage of the H/R card. My card has bigger borders top-to-bottom.

My conclusion: I like my card more than the H/R card despite the mark near Freeman's face. My card has superior centering and larger borders and is not slant cut. I think it will be hard to find a card with better centering and borders than mine. Perhaps, I can find one with comparable centering and borders and a better surface. Until then, I will keep my card.

The bottom line: If we ignore resale value, I would not trade my card for the H/R card. I like my card quite a bit, despite the surface blemish. The borders are excellent. The slant cut on the H/R card is not.

Additional Jerry Freeman Fun Fact: He was nicknamed "Buck", presumably after the major league star Buck Freeman, whose eleven-year major league career ended with 4 games in 1907. Buck then played most of the 1907 season with the Minneapolis Millers, hitting .335, while Jerry Freeman played for the same team and hit .362 (in his fourth season with Minneapolis).

[GeoPoto]

Card 10: Robert S. "Bob" Ganley. Outfielder for the Washington Senators in 1907-1909. 540 hits and 112 stolen bases in 5 MLB seasons. He debuted with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1905. His best season was 1907 for the Washington Senators as he posted a .337 OBP with 40 stolen bases and 73 runs scored.

Bob Ganley Piedmont 150: Ganley T206 cards are less common than some (PSA-549). PSA has graded thirteen Ganley T206 cards at PSA 7, one at PSA 7.5, and one at PSA 8. The Ganley T206 card is in Print Group 1.

Heritage/Rounders Entry: This PSA 7 has all of the surface, edge, and corner attributes one would expect at its grade. In addition, it has near perfect centering and strong borders. The back shows nicely with good centering and only minor fading. If I issued stickers, this card would get a good one.

My Entry: I have a PSA 4. My card has moderate wear issues with the surface, the edges, and the corners. The card is centered beautifully, maybe a little low for my taste. The borders are outstanding. The back is centered okay but shows considerable surface wear and toning.

Comparison: My card gives the H/R card a run for its money, but the H/R card wins out. It presents better in every regard, with better surface, edges, corners, and back. While my card matches it for centering and sizable borders, the overall nod has to go to the H/R card.

My conclusion: I like the H/R card better than mine. The H/R card is very attractive; my card is very likeable, but no match. The H/R card has outstanding centering and borders generous enough to tempt. Does the H/R card look like it could be trimmed? Of course it does. Any high grade T206 is going to prompt anxiety about trimming. That's the world we live in. But in this case, I would go with the H/R card over mine. (Note: It turns out I have a Ganley Piedmont 350 that I would not trade for this H/R Piedmont 150. I will show it in my next post. Unfortunately, it may resurface our anxieties regarding trimming.)

The bottom line: If we ignore resale value, I would trade my card for the H/R card. I admire my card for taking everything 115 years could offer and be still standing, but I'm taking the H/R card.

Additional Bob Ganley Fun Fact: He moved around so much that he was called "the globetrotter of organized baseball". He played for New Haven, Albany, Brockton, Columbus, Toledo, Marion, Schenectady, Kansas City, Milwaukee, Oakland, Johnstown, Des Moines and Newark, and that was just in the minors.

[GeoPoto]

Bonus Post: It turns out I have a Ganley T206 card that I would not trade for the T/R Ganley T206 card. But the card of mine that I think is better than the T/R Ganley is a Piedmont 350 not Piedmont 150 like the T/R card. Still, I thought it was interesting enough that I decided to post the cards. The first card below is my Ganley Piedmont 150 that lost out in the previous post. The second card below is the H/R Ganley Piedmont 150 that won out in the previous post. And the third card below is my Ganley Piedmont 350 that I think is best of all. I won't document a rigorous comparison, but the bottom line is I like this third Ganley card (the Piedmont 350) better than the H/R Ganley card (which is a Piedmont 150).

Two things stand out in my mind about these cards. First is how much nicer my (PSA graded 3) 350 presents compared to my (PSA graded 4) 150. And two is how little trimming it would take to alter my PSA 3 350 to make it look as "good" as the H/R PSA 7 150. Puts me back to wondering about the H/R card.

[Leon]

Personally, you collect the way I do too. I would take your card on every occasion in the postings.

Great job!
.
.

[GeoPoto]

(Scoreboard so far: My Cards 8, H/R cards 1, with 1 tie.)

Card 11: William D. "Dolly" Gray. Pitcher for the Washington Senators in 1909-1911. 15 wins in 3 MLB seasons. Holds MLB record for walks allowed in an inning (8) and for consecutive walks allowed (7). In 1911, he threw the first pitch in Griffith Stadium and got the win over Smoky Joe Wood. Surprisingly, before joining the Senators in 1909 at the age of 30, he had enough success in the minors that he is a member of the Pacific Coast League Hall of Fame.

Dolly Gray Sweet Caporal 350-30: Gray T206 cards are common (PSA-509). PSA has graded three Gray T206 cards at PSA 8, none higher. The Gray T206 card is in Print Group 2.

Heritage/Rounders Entry: The H/R card is graded PSA 8. It presents a beautiful, clear image. It has sharp edges and corners. The back is okay with moderate fading. Having said all that, this is a very odd card. Having graded this card a PSA 8, presumably PSA convinced itself that this top border appears just as it did when it left the factory. Seems strange to me. I think I understand how some T206 come with top and bottom edges that have been "factory cut" with a "slant", meaning the cut lines, though parallel themselves, are not parallel to the edges of the card's image. I assume this results from the sheet being out of alignment during the cut. This card violates two rules about opposing cut lines that I would have expected: that they would be parallel to each other, and that they would be straight. The top edge of this card violates both rules. The top edge is not parallel with the bottom edge, and it appears to "change direction" during the cut, soaring up to the right. On top of that, the card is centered low, left. Also, while the top-to-bottom borders may be plausible despite the odd cut, the left-to-right borders are tight.

My Entry: Here we have a very humble card that was given a grade of PSA 2. It shows moderate wear to the surface, the edges, and the corners. The surface has several small blemishes. The card is centered well, though slightly to the left. The borders are good. The back is centered high with moderate fading and staining.

Comparison: The bizarre top edge and the lousy centering put me off the H/R card entirely. The wear shown by my card does not ruin its appearance, at least to my eye. The surface blemishes are a negative. I like a lot about my card though and would be reluctant to upgrade it to any card that was not at least as endowed with strong centering and wide borders.

My conclusion: There is no case I can make for the H/R card. Even if someone explained how an individual card could come from the factory with a cut like that, the centering is poor enough that I would prefer my card. My card is well used and a candidate for further upgrade, but, until then, it stands tall, and I am proud of it.

The bottom line: If we ignore resale value, I would not trade my card for the H/R card. The H/R card looks freakish to me. My card, on the other hand, looks nice, although a little tired and weary. Okay, very tired and weary, but also very plausible.

Additional Dolly Gray Fun Fact: Despite a career record of 15-51, he pitched 46 complete games.

[GeoPoto]

Card 12: Clark C. "The Old Fox" Griffith. Pitcher for the Washington Senators in 1912-1914. Debuted with the St. Louis Browns in 1891. 237 wins and 8 saves in 20 MLB seasons. Was 1898 MLB ERA leader. Managed the Chicago White Stockings (1901-1902), the New York Highlanders (1903-1908), the Cincinnati Reds (1909-1911), and the Washington Senators (1912-1920). Was principal owner of the Washington Senators from 1920 until his death in 1955. In 1946, was inducted to the MLB Hall of Fame.

Clark Griffith Batting Sweet Caporal 460-42OP: Griffith Batting T206 cards are common (PSA-823). His presence in the Hall of Fame is reflected in the high number of cards graded. PSA has graded eighteen Griffith Batting T206 cards at PSA 7, seven at PSA 8, and one at PSA 9. The Griffith Batting T206 card is in Print Group 3.

Heritage/Rounders Entry: Here we have a PSA 7. Not the sharpest of PSA 7s, but decent surface, edges, and corners. The centering is excellent for my tastes, some might say a bit high. The borders are tight. The back is excellent, well centered with good color, showing only minor fading.

My Entry: My card was graded SGC 5. It shows moderate wear throughout, particularly the surface of the borders, which shows a variety of dings and staining. The card is centered well, perhaps a little high, but the borders are tight. The back is nice, well-centered with moderate fading.

Comparison: The H/R card presents a much cleaner surface than my card does and has stronger edges and borders. Both cards are well centered with tight borders. The H/R card has the nicer back but both work.

My conclusion: I like the H/R card better than mine. Not by a lot, but it presents nicer. My overall concern would be the borders, but that would apply equally to both cards.

The bottom line: If we ignore resale value, I would trade my card for the H/R card. The H/R card presents better. I would stay on the prowl, however, looking for a card with better (bigger) borders.

Additional Clark Griffith Fun Fact: He has the second-most ties by a manager in MLB history, with 59. Only Connie Mack has more (76) and he managed 4,838 more games than Griffith did.

[Vintage Vern]

Originally Posted by Leon

Personally, you collect the way I do too. I would take your card on every occasion in the postings.

Great job!
.
.

Leon, can you elaborate on your take? Some I would agree on others not so much. Is it price points or? Are you saying you'd take every card the OP has over the AH cards? I'm just trying to learn how's, and why's. Is it what some view as important vs other factors. So if someone wants sharp corners, bold colors, and isn't worried about price they would have a different take?

[GeoPoto]

Card 13: Clark C. "The Old Fox" Griffith. Pitcher for the Washington Senators in 1912-1914. Debuted with the St. Louis Browns in 1891. 237 wins and 8 saves in 20 MLB seasons. Was 1898 MLB ERA leader. Managed the Chicago White Stockings (1901-1902), the New York Highlanders (1903-1908), the Cincinnati Reds (1909-1911), and the Washington Senators (1912-1920). Was principal owner of the Washington Senators from 1920 until his death in 1955. In 1946, was inducted to the MLB Hall of Fame.

Clark Griffith Portrait Piedmont 150: Griffith Portrait T206 cards are common (PSA-921). His presence in the Hall of Fame is reflected in the high number of cards graded. PSA has graded fifteen Griffith Portrait T206 cards at PSA 8 and one at PSA 9. The Griffith Portrait T206 card is in Print Group 1.

Heritage/Rounders Entry: This PSA 8 presents a beautiful image with minimal surface, edge, and corner wear. While arguably very well centered, it is centered low to my eye, cramping the name and team designation badly. Which gets us to this card's weakness -- the borders are tight, particularly top-to-bottom. The back is fine, centered a little right with good color, with only minor fading.

My Entry: Graded PSA3, my card presents a very nice image with modest surface, edge, and corner wear. The card is well centered to my eye, perhaps a little high. The borders are substantial. The back is bright, with very minor fading.

Comparison: My card presents very well compared to the H/R card despite somewhat more heavily worn surface, edges, and corners. Both cards are well centered -- I like my card's centering better; some might prefer the H/R card. The borders of my card are superior, particularly top-to-bottom. The backs compare favorably, with my card getting the edge.

My conclusion: I like my card better. The borders on my card are much nicer. The H/R card has a tight, cramped bottom border, which is quite off-putting to my eye. Both cards present clean, clear images and the greater wear evidenced by my card, though significant, does not offset the smaller bottom border of the H/R card.

The bottom line: If we ignore resale value, I would not trade my card for the H/R card. The H/R card is done in by its cramped bottom border.

Additional Clark Griffith Fun Fact: It was he who persuaded Secretary of War Baker to allow ballplayers to perform military drills on the field with bats rather than rifles, allowing the 1917 season to go on through Labor Day.

[GeoPoto]

Card 14: Robert "Bob" Groom. Pitcher for the Washington Senators in 1909-1913. 119 wins and 13 saves in 10 MLB seasons. For the St. Louis Browns in 1917, he pitched a no-hitter in the second game of a doubleheader after pitching 2 innings of no-hit relief in the first game. With Koob, only teammates to pitch no-hitters on consecutive days. His best season was 1912 as he went 24-13 with a 2.62 ERA and Washington finished second in the American League. In 1909, his 7-26 record included 15 consecutive losses, during which his 42-110 Senator teammates mustered a total of 19 runs. Walter Johnson's record that year was 12-25.

Bob Groom Piedmont 350: Groom T206 cards are fairly common (PSA-526). PSA has graded eight Groom T206 cards PSA 8, with none higher. The Groom T206 card is in Print Group 2.

Heritage/Rounders Entry: The PSA 8 H/R card is beautiful: clean crisp image, with a clean surface backed up by sharp edges and corners. The centering looks perfect. The borders are plausible. The back is ordinary, well centered but moderately faded.

My Entry: My card is graded PSA 4 and delivers decent edges and corners. The surface shows moderate wear and staining. It is centered a little left, with very respectable borders, all in all. The registration is not perfect as with so many of these cards. The back is centered okay, but betrays moderate fading, staining, and toning.

Comparison: It is hard to criticize the H/R card. Its borders look plausible, even when compared to my card. The H/R card presents better with a cleaner image. The H/R card has stronger edges and borders. The backs compare favorably, with a slight edge to the H/R card.

My conclusion: The H/R card is a nice card. I could go either way here. Despite all the superior features of the H/R card, I struggle with the way it looks. I trust my card more. But the H/R card is a beauty and comes very close to my card's borders.

The bottom line: If we ignore resale value, I could trade my card for the H/R card. I doubt I would, but it's hard to argue against it.

Additional Bob Groom Fun Fact: During the 1909 15-game losing streak mentioned above, he also pitched two tie games, including the record-setting 18-inning 0-0 tie against the Cobb-led Tigers when Bob relieved injured starter Dolly Gray. In 9⅔ innings of shutout ball, he continually frustrated both Ty Cobb and Wahoo Sam Crawford and was so impressive that even the Detroit fans cheered for him.

[GeoPoto]

Card 15: Walter P. "Barney" Johnson. "The Big Train". Pitcher for the Washington Senators in 1907-1927. 417 wins and 34 saves in 21 MLB seasons. 1924 World Series champion. 1913 and 1924 AL Most Valuable Player. 3-time triple crown. 6-time AL wins leader. 5-time AL ERA leader. 12-time AL strikeout leader. He had a career ERA of 2.17 in 5,914.1 innings pitched. He pitched a no-hitter in 1920. He holds the MLB record with 110 career shutouts. MLB All-Time Team. Inducted to the MLB Hall of Fame in 1936. One of his best seasons was 1913 as he posted a record of 36-7 with a 1.14 ERA in 346 innings pitched.

Walter Johnson Hands-at-Chest Piedmont 350: Johnson Hands-at-Chest T206 cards are plentiful (PSA-1141). His status among the game's greatest pitchers is reflected in the high number of cards graded. PSA has graded seventeen Johnson Hands-at-Chest T206 cards at PSA 7, fourteen at PSA 8, and three at PSA 9. The Johnson Hands-at-Chest T206 card is in Print Group 3.

Heritage/Rounders Entry: The H/R Johnson Hands-at-Chest is graded PSA 7. The image is clear with no surface blemishes and strong edges and corners. The centering is a little left. Which brings us to the borders. The card is slant cut. The borders are tight. The back is well centered and moderately faded.

My Entry: My card is a PSA 4. It shows moderate wear to the edges and corners and visible surface wear includes several surface blemishes. It is about perfectly centered, and the borders are good. The back is centered left and presents poorly, with moderate fading, toning, and surface wear.

Comparison: The H/R card presents cleaner surfaces and much stronger edges and corners. My card has better centering, stronger borders, and doesn't suffer from a slant cut. The borders on the H/R card do not inspire confidence. The H/R back is clearly superior to my back.

My conclusion: I like my card better. The borders on my card are larger. I do not like the slant cut. My card doesn't toe nearly the technical line that the H/R card does, but I'll live with that to get the better centering and the enhanced confidence provided by the better borders.

The bottom line: If we ignore resale value, I would not trade my card for the H/R card. The H/R card presents very well except for the slant cut, the centering, and the borders. Nuff said.

Additional Walter Johnson Fun Fact: He pitched 531 complete games in 666 career starts.

[GeoPoto]

Card 16: Walter P. "Barney" Johnson. "The Big Train". Pitcher for the Washington Senators in 1907-1927. 417 wins and 34 saves in 21 MLB seasons. 1924 World Series champion. 1913 and 1924 AL Most Valuable Player. 3-time triple crown. 6-time AL wins leader. 5-time AL ERA leader. 12-time AL strikeout leader. He had a career ERA of 2.17 in 5,914.1 innings pitched. He pitched a no-hitter in 1920. He holds the MLB record with 110 career shutouts. MLB All-Time Team. Inducted to the MLB Hall of Fame in 1936. One of his best seasons was 1913 as he posted a record of 36-7 with a 1.14 ERA in 346 innings pitched.

Walter Johnson Portrait Piedmont 350: Johnson Portrait T206 cards are also plentiful (PSA-1286). His status among the game's greatest pitchers is reflected in the high number of cards graded. PSA has graded eleven Johnson Portrait T206 cards at PSA 7, eight at PSA 8, and six at PSA 9. The Johnson Portrait T206 card is in Print Group 1.

Heritage/Rounders Entry: Graded PSA 7, the H/R card presents a clear, clean image. It also delivers edges and corners with minimal wear. The centering is virtually perfect, but the borders are tight. The back is centered with moderate fading.

My Entry: My card is graded PSA 2. It shows moderate wear to the surface, edges, and corners but still presents very well. It is centered a hair right and maybe a little low. The borders are good. The card may have a hint of a slant cut. The back is centered well with good color despite moderate toning and surface wear.

Comparison: The H/R card presents beautifully. But my card stands up reasonably well in comparison. Surface blemishes on my card, particularly around Walter's face, are not helpful. But my card has better (bigger) borders. The H/R back is slightly ahead of mine.

My conclusion: I like my card better. The H/R card is technically superior to my card in every way except borders. But there's the rub: I can't see "upgrading" to a card with tighter borders that are quick to surface anxieties regarding alteration.

The bottom line: If we ignore resale value, I would not trade my card for the H/R card. I really like the borders.

Additional Walter Johnson Fun Fact: He holds the major-league records for number of 1-0 wins (38) and losses (26).

Results so far: My Cards -- 12; H/R Cards -- 2; and 2 ties. 12-2-2.

(Pause until Monday.)

[ValKehl]

George, your WaJo card is a beauty! I have lots of 3s and 4s that don't look nearly as nice as this 2!

[CRT Sportscards]

Some absolutely great looking cards here!

[GeoPoto]

Thanks Val. And everyone else who has commented. I "upgraded" from this PSA 4.

Sent from my motorola edge 5G UW (2021) using Tapatalk

[GeoPoto]

Card 17: George F. "Pinch" McBride. Shortstop for the Washington Senators in 1908-1920. 1,203 hits, 7 home runs, and 133 stolen bases in 16 MLB seasons. Debuted with the Milwaukee Brewers in 1901. Has the lowest batting average of any player with 5,000 MLB at-bats. Managed the Washington Senators in 1921 but was struck in the face by a line drive during batting practice and forced to retire.

George McBride Piedmont 350: McBride T206 cards are reasonably common (PSA-550). PSA has graded fourteen McBride T206 cards PSA 7 and another three PSA 8. The McBride T206 card is in Print Group 2.

Heritage/Rounders Entry: The H/R card is graded PSA 7. While the edges and corners look good, the surface shows minor wear and toning, particularly the left border and the upper corners. The card is centered a little high. With the exception of the bottom, the borders are tight. The back is centered with moderate fading.

My Entry: With a grade of PSA 4, my card has strong edges and borders. The surface is clean, and the card presents very well. The card centering is near perfect, and the borders are excellent. The back is well centered well with good color and minor fading.

Comparison: My card presents well in competition with the H/R card. The H/R card has better edges and corners, but not by all that much. My card wins on centering and borders. My card also has the better back

My conclusion: I like my card better. The overall condition of the H/R card does not appear to be significantly better than mine. And my card has equal or better centering and has far and away more reliable borders.

The bottom line: If we ignore resale value, I would not trade my card for the H/R card. I'll gladly take the card with the bigger borders.

Additional George McBride Fun Fact: His nickname "Pinch" is derived from his reputation as a clutch hitter, despite his all-time record poor batting average (see above).

[doug.goodman]

This is a great thread

[GeoPoto]

Card 18: J. Clyde "Deerfoot" Milan. Outfielder for the Washington Senators in 1907-1922. 2,100 hits and 495 stolen bases in 16 MLB seasons. 1912 and 1913 AL stolen base leader, including a then record 88 in 1912. His career OBP was .353. Managed the Washington Senators in 1922. His best season was probably 1911 for the Washington Senators as he posted a .395 OBP with 58 stolen bases and 109 runs scored in 705 plate appearances.

Clyde Milan Sweet Caporal 350-25: Milan T206 cards are reasonably common (PSA-490). PSA has graded one Milan T206 card at PSA 7.5 and five at PSA 8. The MilanT206 card is in Print Group 2.

Heritage/Rounders Entry: PSA graded the H/R card PSA 7.5. The H/R card presents a nice clear image with sharp edges and corners. The surface is clean. The card is centered well, but a little left. The borders are moderately tight, with the upper left border particularly cramped. The back is centered well with good color and only minor fading.

My Entry: Graded PSA 4, my card is showing moderate wear to the edges and corners. The surface shows moderate wear with a few blemishes in the image. The centering is a little high and left. The card is cut on a slight slant. The borders are a little tight, particularly left-to-right. The back is centered with good color and minor fading.

Comparison: The presentation of the H/R card is superior. My card has presentation issues caused by surface blemishes and, to a lesser extent, the slant cut. Both cards are centered well, just a little left. Despite borders that are borderline tight, my card has stronger borders than the H/R card. The backs are roughly comparable with the H/R back slightly more attractive.

My conclusion: I like my card better, but only barely. Again, it comes down primarily to borders. My card is a strong candidate for upgrade. The surface issues are a significant detractor. Even my card's strength in this comparison -- its borders -- are not particularly strong. As usual, I would prefer to keep my card, blemishes and all, until a stronger card comes along.

The bottom line: If we ignore resale value, I would not trade my card for the H/R card. I'll keep my card, blemishes and all, for now.

Additional Clyde Milan Fun Fact: He was the primary target of Washington's recruiting emissary, Cliff Blankenship, in 1907. As Milan signed for $1,000, Blankenship told him that he was going out to Idaho to look over some young phenom. "It looks like a wild goose chase and probably a waste of train fare to look over that young punk," Blankenship said. The "punk" was Walter Johnson, and he signed for $100 plus train fare.

[GeoPoto]

Card 19: Frank R. "Flossie" Oberlin. Pitcher with the Washington Senators in 1907 and 1909-1910. 5 wins and 227 innings pitched in 4 MLB seasons. He debuted with the Boston Americans in 1906-1907.

Frank Oberlin Sweet Caporal 350-30: Oberlin T206 cards are fairly common (PSA-537). PSA has graded fifteen Oberlin T206 cards at PSA 7 and two at PSA 8. The OberlinT206 card is in Print Group 2.

Heritage/Rounders Entry: Here is another H/R card graded PSA 7 that delivers a clear image, with clean surfaces and strong edges and borders. The card is centered well, maybe a little high. The left-to-right borders, though well centered, are tight. The back is centered well with moderate fading.

My Entry: My card, which is graded PSA 7, presents a good image, with moderate surface wear, decent edges, and modest rounding at the corners. The card is centered high right. Overall, the borders are okay. The back is off center with considerable fading. The back reveals a crease of the upper right corner (looking at the card's front), which is faintly visible.

Comparison: The H/R card presents a better image with a cleaner surface. The two cards compare favorably with respect to edges and corners, with the edge going to the H/R card. The H/R card has better centering, but also tighter borders. The H/R card has the more attractive back by a considerable margin. My card also has a crease.

My conclusion: I like the H/R card better in most ways. The borders are the usual problem: To the extent that my card shows larger borders are possible, why settle for an attractive card with tight borders. I would rather continue to look. My card has serious deficiencies though that I would like to improve.

The bottom line: If we ignore resale value, I could trade my card for the H/R card. I probably wouldn't, but I could live with it. Either way, I would be hoping to upgrade as soon as I can find one with stronger borders.

Additional Frank Oberlin Fun Fact: He lost the index finger on his pitching hand to a buzz saw, but apparently pitched better as a result, once it healed.

Overall Results Update: My Cards -- 14; H/R cards -- 2; with 3 Ties.

[GeoPoto]

Card 20: Herman A. "Germany" Schaefer. Infielder for the Washington Senators in 1909-1914. 972 hits, 9 home runs, and 201 stolen bases in 15 MLB seasons. His "steal" of first base prompted rule making it illegal. Popular as a baseball "trickster" and "on-field clown", often in tandem with Charley O'Leary and, later, with Nick Altrock. Altrock eventually perfected the art with Al Schacht.

Germany Schaefer Sweet Caporal 460-30: Overall, Schaefer T206 cards are reasonably common (PSA -828), but because they are split between Detroit (PSA-417) and Washington (PSA-411), each variant is a little less common than some. PSA has graded five Schaefer Washington T206 cards at PSA 6.5, six at PSA 7, and one at PSA 9. The Schaefer Washington T206 card is in Print Group 4.

Heritage/Rounders Entry: The H/R card is graded PSA 6.5. It has the expected clear image with strong edges and corners. The surface is clean, with minor staining on the borders. It is centered left and a little high. The borders are tight. The back is centered a little high with moderate fading.

My Entry: My card is graded PSA 4. It is not the nicest of PSA 4s, showing moderate wear to the surface, edges, and corners. The card is centered low right. The borders are tight. The back is well-centered with good color and minor fading.

Comparison: Neither of these cards present all that well to my eye. The presentation of the H/R card is superior. Both cards are off center with tight borders, particularly side-to-side. My card might have slightly more border, particularly top-to-bottom. The back of my card is superior.

My conclusion: I think I like my card better. The tightness of the upper left corner of the H/R card, catches me every time I look at it. I find my card though rough, easier to look at. I would like to upgrade my card, but not to the H/R card. I'll continue to look.

The bottom line: If we ignore resale value, I would not trade my card for the H/R card. The borders on the H/R card are too tight for me to choose it, even though my card is no better and needs an upgrade.

Additional Germany Schaefer Fun Fact: On September 13, 1902, he was manning third base for the Chicago Cubs as Tinker, Evers, and Chance played together in their customary spots for the first time.

[GeoPoto]

Card 21: William M. "Bill" Shipke. Third baseman for the Washington Senators in 1907-1909. 110 hits in 4 MLB seasons. Debuted with the Cleveland Naps in 1906. His best season was 1908 for the Washington Senators as he scored 40 runs and stole 15 bases in 410 plate appearances.

Bill Shipke Sweet Caporal 150-30: Overall, Shipke T206 cards may be a little less common than some (PSA-408). PSA has graded six Shipke T206 cards at PSA 8 and one at PSA 10. The Shipke T206 card is in Print Group 1.

Heritage/Rounders Entry: Here we have another H/R card that is graded PSA 8. This card deserves high marks for its surface, edges, and corners. The centering is very near perfect. The side-to-side borders are tight. The back is centered a little right with moderate fading.

My Entry: My card is a PSA 4. As expected, it shows moderate wear to the surface, edges, and corners. The card is centered a little left and shows the hint of a slant cut. The borders are tight. The back is centered with good color and minor fading but shows moderate staining.

Comparison: The presentation of the H/R card is outstanding, much better than my card. The H/R card has better centering. Both cards have tight borders. The back of my card is superior.

My conclusion: I like the H/R card better. The tight borders bother me and would spur me to find a card with better borders. But my card has borders that are no better than the H/R card and suffers in comparison for everything else except backs.

The bottom line: If we ignore resale value, I would trade my card for the H/R card. The borders on my card are not good enough to support keeping it over the otherwise superior H/R card.

Additional Bill Shipke Fun Fact: He was at third base for the Senators when Walter Johnson debuted on August 2, 1907, against Detroit. When the Tigers tested Johnson by repeatedly bunting, it was Shipke defense that limited the damage.

[GeoPoto]

Card 22: Charles E. "Gabby" Street. "The Old Sarge". Catcher for the Washington Senators in 1908-1911. 312 hits and 2 home runs in 8 MLB seasons. Debuted with the Cincinnati Reds in 1904. Caught ball dropped from top of Washington Monument. Holds MLB record for longest gap between MLB games at 19 years -- 1912-1931. Managed the St. Louis Cardinals in 1929 and 1930-1933, including the 1931 World Series championship. Managed the St. Louis Browns in 1938.

Gabby Street Catching Sweet Caporal 460-42OP: Street Catching T206 cards are common (PSA-512). PSA has graded thirteen Street Catching T206 cards at PSA 7, two at PSA 8, and one at PSA 9. The Street Catching T206 card is in Print Group 3.

Heritage/Rounders Entry: The H/R card is graded PSA 7. The edges and corners are solid. The surface shows moderate wear, but the image is nice. The card is centered left, with decent borders, a little tight side-to-side. The back is reasonably centered with moderate fading, surface wear, and staining.

My Entry: My card is a PSA 2. The image is not terrible, despite evident wear to the surface, edges, and corners. The card is centered high left. The borders appear a little tight, particularly side-to-side. The back is centered high with decent color and minor fading but shows moderate staining.

Comparison: The H/R card presents much better than my card. The H/R card has better centering. It also probably has better borders. The backs are similar.

My conclusion: I like the H/R card better. It presents better than my card does. The borders are not great, but they are at least as good as those on my card. The H/R is much better centered with superior edges and corners.

The bottom line: If we ignore resale value, I will trade my card for the H/R card. The H/R card is superior, despite its unimpressive borders.

Additional Gabby Street Fun Fact: He debuted in MLB with the Cincinatti Reds in 1904. backing up starting catcher Admiral Schlei. The Reds had called up another catcher in 1904, Branch Rickey from Dallas of the Class-C Texas League. But when Rickey refused to play baseball on Sundays he was returned to Dallas, thus clearing the way for Street to join the team.

After two consecutive losses, the score stands at My Cards - 15; H/R cards - 4; with 3 ties.

[Eric72]

George,

Tip o' the hat to you for some carefully considered, well-written posts. This is quite the excellent thread. I applaud your approach to collecting, as well as the fact you've shared these pictures/comments with everyone.

Thank you.

Best regards,

Eric

[GeoPoto]

(Thanks for the kind words, Eric.)

Card 23: Charles E. "Gabby" Street. "The Old Sarge". Catcher for the Washington Senators in 1908-1911. 312 hits and 2 home runs in 8 MLB seasons. Debuted with the Cincinnati Reds in 1904. Caught ball dropped from top of Washington Monument. Holds MLB record for longest gap between MLB games at 19 years -- 1912-1931. Managed the St. Louis Cardinals in 1929 and 1930-1933, including the 1931 World Series championship. Managed the St. Louis Browns in 1938.

Gabby Street Portrait Piedmont 350: Street Portrait T206 206 cards are common (PSA-591). PSA has graded seventeen Street Portrait T206 cards at PSA and eight at PSA 8. The Street Portrait T206 card is in Print Group 2.

Heritage/Rounders Entry: The H/R card is graded PSA 7 is perfectly centered and presents beautifully, with strong edges and corners and only a hint of surface wear and staining. But the borders are tight. The back is a letdown, featuring poor centering and considerable fading and surface wear with toning.

My Entry: My card is graded PSA 4.5. The image is good, and the surface looks clean, despite showing ample wear to the edges and rounded corners. The registration is not perfect. The card is well centered, but a little left. The borders are reasonable. The back is centered okay, but shows moderate fading, staining, and toning.

Comparison: The H/R card presents quite well but the borders are not comforting. My card suffers from a minor registration issue. The H/R card enjoys better centering. My card has the better borders. The backs are similar, not good.

My conclusion: I like my card better. I would like to upgrade it, but the H/R card is not the answer. Its borders are too tight to be a good candidate.

The bottom line: If we ignore resale value, I would not trade my card for the H/R card. The H/R card looks great but falls down on borders.

Additional Gabby Street Fun Fact: In 1906, he was playing for San Francisco in the Pacific Coast League and staying at the Golden Gate Hotel. He was asleep early on the morning of April 18th, when he was thrown from bed by the earthquake. He remembered: ". . . I headed for the street. If I live to be a hundred, I shall always remember that scene. As we hit the street, en masse, the rear of the hotel collapsed and the water tank on the roof, halved by the second shock, washed every one of us. I walked through showers of brick and mortar to the Golden Gate Park where I spent the night.”

[GeoPoto]

Card 24: Jesse N. Tannehill. Pitcher for the Washington Senators in 1908-1909. 197 wins and 7 saves in 15 MLB seasons. 1901 NL ERA leader. Pitched a no-hitter in 1904. Debuted with the Cincinnati Reds in 1894. Pitched over 2,750 MLB innings with a career ERA of 2.80.

Jesse Tannehill Sweet Caporal 350-30: Jesse Tannehill T206 cards are common (PSA-522). Jesse Tannehill Washington is generally used to differentiate between Jesse's cards and those of Lee Tannehill who played for Chicago. PSA has graded nine Jesse Tannehill T206 cards at the PSA 7 level and five at the PSA 8 level. The Jesse Tannehill T206 card is in Print Group 2.

Heritage/Rounders Entry: This PSA 7 card presents quite nicely. No complaints regarding surface, edges, or corners. While the argument could be made that it is well-centered a tad left, my eye would argue the centering is also low, crowding the name and team designation. Which brings us to the narrow bottom border, which is troublesome. The back is well centered with moderate fading.

My Entry: My card, which is graded PSA 5, presents well with some minor registration issues. The surface appears clean, and the edges and corners are strong. The card is well centered, but a little left and perhaps high. The back is centered high with moderate fading.

Comparison: The H/R card gets the edge for presentation, but my card competes pretty well. I prefer my card's centering because I dislike crowded bottoms, but the key issue is borders. The H/R card comes up short. If the top border is adequate, then the bottom is not. My card has the better borders. While the difference in borders may not be large, it is significant enough haunt the H/R card. The backs are similar, with the H/R card having the better centering.

My conclusion: I like my card better. The registration imperfection is minor and both cards present well. The decision driver is the borders on the H/R card which surface a concern regarding trimming and create a crowded bottom border.

The bottom line: If we ignore resale value, I would not trade my card for the H/R card. I like the way my card looks and see no reason to trade for a card more likely to have suffered trimming.

Additional Jesse Tannehill Fun Fact: Every year from 1897 to 1904, he ranked among his league’s top five in fewest walks per nine innings pitched.

[GeoPoto]

Card 25: Robert A. "Bob" Unglaub. Infielder for the Washington Senators in 1908-1910. 554 hits and 5 home runs over 6 MLB seasons. Debuted with the New York Highlanders in 1904. Managed the Boston Americans in 1907.

Bob Unglaub Piedmont 350: Unglaub T206 cards are plentiful (PSA-646). PSA has graded eleven Unglaub T206 cards at the PSA 7 level and five at PSA 8. The Unglaub T206 card is in Print Group 2.

Heritage/Rounders Entry: This is another (and final) H/R card graded PSA 7 with wonderful surface, edges, and corners. It presents nicely and is perfectly centered. As seems to be the pattern, however, it has tight borders. The back is not so good. Though it is well centered, it shows moderate wear, fading, staining, and toning.

My Entry: My card, a PSA 3 looks quite nice. The image is good, the corners are soft and rounded, but overall, not bad. The centering is good, a little right. The borders are quite pleasing. The back is centered, but shows moderate fading, wear, staining, and toning.

Comparison: The H/R card presents better than my card does, but not as much as the grades might imply. My card is centered very well, but not quite as well as the H/R card. The H/R card has tight borders, my card does not. The backs are similar, but both are a little disappointing.

My conclusion: I'm definitely favoring my card. The issue, as so often seems to be the case, is the borders. All of the advantages enjoyed by the H/R card are undone by the tight borders. The peace of mind provided by my card is substantial.

The bottom line: If we ignore resale value, I would not trade my card for the H/R card. The H/R card looks a little better, until you consider the borders. I would rather have my card despite, its deficiencies. Its borders are better by far.

Additional Bob Unglaub Unfortunate Fact: In 1916, he was still playing and managing in the minor leagues when he was killed during his off-season job while superintending repair work on a locomotive.

This brings us to the end of our comparisons with the final tally: my cards -- 18; H/R cards 4; with three ties. I'll be back tomorrow with some final thoughts.

[GeoPoto]

Final Results: My cards -- 18; Heritage/Rounders cards -- 4; ties -- 3.

This lopsided result, while pleasant for me, is hardly surprising, since I was the owner of "my cards" and also served as evaluator, selection authority, and appellant judge. Still, I thought my cards held up very well despite benefitting from my evaluation biases in favor of large borders and centering.

The jaw dropper, of course, is the difference in auction value. My 25 cards were obtained, the majority in the last couple of years, for an average of $535 (auction hammer plus BP) per card. 57% of the total cost of my 25 cards went for three cards -- the two Johnsons and the Elberfeld Portrait. In contrast, the 25 H/R cards closed recently for an average of $5,259 (including BP) per card. Almost 10 times as much! The two Johnsons and the Elberfeld Portrait were 38% of the total cost of the 25 H/R cards.

(By the way, I am not stressing how inexpensive my cards were. On balance, I think I more than paid full price. My cards were all bought in auctions where there was spirited competition, particularly for attractive cards in any grade. I was not looking for bargains; I was looking for cards. I tended to pay whatever I needed to once I decided it was a chance to "upgrade".)

All right. The comparison is complete. I will leave it at that. I've enjoyed the exercise. Thanks for listening.

[Yoda]

Wonderful technical analysis of the cards and your preferences, plus some great fun facts, ie. how Gravy got his nickname.
If the H/R card of Freeman isn't trimmed, then I will eat my Eddie Plank