W601 Sporting Life Team Composite Washington 1903

[bigfanNY]

A little back story: In 1975 at Spring Garden College they held the first "Philly" show Ted and Bob etc. They had an auction late in the afternoon on Saturday a couple things stick out Joe McCarthy's hat $8.00 a late 50's St. Loius cards uniform $50 and a group of W601's which bought the most attention from the crowd of old time collectors. I asked a couple why they were excited by what I just considered team photos. Paul Pollard who won a few told me that the Early w601's were as rare and as valuable as W600's (in 1975 $100-$150). And that is what they sold for My Dad and I won a 1905 Cleveland team which had a small tear cost just right around $100. Last year I purchased a 1905 A's team off of EBAY for I think $175 so they have not kept pace with W600's. I have a 1903 NY Giants team that is on my wall now that I traded a couple Old Judges for to a board member. Value wise I overpaid but I collect what I collect and I would do the trade again. So with over 40 years Experience I can say they are as scarce as the old timers said they were. But during those same 40 years I have also learned two other lessons: 1- rare dose not always equal valuable 2- Collect what you like because this is a lot more fun as a hobby than a Business.