Thoughts on T206 Hoarding/Creating scarcities

[DeadBallEraCubs]

Before I had to sell my collection off in 2008-09, I collected strictly Cubs T206's with the "CUBS" across the chest. These were the cards I liked to collect the most, many of which had Hindu backs. I of course went after the Hindu's but then started focusing on the Lundgren EPDG back and of course my favorite card from the set back then, Reulbach (Glove Showing).

I ended up hoarding these cards but it wasn't to drive prices up. I tend to find myself appreciating "weathered" cards more then higher grades. I think each individual card exhibits character this way and has a story. Where has it been, who owned it, how did it survive 100+ years?? For that reason, I collected as many of my favorite cards as I could. When it was all said and done, I had 38 Reulbach (Glove Showing) and 17 Lundgren (Chicago). Those were the ones I collected the most but still had a whole slew of the other "CUBS" cards that I collected multiple backs for.

I think there may be a few out there that have an idea that they can drive the market up by hoarding but I think everyone else that does it, does it because they appreciate each and every card. Just my .02

[frankbmd]

Pete, would my harem be considered hoarding by your definition?

[Paul S]

I think that's considered nirvana.

[ullmandds]

As long as you share with me, Frank...I'm cool with that!

[MVSNYC]

Barry- not so sure there's "several thousands" of each player out there. maybe for some, but i'd guess most players are less than that.

[DeadBallEraCubs]

Originally Posted by MVSNYC

Barry- not so sure there's "several thousands" of each player out there. maybe for some, but i'd guess most players are less than that.

I agree. If there were that many, population reports would reflect it. I think that we can all agree that for the most part, pop reports are not accurate but they are a nice start in gauging how many of a particular card are out there. I think that most cards these days are submitted for grading (some, multiple times further jading the accuracy of pop reports) as folks know that this is a way to maximize your profits.

[Cardboard Junkie]

Originally Posted by DeadBallEraCubs

I agree. If there were that many, population reports would reflect it. I think that we can all agree that for the most part, pop reports are not accurate but they are a nice start in gauging how many of a particular card are out there. I think that most cards these days are submitted for grading (some, multiple times further jading the accuracy of pop reports) as folks know that this is a way to maximize your profits.

I disagree. I think a very large percentage of T206's are not graded.
Most are still "raw".

[barrysloate]

Hi Michael- I would venture to say nearly all T206 players are represented in the thousands. Maybe not the toughies, like Demmitt and O'Hara, but I would think nearly all of them still survive in great numbers.

[darwinbulldog]

Yes, most of them are still raw, and I would say that there are thousands left of almost every card in the set. Most of them it wouldn't make sense to get graded anyway, even if everyone in the world had complete knowledge of what they and their older relatives had and what it was worth and how grading works. If there's a difference between the price of a raw common in poor or fair condition and a graded one, it's less than the grading fee.

I know about the history of the Doyle discovery, but I'm wondering if there is (or ever was) someone who had any success in trying to hoard Wagner. Does anyone today own more than a few of them (or even more than 1 of them)?

[ctownboy]

A little off topic.....I don't know if they are still doing it but years ago there was a person or family in Madison, Indiana who was buying all the 1933 Goudey Tommy Thevenow cards they could find. Thevenow was from Madison and he was their relative.

The last I heard, they had many (a hundred or more?) of his cards and were paying what ever it took to get them. I heard they were, at first, buying them to be able to give one card to each relative in the family.

David