Poor Man’s E103 Journey

[sportscardpete]

Tough set.. good luck with the final 3? The silver lining is at least they pop up from time to time (one being in REA as we speak).

[Cooper1927]

Thank you! I had a line on a Wagner but it didn’t pan out. Hoping some low grade HOF’s roll around.


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[Cooper1927]

Card #28 - first Nap I’ve owned...




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[Leon]

Nice Nap. Way to keep it going, David
We don't see too many collector-grade long journeys.

Originally Posted by Cooper1927

Card #28 - first Nap I’ve owned...




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[Cooper1927]

It’s been a haul! I think it’ll be a bit before the finale with Honus and Ty being the last two.

The wonder is in the journey though!


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[Cooper1927]

Card #29 - Ty Cobb…


Was going to wait to have this in hand from REA before posting, but pretty happy to pick up my first addition in 18 months.

Honus is my last obstacle…


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[x2drich2000]

I was watching this card late into last night. I don't think you're going to find a better example for the price. Congrats!

[Cooper1927]

Thank you! I thought it was a good price as well, I was thinking it would hit $3k or more.


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[Casey2296]

Congrats on the pick up and good luck closing out the set.

[Cooper1927]

Crossing my fingers there’s a low grade Wagner at the Arlington TX show this weekend…


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[Yoda]

The thin brittle stock and regional distributions make the set nearly impossible to complete in any kind of decent grade. The Wagner and Cobb in REA's auction in less than stellar condition did well.
I hold a PSA5 Bender, purchased years ago and currently guarded by a rabid watchdog.

[etsmith]

Interesting that the Pastorious card only features his last name, while all the other ones have a first initial or full name.

[CobbSpikedMe]

Hey David,

Nice to see this old thread bumped with a new addition to your set. I enjoyed watching your journey when you started and often wondered what ever happened to your quest. Thanks for the update. Oh, and nice pickup to boot.




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[LincolnVT]

My favorite set!

[BobC]

Originally Posted by etsmith

Interesting that the Pastorious card only features his last name, while all the other ones have a first initial or full name.

That's easy. His is the longest last name of anyone in the set. Mathewson and Bresnahan's last names are both a letter shorter than Pastorious. Those E-cards are only so wide. LOL

[t213]

This is a great thread. I hope you find the Wagner soon! I'm committed to your E103 pursuit in the same way my wife can't turn off a Hallmark movie.

Andy

[Cooper1927]

The quest continues…

The price points of these last few have been a hindrance. However, I agree that the Cobb was probably underpriced. I am wondering if it got hampered by so many T206 Cobb offerings. Hoping a Wagner will be “hampered” soon.


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[BobC]

Originally Posted by Cooper1927

The quest continues…

The price points of these last few have been a hindrance. However, I agree that the Cobb was probably underpriced. I am wondering if it got hampered by so many T206 Cobb offerings. Hoping a Wagner will be “hampered” soon.


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Not sure that is happening. Did you see the "A" graded E103 Wagner that just went in this last REA auction?

https://bid.robertedwardauctions.com...?itemid=125873

That hammer price looked pretty darn strong to me for a card in that condition.

Been passively working on a low budget E103 set, like you, as well over the years. And also like you, found the "Big 3" in that set (Cobb, Mathewson, and Wagner) can be very pricey and a bit intimidating, especially since the pandemic run-up in prices. Luckily, I had gotten a Cobb and Mathewson before the pandemic hit, just not so lucky in finding that reasonably priced Wagner before then. One positive thing about working on that set is that you don't really ever come across E103 Williams Caramel cards in somewhat decent/nice shape. They are usually all in lesser, worn condition, at best. It makes it a lot easier to buy and justify low grade cards of the bigger name players in that set as their condition won't stick out like a sore thumb against nicer condition cards of the common players that are generally much more affordable to pick up in better shape. LOL

Have loved watching along as you have worked and have progressed on this set. Keep saving your pennies and wait for that just right Wagner to pop up somewhere. They still do show up, occasionally, for sale, like in this last REA auction. For your sake, if we do start to see a bit of a downturn in card prices going forward due to the economy, etc., hopefully it won't dry up the availability of these E103 Wagners as people then may start to just hold onto them and wait for the next uptick in prices before putting any back out there for sale. Good luck on finishing off the set, am pulling for you. Oh, and that is a fantastic looking Cobb you picked up for this set. I've got an SGC10 Cobb I'd be really tempted to trade you for your "A". LOL

Again, great story and journey to follow along with, and good luck in finishing off the set!!!

[BobC]

Silly additional question for you, was there any particular E103 Williams Caramel card(s) you found more difficult to come across/find for sale? I'm not talking difficult in terms of they were too pricey to afford, I'm talking, you never really came across any for sale at any price, period! I haven't really paid that much attention to their availability as I have been on a much slower, more passive path, in collecting the set over the years. I know the set overall is very rare, and as other have pointed out, the fragility of them has definitely affected the condition and survival rate of those that are still around today. Just wondering if in your journey you've picked up on there being any more difficult than normal to find E103's, commons or otherwise. Thanks!

[Cooper1927]

Really it wasn’t bad. I picked up Tenney and Wood about in the middle as they became available. Price points really have been the issue. All are available, but are you wanting to pay the price or wait for something reasonable.


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[BobC]

Originally Posted by Cooper1927

Really it wasn’t bad. I picked up Tenney and Wood about in the middle as they became available. Price points really have been the issue. All are available, but are you wanting to pay the price or wait for something reasonable.


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Yes, I'm waiting for more reasonable prices, which is why I'm only about half-way there. LOL

Good to know you haven't really seen any unreasonably rare cards from the set then. Thanks.

[Cooper1927]

…but now I’m impatient as I’m on the last one. So, this is proving to be tough…


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[Cooper1927]

So I was going to wait until in hand, but I’m pretty excited about the culmination of this journey. Honus has been a fish on the line a few times. I had him hooked once and he broke loose halfway through the struggle, and then a couple times I've had nibbles. This time it was a nibble, then a bit of a struggle, then he felt off the line. Finally with a last yank I caught my white whale.

#30 Honus Wagner




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[Casey2296]

Congrats on closing it out David, awesome accomplishment.

[Luke]

Congrats! Awesome set and a very fun thread

[sb1]

Congrats Dave, it's been a hunt for you, but paid off with a nice looking Wagner.

[KCRfan1]

Loved the thread and watching your journey and the cards!

Congrats on the set!

What's next for you?

[Georj]

Can we see them all together?

[MuncieNolePAZ]

Very well done. Congrats!

Chad

[jp1216]

Originally Posted by Georj

Can we see them all together?

Ditto! Let's see a family picture!

[Cooper1927]

Originally Posted by KCRfan1

Loved the thread and watching your journey and the cards!

Congrats on the set!

What's next for you?

I have 9 of the 20 T210-3 orange borders. So that will be a long trek, and a 1948 bowman for when I can’t get the orange borders!

Thanks!


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[Cooper1927]

Originally Posted by Georj

Can we see them all together?

Once I receive Honus in the mail I’ll put them all together!


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[Cooper1927]

Originally Posted by sb1

Congrats Dave, it's been a hunt for you, but paid off with a nice looking Wagner.

…and there will now be an E103 Wagner in Texas.


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[4815162342]

This is awesome. Congrats!


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[Cooper1927]

Here they are all together…




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[Casey2296]

Looks great David, congrats!

[Yoda]

They really look terrific displayed as a set. Just a personal thought: If you switched the Wags over to SGC, then the whole set would be be slab identical and aid presentation.

[Cooper1927]

Originally Posted by Yoda

They really look terrific displayed as a set. Just a personal thought: If you switched the Wags over to SGC, then the whole set would be be slab identical and aid presentation.

I’m thinking about it, I’d done that with several already…thanks!


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[Cooper1927]

Here they are in their new display case.




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[mordecaibrown1]

Speaking of e103's This card up for auction in a few days at Memory Lane

[Cooper1927]

Got to wondering, do any members have, or know of, a current complete set?

Love to see what people may have!


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[Brian B@rry]

Hi David - I just stumbled upon this thread and loved tracking your acquisitions.

I’m the type of guy who doesn’t necessarily stop acquiring cards in a set even after I have completed the set. I’ll upgrade, try to get the worst example in a set to be replaced by a card that is in the top 25% of the set, condition-wise.

Are you like that? Is your journey over or are forever shackled to that set, always looking to make it better?

Not judging either way. Sometimes I think I’m nuts. Just wondering if you are too and how many others out there are like me.

Again, great story and cool set! Thank you for sharing.

[Cooper1927]

I haven’t decided about upgrades. I’m currently just really happy to have completed, I think, a really tough set.


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[Leon]

+1. Very tough set to complete. Congrats!

Originally Posted by Cooper1927

I haven’t decided about upgrades. I’m currently just really happy to have completed, I think, a really tough set.


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