Let's Talk (and Show) Baseball Game Cards...Fan Craze, Tom Barker, Polo Grounds, etc.

[JamesGallo]

I think the low prices are because of the time of year more then anything else. I have been seeing stuff sell for pennies on the dollar, there just doesn't seem to be the money or the crazy for collectibles this holiday season. I think the deals retail stores are offering are getting more people in and grab their cash in place of cards and collectibles.

To answer your question. I do think they are under valued, however a lot of people just don't like them especially the smaller pictures on the Polo Grounds set. I had a tough time getting rid of the set I had and I had a very sharp Wagner, Cobb, Matty etc.

For whatever reason people look at these as secondary cards, much like strip cards.

I don't think you will ever see a huge change in that either. Fan Craze has a shot because it is so early and the larger pictures on the Tom Barker/National Game help that set as well.

Regardless there are key cards in all the sets, but they will always be thought of as outside the main stream collecting IMO.

James G

[rhettyeakley]

Fan Craze set has the nicest portraits, but the Walter Mails set is the toughest of the 20th Century bunch by a long shot. There are many cards in the set that I have personally never seen for sale individually but only in set form.

A few of my favorites...

[rhettyeakley]

A few more...

[Bosox Blair]

Thanks for sharing those, Rhett! You sure don't see many (or any) of those around.

(That Bagby card is pretty scary, though...)

Cheers,
Blair

[Bosox Blair]

Originally Posted by JamesGallo

...a lot of people just don't like them especially the smaller pictures on the Polo Grounds set.

I have no doubt that is true - and I have heard it before...yet, the T204s don't seem to suffer for having small b&w photos. I haven't measured, but I bet the Polo Grounds card images are at least as big (not to mention the beautiful historic ballfield image on the reverse).

I do agree that of the 1900-1915 game cards, I think Fan Craze has the greatest prospects for broad collector acceptance. I think one factor there is the instantly recognizable Carl Horner portraits.

...Which raises another question...would people prefer to buy a game card featuring a famous player image, or would they rather buy one to get a unique image not found on other cards (this is often cited in favour of National Game/Tom Barker/Polo Grounds)?

Cheers,
Blair