The white whale: finding the #1 card on your wantlist

[cdn_collector]

Originally Posted by thxforthebp

With the help of a forum member I was able to get a D381 Brad Kocher

Do you mind posting a scan of this card, I am not familiar with this card.

Regards,

Richard.

[JamesGallo]

When you can take a big card off your list either because it is are or expensive. I just did this recently and it was a great feeling that's for sure.
Here's hoping we are all able to cross something big off our want lists soon.

Congrats

James G

[FUBAR]

for me, i love the way the E120 caramel cards look , and i have yet to see a Babe Ruth version, i know it is out there, i just haven't stumbled on it yet... so for me, thats probably the most financially obtainable card i will probably never get but hope to.

[Michael Peich]

Tim--Congrats on finding the Livengood since I know this card has vexed you for years. And as Bill Cornell alluded, my white whale was the T222 of John Henry which I finally found last year, thanks to the largesse of a board member. And although I didn't break out in a sweat as I followed an eBay bid, I did almost fall over when this board member mentioned to me, at the Valley Forge Show, that he had a Henry and would be willing to trade it. That set off a series of interesting emails and negotiations, and now Henry resides in my collection. (BTW, Henry is far more difficult than either Alexander or Johnson, and, like so many difficult cards, he was a marginal player who had an unremarkable eight year career mostly with Washington: .207 lifetime BA. Another difficult card, also of a minor player, is the T3 of Rhoades.)

The fact is, though, that I have a number of white whales, and these are my want lists. I only need three cards to complete my Grignon postcards, and seven to complete my Obaks 150 subjects backs. But, until I get to that one last card, these won't qualify as white whales.

Even Melville would be happy for you, Tim. And I hope you celebrated with one of your favorite martinis!

Cheers,
Mike

[timn1]

(Mike, you know I did -- does this mean I am going to have to start drinking yours too? I don't know if my liver can handle it...)

Thanks for all the good wishes, guys. I didn't want this thread to be all about congratulating me, so I was hoping (still hope) to hear more of your own stories about finding *that* card-- keep them coming!

Tim

[birdman42]

Tim,

I collect Washington players rather than sets, so for me the "have to have" usually means something I've never seen or heard of before. I'm one card/item away from a complete Washington subset on about 40 prewar sets. Some, like the Elberfeld portrait T206, I can get just about any month on the Bay. Others, like an L1 leather or PM1 ornate pin, are so far out of my league that there's not much point in having them on my list at all. My favorites are the things like this BF-unc felt of Ainsmith. More like a big fish than a white whale--I didn't know it existed until I saw it, but then I went after it.



My goal at every card show (the few I go to, anyway) is to finish one Wash subset and start another. Sometimes I can do both with a single card, when I hit on one like the E92 -101 -102 -105 Schaefer where he's the only player in the set.

Someday the T222 Henry will be on my list, too, but for now I'd be happy with a McBride or a Morgan. My National want list right now is for some type items, like a W600, E107, Rose postcard, etc.

Bill

[Browncow75]

Today I secured a deal to pick up my first example of a T206 Hindu back Southern Leaguer. I know its VERY rough, but it fills a type card spot for my collection, and Im happy! I've only been trying to find one that I can afford for around a year! Thanks D.!

[ValKehl]

Mike - Congrats on completing the T222 set, and thanks for the kind words. Enabling you to complete this set gave me satisfaction as well. And, I am still in love with the card you traded me for the Henry!

Bill - I live near you, and I suspect that we are competitors for some of the same cards of Washington players. But, I can help you with the T222-McBride, as I have a couple of them. I'll send you an email.

Val