Set to put together that wont break the bank?

[t206blogcom]

W cards (strip cards) or 1934 Goudey would be my two suggestions.

W strip cards usually date from the mid-late 20s (based on my limited knowledge) and are much more affordable. They are hand cut and most grading services will only grade Authentic, but they can be neat cards. Most of the strip cards are stars and HOFs and many consider it a great way to own Cobbs, Ruths, etc without breaking the bank.

I primarly collect T206 cards, but I'm putting together a strip card set on the side. The 1926 W512 strip card set features less than 20 baseball cards, but also several non-sports cards. I'm collecting only the baseball players and I've picked up nearly all of the cards for a couple hundred bucks.

1934 Goudey would be my other suggestion. There are two Gehrigs, Jimmy Foxx RC and Dizzy Dean, which can get pricey depending on condition. Set includes several other HOFs like Mickey Cochrane and Frank Frisch and is visually appealing.

Good luck.

[rhettyeakley]

Some tough criteria for pre-war but doable.

A good beginner set is the 1936 Goudey set. Another set that is a little more spendy, it has two reasonably priced Ruth's and a Gehrig, the W517 set is a fun one to do--they come in different colors and there are some variations to collect as well. Which can add to the enjoyment.

If you are okay with larger cards then the R313 National Chicle "Fine Pens" and the R314 Goudey "Wide Pens" are very affordable and are also not too tough to find.

[AndyG09]

I would guess a low grade T201 set could be had for a few thousand. They seem to be pretty cheap, and you can get some of the big names too. Only 50 cards, so that may be too few for what you would like to do. Good luck with whatever you decide to pursue.

Best,

Andy