What If...1909 T206 Babe Ruth...

[benchod]

Originally Posted by Abravefan11

If Ruth played during the same era as the prominent T206 players, and was included in the set, his value would be among the players of equal comparison but wouldn't command an absurd premium. His card would more than likely fall in line with Cobb, Johnson and Mathewson based on it's availability.

Wagner, Plank, Doyle N.Y. Nat'l and Magie's value are all due to their scarcity in relation to other cards in a highly collectable set. If Ruth were included, and short printed for some reason, than his card may have an excessive premium based on it's scarcity and player notoriety. Otherwise he would be a top tier HOF'er and not command much more if any than the other notable players of equal stature in the set.

Had Wagner and Plank not been short printed and produced in common numbers they may bring a slight premium over Cobb but not much.

Well Tim,
I disagree with just about everything you wrote.
If the T206 was Ruth's rookie card I think it would be on par or exceed the value of the Plank and be behind only the Wagner and Doyle in terms of value. Heck the M101-4/5 Ruth is quickly catching up to the Plank, it's readily available and it's from a far less popular set. The Ruth would dwarf the Mathewson, Johnson , Young etc.

Also if all the cards were produced in equal quantities Cobb would sell for more than Wagner and Plank not the other way around
Jut my two cents on this hypothetical what if.

[sportscardpete]

Originally Posted by benchod

Also if all the cards were produced in equal quantities Cobb would sell for more than Wagner and Plank not the other way around
Jut my two cents on this hypothetical what if.

Plank would sell for less, but I would think there would be more demand for the Wagner. I'm assuming there would be more variations than just one portrait, but if he only had one card it would command more than any of the Cobbs. If he had four variations like the t206 Cobb, then it might be a bit even.

[Abravefan11]

Originally Posted by benchod

If the T206 was Ruth's rookie card...

I didn't base any of my speculation on a Ruth T206 being his rookie card. I considered the possibilities based on the card being as readily available as other T206 of HOF'ers. If that were the case I don't believe a Ruth T206 would sell for ten of thousands of dollars.

If other speculative parameters are considered, rookie card, short print, etc, the skies the limit on what a T206 Ruth would sell for.

The great thing about speculation is nobodies wrong.

[T206Collector]

Originally Posted by benchod

Heck the M101-4/5 Ruth is quickly catching up to the Plank, it's readily available and it's from a far less popular set."

If there was a T206 Ruth, so many different variables would factor into its price. If there were four of them, printed as often as the four Cobbs were -- and in particular the red Cobb was -- then I have to agree that it would be worth a similar price to Cobb, maybe a touch more.

Comparing the M101-4/5 Ruth to the T206 Plank is apples and oranges. You'd have to tell me the total numbers extant. My guess is that Ruth would be more prevalent, but not nearly as prevalent as if he would have been printed as often as all four T206 Cobbs. For instance, it would not surprise me if the M101-4/5 Ruth had over 100 more in existence than the T206 Plank and still commanded a comparable price (that's supply and demand, after all). But, if there were as many M101-4/5 Ruths as T206 Cobbs, I think you'd see the value of those Ruths come way down (because supply would closer match demand).