M101 collectors– please show yourselves

[nolemmings]

I know that there must be some collectors of m101-5 and m101-4 on this board, but the sets don’t get a whole lot of play other than the occasional rare back posting and the Ruth/Jackson/Cobb guys. Are there others besides me who follow and collect those sets here on net54? Please chime in.

I am completely perplexed by the pricing that is going on with these. In the other thread on GMorris cards, I pointed out how he recently sold several dozen m1014s the past few days. I use him as an example here because he is a reputable seller and because there was such a large grouping there was a little something for everyone. Now most of the cards were in the vg-ex range despite his conservative descriptions, and looked about the same in terms of condition. Of these, many sold between $20 something to $40 something. But others were very to extremely expensive when compared to their pricing history. Sherwood Magee, in typical shape for cards in the auction, went for $406.00!! https://www.ebay.com/itm/38465728879...p2047675.l2557
Davidbvintage sold an SGC 50 example that looked better for $89 just three months ago, and no Magee card even with a rare back has sold for 60% of that $406 price. Just an anomoly? Well there were three bidders at plus $200.

And it’s not just Magee. I get that Red Sox and Yankee fans tend to pay more, but still, these blank backs-- in modest condition and the most commonly found backs, are staggering to me vs. past sales. Del Gainer sold for $380.00; Duffy Lewis $355; Wally Pipp $321.50; Jack Barry $305;Ernie Shore $257, Peckinpaugh $255, Clarence Walker $203, Bob Shawkey $248.
Also Al Betzel of St. Louis for $381 and Erskine Mayer, who at least is sought for his Jewish heritage, sold for $421.00. If you follow these, you will know that such prices are off the charts. Are there new set collectors of m101s, and if so, do they know they will need the Ruth rookie to complete it? (On the other hand, if they can afford the Ruth the rest is just chump change, but to my knowledge few if any owners of a Ruth rookie are trying to complete the set).

Finally, I should point out that this is not just a gregmorris thing– sales prices on on m101-4s have been spiking the past couple of months but are widely inconsistent. Is this kind of weird pricing going on in the sets you collect?

[nolemmings]

Since every thread needs a card, here's one I don't recall showing before:

[RCMcKenzie]

I don't collect this set. I have a handful as types, mostly for the backs. I don't think I have any blank backs. I know from collecting T213, that a card like the Murray in my profile pic, can go for a high number, and then a collection pops up with 4 of them sold in succession, and they sell for peanuts. It only takes another collector or 2 to drive the market.

It looks like most of the cards sold for under $100, unless they were big stars or high grade. I don't know the set well enough to think that an Al Betzel is a $381 card. eBay gets high prices in situations where two people put in top all bids, not really wanting to pay as much as they bid.

Also, someone who buys an Al Betzel for $381 could be the kind of guy who has the money to buy the Ruth.

[Brian Van Horn]

Hello.

[oldjudge]

I think it is a great set and perhaps a few people have woken up to that fact. While I don’t collect the sets I do know that some non-HOFers are pretty scarce, especially in the M101-5 set. What really interests me are the backs and some of these are genuine rarities; think Mall Theatre as compared to T206 brown Lenox.

[KMayUSA6060]

Very underrated set, and features some of the earliest cards for several HoFers. Love the B&W real images, too.

[Dead-Ball-Hitter]

Hi Todd, I had the same exact dumbfounded response. Love the set, but…

I personally bought a dozen of the SGC graded M101-4s in the Davidbvintage auction. A couple of the Graded 5 - EX HOF’s cost me between $425-480 (bought Harry Hooper and Frank Baker). The others, graded 4.5-7 we very reasonable. To see these raw cards, in nice condition but not high grade, sell so high 3 months later was astounding!

I was outbid on 16 cards. I won only 1 auction from GM. Why, all of a sudden, did Duffy Lewis and Del Gainer become so popular. Anyone who won those items want to enlighten us? Thanks

[PhillyFan1883]

Greatest set ever produced IMO- The players, action shots, and rare backs are killer. Todd I am collecting both master sets. I have also noticed an uptick in the sold prices for common singles- but not across the board. I have every numbered card and advertising back accounted for except for 1.so well over 400 cards with multiple backs and short prints having to be accounted for. The feat took me about 5/6 years.

My favorite card in the entire set is the Oscar Stanage portrait to thighs. 1 of the 4 short prints… I am lucky enough to have all 4..

Thanks to your education with your article you did years ago - we known why the Stanage was corrected twice in the m101-5s and then -4s..
I was lucky enough on a hunch to purchase a large group of the m101-4s (100 or so) that were found in a grand piano during an estate recently. Miraculously the short print Stanage “portrait to thighs” was included.

[Dead-Ball-Hitter]

Just bought this common in PSA 2 - Forrest Cady- for $80. Mainly paid that high because slabbing has become so expensive, would have paid more for grading (although I would have used SGC).

[tiger8mush]

don't collect the set, but have a few

[jp1216]

My one and only.

[chadeast]

Big Train

[FrankWakefield]

30 years ago I didn't think much of the set, maybe had 2 or 3 of them. They were black and white instead of color, I liked the near in time T206's much better. Similarly, I thought W514s were like something cut out of an old, yellowed comic book, YUCK!

Nowadays, I don't know if my thoughts have matured or manured... but I like the W514 strip cards VERY much, they're great, and cover a key time in baseball. Similarly, I've found myself gathering a few more M101s. I like them! As noted above, the back possibilities add to the fascination. The subtle differences in the -4 and -5 are interesting. I have the McGraw, and it uses an image from the 1800s instead of contemporary.

Those inexplicable high prices.... Al / Bruno Betzel.... I'd like to tell you and get you to believe that the high price is due to him being a St Louis Cardinal. OR that he managed in Louisville after his career in the Majors was at end. But the truth is that there are family member descendants that bid fiercely to get his cards. All they can; one isn't enough. And I don't doubt that there are other cards with similar pressure forcing their eBay auctions higher. I didn't bid high enough in several auctions. Never could find a dealer who had one. So some of these cards have a high price because of kinfolk, not collectors. I recall sending a PCL card or a T210 (can't recall which at the moment) to Marc McRea because he was trying to gather a few for a grandson or great nephew of the player. Before we collectors get to irritable about that, consider a collector of Cracker Jack prizes. Thousands of them out there, well cataloged. And those CJ prize collectors are frustrated that baseball collectors are collecting those 1914 and 1915 pieces of cardboard, insanely driving up the prices.

[ValKehl]

Originally Posted by Brian Van Horn

Hello.

Brian, your two H-to-H cards are super nice - it's hard to find these without paper loss on the backs.

Your WaJo, not so nice - badly OC - you should get rid of it and get a nice Altoona Tribune card like this one:

[nolemmings]

Thanks for the input guys, and the kind words Connor. It seems pretty clear that the m101s have now come to the attention of set collectors, whereas before the focus was on specific players and rare backs for type. I am fortunate enough to own all of the known backs, and the tougher ones still draw money, but nothing much has changed in their prices of late.

I’m glad somebody else noted the strange pricing this past week. I wonder if the prohibitive cost of grading prewar commons means we should look for a noticeable rise in the pricing of raw examples, especially from reputable and established dealers.

It’s pretty clear that Yankee and Red Sox team collectors are hitting it rather hard on these m101s, as the prices I cited mostly affected players from those teams. The Magee remains a flat out mystery, as again there was a price difference of 450% in the past three months on a card that was not in high grade and is not all that difficult to find (although not part of m101-5).

Nice cards everyone, and congrats Joe on your davidbvintage winnings. Baker and Hooper are two of my faves. Frank, thanks for the info on Betzel, whose card has always fetched a higher than average price–now I know why. Anyway, here a few more of mine:

[Rhotchkiss]

Always liked the M101-4/5's, mostly because of all the advertisement backs. Yet, I really dont have many. Here are the 5 I own currently

[mrreality68]

Great series of cards love the images and the ad backs.

Great cards Ryan. Love those Thorpe ad backs

[t213]

I have about 20, all with ad backs.
Andy