Pre-War Showdown: What's the most beautiful Iconic card ever?

[mouschi]

As the graphic states, I've run polls over the past month to determine what the general consensus was for most beautiful pre-war cards in various categories. These are the finalists!

What do you consider to be the most beautiful iconic pre-war card ever? Please cast your vote, and feel free to put them in order in the comments!

[Leon]

Most beautiful and most iconic can be 2 different things. Personally, I think the Ruth Batting pose is most iconic, and if I had to choose from those above for best looking, it might be the Anson 162. But of course my personal fave for best looking ever is the T205 Cobb... I guess he didn't make the cut.
.

[brob28]

Well, here's another vote for Ruth as most iconic and Anson as most beautiful. If I was forced to pick one only from the selection it would be Ruth.

[mrreality68]

Hi

I am basing this only on the choices provided.

I voted for the Ruth as the most iconic. But I do not think it is the most beautiful of them I would vote for The Anson.

However, in my opinion the T206 Wagner is the most Iconic of the pre-war.

[mouschi]

I should clarify ... when I say most beautiful iconic card, I meant the most beautiful of the iconic cards

[BobbyStrawberry]

To me it's between the Ruth and the Anson...I voted Ruth

[chadeast]

[perezfan]

For me, it's a very tough call between Anson and Kelly, but I opted for Anson.

Terrific "Final 5", but I might've selected the T3 Cobb in place of Gehrig. I realize you probably didn't want 2 Cobbs in the poll, so perhaps the T3 Fred Clarke would've been my personal #5.

Great stuff!

[Rhotchkiss]

I voted Anson, but more so I can see the results of the poll. While the cards chosen are very pretty, I will take almost any T3 over all fibe options. To me, the T3 is the most stunning set bar none and each cabinet is nicer than the next

[rjackson44]

Leons ruths are beautiful any diamond star turkey reds hi tanner

[Carter08]

One vote for Cobb bat off.

[mrreality68]

Originally Posted by Rhotchkiss

I voted Anson, but more so I can see the results of the poll. While the cards chosen are very pretty, I will take almost any T3 over all fibe options. To me, the T3 is the most stunning set bar none and each cabinet is nicer than the next

+1 Agreed

[mouschi]

Regarding the T3s ... I agree, but never included them due to them being cabinets. They are among the most beautiful / drool worthy cards ever!

[brianp-beme]

I voted for the N162 Kelly...of all 5 cards it has the most beautiful storm brewing in the background. And in my opinion inclement weather lurking behind a player is what makes for an iconic card.

1. N162 Kelly
2. T206 Cobb bat off
3. N162 Anson
4. 1933 Goudey Ruth
5. 1934 Goudey Gehrig

Brian "Stormy Weathers" reporting. And now back to Nuke LaLoosh with the sports report.

[Seven]

I think the Anson is the most beautiful, despite my feelings on him as a player/person I can't deny it's a beautiful piece of cardboard.

[Tabe]

None of these cards hold a candle to the T-3 Ty Cobb in terms of beauty.

[tedzan]

N162




The GOODWIN CHAMPIONS cards are my favorites. But, I cannot decide which of these two magnificent cards are the best.

I find it very interesting that the artwork reflects Anson being near the "sunset" of his BB career. And, Kelly's personality is
reflected by the stormy background scene.



TED Z

T206 Reference
.

[jingram058]

This one gets my vote, and Leon's here is downright gorgeous, baby! Beats mine, bought in 1988, hands down!

I say "Crack 'em all!" But common since dictates that there most certainly are exceptions!

[mrreality68]

I say the silent majority indicates it’s the T3 Ty Cobb

So we Demand a new Poll

Or

We demand a Recount to be performed by

Cyber Ninja with the assist From the Ninja Turtles

[BearBailey]

None of these choices. T3 Cobb.

[toppcat]

Cobb Bat Off all day, every day....

[Bigdaddy]

Originally Posted by brob28

Well, here's another vote for Ruth as most iconic and Anson as most beautiful. If I was forced to pick one only from the selection it would be Ruth.

+1 exactly, and that is how I voted.

[pokerplyr80]

The Ruth 144 has always been a favorite of mine. As a kid I had never even seen a picture of a Ruth RC, but I had seen the Goudey. While not his most iconic card, it's his most iconic image on a card in my opinion, and the first prewar card i ever bought.

I may be in the minority on this, as I often am around here, but I'm not a fan of the 34 Gehrig. I think I the 33 is a much better looking card.

[drumback]

T3 Cobb

[AndrewJerome]

I am also not a fan of the yellow Gehrig. I much prefer the 1933. The other four cards are beautiful.

[Leon]

My opinion of the best looking vintage card might be this one. How can anyone not love the colors and lithography on this card? The poll was rigged and there were hanging chads!

[Carter08]

Originally Posted by toppcat

Cobb Bat Off all day, every day....

Agree. Question I’ve had though - are those smokestacks in the background?

[samosa4u]

A lot of good points made on here. And yes, to me, iconic and beautiful mean two completely different things. For example, the 52' Topps Mantle is both iconic and beautiful. The 1951 Parkhurst Gordie Howe is iconic (in Canada), but very ugly! Now, the Anson and Kelly cards are beautiful, but definitely not iconic. The Goudey Ruth (batting pose) is iconic, but I wouldn't call it beautiful. However, I think the red and yellow Goudey Ruths are both iconic and beautiful!

[FrankWakefield]

T3 Cobb is an attractive card. Very much so.

I think the T3 Mathewson is THE BEST of the T3's.

Of the Goudey Ruth's, I am partial to the #144 full body over the other Ruth Goudey's; but it seems to me that other folks like that card of his with the bigger face and him leaning with his elbow and arm forward...

Forgetting about comparative costs, I've always liked the look of the white border card of Ty Cobb with his bat ON his shoulder. To me that seems a much better image than the bat off with it's Land of Oz sky for a background.

Seriously, I consider T3's to be ball cards, and Christy Mathewson's the grandest of many aesthetically attractive cards.

I'd like to see this poll redone in a few days, I haven't voted yet. Put Cobb's T3 and Mathewson's T3 in the choices, add one of the big face Goudey Ruth's, the batting 33 Goudey of Gehrig, Wagner's T206... that would be adding 5 to the original 5... maybe also add the 52 Topps Mantle and a 55 Clemente. (I like the looks of the look of the 1953 Topps Mays, with his New York hat, young face, and is that a basket catch or more likely he's fielding a line drive on a couple of bounces).

[perezfan]

Originally Posted by FrankWakefield

T3 Cobb is an attractive card. Very much so.

I think the T3 Mathewson is THE BEST of the T3's.

Of the Goudey Ruth's, I am partial to the #144 full body over the other Ruth Goudey's; but it seems to me that other folks like that card of his with the bigger face and him leaning with his elbow and arm forward...

Forgetting about comparative costs, I've always liked the look of the white border card of Ty Cobb with his bat ON his shoulder. To me that seems a much better image than the bat off with it's Land of Oz sky for a background.

Seriously, I consider T3's to be ball cards, and Christy Mathewson's the grandest of many aesthetically attractive cards.

I'd like to see this poll redone in a few days, I haven't voted yet. Put Cobb's T3 and Mathewson's T3 in the choices, add one of the big face Goudey Ruth's, the batting 33 Goudey of Gehrig, Wagner's T206... that would be adding 5 to the original 5... maybe also add the 52 Topps Mantle and a 55 Clemente. (I like the looks of the look of the 1953 Topps Mays, with his New York hat, young face, and is that a basket catch or more likely he's fielding a line drive on a couple of bounces).

Despite it being his 2nd year card, I always liked the aesthetics of Clemente's '56 card more than the '55 Rookie. The image of him making the leaping catch against the bright yellow wall is tough to beat.

I do agree that a re-done poll with a "Top 10" (instead of Top 5) would be great to see.

[Bobbycee]

I voted Cobb Bat Off, because it's pastel colors are remarkable. But, also in part because it's the elusive last card that I need to get to 520 in the set.

[npa589]

Before I clicked this thread, I thought "T3 Cobb" - no question. Loved seeing so many also go off the board and mention it. Cabinet schmabinet.