Why collect T206?

[xplainer]

I'm new to the T206 set, but have collected baseball for 40 or so years now. One day, I purchased my first T206 card.
It was a PSA 1 Leach, Piedmont. I had no idea what the back meant at the time, it was just a card 100 years old. Of course, everyone knows about the Wagner card, but I started looking into "The Monster". Reading everything I could find on the internet.

Then it happened. I didn't care about the new Bowman Chrome, Upper Deck stuff or even the Topps issues. T206 was all I was thinking about.

Reading about it, learning about the backs and the possible combinations, the stories of the players, the fact these cards are still around after 100 years. The fact that these guys are the pioneers of the game I love.

I haven't made a card purchase in probably four months that wasn't T206. I am obsessed with them and can read about/look at them for hours on end.

I am currently trying sell all my "vintage" and current cards and moving all my assets to the Monster.

Collecting has never been more enjoyable.

OK, what's your story with the T206 set?

When, How and Why.

Thanks.

-Jimmy

[vthobby]

Jimmy,

Enjoyed your notes.

I was a youngster back in the late 70s/early 80s and I'll never forget my first T206 purchase. It was through the "Trader Speaks" magazine and I sent a check (my parent's check after I reimbursed them!) for around $15 or so. I waited for it seemed like forever and voila.....Sam Crawford T206!

The set is timeless like a good song or good wine. I can't say that I gave up everything else because I love collecting/dealing but if you have not collected T206 cards then you are missing out on the very history of the game.

Peace, Mike

[coolshemp]

Great stories! When I was around 14, I ordered my first T206 from trade magazine (can't remember the name) and received the Bresnahan batting - a card I still have today- as a gift from my late mother. For sentimental reasons, I could never part with it.
I then became penpals with a collector in PA - he would send me 3 cards at time to look over, and if i liked then, send him back a money order. If not, return the cards. I cut grass at my church in the summer and shoveled in the winters to pay for his cards. Imagine a honor system with T206's like that today? 1990 was a great innocent year...

[xplainer]

Great stories guys. I know there are more. Post them so we can all enjoy.

-Jimmy

Edit: I wanted to say that I still am working on Aaron and Yaz runs. So, I guess I am not COMPLETELY sold out to T206. But that's all I do.
If you need/want a PSA 10 Josh Hamilton RC, let me know.

[Bpm0014]

• Great pictures
• Mixture of great poses
• Great coloring
• Fairly inexpensive
• 1909-1911 was a great time for baseball
• Loaded with great HOFers and interesting characters
  
  To name a few....

[wonkaticket]

I've said before and I'll say it again....for the chicks no other reason.

Three of the top five threads all dedicated to "The Monster", lol! I don't personally feel the same draw to it as many and actually have many more "E" cards than T206's but I appreciate that others do and that it represents the backbone of Pre-War collecting.

[xplainer]

Originally Posted by coolshemp

Great stories! When I was around 14, I ordered my first T206 from trade magazine (can't remember the name) and received the Bresnahan batting - a card I still have today- as a gift from my late mother. For sentimental reasons, I could never part with it.
I then became penpals with a collector in PA - he would send me 3 cards at time to look over, and if i liked then, send him back a money order. If not, return the cards. I cut grass at my church in the summer and shoveled in the winters to pay for his cards. Imagine a honor system with T206's like that today? 1990 was a great innocent year...

That would never happen today. Thanks for sharing.

-Jimmy

[GoldenAge50s]

I've been collecting cards since the late '40's but didn't own my 1st T206 until I was 69 yrs old!---& I bought 134 of them at one time!

If it wasn't so late in life I would have loved to try & put a set together, as I absolutely LOVE these little gems & the endless possibilities of collecting them.

However, after around 65 yrs or so of collecting I have amassed a backroom so full of cards from all sports & nonsport that it has become time to start liquidating the bulk of them, including my boyhood treasures as well as the late-acquired T206's.

Those of you that frequent the BST auction section are familiar w/ what I have put up for grabs over the last few months.

It's a very TOUGH thing to do after so many yrs & so many memories my cards bring back to me, but I am resigned to NOT leave my wife w/ the burden if something should happen to me, so I do it & try to make it just as much fun as collecting.

Seeing my cards go to the good folk here at Net 54 gives me the pleasure of knowing they are in the hands of collectors that will enjoy them as much as I have!

[7nohitter]

Fred-

Since the 40's??????

[GoldenAge50s]

Bought or was given my 1st cards in 1948--some little B& W Bowmans! (I was 8 yrs old)

[kamikidEFFL]

Well jimmy I have to say many people are like you on here. IN LOVE with the monster. I wish I could share my story but I don't have one. Maybe you can say I'm afraid the monster. I dabble in the T213 which are pretty close to the T206 set but maybe one day I'll get hooked like so many on here are. Beet of luck in your tackling of the monster.

Jesse

[Joshchisox08]

I got my first t206 when I was about 20 that was 8 years ago. Something about hearing about the magical Honus Wagner card so many times and making annual trips to Cooperstown staring at a Wagner in one of their rooms full of other pre-war cards stuck with me. I know I'll never own a Wagner or probably ever complete the set. A few years ago I had to sell all the cards I owned to pay bills. I never owned any graded cards only raw cards and probably only had about 20 or so t206's mixed with t205's and a couple weird things I got from Cooperstown. I regret selling them to this day and especially the weird quilted Cy Young and Honus Wagner card or cloth whatever it was that I had. (I hope that nobody knows what that is and I didn't give away gold). I also have a greedy pathological lying sociopathical ex fiance who has taken everything she could possibly get off of me. Something to do with my love of the game, history, Cooperstown, the cards I sold, and the fact that these beautiful cards are mine and can't be taken away from me is part of the reason I'm in love with t206's. That and there's a lot of White Sox players to get !!!