The $1,000 Question

[Ricky]

For what looks like a very cold couple of days coming, let's go with a hypothetical premise to see what everyone comes up with... here are the parameters:

You have $1,000 to spend
You own no vintage cards but want to buy a vintage (pre-1942) card
You must spend the $1,000, or as close to it as possible, on just ONE card
You have your choice of any vintage card ever made - BUT - you must pick a card that would realistically sell and be available for $1,000 (or less)
It can be any grade but it has to realistically be available for purchase at the $1,000 price (so, for example, a PSA 1 T206 green Cobb or a PSA 1 M101-4 Ruth wouldn't be options)

With those ground rules, what card would be your choice to buy?

[Bpm0014]

T206 Red Cobb 1.5

[Peter_Spaeth]

5 or so 1939 Play Ball DiMaggio.

[bnorth]

A T206 Red Cobb graded SGC Authentic that has been slightly trimmed and has back damage. That would let the front have great eye appeal for the price.

[Touch'EmAll]

1941 PB Ted Williams SGC 60/PSA 5 with best centering you can realistically find

[alywa]

If a $1000 Red Cobb T206 could be purchased these days that had any sort of presentable characteristics, I'd give that my vote. Given what I've been seeing, I'd vote for a 1933 or 34 Goudey Gehrig, PSA or SGC 1.

[alywa]

I guess it would be fun to play "Best $1,000 card on eBay right now"

[stutor]

This is a fun question. I’d agree with Brendan...a low grade T206 red Cobb would be my first choice. A close second would be 1928 Yuengling’s Gehrig. I love Yuengling’s beer, and the the story of how they stayed in business peddling ice cream during Prohibition is really cool. A PSA 3 or maybe 4 would fit into the price requirement, and you’d have a really neat early Gehrig that is much less common than the Cobb.

[BeanTown]

1992 Little Sun Derek Jeter Auto card. 225 were made and is very desirable as his stuff will only gain in value.

[packs]

M101 Ray Chapman

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by BeanTown

1992 Little Sun Derek Jeter Auto card. 225 were made and is very desirable as his stuff will only gain in value.

Question was pre-42. And where are you getting them for 1000, this one sold recently for 7K.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1992-Little...gAAOSw1jpcH8pe

[Ricky]

Fun card, Jay, but not vintage...

[phikappapsi]

give me any number of upper middle grade Hornsby's from '28-'36

[bnorth]

Originally Posted by alywa

If a $1000 Red Cobb T206 could be purchased these days that had any sort of presentable characteristics, I'd give that my vote. Given what I've been seeing, I'd vote for a 1933 or 34 Goudey Gehrig, PSA or SGC 1.

This one recently sold for $1050 so they can still be found.

[alywa]

Originally Posted by bnorth

This one recently sold for $1050 so they can still be found.

That's not too bad...

this would be decent as well

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1934-Goudey...!-1:rk:29:pf:0

[thatkidfromjerrymaguire]

Oh, this is a fun game. I'd buy either one of these (both of which have recently sold on ebay for under $1000):

kashin.JPG

goudeyruth.JPG

[gonzo]

R309-1 Goudey Premium Babe Ruth - best-presenting “1” or “1.5” that I could find.

The most famous baseball player, and in a classic photo. Instant recognition even from many non-baseball fans.

http://www.milehighcardco.com/mobile...entoryid=54977

[darwinbulldog]

Today I'll go with a poor/fair E107 Monte Cross.

[Ricky]

Originally Posted by stutor

This is a fun question. I’d agree with Brendan...a low grade T206 red Cobb would be my first choice. A close second would be 1928 Yuengling’s Gehrig. I love Yuengling’s beer, and the the story of how they stayed in business peddling ice cream during Prohibition is really cool. A PSA 3 or maybe 4 would fit into the price requirement, and you’d have a really neat early Gehrig that is much less common than the Cobb.

There's a Yuengling's Gehrig on eBay now, but it's SGC 50 and $2,500, so that would be out unless you could find it in a lower grade and the price came way down.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1928-F50-Yu...RscL:rk:1:pf:0

[packs]

I wouldn't use buy it now to gauge costs.

[71buc]

I like this

[pokerplyr80]

Probably the nicest 33 or 34 goudey Gehrig I could find. Although that t206 matty looks like a good option as well.

[jchcollins]

No offense, I love pre-war but this thread is an example of why for the most part I have to stay away. $1K will get you a trimmed or "A" T-206 Cobb? No thanks. I'm just imagining what that money could buy me in a post-war vintage. I'd go for a '68 Ryan, PSA 6.5 maybe, or a '55 Clemente RC in a 3 that's presentable.

I guess my main point would just be that I can get nicer condition superstar cards for the same money with post-war. I totally get why. But I have nowhere near the budget to do "mid-grade" 3-5 range cards for T-206 or anything like that. The real problem of course is I was born at least 20 years too late to have gotten a start on pre-war in the 1970's...

[Ricky]

Originally Posted by jchcollins

No offense, I love pre-war but this thread is an example of why for the most part I have to stay away. $1K will get you a trimmed or "A" T-206 Cobb? No thanks. I'm just imagining what that money could buy me in a post-war vintage. I'd go for a '68 Ryan, PSA 6.5 maybe, or a '55 Clemente RC in a 3 that's presentable.

I guess my main point would just be that I can get nicer condition superstar cards for the same money with post-war. I totally get why. But I have nowhere near the budget to do "mid-grade" 3-5 range cards for T-206 or anything like that. The real problem of course is I was born at least 20 years too late to have gotten a start on pre-war in the 1970's...

Fair point. But I do think you can get a pretty good vintage card for $1,000 in a lower grade that is still presentable. And we've seen some examples already here.

[Rich Falvo]

Since I'm working on the set, I'd get the 1933 Sport Kings Ruth card.

[jchcollins]

Originally Posted by jchcollins

No offense, I love pre-war but this thread is an example of why for the most part I have to stay away. $1K will get you a trimmed or "A" T-206 Cobb? No thanks. I'm just imagining what that money could buy me in a post-war vintage. I'd go for a '68 Ryan, PSA 6.5 maybe, or a '55 Clemente RC in a 3 that's presentable.

I guess my main point would just be that I can get nicer condition superstar cards for the same money with post-war. I totally get why. But I have nowhere near the budget to do "mid-grade" 3-5 range cards for T-206 or anything like that. The real problem of course is I was born at least 20 years too late to have gotten a start on pre-war in the 1970's...

All that being said, I forgot the most important thing - I would probably buy the nicest '67 Seaver RC I could find for $1,000.

[mrvster]

t206 cobb.....no brainer

[MichelaiTorres83]

A low grade, PSA 1 Bat On Cobb

[x2drich2000]

I like the Cobb route, but I'd go with the best looking E101/e102 leaning on bat. Might only be able to an authentic one at that price point, but for a first prewar card, that would be my choice. I guess I really should think about upgrading mine at some point.

[SetBuilder]

My ultimate $1,000 card fantasy is buying an old scrapbook for $999.99 buy-it-now, free shipping, that has a T206 Wagner pasted on one of the pages, but with all of the card cut off except for a small part of his face.

Then I carefully soak it off and send it to a master paper conservator to reconstruct the card from scraps of other T206 cards.

I then take the frankencard, consign it, and watch the bucks roll in. $$$

[commishbob]

A T3 Chief Bender. I'd gladly retire from the hobby after buying that one.

[oldjudge]

Old Judge Sam Thompson

[Ricky]

Originally Posted by oldjudge

Old Judge Sam Thompson

Can you get that for a grand?

[bbcard1]

I was going to say a PSA 1 Delong Gehrig but it doesn't appear you can do that anymore.

[glchen]

I'll go with W590 Gehrig or 1926-29 Exhibits Babe Ruth (Pose) PSA 1.5.

[SetBuilder]

I'm winning so far. I "bought" by far the most high end card for $1,000.

[rats60]

I would buy a Honus Wagner Carmel Card, a presentable 1 or A. E95 would be my 1st choice, but E92 are pretty easily available for 1k.

[JeremyW]

1939 Play Ball Ted Williams in poor condition.

[milkit1]

Psa3 T202 Cobb/Jennings

[h2oya311]

Originally Posted by JeremyW

1939 Play Ball Ted Williams in poor condition.

+1

[bounce]

FIRST CHOICE - 1933 Delong Gehrig
I'll bet with some patience a PSA 1 could be had for $1,000?

SECOND CHOICE - T206 Speaker
I think this is an underappreciated card, could possibly score a PSA 4 for $1,000? Or, PSA 3/3.5 with an uncommon back?

[MR RAREBACK]

T206 ty cobb

[Throttlesteer]

Mid grade T206 Lajoie portrait

[Rhotchkiss]

E92 Dockman Wagner (throwing pose)

[bigfish]

T206 Cy Young Portrait

[Joe_G.]

Looks like Jay and I might be after the same card (nice pick Jay).

Well, if only one card it would have to be a Detroit OJ.

1st Pick = Lady Baldwin or Barney Gilligan

If not available (rarely surface), I defer to these easier Detroit HOFers:

2nd Pick = Sam Thompson

3rd Pick = Dan Brouthers

[DeanH3]

The nicest example of any one of these issues.

T206 red Cobb
T206 Cy portrait
T206 WaJo portrait
T206 Matty portrait
Nicest late 20's exhibit Ruth
Late 20's Gehrig

[CobbSpikedMe]

Originally Posted by x2drich2000

I like the Cobb route, but I'd go with the best looking E101/e102 leaning on bat. Might only be able to an authentic one at that price point, but for a first prewar card, that would be my choice. I guess I really should think about upgrading mine at some point.

I have to agree with this choice. It's my favorite Cobb pose and if I could only have one card, it would be a Cobb.

[Luke]

Nice looking lower grade e107 common

[ullmandds]

Originally Posted by CobbSpikedMe

I have to agree with this choice. It's my favorite Cobb pose and if I could only have one card, it would be a Cobb.

problem with this card/pose is I don't think you can find a recognizable example for $1000 anymore?