T206s vs. Goudeys

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Posted By: Chris Counts

I've long been puzzled by the virtual absence of threads on this board regarding cards from the 1933-1941 era. While posts do exist, they are few and far between. What an amazing era in baseball history! From Ruth and Gehrig and Dean to Dimaggio, Williams and Feller, I don't believe there are a more compelling nine years in baseball history. While I consider the 1909 to 1912 and 1948 to 1957 (please forgive my mention of anything post WWII !) eras to be wonderful years for both cards and baseball in general, I am partial to cards from the Depression era. In particular, I favor 1933 Goudeys, 1934-36 Diamond Stars, 1941 Play Balls and several Wheaties panel sets, particularly those from 1937 and 1939, which I believe have some of the best, if not the most outrageous, artwork ever featured on cards.

By the way, when I first started going to shows in the 1970s, Goudeys and Diamond Stars were definitely more expensive than cards from the tobacco era. I would pay a dollar each for T206s (I once bought a Lajoie with sharp corners for a buck!) and $2-3 each for Goudeys ...

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Posted By: barrysloate

I think collecting trends change and today tobacco cards are much more widely collected than Goudeys. But there are certainly members on the board who collect 1930's material and who know a great deal about it. I think it takes a provocative topic to get them out of the woodwork.

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Posted By: Josh A.

I am one of those collectors who favors Goudeys over T206s. I think it's just a personal preference. While I do not consider myself the most knowledgable on the issue, I have learned a great deal through reading these boards, I consider myself to be relatively educated on the topic.
Bottom line, both issues are beautiful, and offer something different to different types of collectors.

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Posted By: david

i think this is a segment of the market that is underpriced right now. there are a lot of neat sets from this era that people will be turning their attention to once they finish their t206 and e sets

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Posted By: Gilbert Maines

I have been trying to like the t & e cards and the era which they portray. I have not met with the same success which I have for the earlier and later prewar cards.

Even if the Wheaties cereal box rear panels are not actually cards, I must agree that the designs are striking. The series nine Hubbell is one of my favorites (and Id like to buy one).

The design and content of the goudey, play ball and diamond stars are also attractive. I like the bold colors of the goudey, the art deco of the diamond stars and the nicknames (particularly "Line Drive" Nelson - a pitcher!) of the play balls.

My favorite baseball era was the period in which the pitcher was not supposed to interfere with the play of the game by means such as trick pitches. You know, like curving the ball or throwing it fast.

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Posted By: Bruce Babcock

I like to dabble in pretty much all eras, 1860-1960. The 1930s issues certainly have their share of colorful cards and interesting poses.

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Posted By: Josh A.

part with that Hubbell?

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Posted By: T206Collector

When I was about 16 years old (circa 1989), I spent a lot of time hanging about a baseball card shop that was open for about 6 months in my little home town. One day, I was flipping through pages of baseball cards when I noticed a 1933 Goudey in beat up shape -- it stood out because it was the only one pre-1970 in the whole album. I asked how much and the guy said fifty cents. So I bought it, brought it home and learned that Lefty Gomez was a Hall of Famer. And so the card was worth more than fifty cents, even as beat up as it was. This made me very excited. A little later, I saved a lot of money for anoter 1933 "Lefty," this time Grove. While I do not still have the Gomez, having parted with it in a trade when I was about 17, I still have the Grove and just recently had it submitted to SGC.

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Posted By: Alan

I remember that one of the very first baseball cards I ever bought many years ago was from an antique store -- a 1933 Goudey Lou Gehrig # 92. Only 10 cents. I don't have it anymore, but from what I recall, one corner was really chewed up bad, other wise no creases. Probably would grade a PSA 1 or 2.

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Posted By: Bruce Babcock

Sorry, Carl is not for sale.