Portrait or Action is the question

Do you have a collecting preference between Portraits and action cards.
I like them both depending on the card.

Talking just T206's, I definitely prefer the portraits. The Matty and Johnson portraits just blow away the pitching poses. Same with Young. I'm trying to think of some exceptions. Maybe Waddell and the Bat Off Cobb. Lajoie's non-portraits are both really good, but I still prefer the portrait.

In T206's I lean toward the Portraits my self , The Johnson being the best of all. But the set is chock full of great action cards too.

While most people prefer portraits, I have always loved the action shots (both in T206 and all the other Vintage sets as well). Sunset backgrounds are a BIG PLUS with me as well!

Maybe some of the other guys will show a favorite Portrait and Action card from their collection.


Scott, You forgot PINK

You are correct Jerry - I can't forget those great Vintage Cards with pink backgrounds! I don't have any of my pink T206's scanned, so these will have to do for now.

WOW, Looks like the Obak Slot machine came up Hetling's.
JACKPOT!

My favorite images are those that are a full body action shot. There are none (i'm pretty sure) that fit this description in the T206 set.

There are several sets that have many many full body action shots however, and for some reason, I do not have very many of them. Some that come to mind: T207, W572 (and related sets), W520 (I do have some of these!), T210, N172...



AndyH

I'm like Jerry - like both, really depends on the card. My favorite action card is the one in my profile (sick of it yet?) and here's my favorite portrait card in my collection...D359 Plank, which I've shown plenty of times before:



Has a bit of a wonky cut to it, but I love it anyway.

Nothing beats a classic portrait image IMO...

all the way....

Some of the most beautiful and classic cards in the hobby are action cards:



And this one, while not a classic, is still really gorgeous. The scan simply does no justice to the bright colors in the sunset background:





But for me, it's still the portraits that are the most compelling, and often beautiful as well:



When I first started collecting, I really focused on action shots because they seemed to show more about the game, equipment, uniforms, etc. But once I became more familiar with players I started leaning more toward portraits.

J

(Acknowledgement: Oakes scan lifted from Old Cardboard web site, as I could not find a scan of the one I used to own.)

I like having both action shots and portraits. I used to think action shots were better, but the problem is that it is tough to see the player's face and what they actually looked like. Having both the action shot and the portrait makes for a better complete picture of the player.

When talking T206's I'll definitely say Portrait. Those cards are great.

My favorite set is the E107, which are all portraits.

With other sets, it all depends on what the set is. For instance, in the T216's, my favorite card is the Harry Davis slide shot.

Counter shots to Tony's beautiful Keeler Portraits & Ben's Majestic Plank

I prefer action shots myself, but a well done portrait is tough to top.

Jay

i've always had a preference for action poses, because it's a snapshot of a ballgame being played a long time ago. don't really care what a dude looks like, seeing how rough and tumble some of these guys really are probably will take away some of the lore for me.

i especially like quirky off-angle action shots:

All of my 1911 Zeenuts are actions. All of my C46 are portraits. I like them equally as much.