FC Forum Collector Q&A

[fisherboy7]

I thought a quick Q&A might be a good way to get to know our new members a bit better....as well as the veterans! The questions are framed in "which do you prefer" format (except for a couple). Pick one, and explain your choice if you'd like. Have a go at it...I suggest copying and pasting the questions into your reply and then entering your answers. If you aren't sure of an answer you can always PASS. I'll post mine later!

1. 19th century or deadball era cards:

2. More important to you - condition or scarcity:

3. Preferred buying venue - auctions, card shows, or BST:

4. Graded or raw cards:

5. Just So Young or Baltimore News Ruth:

6. T cards or E cards:

7. Set collecting or Type collecting:

8. N173 or W600:

9. SGC 10 beater or SGC AUT slight trim (otherwise nrmt):

10. Favorite prewar postcard issue:

11. Portrait poses or action poses:

12. Johnson, Mathewson, or Young (their cards overall):

13. T206 Cobb Bat Off, Red Portrait, Green Portrait:

14. Trading or buying:

15. T204 Ramly or 1914/15 Cracker Jack:

16. T202, T205, or T207:

17. Current favorite card in your collection:

18. Top card on your wantlist:

[browncow75]

2. More important to you - condition or scarcity: Definitely overall scarcity appeals more to me, which is a recent change for me. As I have begun to advance into tougher and tougher card issues, it seems like I am more apt to go after the hardest to find cards rather than super high grade stuff.

Brandon

[Square_Frame_Ramly]

1. 19th century or deadball era cards: Like...love the B/W, true vintage.

2. More important to you -
condition or scarcity: Scarcity...

3. Preferred buying venue - auctions,
card shows, or BST: B/S/T...great chance to get a deal on a card.

4. Graded or raw cards: Graded

5. Just So
Young or Baltimore News Ruth: Ruth card.

6. T cards or E cards: Probably neither...M cards for me.

7.
Set collecting or Type collecting: Type

8. N173 or W600: N173

9. SGC
10 beater or SGC AUT slight trim (otherwise nrmt): SGC AUT

10. Favorite
prewar postcard issue: Morgan Stationary Redbelts

11. Portrait poses or action poses: Portrait

12.
Johnson, Mathewson, or Young (their cards overall): M116 Matty Blue

13. T206
Cobb Bat Off, Red Portrait, Green Portrait: Green i guess.

14. Trading or
buying: Buying

15. T204 Ramly or 1914/15 Cracker Jack: No doubt T204

16. T202,
T205, or T207: None

17. Current favorite card in your collection: M116 Smokey Joe wood.

18.
Top card on your wantlist: Got it...See above

[terjung]

1. 19th century or deadball era cards: Deadball era

2. More important to you - condition or scarcity: Scarcity by a long shot

3. Preferred buying venue - auctions, card shows, or BST: Private sale, BST, card shows, auctions, in that order

4. Graded or raw cards: SGC graded

5. Just So Young or Baltimore News Ruth: Just So Young

6. T cards or E cards: E cards by a long shot

7. Set collecting or Type collecting: Set collecting

8. N173 or W600: W600

9. SGC 10 beater or SGC AUT slight trim (otherwise nrmt): Tough call. depends on the card, its scarcity, and the eye appeal.

10. Favorite prewar postcard issue: American League Pub and Rotograph

11. Portrait poses or action poses: Portrait

12. Johnson, Mathewson, or Young (their cards overall): I'll go with Young, but that is a tough one. Wagner over all three.

13. T206 Cobb Bat Off, Red Portrait, Green Portrait: Either of the portraits - no preference

14. Trading or buying: Prefer buying due to success rate, but trading is more fun

15. T204 Ramly or 1914/15 Cracker Jack: 1914 CJ

16. T202, T205, or T207: meh

17. Current favorite card in your collection: Custom card of Purdue QBs followed by E107 Young

18. Top card on your wantlist: E107 Wagner


Great idea, Ben! I like the thread.

-Brian

[crazylocomerk]

1. 19th century or deadball era cards: Deadball Era

2. More important to you - condition or scarcity: Scarcity

3. Preferred buying venue - auctions, card shows, or BST: BST (Buying and Trading). It's more personable which I like.

4. Graded or raw cards: Graded (SGC is preferred)

5. Just So Young or Baltimore News Ruth: Baltimore News Ruth

6. T cards or E cards: T cards

7. Set collecting or Type collecting: From Set, to type, to Set. Now I'm here to stay for SET COLLECTING

8. N173 or W600: W600

9. SGC 10 beater or SGC AUT slight trim (otherwise nrmt): SGC AUT slight trim

10. Favorite prewar postcard issue: N/A

11. Portrait poses or action poses: Portraits

12. Johnson, Mathewson, or Young (their cards overall): Young

13. T206 Cobb Bat Off, Red Portrait, Green Portrait: T206 Cobb Bat Off

14. Trading or buying: Buying

15. T204 Ramly or 1914/15 Cracker Jack: T204 Ramly

16. T202, T205, or T207: T207

17. Current favorite card in your collection: T216 Marquard w/MINO back or my beater T216 Bender Virginia Extra

18. Top card on your wantlist: T216 Wagner MINO, or Cobb MINO. Or if they even exist either one with a VE back

[hrbaker]

Okay, I'll play:

1. 19th century or deadball era cards:
Deadball ear HOFers
2. More important to you - condition or scarcity:
Condition
3. Preferred buying venue - auctions, card shows, or BST:
BST by far
4. Graded or raw cards:
No preference as long as I know the seller and see a clear scan
5. Just So Young or Baltimore News Ruth:
Young, I don't collect schedules or minor league cards
6. T cards or E cards:
E baby
7. Set collecting or Type collecting:
HOF types with a few sets
8. N173 or W600:
W600 by far
9. SGC 10 beater or SGC AUT slight trim (otherwise nrmt):
SGC AUT more often than not
10. Favorite prewar postcard issue:
Rose Co.
11. Portrait poses or action poses:
Portrait
12. Johnson, Mathewson, or Young (their cards overall):
Matty and I refuse to pay Cy money for a card that says Cy but pictures Irv
13. T206 Cobb Bat Off, Red Portrait, Green Portrait:
Greenie
14. Trading or buying:
Buying
15. T204 Ramly or 1914/15 Cracker Jack:
1914 CJ
16. T202, T205, or T207:
T207
17. Current favorite card in your collection:
Rose Co. Plank PC
18. Top card on your wantlist:
1923-24 Jim Bottomley Exhibit Supply Company

Now that was fun.

Jeff

[fisherboy7]

Here are my answers...

1. 19th century or deadball era cards:
Love both eras for collecting, but deadball has more diversity...so deadball.

2. More important to you - condition or scarcity:
Scarcity by far. I'll take a card in almost any condition if it means adding a scarce type card to my collection.

3. Preferred buying venue - auctions, card shows, or BST:
BST - really enjoy doing deals with my hobby friends. Pretty much risk free too.

4. Graded or raw cards:
Either is fine - happy with raw cards as long as I see a decent scan before purchasing.

5. Just So Young or Baltimore News Ruth:
Just So Young - the Just So set just has that mystique surrounding it. Also love the portrait of a young Cy, the Ruth looks kind of "meh" to me.

6. T cards or E cards:
A few years ago I would have said "E" cards, but now it's pretty much even.

7. Set collecting or Type collecting:
Type collecting! I'm no good at sets.

8. N173 or W600:
N173

9. SGC 10 beater or SGC AUT slight trim (otherwise nrmt):
AUT in most cases - unless it's recolored/rebuilt.

10. Favorite prewar postcard issue:
Bregstone

11. Portrait poses or action poses:
Portrait

12. Johnson, Mathewson, or Young (their cards overall):
Matty

13. T206 Cobb Bat Off, Red Portrait, Green Portrait:
Green Portrait

14. Trading or buying:
Love to trade

15. T204 Ramly or 1914/15 Cracker Jack:
Really enjoy both!

16. T202, T205, or T207:
T205 - not a fan of the other two

17. Current favorite card in your collection:
Either N321 Sweeney or E107 Joss

18. Top card on your wantlist:
1912 Boston Garter - any player

[Bicem]

1. 19th century or deadball era cards: Deadball (cheaper, and a very cool era)

2. More important to you - condition or scarcity: scarcity (condition is BS to me)

3. Preferred buying venue - auctions, card shows, or BST: auction (usually where the good stuff is at)

4. Graded or raw cards: graded (I like the holders for display/protection)

5. Just So Young or Baltimore News Ruth: Young (Balt News is a little overrated)

6. T cards or E cards: neither (postcards)

7. Set collecting or Type collecting: Set (but like both)

8. N173 or W600: w600 (tough choice though!)

9. SGC 10 beater or SGC AUT slight trim (otherwise nrmt): SGC AUT (all about eye appeal)

10. Favorite prewar postcard issue: 1905 Rotograph (rare and gorgeous)

11. Portrait poses or action poses: Portrait (love formal studio pics)

12. Johnson, Mathewson, or Young (their cards overall): Matty (better selection)

13. T206 Cobb Bat Off, Red Portrait, Green Portrait: Red Portrait (looks the best imo)

14. Trading or buying: Buying (easier, but trading is more fun)

15. T204 Ramly or 1914/15 Cracker Jack: Ramly (like both though)

16. T202, T205, or T207: T202 (actually dislike t205 and t207)

17. Current favorite card in your collection: 1906 Lincoln Pub Waddell

18. Top card on your wantlist: Rube Waddell Horner cabinet

[Wiggum Fan]

1. 19th century or deadball era cards: Deadball

2. More important to you -
condition or scarcity: Condition

3. Preferred buying venue - auctions,
card shows, or BST: BST (actually any place I get a good deal!)

4. Graded or raw cards: Graded (see number 3)

5. Just So
Young or Baltimore News Ruth: Ruth

6. T cards or E cards: T

7.
Set collecting or Type collecting: Type

8. N173 or W600: W600

9. SGC
10 beater or SGC AUT slight trim (otherwise nrmt): SGC AUT

10. Favorite
prewar postcard issue: None really

11. Portrait poses or action poses: Portrait

12.
Johnson, Mathewson, or Young (their cards overall): Mathewson

13. T206
Cobb Bat Off, Red Portrait, Green Portrait:Green

14. Trading or
buying: Buying

15. T204 Ramly or 1914/15 Cracker Jack:Ramly - without a doubt

16. T202,
T205, or T207:T207

17. Current favorite card in your collection: There are two that I will list:

https://2img.net/h/i345.photobucket.com/albums/p370/mcap100176/Baseball%20cards%20-%20all/1912RecruitLittleCigarsMaxCareyfron.jpg

https://2img.net/h/i345.photobucket.com/albums/p370/mcap100176/Baseball%20cards%20-%20all/1907DietscheTyCobbfront.jpg

18.
Top card on your wantlist:Too many to list!

[rholmes]

1. 19th century or deadball era cards: Deadball

2. More important to you - condition or scarcity: Scarcity

3. Preferred buying venue - auctions, card shows, or BST: BST

4. Graded or raw cards: Don't care so much anymore. I used to be a serial cracker, but now I leave the slabs alone. I still have yet to have a card graded. Maybe this will be the year.

5. Just So Young or Baltimore News Ruth: Ruth

6. T cards or E cards: E

7. Set collecting or Type collecting: Type

8. N173 or W600: Don't want to have to choose.

9. SGC 10 beater or SGC AUT slight trim (otherwise nrmt): Depends on the card. I would usually take the beater...if it isn't too beat.

10. Favorite prewar postcard issue: Don't really have a favorite, but PC796 and Bregstone would be up there.

11. Portrait poses or action poses: Portrait

12. Johnson, Mathewson, or Young (their cards overall): Mathewson

13. T206 Cobb Bat Off, Red Portrait, Green Portrait: Bat Off (might be my one exception to the portait/action thing).

14. Trading or buying: Both

15. T204 Ramly or 1914/15 Cracker Jack: T204

16. T202, T205, or T207: Pass

17. Current favorite card in your collection: E90-1 Walsh

18. Top card on your wantlist: 1909 Cabanas...any...seriously missing what I used to have and sold off.

[jbonie]

1. 19th century or deadball era cards: 19th Century

2. More important to you - condition or scarcity: scarcity, but I prefer scarce cards that are or are close to highest graded.

3. Preferred buying venue - auctions, card shows, or BST: auctions, so you know there is a market

4. Graded or raw cards: graded! SGC only

5. Just So Young or Baltimore News Ruth: Ruth

6. T cards or E cards: T

7. Set collecting or Type collecting: Set

8. N173 or W600: N173

9. SGC 10 beater or SGC AUT slight trim (otherwise nrmt): AUT

10. Favorite prewar postcard issue: no clue

11. Portrait poses or action poses: Portrait

12. Johnson, Mathewson, or Young (their cards overall): Johnson

13. T206 Cobb Bat Off, Red Portrait, Green Portrait: Bat Off, but only because of the sunset

14. Trading or buying: either

15. T204 Ramly or 1914/15 Cracker Jack: CJ's

16. T202, T205, or T207: T205

17. Current favorite card in your collection: see avatar

18. Top card on your wantlist: N172 Anson Portrait

[TheBig6]

1. 19th century or deadball era cards: Both

2. More important to you - condition or scarcity: Condition

3. Preferred buying venue - auctions, card shows, or BST: BST

4. Graded or raw cards: Graded

5. Just So Young or Baltimore News Ruth: Young

6. T cards or E cards: Both

7. Set collecting or Type collecting: No sets, Impulse buy what I like , if I have the cash

8. N173 or W600: N173

9. SGC 10 beater or SGC AUT slight trim (otherwise nrmt): Neither

10. Favorite prewar postcard issue:Novelty Cutlery

11. Portrait poses or action poses: Depends on the card

Johnson, Mathewson, or Young (their cards overall): TheBig6

13. T206 Cobb Bat Off, Red Portrait, Green Portrait: Green

14. Trading or buying: Buying

15. T204 Ramly or 1914/15 Cracker Jack: I like both, clean CJ by a hair

16. T202, T205, or T207: No Prefrence, Like them all

17. Current favorite card in your collection: N173 Keefe

18. Top card on your wantlist: Horner Cabinet Tris Speaker

[cccc]

i'm surprised so many people are picking the baltimore ruth over the just so young. now i see why ben started this list...to all the people picking ruth we are no longer friends!

...and jamie you can't call yourself a 19th cent collector anymore

[jbonie]

Oh heck, the Just So Young is 19th Century? Oops, I hadn't been following those cards much, gee this is embarrassing... consider me ashamed

[cccc]

My taste and preference have changed 2-3 times the past 8+ years...

1. 19th century or deadball era cards:

Deadball

2. More important to you - condition or scarcity:

Scarcity

3. Preferred buying venue - auctions, card shows, or BST:

BST

4. Graded or raw cards:

Raw

5. Just So Young or Baltimore News Ruth:

JUST SO FTW~!

6. T cards or E cards:

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

7. Set collecting or Type collecting:

Type

8. N173 or W600:

W600s (goes with the deadball answer above)

9. SGC 10 beater or SGC AUT slight trim (otherwise nrmt):

SGC10 (different shades of beater-ness???)

10. Favorite prewar postcard issue:

PASS--they're not cards

11. Portrait poses or action poses:

Action (guess i should've gone with n173s)

12. Johnson, Mathewson, or Young (their cards overall):

Mr. Cy Young (Johnson has few e cards)

13. T206 Cobb Bat Off, Red Portrait, Green Portrait:

Red Cobb (can't argue with the card hof)

14. Trading or buying:

Buying!

15. T204 Ramly or 1914/15 Cracker Jack:

Crackers...

16. T202, T205, or T207:

T205s

17. Current favorite card in your collection:

My favorite is always next on the to get list....

18. Top card on your wantlist:

T206 PLANK

[cccc]

Oh heck, the Just So Young is 19th Century? Oops, I hadn't been following those cards much, gee this is embarrassing... consider me ashamed

yes there's only 1, and it's in a very heavy collection so won't be available in the forseeable future. you have a better shot at the ruth anyways.

[jbonie]

Yeah, I think the only crack I'll be taking at either of them is admiring the scan.

[fisherboy7]

Oh heck, the Just So Young is 19th Century? Oops, I hadn't been following those cards much, gee this is embarrassing... consider me ashamed

Yep, 1893. So, much much earlier than any other Young card (a full decade before the E107). Here's a visual:



I'm also a bit surprised so many people chose the Baltimore News Ruth. To me, the Just So card trumps and it's not really much of a contest...

[crazylocomerk]

yes there's only 1, and it's in a very heavy collection so won't be available in the forseeable future. you have a better shot at the ruth anyways.

That is the reason I went with the Ruth. If I had the funds, I'd have a better shot of landing the Ruth then the "1" Young. Now if there were more known out there, I'd change my vote.

Quan.....can we still be friends?

[Abravefan11]

1. 19th century or deadball era cards: Deadball Era

2. More important to you - condition or scarcity: Scarcity

3. Preferred buying venue - auctions, card shows, or BST: BST

4. Graded or raw cards: Graded

5. Just So Young or Baltimore News Ruth: Just So Young

6. T cards or E cards: Both

7. Set collecting or Type collecting: Type collecting with a few subsets

8. N173 or W600: W600

9. SGC 10 beater or SGC AUT slight trim (otherwise nrmt): SGC AUT

10. Favorite prewar postcard issue: Novelty Cutlery

11. Portrait poses or action poses: Both

12. Johnson, Mathewson, or Young (their cards overall): Mathewson

13. T206 Cobb Bat Off, Red Portrait, Green Portrait: Red

14. Trading or buying: Trading but I have a hard time parting with cards so mostly buy.

15. T204 Ramly or 1914/15 Cracker Jack: Both

16. T202, T205, or T207: T205

17. Current favorite card in your collection: T200 Boston National

18. Top card on your wantlist: E90-1 Bill Sweeney

[sabrjay]

1. 19th century or deadball era cards: I prefer sets like the n28 and n162 but right now I'm working on the t205 set

2. More important to you -
condition or scarcity: Scarcity. I will always try to track down the tougher cards of a set

3. Preferred buying venue - auctions,
card shows, or BST: BST and collectors I already know.

4. Graded or raw cards: I prefer raw only because they usually sell for less. With 30 years experience in the hobby, I don't need someone else to tell me there is something wrong with a card.

5. Just So
Young or Baltimore News Ruth: Ruth. He is THE baseball player everyone knows. There might be only on Just So Young, but casual fans don't know his name outside the award.

6. T cards or E cards: t-cards. Some of the e-cards are hideous but my all-time favorite card is an e-card.

7.
Set collecting or Type collecting: I used to do both. If I had the money I'd still collect types but right now I'm focused on my t205 and Delong sets.

8. N173 or W600: tough choice but I'm going with n173s because the photo selection is much better.

9. SGC
10 beater or SGC AUT slight trim (otherwise nrmt): Depends on how ugly the 10 is. I'll take a nice clean 10 over a AUTH, but I'll take an AUTH over a trashed 10.

10. Favorite
prewar postcard issue: RPPC of townball games.

11. Portrait poses or action poses: action although portraits can be very striking.

12.
Johnson, Mathewson, or Young (their cards overall): Johnson just because I've been a big fan and is a no brainer in my book as greatest pitcher ever.

13. T206
Cobb Bat Off, Red Portrait, Green Portrait: None of them. If the name wasn't attached to those cards no one care about them. The only Cobb cards I'd want other than the t205 I have for my set is an e95 or t227

14. Trading or
buying: Trades are tough but fun when you can pull them off.

15. T204 Ramly or 1914/15 Cracker Jack: CJs. Love the red background and the picture selection is much better. Plus you get Federal League players

16. T202,
T205, or T207: t205. One of the best looking set ever made along with n162s and n42/43. t207 would be second and my brother's passion pulls up the rear.

17. Current favorite card in your collection: as much as I love my Thorpe card, my e92 Nadja Oakes is easily the best looking and favorite card in my collection

18.
Top card on your wantlist: Delong Gehringer and n172 Moxie Hengle dead man pose

[cccc]

That is the reason I went with the Ruth. If I had the funds, I'd have a better shot of landing the Ruth then the "1" Young. Now if there were more known out there, I'd change my vote.

Quan.....can we still be friends?

bleh life's too short to hold grudges

5. Just So
Young or Baltimore News Ruth: Ruth. He is THE baseball player everyone knows. There might be only on Just So Young, but casual fans don't know his name outside the award.

when i picked the young i was more thinking which card is cooler? if i thought about the name recognition factor these 2 cards wouldn't even be considered. also the baltimore ruth is hugely overrated imo...i'd rather pick up his major league, widely-issued sporting news rookie card at a much steeper discount.

[terjung]

the baltimore ruth is hugely overrated imo...i'd rather pick up his major league, widely-issued sporting news rookie card at a much steeper discount.

Agreed on both counts.

[rholmes]

I really like the Just So Young, beautiful portrait...but just setting aside any kind of hype and what things cost for a minute...I really LOVE the Ruth card. To me, it really captures something. Might be subtle, but it's there. There is a youthfulness to the stance, the glove tucked under, socks up, hat cocked, that says something about baseball. Reminds me of all those games standing in center field in Little League. The card IS baseball. It's got Ruth on the front, and that cool schedule on the back. Young, if we didn't know better, could be just another guy in his nightshirt, shot beautifully.

Carry on!

Ray

[Z-NUT]

1. 19th century or deadball era cards: 19th Century

2. More important to you - condition or scarcity: Scarcity

3. Preferred buying venue - auctions, card shows, or BST: BST

4. Graded or raw cards: Raw

5. Just So Young or Baltimore News Ruth: Just So Young

6. T cards or E cards: E cards

7. Set collecting or Type collecting: Type

8. N173 or W600: N173

9. SGC 10 beater or SGC AUT slight trim (otherwise nrmt): SGC 10

10. Favorite prewar postcard issue: 1907 PC775 Grignon Chicago Cubs

11. Portrait poses or action poses: Portrait

12. Johnson, Mathewson, or Young (their cards overall): Young

13. T206 Cobb Bat Off, Red Portrait, Green Portrait: Bat Off

14. Trading or buying: Buying

15. T204 Ramly or 1914/15 Cracker Jack: 1914/15 Cracker Jack

16. T202, T205, or T207: T207

17. Current favorite card in your collection: 1976 Topps # 130 Luis Tiant

18. Top card on your want list: 1933 Goudey #119 Rogers Hornsby (Fielding)

[Sponsored content]