National League 1906 Fan Craze cards

norty

Does anyone on the Boards know much about these cards and the relative worth of the set and the game from which they came? I know the Pop Report lists an American league Fan Craze grouping in 1904 and a NL game in 1906. I am told the National league fan Craze game included Wagner, McGraw and others totalling 54 cards. This is a little off the wall but I know there are collectors out there with a tremendous knowledge of the truly vintage cards.

Any info that anyone had on the scarcity and value would be helpful.

1420sports

I know there is a collector out there and I believe he/she has fan craze cards in the tag line.

Prettyboy and Vorthian seem to have a nice knowledge of very early cards ...

curmudgeon

I think the cards are real nice. They are often found in fairly good grade, mostly because they have rounded corners that don't ding. The usual downgrade is for edge wear and chipping on the back.
Commons go from about $90-120 in nm-mt 8. There are no scarcities, since they were issued as a game in packs of 51 (A.L.) and 54 (N.L.). Like most of the game card issues; e.g. S&S, Tom Barker, National Game, they do not appear as popular with collectors, presumably because they were "acquirable" all at once.

norty

Curmudgeon:

Thanks a lot for the information. It is a real help.

MartinDihigo

I will add that in my opinion, the National League issue is much easier than the American League one. I don't know why this would be, but it is something I have observed. I spent a long time looking for the Rube Waddell card before finding one. I could have picked up at least 3 of most National Leaguers in that time.

-Ryan

aro13

A while ago Davidbvintage on ebay had quite a few in high grade form for sale. I cannot remember if they were SGC or PSA graded or both. The cards all sold for well above "book value". The Hanlon card and the Nichols card went for a particularly high amount if I remember correctly.

curmudgeon

aro13

You do remember correctly, although the commons went in the 100-120 dollar range (I got 2), and I don't know if that's well above book. Hanlon and Nichols always go higher than other HOFers of the time, as they are in fewer sets. I haven't noticed the discrepancy in AL/NL availability to any drastic degree, but will take your word for it. If that Waddell is an 8 or 88, I'd be willing to take it off your hands.
Todd

aro13

Todd-Yes, you are correct. I should have wrote that the "Hall of Fame" cards went for well above book as that is all I really look at.
In the SCD guide from 2001 they list Nichols as a common-so does Hager (not surprisingly) in his big book-when did they figure out that the card of Charles Nichols is Kid Nichols?

norty

Thanks a lot guys for the tremendous information. It is much appreciated.