Help Deciding On A PreWar Card

MattyC

So I'm looking for a nice card that predates my two oldest ('32 Caramel Ruth and '33 Goudey Gehrig,) and have narrowed it down to the following. The eventual card would be lower grade, say in the 5K max range. Taking into account aesthetics, importance in the hobby, and maintenance of value longterm, which would you choose...

1. 1909 E95 Philadelphia Caramel Wagner - the thinking here is that Wagner is so important to the hobby because of The Card that it would be nice to have him represented in a collection.

2. T206 Cobb Bat Off Shoulder - I know the green portrait is worth more-- but of his T206 cards, I prefer the image and background on this one.

3. 1915 Cracker Jack Cobb - this is an important set with a great design, and his image is powerful here.

4. 1909 E90 American Caramel Joe Jackson (this would have to be a PSA 1) - an important and attractive card of a historically significant player, and his Cracker Jack issue is out of range pricewise.

Anyways always appreciate fresh insight on cards with which I'm not deeply familiar, so please feel free to weigh in on/evaluate any of these cards.

milbroco

I am not sure what or who you could pick up in your price range but have you thought about a T3 Turkey Red. They are some of the most beautiful cards ever produced. You should be able to pick up a nice Hall Of Famer. Of the cards you mentioned, I like the Cracker Jack Ty Cobb.................
Best of Luck,
Bob

MattyC

Thanks-- thought about that one as well, but need it to fit in a display for standard slabs. Having covered a lot of the 50s-80s cards I just want something that has real age and history to it. I also thought of another Ruth, such as one of the Goudeys, or another Gehrig, such as the US Caramel, but would like to go even older and represent a new player as well.

YogiBerraFan

#3

goraiders

#2

perkdog

Id go with the 1915 Cracker Jack Cobb

orioles93

Id go with the 1909 E90 American Caramel Joe Jackson. A great card to have even in low grade. Always liked it.

MrVintage

I love the Joe Jackson card, but I don't think you will find one for 5K that presents very well. I'm pretty sure it is actually pretty close to the same price as a cracker jack Joe Jackson.

RipublicaninMass

1909 E95 Philadelphia Caramel Wagner, I like this or the E90 (red background)
1915 Cracker Jack Cobb or a Wagner
T206 Cobb Bat Off Shoulder nice choice



E90 carmel Joe Jax IMO card is hideous! I'd go with an M101 (standard slab?)

Big80s

<< <i>1909 E95 Philadelphia Caramel Wagner, I like this or the E90 (red background)
1915 Cracker Jack Cobb or a Wagner
T206 Cobb Bat Off Shoulder nice choice

E90 carmel Joe Jax IMO card is hideous! I'd go with an M101 (standard slab?) >>



I agree with everything said here. The e95 Wags is a very solid investment. I would say the e90 Jackson, but as was stated - it is truly an ugly card. I like t206 cards, and they're certainly popular - but they are widely available and I don't know how that's going to affect prices in the long run.

I'm excited to hear what you decide on. They're all great cards.

Maurice

How 'bout an e95 Cobb? Haunting image.



Or an E254 Colgan's Chips Wagner? Same image as the T206.

churchiscool

cracker jack jax certainly cheaper than an e90-1. the e90-1 is kinda ugly all things considered, the allure is in the "rookie" status. for 5k you can probably find at least a 1.5 cracker jack.

if you want the best looking card for the 5k, the choice is the t206 cobb. you can probably get an EX to EXMT card. the 5k would get you an EX e95 wagner. you will get lower condition cards with the cj cobb or e90-1 jax. my choice would be the cj cobb, try to find a nice 2/30. the card with the best growth potential imo is the t206.

ThoseBackPages

#2

Objectivity

There is Ruth, then there is everyone else. Those cards you list are nice, but you have to have an early Ruth in your collection.

If you can afford it, get a 1916 Sporting News Ruth.

If not, then get a 1921 or 1922 Caramel Ruth.

msassin

#1 or #4

CSC

#3

Maurice

<< <i>There is Ruth, then there is everyone else. Those cards you list are nice, but you have to have an early Ruth in your collection.

If you can afford it, get a 1916 Sporting News Ruth.

If not, then get a 1921 or 1922 Caramel Ruth. >>



The 1917 Boston Store and 1917 Collins-McCarthy Babe Ruth cards with the Boston Red Sox are far more desirable than the 1921-22 caramel issues.

MattyC

It seems there really isn't a wrong choice among:

1915 Cracker Jack Cobb
T206 Cobb Bat Off Shoulder
1909 E95 Wagner

As to Ruth, this is my lone Ruth card at the moment, below. Sadly the Sporting News RC has sailed beyond my range.

Dboneesq

Nice looking "4", even though it looks like Ruth's neck is poking out of his shell like a turtle.

Objectivity

<< <i>

<< <i>There is Ruth, then there is everyone else. Those cards you list are nice, but you have to have an early Ruth in your collection.

If you can afford it, get a 1916 Sporting News Ruth.

If not, then get a 1921 or 1922 Caramel Ruth. >>



The 1917 Boston Store and 1917 Collins-McCarthy Babe Ruth cards with the Boston Red Sox are far more desirable than the 1921-22 caramel issues. >>

.

Yes indeed. But if the Ruth RC is not affordable with a splurge, the 1917 cards probably won't be in the budget either(though splurging on one would be a great buy)...so the Caramels would have to be next

You could probably buy a decent "1" 1922 caramel Ruth and still get one of the others on your list too.

canjond

I'd go with the Joe Jackson, as now seems to be the time to pick one up (they are at 5 year lows in terms of pricing). #1 and #2 on your list are ALWAYS available for sale. The Jackson is a scarce card in the E90-1 set. The Cobb is a nice second for me, but just doesn't get me there. I'm also somewhat biased... this was delivered to me on Saturday:

CollectorAtWork

I'd vote for #3, the CJ Cobb. I'd really like to pick up this one myself someday. As you said, it's a very powerful image. I'd probably vote the E90 Joe Jax second. I'm not a fan of the T206 Cobb Bat Off Shoulder. I think the Red or Green are better. There are a lot of great Cobb cards. The Brunners and E93/94/98 also have very popular images of him. I like the E95 image of Wagner a lot. Others to consider are the E103 and M114 Sporting Life which are close images to the T206. The M114's are relatively cheap these days also because there population is a little higher than the others. I'd also look into the CJ Joe Jax, as has been mentioned, and the 1933 Goudey Lajoie, which is another iconic card in the hobby.

Any Ruth cards from his Red Sox years are seriously crazy expensive right now unless there is something seriously wrong w/ the eye appeal. That's already a very nice US Caramel card of Ruth that you own, so you might just stick with that.