How many of you just collect minor league cards and why?
 

And show some...esp. the more difficult series.E99 etc.

Minor league cards are cataloged so I collect them. Even if they weren't, I would still collect them. Many of them are super neat....and super scarce. To answer the original question though, I doubt too many collectors here will ONLY collect minor league cards. Here are some of my favorites...

http://luckeycards.com/pe221master4x.jpg

Los Angeles is still a minor league team,,,,
Sorry Dodger fans I could not resist :D:D.

Interesting topic. The only vintage minor league stuff I collect is Southern League T206, only because I like tracing the history back to small cities around where I grew up in Georgia and Alabama.

I also think that modern minor league offers collectors a way to have high quality cards of HOFers and future HOFers, whose RCs happen to be produced in the 80's junk-era. Procards and TCMA can offer "pre RC" cards that were produced in 1 / 1000 level quantites relative to their Topps issues, so there is investment appeal as well. Here are some of my modern minor league faves (Apologies to those of you who throw up when viewing cards that never saw a cigarette pack) :

[http://i560.photobucket.com/albums/s...ps2890ecd5.jpg[/URL]

[http://i560.photobucket.com/albums/s...ps2b3d4b47.jpg[/URL]

[http://i560.photobucket.com/albums/s.../smoltzpro.jpg[/URL]

Mostly for the pristine condition many of these items are found in :D

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/...-Pro1950-1.jpg

I like to collect and preserve local history. Plus, if I would like to speak with any of the former players, they are very approachable, and usually more than willing to share a few good stories over a pint at the local watering hole. Got this photo of the 1950 Ellensburg Cowboys (semi-pro) from the batboy pictured in the middle, Freddie Watterson.

Minor Leaguers are more goofy.

I started collecting minor league sets because of the beauty of the Obaks. Once that was completed I veered off in to other PCL sets like the early Zeenuts and Home Run Kisses. This lead to pursuing the PCL players in the D310 and D311s and the E99 and 100s. Before I knew it, I was collecting the T210 Old Mill red borders.
The funny thing is I never thought of myself as a minor league set collector, just a T and E collector. I was drawn to the sets I collected based on the visual beauty of the sets. You just can't beat the Obaks or the 1911 Zeenuts in my mind, although I am sure many disagree. Once you complete the mainstream sets like T205, 206, 207 and E90-1 through E97 and other sets like Domino Discs and Sweet Cap pins, you have different avenues to take and I went with minor league sets. Some guys have veered off in to post cards or other major league sets, it's all just a matter of taste I guess.

Always liked this minor-league card

http://www.qualitycards.com/pictures/31591221.jpg

For pre-war I only collect minor league and PCL cards. They are harder to find and not everyone collects them so it is something different and new which has appeal. Red background Cobbs that you see every day hold no interest for me.

Here are two of my favorite.

http://www.baseballcardresource.com/...odie_SGC50.jpg

http://www.baseballcardresource.com/...sborn_PSA2.jpg

I guess I'm sort of headed in that direction with the C46 set plus I have several samplings from the T212 sets. The T212-3 are one of my favourites. They all have great colour and designs but the T212-3 has player stats/info on the back. I like the C46 because its the only one produced in Canada in that era plus C46s also have player info on the backs. The production numbers for all Canadian tobacco sets are much smaller than those of American issues such as T206. With a population in Canada of just under 8 million back in 1910 we simply had fewer smokers! :D

D317 Remar
 

A bit after pre-war but still minors, D317 Remar- 1946,'47,'49,'50-

Every Prewar card I currently own is a minor leaguer.Those being T210's,a few SL T206 and a couple T209-2's.I just like the mystery and obscurity of most of the players represented in those sets.Every knows Ty Cobb but how many know of Guy Titman?

Also Epps love the Benny I believe I was the under bidder.Next one that comes up ill try my best not be in that case.

My finest minor league peiece. A 1940 San Francisco Seals stamp album. It's got 17 / 25 stamps and 23 / 25 autographs. It's also for sale if anyone is interested.

http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m...ams/Seals1.jpg http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m...ams/Seals2.jpg

http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m...ams/Seals3.jpg

First cards of HOFers

http://photos.imageevent.com/exhibit...20Lombardi.jpg

Last cards of HOFers:

http://photos.imageevent.com/exhibit...r%20Herman.jpg

Then there's cards of guys who maybe didn't get a card in MLB but who distinguished themselves elsewhere:

http://photos.imageevent.com/exhibit...%20Connors.jpg
http://photos.imageevent.com/exhibit...0autograph.jpg

And cards of interesting characters who otherwise might not be remembered:

http://photos.imageevent.com/exhibit...%20Mishkin.jpg

The Saga of Solly Mishkin:

http://www.oldcardboard.com/enews/20...31/enews31.htm

Love the Titman.A beauty in any condition.

Attachment 100809

Big Eater - Sacramento - 1911 PCL

I just collect peanuts

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5074/5...19df38c1_b.jpg

Post War '54 MD Sacramento PCL

Attachment 100810

One of my favorites...Bishop 1911 E100

Lerchen Type 1 Green and Red with Lerchen Type 2 Green


Attachment 100812

Ooooh yeah, this thread is heating up!

Time to lock the thread ;)

Oh well, a few more wouldn't hurt

http://farm1.staticflickr.com/89/226...178e0d4f_o.jpg

N172s deserve a "shout out". In 1888, Goodwin & Company would cover the entire Western Association including the likes of the Chicago Maroons, Milwaukee Brewers, and the Des Moines Prohibitionists. The following year would see three of the four California League teams. There were also a myriad of team change cards to cover player movements into many other minor league circuits including the Atlantic and International Associations. My pic covers the 1889 Detroit Wolverines (International Association) w/ the Kid Baldwin being an error card.

http://www.net54baseball.com/attachm...1&d=1363490498

They sure aren't paid like it!!;)

I would never consider myself a minor league collector, but love to pick up SF Seals stuff here and there..

Attachment 100819Attachment 100820
Attachment 100817Attachment 100818

... and the Rickey (or 2)
Attachment 100821Attachment 100822

Thank you! I searched for one for about 3 years before finally winning this one on eBay. Also, I have enjoyed watching you put together your T210 set. I want to take the plunge sometime in the future, but for now, just handpicking certain cards and poses!

That hit me hard...

Beauties Joe! :)

E100s type 1s with printers scrap (most likely) and a type 2 Weaver...

http://luckeycards.com/pe100comparisonx4.jpg
http://luckeycards.com/pe100type2weaver2.jpg

Bishop E99 1910 Fred Raymer

Attachment 100826

HR Kisses E136 1912 Heine Heitmueller

Attachment 100831

HR Kisses Heitmueller Premium ad back

Attachment 100833

Weird Team Names
 

Des Moines Prohibitionists???

I think I see a topic for a future thread. :D

I'll see your Des Moines Prohibitionists and raise the 1923 Roslyn Yippers.:D

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/...psb5cc8b4e.jpg

The town built Runje Field (pictured) in 1923. The grandstand held 2,500 in a town of 2,000. A very popular rural nine, they beat the Ellensburg Hawks, led by future Red Sox/Yankees outfielder Roy Johnson, for the 1924 Yakima-Kittitas League Championship. Jim Yourglich, manager/owner pictured far right, was a notorious bootlegger and owned "The Brick" tavern.... many Northern Exposure fans would recognize the bar. These are the stories I love about minor league ball.

We all know what a prohibitionist is but what's a Yipper? :confused:

There are two origins of the name Yippers, (1) "yip, yip" was a call the miners, supposedly, used to move mules, and (2) Yourglich, also known as "Father Hot-Whiskey" and his bootleg shine was called "Yipper Liquor" because profits from the sale/distribution during prohibition sponsored the local baseball team. It was well-known. That's how the team could afford such a nice ballpark, and needed extra seating beause a trip to Roslyn meant a Sunday of under-the-table drinking. They later hired African American great, Jimmy Claxton to pitch/manage the white semi-pro ballclub, from 1926-31.

Revenuers had tried to shut down Yourglich's operations for years (he was arrested more than 20 times). Finally, in August 1929, "The largest still in Washington state history was discovered" when it exploded and detsroyed more than 30 homes & city hall. The still was under City Hall, and a shaft to Yourglich's garage (across the street from The Brick) was dug to prevent detection. Car comes in for repairs, leaves with a trunk full of shine.

Canada is only ten minutes away over the bridge.
 

http://imagehost.vendio.com/a/204295...7TYPE5_NEW.JPG


Toronto and Montreal teams put a lot of players into the ''big'' leagues teams .

http://photos.imageevent.com/exhibit...%20averill.jpg
http://photos.imageevent.com/exhibit...4%20Alston.jpg

http://www.net54baseball.com/picture...ictureid=11420

http://www.net54baseball.com/picture...ictureid=11418

Couple of my minor league issues

I collect Obak Vancouver Beavers b/c it is a hometown thing.

I also collect some C46 cards - a pretty decent Kelley and McGinnity for obvious reasons, plus a selection of high-grade ones (up to "8"s). The high-grade ones I bought because I feel they are very under-rated and difficult cards. They look great when they are sharp! :eek:

Cheers,
Blair

Eau Claire
 

I've shown these before. 1941 Eau Claire Bears and 1944 Louisville Colonels - Otey Clark.

Rick

I collect mostly post-war minor league issues from the late '40's thru 1970. The cards can be pretty tough, relatively inexpensive, and the competition isn't nearly as fierce. There's a pretty decent amount of minor league ball here in New England, so I kind of latched onto it as a kid and I've stayed a fan.

A few 1963 Schieble Press Red Wings:

1949 Saint Paul Saints:

Good thread topic, Scott.

While I collect T cards and other issues, southern minor league players, especially from 1909-1911, appeal to me the most because of their connection to baseball history. It's revealing to see how America's game spread to so many small towns across the country, especially in the south. And, it's interesting to track the careers of minor leaguers, some of whom made it to the Show, like Clarence Tillie Walker who began his professional career with the 1910 Spartanburg Spartans of the Eastern Carolina League (where he hit .390 in 1911). And Ivey Wingo who broke in with Greenville in 1910 and went to the St. Louis Cardinals in 1911, beginning a twenty year career in the Bigs. Both of them were World Series champions.

Besides, who has ever heard of Charles Bunn “Bunny” Hearn? He was on the 1910 Wilson, NC team, pitched sporadically in the Bigs, was a scout for the Red Sox, and later had a distinguished career as coach of the Univ. of North Carolina Tarheels baseball team (1917-1918, 1932-1946). He’s still remembered in Wilson.

And, of course, how can one forget the infamously named Titman? Below is his T209 card, although, Dan, your AWH would sure look good in my collection!

Cheers, Mike