1915 Cracker Jack

[BostonRedSox-PreWar]

Hi Friends,

Today, I wanted to share my 1915 Cracker Jack Red Sox Set (work in progress), but also get some feedback on this set in general. I know many collectors and enthusiasts rank this set pretty high, so I've treated it more as an investment collection. The reason I bring that up is that these cards get pricey! For example, I paid $2K for the Speaker which I feel was a bit over priced, but was genuinely concerned on being able to find one in a price range I could afford in the future, as I rarely ever see this card come up in auctions at a low grade.

How does everyone else feel about these cards? Do you think they'll retain their value and potentially grow? Either way, they are iconic and just beautiful to look at it.

Thanks in advance for the feedback! Best Regards,
-DHutch

[Madi$on18joshua]

In my biased opinion, you cannot go wrong with collecting this set.

I made several mistakes of not bidding more for key cards, I can remember I was there under bidder on 3 different 1915 Cobbs, when I finally did get it I over paid at the time for a lower quality Cobb but after losing those three I was determined to get the next one. I actually bid a couple thousand over the going rate at the time to make sure I won it.

After that I often "overpaid" as I was acquiring the cards needed to complete the set and not one of my over priced purchases are over priced any longer - lol.

Good luck and enjoy the journey of collecting, there is at least for me never a finish line!

[ChasingPaper]

Beautiful cards and great sub-set!

I also have a very biased opinion as this is my favorite set ever made.
I do not see their value going down, ever.
Ive also collected a few sub-sets so far. Cubs, Chi Feds and all the horizontals minus the '14 Mathewson, which is unobtainable for me.

[Aaron Seefeldt]

I’ve been buying, selling, and trading strictly vintage for just shy of 30 years. In my experiences Cracker Jacks are 1 of the 2 most coveted/beautiful sets in the hobby with the other being Rose Co. Postcards. There’s something intoxicating or hypnotic about the deep red backgrounds. It’s rare to get a “good deal” on CJs… over pay today and tomorrow you’ll be glad you did!

In my opinion they are still relatively cheap.

[JimC]

Great looking collection. I agree that they seem like a solid bet long term.

[53toppscollector]

its an iconic set that will never "fall out of favor" and Id imagine will only continue to increase in price. great looking cards you've got

[Rhotchkiss]

In my opinion, the 1914 CJ set is one of the top 4 baseball sets of all time (t206, 1933 Goudey, and 1952 Topps). To boot, 1914 CJ are super rare/tough bc they are not only old, but so fragile and they were distributed in boxes of sticky and perishable Cracker Jack candy. Just to be clear, the 1915 CJ set, which is basically the 1914 set run back a year later (with a few material picture/card/player differences and upside down text), is NOT on par with the 1914 CJ set. That said…

I think the 1915 set is a great investment. 1914 CJs can be crazy expensive. 1915’s look almost exactly the same and are more affordable than 1914s. Thus, you can get that classic pose of Jackson, Cobb, Wagner, Wajo (and a better looking Matty pose), for a fraction of their 1914 counterparts. For this reason, and bc the 1914 set is so iconic, I believe the 1915 set will always be in demand. I say to go for it, in earnest!!

However, one bit of advice, if I may- get the HOFers and low pop cards first. And, spend the money on the higher grade HOFers and buy the commons in lower grade - like all HOFers in a minimum of 4 and commons in a 2 or better. All the value and almost all the upside is in the HOFers. Taking it further/specifically, get the very best Jackson, Cobb, Wagner, Johnson, and Mathewson you can.

[BruceinGa]

Yesterday my son told me he is consigning a 1915 Ed Konetchy, SGC 9.
I wish I knew the story behind it!

[Leon]

Originally Posted by BruceinGa

Yesterday my son told me he is consigning a 1915 Ed Konetchy, SGC 9.
I wish I knew the story behind it!

SGC 9. Wow..
That's a card!
.

[ajjohnsonsoxfan]

Hope the OP is still going strong on the 15 set!

I too think the CJ's are one of the best if not THE best looking set ever made. The deep red backgrounds and cream borders just ooze Americana at it's finest. And the fact they were produced and distributed by one of the all time great American treats is icing on the cake (and in caramel stickiness to boot!).

Sometimes I day dream about a Ruth being included in the set and wonder what it would look like and how incredibly astronomical the value would be. As a matter of fact I had a recent dream that I went back in time and tried to find and then convince the guy in charge of CJ's to include that promising rookie out of Boston. haha.

How great would it be to find a crate full of 15 boxes in some underground forgotten bunker?

[BigfootIsReal]

If you had to choose one to collect what would you choose.....1915 CJ or Jackie?

[jingram058]

Don't know how long the kid in the sailor suit has been associated with the confection, but the entire time I was a boot through 1st class petty officer in the Navy, everyone called the dark blue dress uniform "Cracker Jacks".