Where did you buy your first Pre-War Card ? Which card ?

[deadballera]

Where did you buy your first vintage card ?

A card store ?
Card Show ?
eBay ?
A different online auction ?
From the BST from Net54 ?

Which card was it ?




For me, my first card was a 1934 Goudey Lou Gehrig. After watching Pride of the Yankees, I was hooked and wanted to get one his cards. I bought the card from Teletrade about 15 years ago.

Share your story....

[prestigecollectibles]

I bought a 1935 Diamond Stars Jimmie Foxx #64 at a high school gym card show in the early 80s. I was about 13 years old. It had many creases and I paid $12. My mom couldn't believe I spent so much on a baseball card.

[triwak]

eBay, about 5 years ago. Hooked!

[slantycouch]

T206 Weimer at a mall card show when I was about 12. I had $18 to spend at the whole show and the guy gave it to me for $3. I was quite pleased. Still have it too.

[calvindog]

About 6 years ago on ebay....

[Epps]

About 4 years ago I got a 1919 W514 Jackson for around $100 on ebay. I have upgraded since then, but I will always keep that card.

[Chris Counts]

When I was 13 in 1974, I attended one of the early Southern California card shows in Anaheim. John Parks was a regular dealer at these shows and one of the nicest guys I've ever met in the hobby. He acquired a large scrapbook of T206s and soaked them off the pages. He sold me a Three Finger Brown, a Sherry Magee, a Nap Lajoie, an Addie Joss and a Hal Chase ... for a dollar each! By the way, I recall T206s generally sold for a dollar each at those early shows, while '33 Goudeys fetched $2-3 each ...

[Bill Stone]

About 5 years ago I purchased some T210 Series 6 cards from Bill Cornell. He was a great assist in getting me started.

[JamesGallo]

As far as I can remember I bought 3 cards at one of the stores in Cooperstown in the late 1990s. 2 were strips a scalk and Kerr, the third was a weil Cicotte. I sold the Kerr and regret it. I still have the other 2 :-D.

James G

[Howe’s Hunter]

My wife Loretta and I were shopping for antiques at the Burlington Antique Mall in Lincoln when I saw Ty Cobb staring back at me from a red background.

It was my first anniversary gift, and not knowing any better, we paid way too much for it at the time.

It was the start of an addiction.....

[kmac32]

Bought my first elmer Miller at the National in Chicago in the late 80's

[zork1974]

My first was a T206 Christy Mathewson (dark cap/Sweet Corporal back) SCG 50 a few years ago. I was already heavy into collecting vintage star memorabilia cards (sorry to those who don't like jerseys cut up) and I decided to parlay that energy into collecting real cards from the same era.

[ullmandds]

My first vintage bb card was a t206 matty white cap...purchased at a show in NJ in the early eighties...in f-g condition for $2...I upgraded it a few years ago to a sgc 70...which I eventually sold through Barry Sloate. I still have the beater...and always will!

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i1...capfirst-2.jpg

[sgbernard]

Bought a T206 Bliss with a Sweet Cap back at "The Baseball Attic," a store that always smelled like cigarettes above a gas station (in the attic) in Chapel Hill for $5. The store isn't there anymore, and I'd reckon that was about 1990 or so. I still have the card, haven't gotten it graded. I chose it over a T206 Cy Young with most of the front damaged for $10.

[Anthony S.]

Card show in SF, or more likely just south of SF in San Mateo circa 1976. I was about 8. My dad collected old Cal and 49er football programs (he may still) and brought me along. I bought a beat up T206 Camnitz and a T206 Irv Young, which I was convinced was Cy Young until I found out a few years later that Cy never pitched for Minneapolis. Judging by the price I paid, and what others have said they paid for T206's in 1970's, I think I got taken --- what kinda weasel screws an 8 year old out of his barely deserved allowance money--- but I still remember the excitement I felt when I first saw tobacco cards. Opening new packs never quite matched that, even if I did buy 1975 and 1976 Topps by 36 pack box. I just sold the Young to a fellow NET54 a month or two back. He knew it wasn't Cy. Then again he had me mail it his company so he's probably more than 8.

[bijoem]

25 years ago or so....

T205 McGraw (had a polar bear back) - $25.

I went to a local card show with my mom.
I loved Topps baseball cards / bought them every year from the candy man (was just a kid then) and couldn't believe the little size of the T205 card.

I was hooked. And I went to more shows looking for more little cards.... eventually buying any T206 I could find with the Polar Bear back.

I had a looseleaf binder / denim material on the outside.... and in bubble letters on the cover of the binder I wrote "TABACCO CARDS" (I wasn't a good speller, sorry Barry). I would carry that around with me to every show.

I'd like to say I have been collecting ever since, because I probably would have an incredible collection if I did.... but I took a long break and really just got back into collecting in the last 3 or 4 years or so.

[Matt]

About 20 years ago at a card show. T206 Bender beaten up for $6. Still have it.

[E93]

T206 Cobb red and T206 Laoie batting around '79 or'80 from a shop in the San Fernando Valley called All-Star Cards if I remember the name correctly.
JimB

[brickyardkennedy]

Many years back, I bought three 1933 Goudey's in a now defunct sports collectibles store in lower Manhattan. They were had for a great price and I was happy as a pig in the proverbial - until I found out that they were trimmed.

Like to think that I'm a little more sophisticated now. : ^ )

[BillyCoxDodgers3B]

My first was a T206 Kissinger [sic], Buffalo, Sweet Cap back. I bought it at Gary Nuche's old store in Buffalo for the princely sum of $1. Still have it, too.

[Rich Klein]

But it was Joe McGinnity T-206 bought as a common at the old Sports Corner store in Montvale, NJ for the princely sum of $1 circa 1974.

I hope someone is enjoying owning that card as we speak.

Rich

[laserbeemer]

My first pre-war is a good story. Back in 1977 (I was 12). I had a paper route and one of the older boys (I think he may have been around 18 at the time) had a huge collection. He was going to sell me a T-205 Mordeci Brown. On the day I was supposed to buy it he changed his mind and for $22 I got a Mathewson portrait and a 1952 Bowman Musial. At the time I was disappointed. But looking at it now I got the better end of the deal. I still have both cards.

[Steve D]

My first pre-wwII cards were three T206's (Bresnahan batting, Keeler batting and M. Brown Chicago on shirt). I bought them at a card show in San Diego CA in 1979. Cost me $10 for the trio


Steve

[T206Collector]

Bought a Vernon "Lefty" Gomez 33 Goudey with heavy creasing for 50 cents at a card store in my home town that literally existed for about 3 months in the summer of 1988. Think I sold it shortly thereafter at a show, then traded for this Lefty Grove in spring 1989.

From Misc. Pre-War

[Orioles1954]

In 1985 my parents and I were visiting my older brother who was working at a computer store at the Columbia Mall in Columbia, Maryland. My father was much displeased how the manager was speaking to my brother. He gave me $10 (I was 9 years old) and told me to come back after he was done yelling at the manager. It so happened that night there was an antique show at the mall. I came across a binder of old baseball pictures. I found a particularly cool one of a guy named Ames for $12, I managed to talk the fellow down to $10 after giving him a pathetic look. I will always have a soft spot in my heart for that T206 Red Ames *Portrait* wherever it may be. By the way, my father is a wonderful person

[2dueces]

E-bay 2005. I wanted 1 pre war card. I was a true rookie coming back to the hobby since being away since 1990. Of course I learned quickly about Pro grading and this is the only card I purchased by Pro. I joined this board shortly after and learned a little bit about the new hobby. One T206 has turned into 123. Although I am not actively collecting them at this time one day I will complete the portrait set. Laugh if you must but it was only a $23 mistake. I spent much more on the shiney worthless stuff in 1990. I wish I would have spent all that money in 1990 on T206's instead of Upperdeck and Topps.

[Brian Van Horn]

1977-Bought two T206 cards (Miller-Pittsburgh and Groom-Washington) from a woman who seemed to be the original owner. The location was a flea market at South Hills Village (Shopping mall in Pittsburgh). She had the cards lined up in a narrow shoe box. I later tried to make a crude container for holding each of the cards. Bad move. It tore off the lower right corner of the Miller when I tried to extract the card. That disaster happened about 27 years ago.

[B O'Brien]

I was selling at shows in when I was still in HS. I was lucky enough to buy a bunch of 50's Topps cards in the mid 80's for $60 (age 11) and that was my selling and trading stock in the 90's.
I traded a guy a EX 1955 Clemente for $300, VG White Cap Matty Old Mill back, and an awesome Payton RC. Those are all gone now, but that Mathewson sunk in the hooks.

By the way, I want that Matty back. I sold it on ebay in 2002 in a PSA 3 holder to a Mathewson collector in Seattle. I think he had a bunch of his stuff on display at the stadium for a while. If this guy rings a bell with any of you all, I would LOVE to find my first prewar card again. It is a fairly tough combo, so you never know.
Thanks for the help,
Bob
upperhandisforemost@yahoo.com

[Mark]

As a kid back in 1970, a couple of dealers would run adds in the back of the Sporting News offering vintage cards. I sent for a price list, and it came back to me listing mostly t206's. The lists were sorted by team names and gave only the player's name and a price. I think the most expensive was a Cobb for about $3.50. I ended up getting about about 10 t-206's for $25. I know that the Matty portrait was among them. Maybe I got my first Cobb then, too. I also recall that when they arrived they came with a wide assortment of backs. I bought a good number of cards that way. It wasn't until I went to a card show in Detroit a year later that I found out that there were multiple t206 cards of some of the players. I also was very disappointed to learn there that the Wagner and Plank cards are rare.

[joeadcock]

About 1976, my father and I(12 years old), went to Tropical Flea Market in
Miami, Florida. I couldn't believe it when we came across a family with a bunch of prewar cards. My father bought me a T206 Lajoie, 1933 Goudey(dont remember who) and Playball Gehringer. Each one was ONE DOLLAR.

They also were selling a Goudey Ruth for $7. My father said no, too much money. I still have the Lajoie and Gehringer.

I would never own another prewar card until sometimes in the early 1990's. I mistakenly thought current cards was the way to go. Boy was I wrong.

Great thread.

Frank L.

[talkinbaseball]

I remember looking for and buying a T-206 Drum Back at the Nassau Collesium shows in the late 70's or early 80's.I consigned it to Mastro Auctions before there company became a mess.I thought it was time for someone else to enjoy it.
john guzze

[rc4157]

The first individual vintage card I purchased was this T-206 Bates from a show in Dayton, Ohio just a few years ago. I was advised by the Net54 Masters to never let it go and I plan to keep it.
RC

[Tim Fritz]

My mom would let me order cards in the mid-80s for Christmas and my birthday from one of the mail in catalogs. I can't remember which one I ordered the McGinnity and McGraw (portrait with cap) from in about 1985. And I also can't remember the price. I do remember that I also got a '59 Mantle and a '59 Mays with them.

Sold both T206s during college. Didn't buy another until ebay came along about 10 years ago.

[ethicsprof]

'round 1984 soon after getting married, i bought a T206 dark cap Matty for
'round 19 dollars at a show at a convention center---
and my wife loved the card.
we're celebrating our 25th anniv. this weekend with a tamed Monster as part of our joint marriage resume---and yes, she still loves the cards.

best,
barry

[Kawika]

Bought a '57 Topps Mays from a shop in West L.A. around 1982 for ten dollars. Thought I discovered gold and that I would never see another vintage card again. Little did I know. First pre-war card I ever bought was a '33 Goudey Dizzy Dean from Papa's Sportscards on El Camino Real in Menlo Park, California around 1987. Ol' Diz was a childhood favorite from Game of the Week broadcasts and again I thought I should jump on it because I figured I'd never seen one before and I'd probably never see one again. Paid waaay too much; Papa totally hosed me. Next vintage card I acquired was a '32 Zeenut Oana which I bought off eBay as a remembrance of my last conversation with my father the night before he passed away in 2001 when we talked about life and beauty and the San Francisco Seals. Still have all three cards; the rest is history down the slippery slope of vintage card addiction.

On another subject, the Dean card presents a cautionary tale. It has sat on a counter top for the past 15 years or so under ambient light and the colors have faded badly. Probably a good idea to store your cards with a bit more forethought. You may go now, grasshopper.

[vwtdi]

1967 or 68, 48 T206s including 3 of the 4 Cobbs from a deer hunting friend of my Dad's who knew I had a keen interest in collecting baseball cards (Topps at the time). They had been his Dad's and had sat in a cigar box inside his business desk at home.

[kkkkandp]

Saturday, January 14, 1995 - WG5 John McGraw - Parsippany PAL show

Sunday, January 15, 1995 - T206 Jimmy Collins - Mahwah Sheraton Crossroads show

[Jay Wolt]

For me, it was 1981 after reading "The Glory Of Their Times" I picked up
a T206 Rube Marquard from Card Collecting Co in NYC through the mail.
I think it cost $10
I had some Play Balls & Goudey prior that I had got from trades w/ friends who
had some passed down from relatives.
So I believe the Marquard was the 1st one I bought.
Damn! Almost 30 years ago!

[alanu]

Late 80's traded for a beater 1933 Goudey yellow Ruth, wish I still had that card.... in Colorado Springs

[toppcat]

T206 Killian throwing, bought around 1982/83 at Marty Perry's shop in Hicksville, NY. Still have it.

[DaveH]

About 5 years ago I saw a 1921 Exhibit card of Ty Cobb and had to have it. Since then I've completed the set.

dh

[drc]

As a kid I ordered my first Pre-War card, a 1933 Goudey common, through the Larry Frisch catalog. Still have it.

[ecRich]

Around 1970-72 I got 1934 Goudey cards of Foxx and Dean ( $4 each) from the Wholesale Card Company catalog. I was thrilled that Gehrig was also on each card. I had also ordered the Ruth and Gehrig cards from the 1933-34 sets but they were out of those guys. I got the Ruth cards 2-5 years later for a much higher price of $25 each. I still have those first two cards and would not sell them for anything.

[tinkertoeverstochance]

I was 10, roanoke civic center show, spring 1996....picked up a t206 schmidt port in EX and a t206 wiltse pitching vg-ex for $10 per card.....still have both cards

[Dustanh1]

My first was a T206 George Hunter from the BST. Shortly thereafter I went to my local card shop and bought 2 raw Schulte T206's (that I still need to get graded). This was roughly 2 years ago, maybe a little longer. Before then I had been strictly modern. I sold the majority of my modern cards, and now I have 93 T206's including 2 Cobbs. Damn this is fun.

I remember my first National in Chicago in 1993. I was with my dad and we walked by countless tables full of vintage cards. I was looking for Ken Griffey Jr. singles. Griffey is still my favorite player, but how I wish I had paid attention to the pre-war cards then. Oh well.

[ChuckRoss]

Like board member Mark above, I bought my first vintage cards back in about 1971 from dealers in the back of the Sporting News. I believe my first card was a T206 Bender and I think it came from Stan Martucci, a dealer on Long Island (I lived in Virginia). A couple of years ago I found his old price list and I still remember that if I had had the money back in '71, he would have sold me all the Topps complete sets from 1954 to 1970 (in what he called A-1 condition) for a total of under $1000.

[birdman42]

My first prewar cards were a small batch of T206 Senators that I got from Wayne Miller, for about $4 each. He seemed to have an inexhaustible supply of those things.

Wayne had a small card concession in the coin and stamp shop I worked in at the time, so I saw him often, and had early pick on most of what he got in.

Bill

[martin neal]

In the mid -eighties, I had a couple of video stores in town and in one of them, I had a glass case with some baseball items for sale (wax packs and singles). a customer brought in this old box with these really small cards in them. No idea what they were, but I recognized Cobb, Johnson and a few other HOFs. They were in pretty rough shape so I accepted his offer of the cards for a $100.00 bucks. There were quite a few cards that were missing the red ink like the card I use as my avatar and a Willis with a gray background. I wish I had kept all the "missing reds" as they might have provided some insight into the makeup of a full sheet.

[David W]

Originally Posted by Rich Klein

But it was Joe McGinnity T-206 bought as a common at the old Sports Corner store in Montvale, NJ for the princely sum of $1 circa 1974.

I hope someone is enjoying owning that card as we speak.

Rich

Well....maybe.... if that McGinnity ended up in a "Bargain Barn" in Georgia circa 1977.

We were on vacation heading to Florida, when dad decided to get off the interstate and take the scenic route. We stopped at this run down place in Georgia, and it was loaded with ball cards. I only had $20 or so, and bought McGinnity and Casey for $5.00, out of the 100 or so T 206's. The old man had Goudeys, complete Topps runs up to about 1970.

I also bought the complete 68 Cardinal team set, and turned down for a $1 a piece Fleer all time greats.

A couple years later we returned to Georgia, stopped at the place, but the old man had just died, and his son auctioned off all the contents.

[Rob D.]

T205 Jimmy Dygert at the Hartville (Ohio) flea market, 1977 or so. Thought it was cool because he played for the Philadelphia Athletics and there's an elephant in the upper-left corner of the card.