End o' the Line for me
 

Well, I can say that my Kraken journey has finally come to an end! I completed my E91 American Caramel set (A/B/C) at the National and now am at the end of the line on E90-1.

Mr. Stahl is on the way to me in the mail and today, the Honus Wagner batting card showed up in the mail. I won't be pursuing Shoeless Joe unless all of the stars align, so I think it's safe to say that 230 Kraken points is probably as far as I'm going to get.

As far as I can tell, it took me about eight years, though I wasn't too serious about collecting them for a while in between. Best of luck to all of you with your E90-1 journeys. I look forward to continuing to follow this thread. It's a fantastic set and unless you collect them, you don't truly know just how tough some of the cards are to find.

Congrats, Anson! That's awesome

Kraken Score now 87

Andy Cook

Congrats Anson, outstanding achievement.

Congrats Anson and great looking Wags!

Thanks, everyone! And Andy, nice-looking Mitchell!

Impressive couple of cards from the 'AN' crowd of Anson and Andy. And Anson is correct...there are plenty of tough cards in the set. I had the good fortune to obtain most of my scarce before this knowledge became more well known.

And congrats on the E91A/B/C completion. They are fun group of cards, but unlike the E90-1 set there are no known (currently) tough cards. And if I were to start a comparable thread, I might get a handful of replies.

Your numbers have been updated, and I reserve the right to update when the stars possibly align in the future.

Brian

Brian,
Agreed but I would be in that "handful", lol.
Ben

"I love baseball history backstory; especially when it involves cards."

Thanks, Brian -- it's weird. I didn't have any great affinity towards that set (E91). I just started picking them up. Many were really cheap at the time. Before I knew it, I had 20 or so, so I just kept going.

I really began to enjoy it because of the challenge. And while there aren't really cards in it that I consider tougher than the others (other than the fact that they seem to get slightly more plentiful with each progressive series), I'd argue that the entire series is just flat out difficult. You're certainly right in that there isn't anything stupidly rare. But at the National this weekend, I saw very few in total. Like a couple dozen.

I agree, Anson. E91s are not super easy to complete.

Thanks to additional purchases from a couple of forumites (huge thanks to them), I’m up to a score of 224 (missing 26 points)

If anyone is looking to trade or sell extra copies, please shoot me a PM!

Thanks!
Joey

The Mitchell is one of the nicest cards in the set.

Nice 64 point Kraken boost in less than 5 months. A few more pokes in the Kraken's eyes and you will have slayed the watery beast.

Brian

Glad to see this thread again at the top. Made a lot of progress...number now at 236. 4 to go.

Nice to see a couple of us going full speed ahead on the E-Monster. Both have been updated...November 12th has been a very good day so far for sailing the Kraken infested seas.

Brian

was able to find the phelps, can mark me at 120/120.

Great achievement Jeff, congrats! You indicated that you have 120 of 120 cards. I assume this perhaps means that you do not have the Dots Miller with sunset variation? The Miller sunset card is a relatively new discovery, or at least became better known, in the past 8-10 years. I believe it was possibly first identified by our own ullmandds. It makes the set, at least in the Eyes of the Kraken, complete at 121 cards.

Let me know what card you do not have, and I will adjust your number accordingly. For example if it is the Dots Miller sunset card (which has a value of 3), your number would officially be 247.

Brian

I know this is not a buy/sell/trade section, but if anyone has a raw or low grade Plank available for sale please pm me.

-Jackson

I know this is not a buy/sell/trade section, but if anyone has a raw or low grade Plank available for sale please pm me.

-Jackson


Aww, come on Jackson, don't state that you know that this is not the BST section, but then go ahead and treat it as such. No need for BS-Tea spill over onto this thread. Walk this Plank request to the correct section and I will wish you good luck.

Brian

(Double, Thumbs Up Emogi) - cuz I am too lame for actual emogis.
This thread is way too cool for that stuff man.
Respect.
Go, Brian Go.
Ben

Time flies
 

I noticed this thread got elevated recently and I’m grateful to see it.

My own Kraken Kwest halted at 223 pts about 2.5 years ago when I couldn’t find a Wagner (batting) and I admitted defeat on Shoeless Joe.

It’s fun reading back through the years of the thread.
I don’t know if I will ever get to the 230 mark (stars would have to align as previously mentioned) but this is a very cool thread and an amazing set.

Keep going Kraken Krazies, you are a special species!

My kraken number has increased to 236 after picking up a few more this last week.

Down to 4 needed
- karger
- dougherty
- wagner batting
- george davis

Nice that you are down to 4 cards. The Wagner is the big one on your list, but the other 3 are sneaky tough as well...good luck!

Brian

Great thread and a great set and well deserves the treatment it has received here. Bravo. I don’t currently collect it but felt like I lived the journeys of many through these posts and pics.
Enjoyed all 11 pages.
RayB

Edited to add I used to own the Cobb but sold a dozen years ago.
Shame.

I seem to be adding a card a year. Now at 217 (118/121).

I'm glad it is appreciated by at least a few, and I really appreciated the ton of input I received when setting up the Kraken parameters. Nice to see even folks who are not currently collecting the set can enjoy the thread as well.

And Otis, the 217 slot is deservedly yours.

Brian

I do have the sunset variation, acquired it raw from Anson awhile back.

My only two (didn't see them pictured yet):

Andy and Otis: Congratulations on adding Mitchells to your collections. Those are both very nice looking examples.

Anson: I love the batting pose of Wagner!

Thanks Jeff, you have just been confirmed to be Krakentastically complete...nice sunset Miller.

Brian

The above was from post 316 on this thread. So Jon's two E90-1 cards (not a bad two-only card combo) would qualify under this revolutionary revision scheme for 3 Kraken points, but alas the official tally shall instead be 2. I think you should start thinking about which card to add to make it an E-Monster trio.

Brian

Thanks much, Rob (and others I've missed since last reporting in) --

Great to see more Kraken progress being made!

Brian, isn't the Keeler red portrait considered scarcer and more valuable than the pink? Tks John

Hi John, you are correct, the Keeler red portrait is much more difficult than the Keeler pink portrait. In Kraken land, the red is worth 5, and the pink 1. My potential (but not implemented) revision I quoted above would have bumped the pink version to 2, because Keeler is a more popular hall of famer. But pink Keeler anguishly languishes at 1.

Brian

I picked up the Dougherty and Karger.

My score is up to 242, thanks. 119/121.

Joe

Nice...just the Wagner batting and the George Davis left. You have been officially updated.


Brian

Brian, sadly not the red version, but I did pick up the pink last week.

To make myself feel better, I like to think of my Keeler pink card as a red background version that got faded by too many hours of direct sunlight.


Brian

After "completing" the Monster (518) and 3 cards away from finishing my T205 set (missing Gray with Stats, Wilhelm Suffered, and Wagner Boston and passing on the Cycle Mathewson and the rare Holbliztell), I decided to wade into the Kraken pond....

I'm starting with just HOF'ers for now...my number is 11...not sure if I will go for the set, but I said that with the other two as well...lol

Great thread!!!

JT

Welcome John...like T206 and T205, E90-1 is another infectious card collecting disease that you might spend several fun years trying to cure. You have made the list, and I expect to see you rise up on it over time.

Brian

I know a guy who has that Davis. :)

1 to go....
 

Next to last update requested....new number is 243. Only seeking the elusive Mitchell to satisfy the Kraken.

Congrats...may your spyglass lock on to the 7 pointed Mitchell. The only Mitchell that will ever grace my collecting seas is the commonly encountered Single Point Fred, and will be bereft of the Mythical Mike of yore.

Brian

I’ve only got 3, but I love this set! I don’t plan on ever making a run at the entire E90-1, as I have my hands full and wallet emptied by the other monster. However, there are about 10 cards in this set that I absolutely love, Nap and Keeler are next on my list.

Enjoy the weekend,
Bob

Your fun three give you a Kraken # of 10, which will be noted accordingly. If you do decide to acquire some more let us know about the progress on your personal baker's E90-1 dozen.

Brian

A ragged sunset puts me at 220. I need Wagner fielding and Jackson, so I'll probably stay there. Chasing the Kraken has been a lot of fun.

Thanks for the welcome Brian and for doing this thread...picked up a couple more since my last post...up to 13....long way to go!

Hi Riggs336, my Miller does not have a splotch of red that a good Miller variant like yours does, so I have decided on a firm policy that states "just the orange sky only Miller is perfectly fine for my collection." And for you, missing only the Jackson and a Wagner, sounds like a perfectly fine place to say "My Kraken is complete."

And John, enjoy the hunting and gathering, no matter how fast or slow the progress.

Brian

nice miller w/sunset! i've got a wags that'll fit right in your collection!!!

I know I have said in the past that I would never be able to add a particular card to my collection, and then the stars align and I am able to do so. Perhaps this could be a Kraken thread miracle in the making...?

Brian

Hello, as part of my annual-ish update, please bump me up to 30

You have passed your annual physical Kraken check-up with flying colors.

For the sake of everyone's health, I suggest that others do the same, and while you are at it, you might also check in with how many T205 EGGS are in your basket (of course on its own separate thread).

Brian

Picked up a couple more....currently sitting at 15!

Keep the Kraken ball rolling...which is assuming that Krakens have balls that roll.

Brian

Four😳😳😳

Welcome aboard Octavio...your Kraken future is as bright as you wish it to be.

Brian

up to 91

Andy Cook

Nice Andy...onward and upward!


Brian

Re: Kraken
 

Andy,
I thought you were much further along than that. I've still got a small pile left. Stop and see me in Chicago.

Ed

big-six
 

Is retiring from work and the Kracken so remove me at 196. I did make it to 230 (never owned a shoeless Joe- my set is currently on REA and some big hitters in the summer catalog auction in July Speaker Wagner throwing and Mitchell Cinn.
It was a great 40 year journey!
Thanks to all who helped me including Ted Z god bless

Leon if this post is in the wrong section please delete

Bob

The Kraken is actually Leon's marine overlord, and the Kraken has informed this thread through underwater communication cables that this post shall remain. Your great multi-decade dedication will be rewarded by knowing your bounty will be dispersed to other obsessed collector(s). Best wishes on your post-Kraken adventures.

Brian

Picked up Karger, Dougherty and G Davis. Am down now to one card remaining for the Kraken to be Konquered LOL.

But Wagner Batting is a big one for sure!

Joey

Congrats on getting to the final (big) card needed. I poked the Kraken and he updated your number.

Brian

At last
 

Finally, I have vanquished the Kraken. Please move me to 250, thanks to everyone that assisted along the way. Appreciate this thread, always fun to see it revived.

Mike

Congrats on finishing it off Mike. Now there is a three way tie on top of the leaderboard. If this was golf, we would be heading into a three hole playoff. But the only holes the Kraken likes are the type that inflict damage to ships and cards, like what can be seen on this E90-1 of Cy Young:

Attachment 670641

Brian

up to 17 with my latest REA pick up

Nice Collins Johnny. Looks like the Kraken is slowly dragging you deeper into the depths of E90-1 collecting, probably with those little suction cups on its tentacles (if Kraken indeed have suction cup tentacles, which I am not sure, as I have never taken a selfie with the sea creature).

Brian

Brian, your encouragement makes the Kraken thread fun!

Thanks John. I figure the Kraken deserves to have its reputation lifted, after centuries of striking fear from the depths of the ocean. As seen in this thread, the Kraken is normally a relatively benign creature, especially towards that most unwieldly of characters, the E90-1 collector. It means no harm, and only is interested in making collecting the set a fun and challenging endeavor.


Brian (disclaimer: I am a member of the KAB, which of course stands for the Kraken Advisory Board)

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Congrats on closing it out Mike.
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