My collection needs a cornerstone

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Posted By: Paul Carek

Help me out here, guys.

I'm thinking of spending $500, the most (by a couple hundred bucks) I've ever shelled out for a single card. It must be of a major Hall of Famer, and it has to be a recognized "classic" in the hobby.

My shortlist at the moment is:

1952 Bowman Mantle or Mays (I'm slowly building that set)
T206 Dark Cap or T205 Mathewson (I'm also working on a HOF collection)
1941 Play Ball Dimaggio

Any other cards you think I should consider? Love to hear your thoughts. Thanks much.

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Posted By: Darren

I'd recommend a 1949 Bowman Jackie Robinson of Satchel Paige. If you're patient you may find one in Ex for that price.

In the pre-war realm pick up a midgrade Lajoie (throwing or with bat). It's a great looking card from the Monster.

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Posted By: Adam

How about a T206 Cobb (classic, red portrait) or a T206 Walter Johnson? Both can be had for that price. Enjoy whatever you pick!

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Posted By: T206Collector

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Posted By: Phil Garry

How about a VG - 1939 Play Ball Ted Williams RC

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Posted By: Jodi Birkholm

I was always partial to the Red Heart Mantle or the Wilson's Ted Williams. Or, if you REALLY want a classic, how about the '54 Bowman Williams? The condition won't be great on any of those cards at the $500 level, but it sounds as if you are more interested in having the actual card regardless of condition.

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Posted By: Rich Klein

I'd look at the following cards -- and I bet you can get them in nice shape (7)

1968 Topps Nolan Ryan
1967 Topps Tom Seaver

Rich

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Posted By: JimB

Of the ones mentioned, I'd go for the DiMaggio or Matty. I like the '49 Robinson idea too. And T206 Cobb for that matter.
jimB

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Posted By: Jason L

I would choose either the Mantle or Mays, since it will also go towards your set efforts.

Otherwise, please consider:

Vintage:
T206 Lajoie w/bat in SGC 50
T202 Tinker/Evers/Chance in a strong grade


Post-War:
1948 Leaf Stan Musial RC in maybe PSA 4 or 5
1976 Topps Walter Payton RC in PSA 9
a trio of colorful 1951 Bowmans in NM, including (Campy, Doby, Spahn, or Snider)

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Posted By: Brian T.

My vote from those you listed would be to pick up the dark cap Matty. It is a classic and given the current market, picking up a nice common-backed version should be doable. It is a card that no one would ever wrinkle their nose at in terms of its inclusion in trades as well - so I can't imagine that unloading it would ever be an issue. Matty and T206 are both highly collectible and I think such a card could easily qualify for a cornerstone if that is the top end of your price range. Just make sure of authenticity and lack of alterations (trimming, coloring, etc.) To that end, a graded card from a respected company (SGC would get my vote) should aid in that endeavor. Above all, if this is truly for your long term personal collection, make sure it is a card that YOU would enjoy having because you like to look at the card (not just picking a certain card due to the idea of having it or due to its popularity to others). Good luck and enjoy!

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Posted By: Greg Ecklund

1934 Goudey Lou Gehrig #37

A classic portrait of one of the greatest players of all time and a guy that represented the best of what the game can be.

It might cost $100 or so more than you're willing to spend, but you can get a nice looking lower graded Gehrig for $600 or even less if you have patience.

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Posted By: dennis

1956 topps mantle

1940 or 41 play ball ted williams

1933 goudey mel ott batting pose

t206 tris speaker

1933 goudey dizzy dean

1940 play ball dimaggio

1935 goudey hank greenberg

1949 leaf dimaggio

1949 leaf ted williams

1954 topps ted williams #1

1953 topps s. paige

1954 topps willie mays

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Posted By: barry arnold

206 dark cap matty.
first pre-war that i ever bought '1984' (not the first i ever owned).
still have it and think of it as a Cornerstone.

all the best

barry

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Posted By: Jim Thierfelder

I also collect on a limited budget and spent nearly $500 on a card last year that exceeded by several hundred dollars anything I had previously spent on a single card. My choice was a T206 Cobb red potrait. I was patient and waited for a card that had nice eye appeal at a good price. I ended up with a very nice PSA1 Cobb that I enjoy every time I look at it. Only set me back $460 so I had a few bucks to pick up another couple cards.

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Posted By: Jerry

A Nice Looking SGC40 T3 Hofer wouldn't be a bad choice either.

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Posted By: Joann

Hi Paul,

Good for you! Jumping in for a higher level card will be really cool. Mine was a T206 Cobb Bat Off PSA2, and I absolutely enjoyed owning it and looking at it.

You could get a T206 Cobb Red for $500, but may struggle to find one that has good eye appeal. But if you find one, give it serious consideration as your cornerstone.

I'm also really partial to the two T206 Matty pitching cards. Also very classic, both are beautiful, people know who he was, they are pretty timeless in terms of value. And for $500 you can get one that is in good enough condition that the eye appeal will take care of itself.

You will be able to get something good with $500. Whatever you get, I bet you end up spending a lot of time just staring at it. Let us know what you end up with.

Joann

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Posted By: Steve

"How about a VG - 1939 Play Ball Ted Williams RC"



I have to go with this one too. But you can't go wrong with any of the cards listed.



Good luck with whatever choice you make and please let us know what you do choose.

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Posted By: Dan Koteles

Daryle the " WOlfdog" has a REd Cobb....work out a deal here in the B/S/T.

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Posted By: Fred C

Why not have an Old Judge as a corner stone to your collection? Just make sure that the image is nice and clear. Look up the history of the game from that era. There are plenty of obscure players (to most) that have an interesting history/story. You can tell people about the origin of the game, and that player, while you show the card to your friends.


Someone mentioned a T202 Tinker/Evers/Chance. That's a cool card.

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Posted By: ken McMillan

my suggestion would be a nice 1954 Ernie Banks and a 1954 Willie Mays. 2 very strong cards.

kmac

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Posted By: quan

'34 goudey gehrig yellow, another classic and affordable to most in a still presentable grade.

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Posted By: Bob

T207 Loudermilk

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Posted By: joe

Fred, don't tell him Old Judge, we have enough competition.

Joe

Ty Cobb, Spikes flying!

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Posted By: Fred C

Now Joe, he's only looking for ONE card. But I know what you mean. You obtain one OJ and the next thing you know you can't stop! Also, did you notice that I didn't give him any hints to make sure the OJ is a DETROIT card? Especially an IA DETROIT card. Heck, he's probably not even from DETROIT so he probably wouldn't want one of those highly desireable DETROIT OJs, anyway.

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Posted By: Chris Counts

Wow!


What a great question. If I were you, I'd avoid the temptation of the '52 Mays or Mantle and go for the '33 Dean or '34 Gehrig ...

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Posted By: Craig W

You might consider a T206 Cy Young (Glove Shows) in PSA 3 / SGC 40.

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Posted By: leon

Maybe a T206 Cobb red portrait...

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Posted By: peter ullman

I'll take a t207 Lowdermilk for $500...anyone got one!

If this card is going to be a "cornerstone" of your collection...it should say something about your collection. What do you collect? If you collect type cards...it may be a one of a kind obscurity few people know about...or would appreciate. On the other hand...a 34' goudey gehrig, t206 Matty...pick one...Johnson portrait...cobb green...e90-1 young...e95 cobb...lajoie glove above head...are classics many know and love!