UPDATED: My Combined PSA/SGC Cracker Jack 1914 Pop Report

[sniffy5]

Thanks for the research Greg. Really a great job and great effort. It confirms what all of us 1914 CJ collectors already knew - that nearly every card in the set is scarcer that a T206 Wagner. Apples and oranges I know, but still, many cards are just plain hard to find. And if a collector wants certain cards in a 5 or 6, it may not matter how much money he or she is able to throw at the situation. The cards just are not around, and the ones that are out there are not available. I believe the 2nd highest Psa registered 1914 CJ set owner also owns the Pittsburgh Steelers. I'm pretty sure I'm not going to be able to tempt him into selling any of his cards with any amount I'd be able to offer.

As far as patterns of scarcity with this set, I have observed that #'s 73 and up were lesser produced. Also, stars from #'s 1-72 are more available because people hung on to the stars ( a whopping 107 Cobbs apparently survived). Extraordinarily minuscule in comparison to how many were printed in a nationally distributed set, as far as we know. When I was completing the set I thought maybe Del Pratt's great grandnephew or something must be hoarding all of his cards, same with Cady, Caldwell, Becker, Frank Owens, Frank Smith, etc... The so-called commons....but the probable fact is that these cards were just thrown out. And as many others before me have remarked, it's amazing that any 1914's even survived their trips in the popcorn boxes to be pulled out in 1914. ,let alone still be here 100 years later. Anyone who has held a 1914 can tell you that the cards are barely there. Like brittle, red, 100 year old tracing paper.

I think sets have peaks and valleys. The 1914's are at a peak, but plateau might be more appropriate than valley for these. They are too cool, too famous, and too valuable at this point especially, to nosedive.

[GregMitch34]

Good points but I'd be careful making assumptions about little chance for major price decline....And one point on collectors--yes, more may be trying the 1914s but perhaps just as many may be exiting to collect 1915s because they can't afford the 14s now...I know a couple in this category already....

[rainier2004]

Originally Posted by GregMitch34

Good points but I'd be careful making assumptions about little chance for major price decline....And one point on collectors--yes, more may be trying the 1914s but perhaps just as many may be exiting to collect 1915s because they can't afford the 14s now...I know a couple in this category already....

me as well...

[GregMitch34]

A Jimmy Austin "2" on ebay today, ending tonight, already at $565...so trend far from over...but will be interesting to see if rush to grade low-grade cards this month...I'm still wondering, if anyone can guess, if there are a lot of ungraded low pop cards or, as claimed, they were simply tossed out long ago as not worth it...similarly, have we seen nearly all the more popular cards graded by now, inflating those numbers, which now will not grow much...

[sniffy5]

Greg, do you know where the #120 Doolan card ranks on the pop list? I don't think you listed that one.

[sniffy5]

My bad. Just saw it!!!

[rainier2004]

Originally Posted by GregMitch34

A Jimmy Austin "2" on ebay today, ending tonight, already at $565...so trend far from over...but will be interesting to see if rush to grade low-grade cards this month...I'm still wondering, if anyone can guess, if there are a lot of ungraded low pop cards or, as claimed, they were simply tossed out long ago as not worth it...similarly, have we seen nearly all the more popular cards graded by now, inflating those numbers, which now will not grow much...

I would guess there are some 1914 and 1915 sets be handed down within families and those cards would be raw, but may not see the market for decades. It seems you see a large set break every so often including 1914s, there was one by a member here sold thru LOTG 12 months or so including a nice Pratt. So its long dry spells with sudden large bursts...followed by long dry spells.

[GregMitch34]

I have a HOFer with the highest PSA grade and so tempted to sell now--but not sure if prices at highest end also going up (no way to tell, really). Could be more of mid-grade and low-grade trend...

[71buc]

Originally Posted by rainier2004

I would guess there are some 1914 and 1915 sets be handed down within families and those cards would be raw, but may not see the market for decades. It seems you see a large set break every so often including 1914s, there was one by a member here sold thru LOTG 12 months or so including a nice Pratt. So its long dry spells with sudden large bursts...followed by long dry spells.

I am a VERY casual pre-war collector. I have never considered paying to have a card in my collection graded. I have to believe there many other collectors here such as I that have a least one ungraded 1914 CJ in their collections. I am always curious when I read threads discussing population reports. Perhaps I am naïve but I have to believe that the population numbers aren't necessarily reflective of the quantity of individual cards out there. I have a decent Sam Crawford from this set that I have held onto for more than 20 years. I believe it would grade a 3-4. This would raise the number of Crawford cards on this list to 52. Does anyone else here have any 1914 CJs that have never been graded? I'm curious how much we could raise the numbers in this combined population report?

[ValKehl]

Most of the vintage cards I acquired during the 1990s and early 2000s were raw when I acquired them, and I very seldom get cards graded, unless I intend to sell/trade them.
Val

[rainier2004]

Originally Posted by 71buc

I am a VERY casual pre-war collector. I have never considered paying to have a card in my collection graded. I have to believe there many other collectors here such as I that have a least one ungraded 1914 CJ in their collections. I am always curious when I read threads discussing population reports. Perhaps I am naïve but I have to believe that the population numbers aren't necessarily reflective of the quantity of individual cards out there. I have a decent Sam Crawford from this set that I have held onto for more than 20 years. I believe it would grade a 3-4. This would raise the number of Crawford cards on this list to 52. Does anyone else here have any 1914 CJs that have never been graded? I'm curious how much we could raise the numbers in this combined population report?

I guess I was answering in relation to the rare no names of the set like cady, shotten, pratt, etc. Crawford is a HOF but none of those others are so who held onto them? They would of had to been collected in the day and I think that explains part of the huge difference in major HOFer pop numbers. I, also, have never paid to have a card graded.