What's the "easiest" and best pre-war set to complete?

[BobC]

Since you didn't specify a budget, a fairly easy set to collect is the 1936 S&S Game cards. They came 52 cards in the set, featured black & white photos of each player as well as biographical data, and included I believe about 17 or 18 HOFers out of the 52 different players shown.

They are relatively cheap and you should easily be able to put together a decent set for less than $1K. While roughly a third of the set consists of HOFers, none of the really big names like Ruth or Gehrig are included, which helps to keep the cost way down.

Though some collectors don't necessarily like them because they were part of a game, nor had color photos, they were actual photos and not the art-deco type drawings depicted on some of the other suggested sets like the Delongs and Diamond Stars. Plus, since they were issued as cards to be used in a game, they were printed on a little bit stronger and higher quality paper that was intended to hold up to the use and were made with rounded corner like regular playing cards, so they weren't subject to the dinged corner abuse most baseball cards from back then suffered. In other words, though relatively inexpensive for pre-war cards, they can usually be found in relatively nice shape also. Sort of a good match for someone trying to get their feet wet in pre-war collecting without going overboard on the cost or search.

[Scocs]

E96. Small set and not too many HOFers. Plus the HOFers in there are minor ones (no Cobb, Wagner, Johnson, Mathewson, Young).

[darkhorse9]

Lots of great ideas. I like the E96, and the 36 Goudey.

I didn't give a budget because so much can affect that. Lots of $50 cards can add up as fast as a few $400 cards.
For me, as long as it's easy to get the bulk of the set at reasonable prices. (i.e. $50 for low/mid condition for 100 or so cards or $100 for small sets) and there's only one or two cards that would set you back a few hundred, that would work perfectly.

[orly57]

I am not a set-builder, but if I ever did put a set together it would be the T3 Turkey Red. Every card is a work of art. Tons of Hall Of Famers. You could even find a nice way to display them. Since they often come with minor paper loss or pin-holes, you can get some really nice ones in low grades. Only a couple of them are expensive, and even those you can find rougher copies for ok prices. And...it's only 100 cards.

[Steve D]

First set that comes to my mind is T201. 50 cards, but each card has two players, so 100 total players. All the major HOFers except Plank, Wagner and Young are there. The Cobb, Johnson and Mathewson cards are significantly less expensive than their other cards.

As far as the 1930s sets go, you can't beat the 1934-36 Diamond Stars.


Steve

[irishdenny]

When evar this question Arises...

The T200 Set Always Comes ta MiND! :/
If my OCD Will evar let me complete the E90-1 Set,
THiS iS the One Fir me!

[Ronnie73]

I'm with Leon on the R333 Delongs. If I ever run out of T206's to buy, that would be my next set. I've always liked the design.

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

Not even a little love for Play Balls, sigh.