Top 10 Personally Collected Players who retired before WW2

[btcarfagno]

I kind of think that Mathewson isn't as collected as these lists suggest. His "name" is right up there but it seems to me that his card values seem to run lower than those of WaJo and Cy Young...which has always seemed odd to me given his place in the game and popular culture during his career.

[itjclarke]

Originally Posted by btcarfagno

I kind of think that Mathewson isn't as collected as these lists suggest. His "name" is right up there but it seems to me that his card values seem to run lower than those of WaJo and Cy Young...which has always seemed odd to me given his place in the game and popular culture during his career.

Matty might actually be my number #1 most collected player. I’ve got more (34) than Cobbs (25), but per your comment, his cards are a just a bit lower price than WaJo, Young. He’s almost in his own little pricing tier, above guys like Speaker, Lajoie, Collins, but well beneath Cobb, Wagner, Joe Jax.

[btcarfagno]

Originally Posted by itjclarke

Matty might actually be my number #1 most collected player. I’ve got more (34) than Cobbs (25), but per your comment, his cards are a just a bit lower price than WaJo, Young. He’s almost in his own little pricing tier, above guys like Speaker, Lajoie, Collins, but well beneath Cobb, Wagner, Joe Jax.

Indeed. Just in his own era he would rank 6th I would say. That wouldn't include Ruth or Gehrig or Anson or Kelly or Delahanty.

I would say Matty is borderline top 10 for most collected pre-WW2 players. Which to me doesn't really do him or his stature enough justice. I doon't know if it has to do with his SABRmetric stats, but if it did, GC Alexander would be more collected and he is not. So I'm not quite sure what the deal is with Matty.

[itjclarke]

Originally Posted by btcarfagno

Indeed. Just in his own era he would rank 6th I would say. That wouldn't include Ruth or Gehrig or Anson or Kelly or Delahanty.

I would say Matty is borderline top 10 for most collected pre-WW2 players. Which to me doesn't really do him or his stature enough justice. I doon't know if it has to do with his SABRmetric stats, but if it did, GC Alexander would be more collected and he is not. So I'm not quite sure what the deal is with Matty.

Agree, it doesn’t do him justice, and seems odd. He’s got a lot going for him— played the bulk of his career in NY as the highest profile pitcher of the era, WS hero, perfect image/reputation, and the absolute perfect look. Maybe it’s partly influenced by the fact that the Giants moved to SF? As an SF Giants fan, I’ve always collected the old NYGs, but perhaps others do not? NY collectors have the Yankees, and then of the teams that moved, I’ve gotta think the Dodgers are more collected than the Giants. I feel Philadelphia A’s like Collins, Grove, Foxx, Cochrane, Simmons also get short changed, perhaps in part because there is no longer any real direct tie with that team.

That said, as a Matty collector, I like that he has so many nice looking and attainable cards. No way I’d have as many as I do if they were in a higher price tier, or if he were included in fewer mainstream sets like Alexander.