Informal T206 Poll

[Chicago206]

I think what we are learning here in this thread is that probably the coolest thing about 206 is that there are so many different ways to collect! Some people cant fathom why I would spend over 2 grand on a common player with a rare back. I cant fathom why anyone collects pictures of players that nobody here has ever seen play, and that 99.9% of America hasnt even heard of! But I can respect everyone's individual reasons for collecting what they enjoy. In the end, isnt that what its all about anyway?

[bigtrain]

I collect the players on the front because I am interested in the history of the sport and the men who played it. I collect baseball books for the same reason. To me rare backs and condition rarities, although interesting, are more about the history of the tobacco company or the history of the marketing of the cards, rather than the sport itself.

[ethicsprof]

both.

for quite awhile now.

all the best,

barry

[ullmandds]

I definitely collect for both...but I have been very interested n the backs for over 20 years. The fronts are easy...you can find almost any t206 front for sale at any given time. Definitely not so for the backs. A rare back merely enhances the overall appeal of a card...in my opinion. Anybody can find a red t206 cobb...but try finding a coupon type I or any of the tougher backs...makes collecting much more interesting! And to neglect the tobacco companies involved in the distribution of our beloved t cards would be to ignore a valuable link to their history and to a point in time in america.

[vintagetoppsguy]

Originally Posted by Chicago206

I cant fathom why anyone collects pictures of players that nobody here has ever seen play...

You collect cards with advertising backs of cigarrettes that you have never smoked. So what? Just because we've never seen a player like Christy Mathewson pitch a game, doesn't mean that we can't read about him and collect his cards.

[Jim VB]

I've posted a few times in this thread and been remiss in answering the original question.

Fronts. Period.

The backs are nice. They are historical. And I do understand why someone would want an example of every back, but they are secondary to the fronts.

The cards were always printed for the player on the front, with the understanding that the back was an ancillary, advertising piece. When these were issued, you could control what back you got based on what brand you purchased/used. So there was no collecting challenge, back then, to securing a back set. There was always a challenge to getting all the players.

[quinnsryche]

Originally Posted by Jim VB

The backs are nice. They are historical. And I do understand why someone would want an example of every back, but they are secondary to the fronts.

The cards were always printed for the player on the front, with the understanding that the back was an ancillary, advertising piece. When these were issued, you could control what back you got based on what brand you purchased/used. So there was no collecting challenge, back then, to securing a back set. There was always a challenge to getting all the players.

Everyone has their own opinion, but this one is well stated and my feelings exactly. Thanks everyone for your replies. These are exactly the kind of honest, spirited responses I was hoping to hear.
Thank you!

[Chicago206]

Originally Posted by vintagetoppsguy

You collect cards with advertising backs of cigarrettes that you have never smoked. So what? Just because we've never seen a player like Christy Mathewson pitch a game, doesn't mean that we can't read about him and collect his cards.

Which is exactly why I stated that I respect everyone's reasons! But you decided to take just a snipet of the entire statement for whatever reason. Here is the statement in its entirety:

"I think what we are learning here in this thread is that probably the coolest thing about 206 is that there are so many different ways to collect! Some people cant fathom why I would spend over 2 grand on a common player with a rare back. I cant fathom why anyone collects pictures of players that nobody here has ever seen play, and that 99.9% of America hasnt even heard of! But I can respect everyone's individual reasons for collecting what they enjoy. In the end, isnt that what its all about anyway?"

[vintagetoppsguy]

Phil,

Perhaps I should have worded it in the form of a question. So here goes. Why is it hard for you to fathom why anyone collects pictures of players that nobody here has ever seen play, when you yourself collect advertisements of different brands of cigarettes that you've never heard of (or smoked)?

DJ

[Chicago206]

Originally Posted by vintagetoppsguy

Phil,

Perhaps I should have worded it in the form of a question. So here goes. Why is it hard for you to fathom why anyone collects pictures of players that nobody here has ever seen play, when you yourself collect advertisements of different brands of cigarettes that you've never heard of (or smoked)?

DJ

Do you always fully understand why people do the things they do, or like the things they like? Do other people always understand the things you do, or the things you like? I cannot understand why anyone still collects beanie babies. I cannot understand why anyone collects modern, mass produced cards. I cannot understand why people collect pictures of men who they have never seen play before. And im sure that some people cannot understand why someone would want to collect advertisements of defunt cigarette companies. We arent here to defend our likes/dislikes. We have a common thread in that we all enjoy collecting the things that make us smile.

[vintagetoppsguy]

Originally Posted by Chicago206

I cant fathom why anyone collects pictures of players that nobody here has ever seen play, and that 99.9% of America hasnt even heard of!

You collect rare backs of all the different brands of tobacco. So, you're telling me that you had heard of all those before you started collecting?