T206 Action versus Portrait cards and the T205 set

[Zone91]

I just can't seem to get into collecting the portrait cards...I appreciate much more the action cards of various players.

How do you guys feel about the T206 portrait cards? I know they are more collected and cost more as well....but the action portraits are in my opinion way way more nice.

My favorite card is the Nap Lajoie action card the colors and the background simply draw you in to a baseball dream!!! I have yet to buy one but will for sure soon.

[z28jd]

I just posted about this in the Cobb poll and mentioned the Lajoie, scary being on the same wavelength as you!

I don't like portraits at all. Given a choice I'd always pick an action shot.

Sad thing is with the old cards, I love the designs of the T204 and C46 cards, but would never collect either set. Two of my favorites and I have seven cards combined between the two sets

[Zone91]

I know I will be blasted but the T205 cards are the weirdest looking cards it is like looking into a funeral home where they display a picture of a dead person. Just do not get any positive vibes from this specific set.

The whole vibe of these cards creeps me out....and I am been very serious!!!

I know a lot of people love this set I mean no disrespect by my comments!!!

[Cardboard Junkie]

I agree, Adrian, about the T205s...just unattractive to me. T206..Love the portraits And the other shots......Just wish t206's had the bios on the backs instead of all adv. But then we wouldn't have all the crazy back collectors.

[Zone91]

Cardboard Junkie

The T205 cards give me a sick feeling in my stomach each time I see one...that is real weird!!! I just see no positive in their images.

[4815162342]

Originally Posted by Zone91

I know I will be blasted but the T205 cards are the weirdest looking cards it is like looking into a funeral home where they display a picture of a dead person.

Hilarious! Adrian, this is by far your funniest post!

T205s have never caught my eye either. Some of the portraits remind me of "the uncanny valley."

[z28jd]

The minor league cards from the T205 set are great! The rest are bad. I want a Sam Leever card and can't bring myself to buy one. I'm hoping someone just gives me a low-grade one someday so I can stop occasionally searching for them like I intend to buy one.

Not to change the subject, but what is up with Leever anyway on this card. Looks like a bad video game drawing! I also should check his T205 more often I guess, a couple ended around $10. I'm okay with that price

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1911-M116-Sp...p2047675.l2557

[tedzan]

Hey John D

I was just thinking the same as you regarding the T205's. They should have designed all the T205's like these 12 cards in their Minor League sub-set.








TED Z
__________________________________________________ ______________________

LOOKING FOR these T206 guys to complete my AMERICAN BEAUTY 460 sub-set

AMES....CAMNITZ....CRAWFORD (bat)....DOYLE (port)....JORDAN (bat)....MARQUARD
McGRAW (port-cap).....McQUILLAN (bat).....TINKER (bat off).....WILTSE (port-cap)

[quinnsryche]

I prefer the T206 portraits over the action shots. I always thought the 2 Newark T205's were the best cards in the entire set. Something about their eyes being in the shadows and those sunset yellow backgrounds.
One other thing, Ted, is that Jimmy Collins actually an authentic signature? If so, that card is SPECTACULAR! You should show that off more often!

[Sean]

Adrian, I agree wiyh all you said. The action pictures are my favorite, especially Cobb bat off and Mathewson black cap.
The T205s are weird, and those gold borders chip and show wear. And the T201s are even stranger IMO.
So, did you find an O'Hara St.Louis yet?

[Zone91]

Sean

Yes I found the perfect one graded PSA 3 but the seller wants almost 6000$ for it it has no stains or creases...But I am not going to pay 6000$ for it so I guess the answer to your question is still no at the moment. The PSA 3 is a super nice card I would have been a buyer at around 4000$ not much more than that. Here is the link to that card...you have to go into T206 cards by price and way at the bottom you will find the O'Hara:

http://www.707sportscards.com/psatype/tobaccoindex.htm

[Zone91]

tedzan

Those are a lot nicer than the rest of the T205 cards for sure much more life in them!!!

[tedzan]

Originally Posted by quinnsryche

I prefer the T206 portraits over the action shots. I always thought the 2 Newark T205's were the best cards in the entire set. Something about their eyes being in the shadows and those sunset yellow backgrounds.
One other thing, Ted, is that Jimmy Collins actually an authentic signature? If so, that card is SPECTACULAR! You should show that off more often!

Tony

The guy I acquired this Jimmy Collins card from told me that it's not an authentic signature. However, it compares closely with a known authentic Jimmy Collins signature,
so it may just be real.

Anyhow, I will see Jimmy Spence this Summer in Cooperstown,and I let him check it out.

Best regards,

TED Z

[Runscott]

Originally Posted by Zone91

I know I will be blasted but the T205 cards are the weirdest looking cards it is like looking into a funeral home where they display a picture of a dead person. Just do not get any positive vibes from this specific set.

The whole vibe of these cards creeps me out....and I am been very serious!!!

I know a lot of people love this set I mean no disrespect by my comments!!!

Adrian, you said this as well it can be said. The T205 Matty has grown on me over the years, but if the registration isn't dead-perfect, he looks perfectly-dead.

[frankbmd]

Originally Posted by Runscott

Adrian, you said this as well it can be said. The T205 Matty has grown on me over the years, but if the registration isn't dead-perfect, he looks perfectly-dead.

Actually most of the T205 subjects are in fact dead. I admire the realism and the gold coffins. The set was simply issued prematurely.

[Zone91]

frankbmd

Hahahaha!!!

[mintacular]

Maybe you didn't notice but the T205s have a rich gold border and have nice bio/stats backs whereas the T206s have dull beige/white border and plain ad only backs, plus the T205 minor leaguer sub-set add another dimension to this set. So while some might appreciate "action" (and that's a stretch) of T206s there are at least 2 other reasons why T205s are attractive, plus they are more affordable. There are many "E" card sets that are barely distinguishable from T206s where as T205s are one of a kind with their gold border

[Jlighter]

I really dig the portraits.

[Tao_Moko]

The T206 Leifeld has one of the best looking backgrounds of any card out there. I'm not as opposed to ports as you are and my favorites are the green back Young, Cobb and Evers. Some of the action shots are less accurate to the individuals appearance. The George Brown/e is a standout to me as being a poor likeness of the player and then you have the Goonies version of the Steinfeldt batting with the big wonky eye.

I too am less enthused by the T205's.

[Ease]

For me, t205s are the ultimate in lithography, when one is found with crisp registration and thick, sparkling gold borders that catch the light just right, well it can't get much better than that. The artwork is just so much more advanced than the 206s imo. Of course there are uglies in both sets, but it seems to me that there was more work involved in the design and production of the t205s as compared to the t206s.

[T205 GB]

Wow a T205 bashing thread. Well I am used to it. I would rather buy a $100 205 card that there is only 100 or less of than buy a $100 206 that there are thousands of. I look at the 206 set as the gateway. You start there and advance into better. Stopped collecting them 6 yrs ago but good news is my 8 yr old collects them

[tonyo]

As a general rule I prefer "action" (or really it's more: "let's see more of the uniform" that I prefer) over portrait. I still like the portraits though.

T205's I certainly love the look of them and I think that individually the t205 NL design may be my favorite of all prewar designs. Also appreciate the detail in the artwork. However, when it comes to the prospect of collecting the entire set, all those heads lined up becomes a little too repetitive for me.

[cyseymour]

I vote T206 portraits. The action poses are nice and all, but the portrait poses are truly striking. Love the OJ portraits, too.

T205 was a hot set about five years ago but has cooled considerably. I agree that it looks funny with the floating heads, but that didn't deter collectors for a long time. The set has cooled off considerably and prices are now affordable.

Because of the sensitive borders on the T205's, a lot of them don't look so good. However, high-grade T205's with four sharp corners can be stunning.

[T205 GB]

Like these AB 205's

[tedzan]

Originally Posted by T205 GB

Wow a T205 bashing thread. Well I am used to it. I would rather buy a $100 205 card that there is only 100 or less of than buy a $100 206 that there are thousands of. I look at the 206 set as the gateway. You start there and advance into better. Stopped collecting them 6 yrs ago but good news is my 8 yr old collects them

Andrew

You know that I'm not bashing here. You and I have talked about T205's quite a bit these past years. The back bios are certainly a welcomed feature....missing in T206's.
In my opinion, I would have preferred that American Litho. printed more of a mix of action images in the T205's (similar to the 12 images of the Minor Leaguers). Here are
examples of T205 portraits that IMO are great....Matty, Johnson, Baker, Bresnahan, Wheat (and more). Conversely, there are some images that are "bad".....e.g., Cobb.

........... bad image ......... v--------------------------------------------------- great images --------------------------------------------------v














TED Z

[peterb69]

T202's are the "cat's meow".

Potraits, action, and bios.

[arc2q]

Interesting question. I am much more into the T206 portraits. They have richer detail, look so distinctive, and have attractive backgrounds. Obviously, I am also okay with the action shots but they are not as stylish in my opinion.

I appreciate that the T205s had stats and bios on the back. Much more like our concept of modern baseball cards. But do tend to think they have a more cartoonish look than T206-- which appears more stately.

To be fair, the images on T206 are clearly not specific to that set and, in many cases, predate T206 by many years. So the attractive qualities of T206 are actually shared by several other sets.

[frankbmd]

I wasn't bashing the 205s in my prior hopefully jocular post.

I would in fact pursue the set from an artistic point of view if there was one format instead of three.

I prefer the National League format of portraits (yeah the dead guys) to the funky diamonds behind the AL players. I sort of think both leagues should have the same rules and formats.

I also am not a fan of the DH. Baseball is a nine man game, not a ten man game. Once again I prefer the NL game. I'm consistent at least.

The minor league 205 format is my least favorite.

So maybe I am bashing the T205s but not for the reason previously stated.

[sportscardpete]

speaking of ugly, what about t207's?

[Runscott]

Originally Posted by frankbmd

Actually most of the T205 subjects are in fact dead. I admire the realism and the gold coffins. The set was simply issued prematurely.

SWEET!!!! well, sickly-sweet.

[T206Collector]

This collection of T205 criticisms is wonderful. I wholeheartedly agree that T205s:

- are the weirdest looking cards
- remind me of looking into a funeral home
- creep me out
- are unattractive to me
- give me a sick feeling in my stomach
- have no positive in their images
- have never caught my eye
- are like a bad video game drawing
- show chip and wear
- I am less enthused by
- look funny with the floating heads
- don't look so good

With respect to T206s, I do not think you can just divide them between so-called action poses and the portraits. Some action poses are really breathtaking, like the aforementioned Leifield:



And I've always loved the Howard:



But my favorite T206 has long been the Matty portrait:



Even though it is only a portrait, the color is so vibrant and rich, without being as over-loaded with flair like its T205 cousin.

Still, I will concede that this T205 Blackburne is one of my favorite signed pre-war cards in my collection:

[Runscott]

Since you posted the Blackburne, I'm surprised you didn't add 'too many weird no-neck cards' in the set.

[Ease]

Gorgeous image on that Blackburne, almost looks 3D.

[frankbmd]

Blackburne

With bat-tin down collars.

Still hate that format,

but still love the mud.

[Runscott]

Originally Posted by Ease

Gorgeous image on that Blackburne, almost looks 3D.

My favorite '3D' effect T205 is Tinker when the card has perfect registration. Hard to beat.

[T205 GB]

I was more tounge in check with my bashing comment. The rest is true though. I love all cards but only collect one set that appeals to me. I will say a high grade 205 looks better than most 206's regardless of grade.

[deadballfreaK]

I'm going to be contrary. Love T205s, especially the AL with diamonds, gloves, and bats. The NL not so much. What was American Tobacco supposed to do- issue another T206? This was a wild new design with bios on the back. Neat. They really dropped the ball on T207s which I collect also. As far as T206 I think the portraits are superb. Most of the action poses are good, but there are a few dogs in there.

[auggiedoggy]

best looking front IMHO is ...

[brob28]

Adrian, I'm a bit of a mixed bag on this subject.

I'm putting together a T206 HOF set with an emphasis on the portraits. However, I am not getting portraits of Huggins, Matthewson and Lajoe simply because I don't care for the way they look in those. Matthewson (dark cap), Lajoe (w/ bat) and Huggins (2 hands) I find much nicer and in the case of Huggins the two hands version seems to be how he is mostly represented in the sport/hobby.

As for 205's I like the American Leauge and Minor League subsets, but don't care for the National league cards. The one exception would be the Matty. I wish that was the portrait in the 206 set!