Cardboard Classics

A Look Inside
the Top 250 Sportscards in the Hobby
By Joe Orlando

In the following section, I have compiled a list of what many experts consider
to be the 250 most important cards in the hobby. While the list is dominated by
baseball, it also contains dozens of cards from the worlds of basketball, football,
hockey, boxing and golf. From Babe Ruth to Michael Jordan, from Jim Brown to
Wayne Gretzky, from Joe Louis to Tiger Woods, legends of the past and present
are brought to life through the cardboard classics bearing their image.

The list begins with the top 20 sportscards of all time, ranked in order of im-
portance. At the top is the Holy Grail of sportscard collecting – the 1909-11 T206
Honus Wagner. After the conclusion of the top 20, the journey continues through
the remaining 230 cards on the list. The rest are listed in chronological order, un-
ranked, within each category or sport. I chose not to rank all 250 cards for a host
of reasons.

First, ranking 20 cards was challenging enough, but ranking 250 of them seemed
virtually impossible. In my opinion, there was no question about including each of
these great cards on the list, but assigning a numerical ranking to them was another
story. As I narrowed the list from 500 to 400 to 300 and eventually to 250 total cards,
it became evident that comparing a card like a 1911 T9 Turkey Red Cabinets Jack
Johnson to a 1991 Topps Stadium Club Brett Favre card was difficult. It seemed
unfair to both cards. The important thing is the vast majority of hobbyists recognize
that each card has a place on this list based on a combination of attributes.

Second, while creating this list, I felt it was crucial to maintain its integrity. I did
not want to be biased or misleading. For example, the trading card list is heavily
weighted towards vintage material. The list wasn’t weighted that way simply be-
cause I like vintage-era trading cards more or dislike modern-era cards in any way;
it was weighted in that manner because I felt it was an accurate reflection of how
hobbyists feel about the importance of each card. The reality, due to a plethora of
reasons, is that more vintage-era trading cards are considered important by the
people who collect.

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 Much of that reasoning lies in the simple fact that, in comparison to vintage
material, modern cards can be found in abundance most of the time. This is due,
in part, to the volume of cards produced each year. More importantly, it is a result
of collectors taking the time to preserve their cards as a result of the evolution
of the hobby. During the 1980s, what was once a very miniscule hobby became
a phenomenon throughout America. Along with the boom in the industry came
awareness about how to better protect trading cards. Things like binders, protective
sleeves, nine-count sheets, Lucite holders and specially designed storage boxes
were all used to protect the cards that were once handled with great frequency just
a decade earlier.

That being said, there is no question that I tried to provide some diversity within
the Top 250 as well. In other words, it would be very easy to fill any top card list
with every Sandy Koufax, Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays and Ted Williams card ever
manufactured. While there are many cards on this list that feature great players like
these legends, I did make a concerted effort to include some examples of cards that
originate from fascinating sets. Some of these are mainstream productions while
others are regional or test issues. When it made sense to do so, I also incorporated
important modern-era cards that capture some of the most significant athletes in
sports history.

Finally, please keep in mind that there are so many wonderful cards to collect in
this great hobby of ours. This list is a mere sampling of the great cards available to
the collector. The hardest part about constructing this section was to limit it to only
250 total cards. I am sure some readers will question why a particular card may or
may not have made this exclusive list, but that is part of what makes our hobby fun.
So, let the debates begin! Furthermore and most importantly, I hope this section can
help bring back memories of opening packs with your friends, watching the games
with your dad or rooting for your favorite sports heroes.

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 p 2 5 0 Spor tsc
T o a rd
e s
Th in the Hobby
Ranking the 20 Most Important Cards
By Joe Orlando

1 1909-11 T206 White Border Honus Wagner

This is the Holy Grail of all trading cards. This card, which resides in
one of the most popular sets of all time, features one of baseball’s great-
est players and it remains the symbol of trading card collecting. This card
is also one of the great rarities, though it is not the scarcest in the hobby.
That said, this card has taken on a life of its own and no card has ever sold for anywhere
close to the sale of the finest example known, the famous PSA NM-MT 8. Once owned
by hockey legend Wayne Gretzky and Bruce McNall, that copy sold for an astonishing
$2,800,000 in 2007, the only seven-figure price ever paid for a trading card as of this
writing. Even low-grade copies have sold for well over $100,000.
The reason behind the rarity has been debated for years. Was it a mere contract
dispute? Was it a result of a stand taken by Wagner, not wanting to promote tobacco
use to children since the cards were packed with cigarettes? No one knows for sure, but
documentation from the era has surfaced supporting the theory that Wagner may have
had his younger fans in mind. It is ironic since Wagner was an avid user of tobacco. He
is actually pictured on a 1948 Leaf card holding an enormous wad of chew. No matter
what theory you believe, the card was pulled from production early, leaving approximately
50 or so known copies in the
hobby today. Keep in mind
that most of the surviving
Wagners have Sweet Capo-
ral backs. Only a few exhibit
Piedmont backs, which in-
cludes the finest example of
them all.

2
1952 Topps #311 Mickey Mantle
This is, perhaps, the most recognizable sportscard in the entire hobby and the an-
chor of the most important post-war set in existence. Strangely enough, it is not Mickey
Mantle’s official rookie card, but there is no question that it is the slugger’s most important
card. Despite a couple of major finds of 1952 Topps cards during the last 25 years, this
card has remained difficult to obtain in NM-MT or better condition as many of those “find”
examples exhibit poor centering. There are actually two different versions of this double-
printed card. The line surrounding the Yankee logo is a solid black on one version, while
the other version has a line that is only partially filled. There is also a slight variance in
color and focus between the two. Despite the minor difference in appearance, there is no
difference in market value. Most of the high-grade examples found today were a product
of either the large 1952 Topps find from the New England area during the 1980s or a few
smaller finds from Canada over the last two decades. After slugging .530 in 1952, Mantle
was well on his way to stardom. This would be the first of 16 All-Star selections for the
Yankee Slugger, a man who made the #7 famous.
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 3
1915/1916 (M101-5) Sporting News #151
Babe Ruth
This is the rookie card of the greatest player who ever lived. It is one of his
most difficult cards overall, making it one of the most important cards on this
list. It pictures a young Ruth, firing the ball as a pitcher for the Boston Red Sox
before they traded him to the rival New York Yankees. Ruth was an outstanding
pitcher. He compiled a 94-46 record (.671 winning percentage) with 107 complete
games, 17 shutouts and a career ERA of 2.28. In the World Series, he was even
more impressive. Ruth went 3-0 with an ERA under 1.00! After three full seasons
on the mound, the Red Sox began to use Ruth as a part-time outfielder in 1918.
The rest is history. After they sent Ruth to New York in 1920, little did they know
that it would result in a World Series drought that lasted until 2004. This card, the
key to the 200-card M101-5 set, is often found off-center and features a variety of
advertising backs, although most existing copies exhibit blank backs.

4
1909-11 T206 White Border Eddie Plank
This is the second most desirable card in the famed T206 set and the only
pose of the HOF pitcher. To this day, there is no clear explanation for the rarity
of this card, a card that is nearly as tough as the Honus Wagner from the same
set. The most prevalent theory is that the card suffered from a poor printing plate,
resulting in many of the cards being destroyed since they could not pass quality
control. In addition, many of the known examples are found with poor centering
from top to bottom. The centering can be so severe that it will cut into the text
along the bottom. Eddie Plank, a master of off-speed pitches, was one of the
greatest left-handed pitchers in the game. Plank amassed 327 career wins and he
remained the all-time leader in wins for a left-hander until Warren Spahn eclipsed
the mark about 50 years later in the early 1960’s. Plank won 20 or more games on
eight separate occasions and he still owns the all-time record for most shutouts
by a lefty with 69. What may be most impressive is the fact that Plank entered the
league at the age of 26, a late start for someone with such great overall numbers.
Plank was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1946.

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 Ten Tips for Building
a Collection
By Joe Orlando

If you are thinking about assembling a collection, big or small, it is always best to lay out a plan of action before you start spending your hard-
earned money. While this may appear to be common sense to most readers, you would not believe how many people fail to act accordingly. Planning
ahead will help whether you collect autographs or trading cards, game-used bats or tickets, or a combination of many different types of collectibles.
If you stick to a plan, it will ultimately result in a more enjoyable collecting experience.
Listed below are 10 suggestions that will help a collector accomplish this goal.

1. Select a Collecting Theme and Stick to it

The first thing a collector should do is select a collecting theme. This takes precedence over everything else on this list. Not only will it help you
stay focused on your collecting goals, it also will help you maintain your sanity! I have been guilty of not following this suggestion in past years but,
when I decided to stop the insanity and stay focused, it enhanced my experience tremendously.
Remember, even if you have virtually endless financial resources at your disposal, you can’t own everything. It is always better to start with
reasonable collecting goals and then branch out from there. If you want to build a collection around members of The 500 Home Run Club, you might
start with single-signed baseballs, game-used bats, rookie cards or tickets. However, I do not suggest trying to collect all four at once. Even if you
do, at least a theme was chosen, which many hobbyists fail to do. The key is sticking to the theme.
Collectors are tempted, time and time again, to buy things that simply do not fit into the theme of their existing collection. When you appreciate
great items, it’s hard to resist the opportunity to buy something when the opportunity presents itself. If you collect autographs of Hall of Fame
pitchers, it just doesn’t make sense to buy a Magic Johnson rookie card and a Wayne Gretzky-signed puck. If you fall victim to your own impulses,
you end up with a collection that has no rhyme or reason to it.

A lack of focus will lead to serious frustration.

2. Buy Authenticated/Graded Collectibles

The hobby has changed tremendously in the last 15-20 years and part of the evolution has been the advent of third-party authentication
and grading. This has brought peace of mind to collectors across the hobby and provided a more liquid product to dealers who sell collectibles.
Of all the benefits this service provides, perhaps none is greater than the simple fact that it helps remove the potential conflict of interest from
a transaction.
Prior to the advent of third-party services, the conflict was unavoidable. The typical scenario looked something like this:
A collector approaches a dealer and asks about a Mickey Mantle baseball card on display. The dealer tells the collector how much it costs,
which is expected, but the dealer also tells the potential
buyer that the card is authentic and in Mint condition.
This is where the problem lies. The same person who
benefits directly from the sale of the item is the same
person who is telling the collector whether or not
it’s authentic. The seller is also rendering an opinion
about the quality of the item. This is a direct conflict
of interest no matter how you look at it.
This was simply how a transaction worked before
third-party services emerged. This doesn’t mean the
dealer was trying to defraud the buyer in any way.
It took time but hobbyists started to realize, both
collectors and dealers alike, that the system didn’t
make sense. Then along came third-party services.
Buying collectibles that have been authenticated
and/or graded by a credible third-party will help
protect you now and in the future. Even if you
witnessed an item being signed yourself, if you
decide to sell the autograph or hand the collectible
down to a family member at some point, third-party

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 certification will help you achieve the highest possible price for your item or
protect the people you give it to.
While the authentication of a collectible is of primary importance, the
grading of collectibles is quickly becoming equally as important. After a
hobbyist feels comfortable with the authenticity of an item, it is important
that they understand the quality, how this item grades against like items in
the marketplace. This way, the buyer knows exactly what they are getting
at the point of sale. While third-party
services do not offer grading for every
kind of collectible, I would suggest
using the service for collectibles that
can currently be graded. Grading is
not limited to trading cards anymore.
The grading of autographs, game-
used bats, packs and tickets are
just some of the newer services that
have emerged in recent years. These
services can help both the buyer and
the seller.
Finally, it is crucial that you learn
how to distinguish between third-party
services. Anyone can generate a letter
of authenticity for an autograph or
merely place a trading card in a plastic
holder. The key is the name behind
the opinion. This is what ultimately
carries weight in the industry and
protects you, the consumer. Asking
the right questions is a good place
to start. How long has the company
been in business? How many items
have they certified? What is their
reputation? What is their market
share? How strong is their following?
These are just examples, but do as
much research as you can.

Certified collectibles can reduce your anxiety as a buyer

and increase your opportunities as a seller.

3. Ask Questions and Educate Yourself

This picks up where we left things at #2. You can never ask enough questions in this business, whether it’s about a third-party
service, a dealer, an auction house or a collectible. There is more information available to the collector today, primarily due to the
Internet, than ever before. There are websites with ample information about collectibles, their history, their scarcity and their popularity.
Take advantage of them!
It surprises me that so many collectors start buying items, sometimes very expensive ones, without learning about them beforehand.
If you were buying a car or a watch or a piece of property, you would want to know as much as you can about each item before you buy
it. It should be no different here. Talking to experienced collectors and dealers can assist in the process, in addition to reading articles
and guides about the hobby. Third-party services can help you remove doubt about the authenticity or grade of an item, which is great,
but it’s up to you to learn about the historical aspects of the piece.
One purpose of this book is to educate people about the various collectibles covered within, but you can never know enough in this
hobby. Even the experts will tell you that they learn more and more each year as new information arises. There’s no question that certain
collectibles require more extensive research than others. For example, it may take longer to understand what makes a piece of game-
used equipment exceptional compared to what makes a baseball card exceptional, but you will be glad you took the time to increase
your knowledge no matter where your interests lie.

An informed collector is a happy collector.

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