206 from TCDB

Mini cards don't appeal to me. But recently I did a small PWE trade on TCDB to pick up a few from the online exclusive Topps 206 set.

It's not to say the cards aren't good looking. These are fairly attractive. Classic design. Vibrant colors in the backgrounds. The Cole looks awesome with the "flames" back there. However, they are just not a preference as a type of card I like. But I still always want my guys, like Tino from A&G.

Despite not liking them, it's always worth adding to my wantlist on the site to give more options for trading. I have a pretty small wantlist, so anything I can do to help increase the chances of being a trade match. I add any Gleyber Torres card I don't have to my list of wants, as I've found his cards a lot easier to get because of his down year, as well as not quite being the flavor of the week while people chase Luis Robert and other youngsters. And Cole is Cole, and I wanted to gobble up any of his cards this past year.

I know there are mixed feelings about online exclusives because they just enable more flipping and hoarding and bots to take all the cards. I actually like them for the purpose that they should serve - offering some sets as a one-off versus a normal release year after year. Topps 206 would fall in that realm for me. Some current sets, like Gypsy Queen, could as well. A set like that would be much more tolerable popping up online than as a regular release. 

It would make them more desirable too. I don't want to see Topps 206 every year. But every few years? Sure.

It all seems a bit moot since cards don't sit on retail shelves anymore, so almost everything has turned into an online exclusive if you want to open something. But if things were semi-normal, I think offering these types of sets online as opposed to retail makes a lot of sense.

The NEW oldest card in my collection

Up until last week, this was the oldest card in my collection.

Not bad. I was content with it. A vintage Goudey is nothing to be ashamed of.

However, that was until I was Zippy Zapped. Kenny from Cervin’Up Cards sent me a package of cards (which I’ll post about in the near future), and stuck in the middle of a stack of modern-day Yankee cards was this:

Here, look again:

Amazing, isn’t it? This little T206…ohhh, I just got shivers typing “T206”…it happened again when I just did that…is just an incredible thing to behold. I’ve never held one of these antique cards in my hand. I’m always surprised how tiny they are, but wow, are they ever cool! These are the types of cards that are in museums and behind glass cases, not in brown bubble mailers and stuck between two 2013 Topps cards. Not in my hands and certainly not in my collection.

I’d be thrilled to own any T206 (shiver) card, but Joe Lake is extra cool. First off, the card is of Lake as a New York Highlander. Kenny is a huge Highlanders fan, so I’m sure it was not easy for him to send this to a new home. I hope he has an upgraded copy of this card. Lake pitched for NY from 1908 to 1909, and then for St. Louis and Detroit until 1913. His best season for NY in 1909, going 14-11 with a 1.88 ERA in 215 innings. Not bad!

Second, Lake’s first name is “Joe.” My son’s name is Joey. Or Joe. Or Joe-Joe. The card is from the set that was released from 1909-1911. My son was born in 2011. So this card is 100-102 years older than him. Let’s call it an even 100 for the sake of coolness. When I inevitably give this card to him one day, all these minor coincidences will hopefully make the card that much more special to him.

From my limited research, it appears this card had both the Sweet Caporal and Piedmont backs. It’s in what I consider remarkable condition. There is a pencil or ink mark on the back. It was a probably a TTM success. Ok, probably not, but let me pretend.

 

Zippy Zappy, this card is spectacular. Thank you so much!