Jay and Justin introduce the podcast, discuss what T206s are and why they're special, and tell their T206 collecting origin stories.

Episode 1- Introduction to The Monster Podcast & the T206 set

Jay and Justin visit the Library of Congress for a conversation with Sara Duke, curator of Popular and Applied Graphic Art in the Prints and Photographs Division. Among other memorabilia, Sara is responsible for the LOC's collection of baseball cards, including a near complete T206 set.  We discuss the history of the collection, Sara's role at the LOC, and what earns T206s a spot in American history. They also discuss the LOC's current exhibit, Baseball Americana, that is on display through Summer 2019. Read more at: https://www.loc.gov/exhibitions/baseball-americana/about-this-exhibition/

Episode 2- Interview w/ Sara Duke, baseball card curator at the Library of Congress

Jay and Justin sit down with the Library of Congress's Peter Devereaux for a conversation about the T206s featured in his new book, GAME FACES: Early Baseball Cards from the Library of Congress. The book features rare and colorful baseball cards from the Library of Congress's Benjamin K. Edwards Collection, bringing to life an era of American history that saw the game explode in popularity.

AMAZON: https://www.amazon.com/Game-Faces-Baseball-Library-Congress/dp/158834634X

SMITHSONIAN: https://www.smithsonianbooks.com/store/history/game-faces-early-baseball-cards-library-congress/

Episode 3- Interview w/ Peter Devereaux, author of "Game Faces"

Jay and Justin present a blueprint for building the complete T206 set on a budget.

Episode 4- Blueprint for building The Monster

Jay and Justin cover the basics on what the different advertising backs on the reverse of T206 cards are all about, and why collectors care.

Jay's back ranking from the episode is as follows:

T206 BACK SCARCITY RANKING

B.S. TIER
Old Mill brown 
Lenox brown
Blank back
Ty Cobb

SUPER TOUGH TIER
Broad Leaf 460
Drum
Uzit
Lenox black
Broad Leaf 350
Red Hindu
Carolina Brights 

TOP TIER
American Beauty 460 
Brown Hindu 
Cycle 460 
Piedmont 350-460 factory 42

TOUGH TIER
American Beauty 350 frame
American Beauty 350 no frame
Cycle 350
EPDG
Tolstoi

PLUS BACKS
Old Mill (plus Southern variation)
Polar Bear
Sovereign 150 
Sovereign 350 series apple green
Sovereign 350 series forest green
Sovereign 460 

SWEET CAPORAL FACTORY VARIATIONS
Sweet Caporal 150 factory 649 overprint
Sweet Caporal 150 factory 25
Sweet Caporal 350 factory 25
Sweet Caporal 350-460 factory 25
Sweet Caporal 350-460 factory 42
Sweet Caporal 350-460 factory 42 scroll

COMMONS 
Piedmont 150 factory 25
Piedmont 350 factory 25
Piedmont 350-460 factory 25
Sweet Caporal 350-460 factory 30
Sweet Caporal 150 factory 30
Sweet Caporal 350 factory 30

Episode 5- Basics on Backs

Episode 5- Basics on backs

Jay and Justin discuss collecting in the COVID-19 era and take a deep dive into the Big 4 (including the elusive Honus Wagner treasure) and the other limited run cards (aka "short prints") in the T206 set.

(Editor's note: This episode was recorded via Skype during the COVID-19 quarantine). 

Some recommended reading:

Scot Reader's "Inside T206: A Collector’s Guide to the Classic Baseball Card Set": http://www.oldcardboard.com/t/t206/InsideT206-Centennial-edition.pdf

http://t206resource.com/The%20Big%20Four.html

http://www.thatt206life.com/2019/10/26/gettysburg-eddie-plank-and-his-t206-rarity-a-110-year-old-puzzle-solved/

https://prewarcards.com/2018/04/20/what-if-the-honus-wagner-t206-wasnt-a-short-print/

Episode 6- The lowdown on short prints

Jay and Justin discuss the benefits and drawbacks of grading companies' population reports and how to use them to guide decisions about collecting T206s.

(Producer's note: This episode was recorded via Skype during the COVID-19 quarantine). 

Some recommended reading:
https://www.sportscollectorsdaily.com/pop-report-comparisons-of-pre-war-and-post-war-vintage/

https://www.sportscollectorsdaily.com/while-helpful-population-reports-have-limitations/

https://www.sportscollectorsdaily.com/t206-hall-of-famers/

PSA Population Report for T206s: https://www.psacard.com/pop/t206/ &
https://www.psacard.com/pop/t206/?byback=1&pf=0

SGC Population Report for T206s: 
https://gosgc.com/pop-report

Scot Reader's "Inside T206: A Collector’s Guide to the Classic Baseball Card Set": http://www.oldcardboard.com/t/t206/InsideT206-Centennial-edition.pdf

Episode 7- Droppin' knowledge on population reports

Jay and Justin welcome former MLB pitcher Dean Kiekhefer (Cardinals, A's) for a fun discussion about his time in the big leagues and his quest to amass the ugliest T206 sets ever with his "beater binder" project.

(Producer's note: This episode was recorded via Skype during the COVID-19 quarantine).

Episode 8- Building a beater binder w/ ex-MLB hurler Dean Kiekhefer

Jay and Justin welcome special guest Paul Mifsud of SignedT206.com for a fascinating discussion about collecting autographed T206s, including their history, rarity, value and how to spot authentics and fakes. 

Recommended resources: 
Web: www.SignedT206.com
Instagram: Instagram.com/SignedT206

(Producer's note: This episode was recorded via Skype during the COVID-19 quarantine).

Episode 8- Building a beater binder w/ ex-MLB hurler Dean Kiekhefer

The Monster Podcast

Related tracks