Tobacco Baseball Card Hoard Purchased In Livonia, Michigan

Throwback Sports Cards has purchased a giant stash of over 200 early 1900s tobacco baseball cards, highlighted by T206 Ty Cobb, Christy Mathewson, Nap Lajoie, and 25 other Hall of Famers

This massive find started with a simple message. Dave reached out asking if we would be interested in some vintage baseball cards. Naturally, we said of course, and asked for some additional information. Dave sent over a few pictures of his collection, which consisted of hundreds of tobacco cards! A meeting at a local coffee shop was set up to meet and review the collection. Dave explained that he was an avid collector in the 1980s, and at that time there wasn't much interest in tobacco cards. He was able to pick most of his collection up while attending card shows in the Metro Detroit area. All cards were cataloged and pictures were taken. A free appraisal was presented, along with a cash offer, and Dave accepted. He had some kids in college and planned to use the money to help with tuition. This deal was a win win!

This collection consisted of mostly tobacco cards, with handful of caramel and strip cards

also present. The interesting thing about this collection was how they were organized in the binder pages. Most people either sort alphabetically or pull out the stars. They are all organized by team. The majority of the cards had common advertising backs, like Piedmont and Sweet Caporal, but buried in was a rare Piedmont 42 back. In regards to the T206s, 25 Hall of Famers were present. This included Ty Cobb. Christy Mathewson, Nap Lajoie, Miller Huggins, Frank Chance, Johhny Evers, to name a few. About 25 T205 cards were also included, highlighted by Ed Walsh and Clark Griffith. Several T202 Hassan Triple Folders were also in the collection, with a Mcgraw/Jennings being the big card.

Most of the caramel and strip cards were commons, but we were excited to find an E90-3 American Caramel and T212 Obak Chic Gandil. Although not a Hall of Famer, Gandil is well known for his role in the 1919 Black Sox scandal, as he was one of the main organizers in throwing the World Series to the Cincinnati Reds.

Highlights of the collection

-T206s: Ty Cobb red portrait, Christy Mathewson portrait, Nap Lajoie portrait, Miller Huggins portrait, Frank Chance portrait, Johhny Evers portrait

T205s: Ed Walsh, Clark Griffith

T202 Hassan Triple Folders: Mcgraw/Jennings

Other: Chic Gandil E90-3 American Caramel and T212 Obak

T206 Tobacco Baseball Cards

T206 tobacco cards are a legendary baseball card set issued from 1909 to 1911 by the American Tobacco Company. Inserted into cigarette packs, they feature 524 different players across 16 tobacco brands, including Hall of Famers like Ty Cobb, Walter Johnson, and Christy Mathewson. The set is best known for the T206 Honus Wagner card, considered the most famous and valuable baseball card in history due to its rarity and Wagner’s objection to being included. Printed using colorful lithographic artwork, T206 cards are prized for their beauty, historical significance, and connection to the early days of baseball. Today, they are regarded as the cornerstone of vintage card collecting.

One of the interesting things about tobacco cards is the advertising backs. Rarer backs can increase the value. Rare combinations of players and advertising backs, even of common players, can go for thousands! An SGC 2.5 Ty Cobb with Ty Cobb back sold for $432,000.

Back Advertisement Rarity

• Piedmont (most common)

• Sweet Caporal

• Old Mill

• Polar Bear

• Sovereign

• El Principe De Gales

• American Beauty

• Cycle

• Tolstoi

• Hindu

• Broad Leaf

• Carolina Brights

• Lenox

• Drum

• Uzit

• Ty Cobb (least common)

Sell Your Sports Cards In Metro Detroit

Throwback Sports Card is buying Vintage Baseball Cards in Metro Detroit! Located in Canton, Michigan, we regularly travel around Metro Detroit to evaluate collections. We make selling your sports cards easy; we travel to you!

Local Sports Card Shop In Canton, Michigan

We proudly serve the entire Metro Detroit area including: Ann Arbor, Belleville, Ypsilanti, Northville, Novi, Livonia, Farmington Hills, Taylor, Wayne, Westland, Allen Park, Dearborn, and everywhere else in Michigan

Free sports card appraisal process:

1. We review and catalog every card in your collection to help you maximize value. Key cards and rookies are set aside, as these are the main drivers of value.

2. A fully transparent appraisal is provided so you know exactly what you have.

3. A fair offer is made. Once we agree on a price you will be paid in whatever fashion you prefer- cash, check, or digital money transfer (zelle, paypal, wire transfer)

Sell Your Sports Cards