(Zack) Wheat Wednesday: 1911 Spalding Brooklyn Dodgers Team Page Pickup

Here's another cool and oddball addition to my Zack Wheat PC and yet another Spalding Baseball Guide Page I could not resist. I really like the design on this particular page. Wheat being paired with Nap Rucker, Bill Dahlen, Bill Bergen, and Jake Daubert doesn't hurt either.

Add in that it ran me a measly $3.75 and this pickup becomes even sweeter. The reverse usually includes a write-up of some kind but this time we have members of the 1910 Cincinnati Reds, highlighted by Dick Hoblitzell and Hans Lobert.

A cooler back by happenstance is always a nice bonus!

Zack Wheat Knew An Actual Killer, Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon Style

I'm back at it on Wheat Wednesday with another Spalding Baseball Guide page to add to my beloved Zack Wheat PC. Today's page comes out of a 1910 guide and features four Brooklyn boys from the 1910 squad. That makes me think it could actually be from 1911.

As always, the photo Spalding used comes from the incomparable Charles Conlon. The most notable player Wheat is joined by is Bill Bergen, noted brother of another major league catcher who was also an axe murderer.

And here's the text-plentiful back....

My Rarest T206 Back: A Lenox Black Bill Bergen Catching, Slabbed a PSA 2!

I've wanted a rare T206 back (or two or three or all) for some time. I never remember to search eBay with any gusto and they are more expensive, so I was comfortable with waiting until the right player and deal came along. That all changed when I threw a bid in on one not expecting to win it and of course did.

It worked out in the end as it wound up being a Dodger and an interesting guy to write about in Bill Bergen, the worst hitter in baseball history and the brother of a fellow MLB catcher who was also an axe murderer.

The Lenox Black reverse ranks in the top ten as far as rarity goes and while it was a lot I was still able to make rent and keep my fridge stocked, so a win all around when it was all said and done.

T206 Pickup: Bill Bergen, Catching Pose, Sweet Caporal Back, PSA 2.5

I picked up a couple T206s from work, essentially as a birthday gift to myself. I had some extra hours to put to use and some un-spent cash left over from previous ventures. The first card I grabbed is another Dodger to cross off of the list.

Bill Bergen, despite his offensive ineptitude, garnered two poses in the set and both are fantastic pieces of artwork. The catching pose is tougher in my experience and one I did not know even existed until a month or two ago. When I saw my boss had gotten this back in a batch from PSA, I had to jump on it.

The card came back a PSA 2.5 due to some paper loss on the back that is so minor it can only be seen under a good-quality light. The beautiful front is all I care about and it's such a pretty picture.

This is actually my third card of Bergen and I didn't recall owning the other two before checking my posting history. He shares a T201 Mecca Double Folder with PTSIA favorite Zack Wheat and is also on a T202 Triple Folder, of which I own a low-grade version of his singular panel.

As with any post on Bergen, I must mention he's probably most well-known for being dubbed the worst hitter in baseball history of any regular....and his brother, also a major league catcher, brutally murdered his family with an axe.

(Zack) Wheat Wednesday: 1911 T201 Mecca Double Folders w/ Bergen, PSA 2!

I search for new additions to my Zack Wheat Collection every day. I love picking up a new piece of vintage, pre-war goodness when I can. Price is usually the major factor in whether or not I achieve this daily goal as even the scarcest Wheat cards show up every now and again (I'm looking at you, Cracker Jack Zack).

My latest pickup is the above beautiful 1911 T201 Mecca Double Folder which pairs the Brooklyn Hall of Famer with Bill Bergen. It's graded a 2 by the folks at PSA but has fantastic eye appeal, particularly on the side that features my main man Zack. Which, of course, is the only side of this card I actually care about.

I had a nice chunk of eBay Bucks to spend and after applying them to the purchase this gorgeous card ran me about $7. It was a great deal even without the eBay freebies but those made this one of my best deals and steals ever.