Baseball cards have been an integral part of the sport since the late 19th century when cigarette and tobacco companies began including them in their products as promotional items and incentives. Some of the earliest and most sought-after baseball cards date back to the 1880s and 1890s, produced by companies like Goodwin & Company and Old Judge tobacco. One of the most iconic early sets is the legendary T206 tobacco card series issued between 1909 and 1911 by the American Tobacco Company.
While the original T206 cards produced during that time period have become exceedingly rare and valuable, commanding prices in the hundreds of thousands and sometimes millions of dollars, collectors and fans still have an opportunity to own replicas of these classic cards through reprint sets issued decades later. One of the most notable and high-quality reprints was the 1906 N172 set produced in the late 1970s and early 1980s by the sportscard company O-Pee-Chee. These reprints provide an affordable way for modern collectors to enjoy the historic look and design of the original early 20th century tobacco era cards.
The O-Pee-Chee 1906 N172 reprint set painstakingly replicates all of the major aspects of the original T206 series. It features exact reproductions of all of the most prominent players from that time such as Honus Wagner, Ty Cobb, Walter Johnson, Christy Mathewson, and many others. The reprints are printed on cardboard stock that closely matches the thin paper stock used in the T206s. They also emulate the color schemes, borders, fonts, and imagery seen on the original tobacco cards. The reprints even include facsimile autographs for certain star players. The level of detail and quality makes the 1906 N172s excellent substitutes for collectors seeking to build full rosters at a fraction of the cost of the rarer originals.
While reprints are not considered as valuable from an investment standpoint, the 1906 N172 set still maintains collector value and demand due to its historical accuracy and popularity among baseball card aficionados. Complete unopened sets in mint condition can often fetch $100-$200. Individual cards in top-graded condition may sell for $5-15 each. Prices vary depending on the specific players featured and overall supply and demand trends. Superstar cards like Wagner and Cobb tend to command higher prices than others. Condition is also extremely important, as even slightly played reprints lose significant value.
The O-Pee-Chee reprints were issued in wax packs just like modern cards. A full original set contains a total of 524 cards when accounting for player cards, manager cards, umpire cards, and additional specialty/promotional inserts. The player cards feature the same iconic sepia-toned photographic images seen on the T206s. On the backs, they have replica statistics and biographical information for each ballplayer. While not true vintage cards, the 1906 N172s offer collectors an affordable way to build complete rosters that will delight fans of early 20th century baseball history.
While initial print runs of the O-Pee-Chee reprints were produced and distributed in the late 1970s and early 1980s, additional smaller reprint runs were issued by the company in subsequent decades. This has ensured a steady stream of product entering the market and helped maintain availability and reasonable prices compared to the original tobacco cards. As with any collectible, demand and prices can fluctuate over time based on overall hobby trends and the whims of the collector marketplace. In recent years, vintage sports memorabilia as a whole has seen resurgent interest which could cause 1906 N172 values to rise long-term for sought-after key cards and full sets.
For the budget-minded collector looking to build a collection of early 20th century baseball stars, the 1906 N172 reprint set from O-Pee-Chee offers an excellent affordable alternative to the ultra-rare and expensive tobacco originals. By faithfully recreating the historic look, feel and content of the legendary T206s through meticulous replication, these reprints allow modern fans to enjoy owning pieces of the earliest days of the baseball card hobby. While they may never reach the investment value of true vintage issues, the 1906 N172s remain a popular and accessible option for completing full rosters at reasonable cost among collectors with an appreciation for baseball history.
