• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Get Sports Collectors Daily via EMail
    • Advertise with SC Daily
    • Write for Sports Collectors Daily
    • Write About Your Sports Collection
    • Where Can I Sell My Baseball Cards?
  • Hot on eBay
    • Most Watched Graded Rookies
    • Most Watched PSA 10 Cards
    • Most Watched BGS, BVG Cards
    • Most Watched SGC Cards
    • Most Watched CSG,CGC Cards
    • Most Watched Baseball Cards
      • Most Watched 2023 Baseball Cards
      • Most Watched 2022 Baseball Rookie Cards
      • Bowman Chrome Cards
      • Ronald Acuna Jr. Cards
      • Shohei Ohtani Cards
      • Mike Trout Cards
      • Fernando Tatis Jr. Cards
      • Babe Ruth Cards
      • Hank Aaron Cards
      • Jackie Robinson Cards:
      • Mickey Mantle Cards
      • Willie Mays Cards
      • Vintage Baseball Card Sets
      • T206 Cards
    • Most Watched Basketball
      • Top 100 Most Watched Basketball Rookie Cards
      • 100 Hottest 2022-23 NBA Rookie Cards
      • 100 Hottest 2021-22 NBA Rookie Cards
      • 100 Hottest 2020-21 NBA Rookie Cards
      • 100 Hottest 2019-20 NBA Rookie Cards
        • Zion Williamson Rookie Cards
        • Ja Morant Rookie Cards
      • Michael Jordan Cards
      • Kobe Bryant Cards
      • LeBron James Rookie Cards
      • Nikola Jokic Rookie Cards
      • Giannis Antetokounmpo Cards
      • Luka Doncic Rookie Cards
      • Prizm Basketball Cards
      • Panini National Treasures
    • Most Watched Football Cards
      • Most Watched NFL Rookie Cards
      • 2022 NFL Rookie Cards
        • Brock Purdy Rookie Cards
      • 2021 NFL Rookie Cards
      • 2020 NFL Rookie Cards
        • Joe Burrow Rookie Cards
        • Justin Herbert Rookie Cards
        • Jalen Hurts Rookie Cards
      • Josh Allen Rookie Cards
      • Patrick Mahomes Rookie Cards
      • Tom Brady Cards
    • Most Watched Hockey Cards
      • Top 100 Most Watched Hockey Rookie Cards
      • Most Watched 2021-22 NHL Rookie Cards
      • Most Watched 2020-21 Rookie Cards
      • Most Watched 2019-20 Rookie Cards
      • Connor McDavid Cards
      • Wayne Gretzky Cards
      • Bobby Orr Cards
    • Most Watched Soccer Cards
    • Most Watched UFC Cards
    • Most Watched Golf Cards
    • Most Watched 1 of 1 Cards
    • Most Watched Topps SuperFractors
    • Most Watched Racing Cards
    • Top Sports Card Dealers on eBay
    • Most Watched Memorabilia
      • Vintage Sports Memorabilia
      • Vintage Sports Tickets, Stubs
      • Most Watched Autographs
  • Ending Soon on Ebay
    • Baseball Cards
    • Basketball Cards
    • Football Cards
    • Hockey Cards
    • Soccer Cards
    • Golf Cards
    • UFC Cards
  • Top - Ad

Sports Collectors Daily

Sports Collectors Daily

Sports collecting news - Sports cards and sports memorabilia industry news.

When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network and Amazon.com.

  • Sports Memorabilia News
  • Sports Card News
    • Modern Sports Card News
      • New Sports Card Release Calendar
      • Shop Talk
    • Vintage Sports Card News
      • Affordable Vintage Cards, Collectibles
      • Old Baseball Card Sets
      • Old Basketball Card Sets
      • Old Football Card Sets
      • Old Hockey Card Sets
      • Vintage Pack Facts
  • Business/Industry News
    • Sports Memorabilia Business News
    • Sports Memorabilia Industry News
  • Around The Hobby
    • Editor’s Blog
    • David Cycleback’s Identification and Authentication Advice
  • Popular Stories
  • Sell Your Cards
You are here: Home / Sports Card News / 10 Underrated 1951 Bowman Baseball Cards

10 Underrated 1951 Bowman Baseball Cards

November 15, 2016 By Anson Whaley

Almost any vintage card collector can tell you about the Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays, and Whitey Ford rookie cards in the 1951 Bowman set. There are also plenty of stars that will put your Paypal account to the test.

However, that all-important release has plenty of other significant rookie or early-career cards worth your attention.  Many fly under the radar at very budget-friendly prices. Here are ten of them.

1. Joe Garagiola (No. 122)

Joe Garagiola 1951 BowmanGaragiola had a nine-year career playing with the St. Louis Cardinals, Pittsburgh Pirates, Chicago Cubs, and New York Giants. He won a World Series with the Cardinals in 1946, but is more widely known for his long broadcasting career after his playing days. Garagiola would go on to work for NBC for nearly 30 years, doing everything from baseball broadcasts on the Game of the Week to guest hosting for Johnny Carson.

His 1951 Bowman card is inexpensive, starting around $40 in mid-grade conditionirvin.

2. Monte Irvin (No. 198)

Irvin was a long-time Negro League star before he got his chance to play in the majors. He became an All-Star and World Series champion before being inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Good quality, ungraded examples of his rookie card are available starting at around $40.

3. Vernon Law (No. 203)

Law was one of the Pittsburgh Pirates’ greatest pitchers in franchise history. He was a member of the 1960 World Series championship team and also won the Cy Young Award that season.

A decent Law 1951 Bowman card can be had for $15-$20.

bankhead4. Dan Bankhead (No. 225)

Almost all fans can tell you that Jackie Robinson was the first African-American to play in the major leagues. But many won’t be able to tell you that Dan Bankhead was the majors’ first black pitcher. Bankhead earned that distinction in 1947 when he appeared in four games as Robinson’s teammate with the Brooklyn Dodgers.

You can find his card for around $10.

5. Jackie Jensen (No. 254/SP)jensen

Jensen broke in with the New York Yankees and even won a World Series with the club in 1950. But it wasn’t until he joined the Red Sox that his career really began to flourish. Three times in a five-year span, he would go on to lead the league in runs batted in with Boston and in 1958, was the league’s Most Valuable Player.

Raw mid-grade copies of his short-printed 1951 Bowman card start around $40-$50.

6. Luke Easter (No. 258/SP)

A mountain of a man, Easter was a prolific home run hitter in the Negro League before playing six seasons with the Cleveland Indians. He was already into his 30s by the time he debuted in the majors, but still could hit the long ball. Easter clubbed 86 home runs in a three-year span from 1950-1952 while driving in 307 runs.

His 1951 Bowman card can be found in the $20-$25 range.

erskine7. Carl Erskine (No. 260/SP)

Erskine wasn’t as big a name as many of the 1950s Dodgers, but he was a key player for the team just the same. He had a record over .500 in each of his seasons in Brooklyn and with a 20-6 year in 1953, led the league in winning percentage. He was an All-Star the following season and the year after that, helped the Dodgers win the 1955 World Series.

Erskine’s 1951 Bowman card generally starts around $30 for decent raw issues.

8. Jim Piersall (No. 306/SP)

Piersall had a long, fruitful career in the majors, lasting 17 years. A defensive specialist of sorts, he won two Gold Gloves in the outfield and was also a two-time All-Star.  He also ran the bases backwards once, which has to count for something, right?

At $35-$50, his card is fairly affordable.

9. Smoky Burgess (No. 317/SP)burgess

A career .295 hitter, Forrest “Smoky” Burgess turned in an outstanding 18-year career. Playing for several teams, including the Cubs, Phillies, Reds, Pirates, and White Sox, he would go on to become a six-time All-Star catcher. Burgess also was a member of the Pirates’ 1960 World Series team.

Solid copies of his card are only about $25.

10. Joe Adcock (No. 323/SP)

Adcock was a power-hitting first baseman and outfielder that had the respect of pitchers in his 17-year career. He was an All-Star in 1960, won a World Series with the Milwaukee Braves in 1957, and finished in the top ten in the league in home runs on five different occasions.

Despite being a short-printed card, you can find it for around $25 in respectable shape.

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Reddit
  • Facebook Messenger

Related Stories:

5 Bobby Thomson Cards to Honor the ‘Shot Heard Round the World’ Overlooked and Underrated Rookie Cards of NBA Greats – Part 2, the 1960s Vintage Card Records Obliterated in Heritage Auction Rare 1953 Puerto Rican Baseball Composite Featuring Hank Aaron Up For Bid Mickey Mantle Bowman rookie cardMile High Giving Away Mantle Rookie at NSCC Will Clark 1998 Ultra Platinum baseball cardDon’t Ignore Market for Older Insert Cards 5 Underrated 1933 Goudey Baseball Cards

About Anson Whaley

Anson Whaley is a contributor to Sports Collectors Daily and has been an avid pre-war and vintage card collector for more than 20 years. He manages a pre-war sports card blog and database at www.prewarcards.com . You can email him at [email protected] or find him on Twitter @PreWarCards.

Filed Under: Popular Stories, Sports Card News, Vintage Sports Card News Tagged With: 1950s rookie cards, 1951 Bowman, 1951 Bowman Baseball, joe garagiola, Underrated, underrated cards

Primary Sidebar

Our articles may contain affiliate links. When you click on links to merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network. 

Shop Sports Cards on Ebay
  • Football
  • Basketball
  • Baseball
  • Hockey

High End Cards and Memorabilia

  • BBCE Authenticated Boxes, Packs opens in a new window
  • Graded pre-War Card eBay Auctions
  • PWCC Premier Auction
  • PWCC Fixed Price Marketplace
  • Graded Rookie Cards on eBay opens in a new window
  • Authenticated Photos on eBay opens in a new window
  • Graded Tickets & Stubs opens in a new window

Bargain Corner

  • Michael Jordan cards $5 and less opens in a new window
  • Kobe Bryant cards $5 and less opens in a new window
  • Mickey Mantle Cards Under $150 opens in a new window
  • Graded T206 Cards Under $150 opens in a new window
  • Pre-War Cards Under $100 opens in a new window
  • Pre-1980 Graded Baseball Cards $10 and Less opens in a new window
  • Pre-1980 Graded Football Cards $10 and Less opens in a new window
  • Vintage Graded Basketball Cards $25 and less opens in a new window
  • Vintage Graded Hockey Cards $10 and Less opens in a new window
  • Complete Sets $20 and Less opens in a new window
  • Baseball Hall of Famers for $5 or Less opens in a new window
  • Football Hall of Famers for $5 or Less opens in a new window
  • Hobby Boxes Under $30 opens in a new window
  • Pre-1986 Rookie Cards Under $1 opens in a new window
  • Buy Boxes Directly from Topps opens in a new window

RSS Auction Report

  • Heritage Auctions Fall Sports Catalog Auction Ends Nov. 16-18, 2023
  • Sterling Sports Auctions Vintage Card Auction Ends November 9, 2023
  • 2023 Auction Schedule

Footer

Categories

  • Around the Hobby
  • Business/Industry News
    • Sports Memorabilia Business News
    • Sports Memorabilia Industry News
  • David Cycleback's Identification and Authentication Advice
  • Editor's Blog
  • Featured Articles
  • Hobby Shop Talk
  • National Sports Collectors Convention
  • Popular Stories
  • Rich Klein's Ramblings
  • Sports Card News
    • Modern Sports Card News
      • New Sports Card Release Calendar
    • Vintage Sports Card News
      • Old Baseball Card Sets
      • Old Basketball Card Sets
      • Old Football Card Sets
      • Old Hockey Card Sets
      • Vintage Pack Facts
  • Sports Memorabilia News
  • Uncategorized

Sponsor Links

  • Sports Card Forumopens in a new window
  • Buying Vintage Sports Cardsopens in a new window
  • Championship Rings For Saleopens in a new window
  • Autographed Baseballsopens in a new window
  • Vintage Graded Baseball Cardsopens in a new window
  • Sports Collectors Storeopens in a new window

Pages

Ending on eBay Soon
  • Baseball Card Auctions on eBay Ending Soon
  • Basketball Card Auctions on eBay Ending Soon
  • Football Card Auctions on eBay Ending Soon
  • Hockey Card Auctions Ending Soon on eBay
  • Vintage Sports Memorabilia on eBay Ending Soon
Top 100 on Ebay
  • Top 100 Most Watched Baseball Rookie Cards on eBay
  • Top 100 Most Watched Basketball Rookie Cards for Sale on eBay
  • Top 100 Most Watched Hockey Rookie Card Auctions
  • Top Authenticated Vintage Unopened Sports Card Boxes, Packs on eBay
Most Watched on eBay
  • 100 Most Watched Graded Rookie Cards for Sale on eBay
  • 100 Most Watched Tom Brady Card Auctions on eBay
  • 50 Hottest Hobby Boxes at Auction on eBay
  • 50 Most Watched Golf Trading Cards on eBay
  • 50 Most Watched Wrestling Trading Cards on eBay
  • 75 Most Watched Bowman Chrome Cards
  • Most Popular Bobbleheads on eBay
  • Most Watched 1/1 Cards on eBay
  • Most Watched Basketball Cards on eBay
  • Most Watched Complete Baseball Card Sets at Auction on eBay
  • Most Watched Football Cards on eBay
  • Most Watched Football Rookie Card Auctions
  • Most Watched Goudey Baseball Cards on eBay
  • Most Watched Hockey Cards on eBay
  • Most Watched Racing Cards on eBay
  • Most Watched Soccer Cards for Sale on eBay
  • Most Watched Sports Autographs on eBay
  • Most Watched Sports Jerseys on eBay
  • Most Watched Unopened Sports Card Boxes, Packs on eBay
  • Most Watched Vintage Sports Memorabilia on eBay
  • Hottest Panini National Treasures Cards on eBay
  • Hottest PSA 10 Cards for Sale on eBay
  • What’s Hot on eBay
Sports Memorabilia
  • Sports Card Bargain Bin
  • Sports Memorabilia Auctions Ending Soon on eBay
About Sports Collectors Daily
  • Advertise with SC Daily
  • Contact Us
  • Get Sports Collectors Daily via EMail
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
Sell Your Cards
  • What’s It Worth
  • Where Can I Sell My Baseball Cards?

Copyright © 2023 SportsCollectorsDaily.com | Web Design by Wickam Groupopens in a new window