The 1939 Play Ball set is one of the more popular pre-war issues. It came after the craze of tobacco cards and was a contrast to the mostly colorful Goudeys issues of the 1930s. Here are five quick facts about this unique gum card release. 1. It Includes Ted Williams' Rookie Card The Ted Williams rookie card is one of the most iconic pre-war issues. At a minimum, it's one … [Read more...]
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Best Sets for New Pre-War Collectors
Getting started collecting pre-war cards isn't typically as challenging as many people think. While there are a lot of expensive issues, some sets are reasonably affordable, particularly in the lower grades. Here are some sets to consider for collectors just getting started with pre-war issues. 1936 Goudey This one is always at the top of my list when making set … [Read more...]
5 Bargains in the 1939 Play Ball Set
The 1939 Play Ball set is one of the more popular pre-war issues. It features real black and white images of players, which some collectors feel are more appealing than color art lithographs. While the set has a few expensive cards, including those of Ted Williams and Joe DiMaggio, a few bargains can be found inside of it as well. Here are five that offer a solid bang for your … [Read more...]
Hank Greenberg Cards on Anniversary of 184 RBI Season
Eighty years ago this Sunday, Hank Greenberg drove in his first three runs of the season for the Detroit Tigers. His total at the end of the season: 184. Total of Hank Greenberg baseball cards issued in the United States in 1937: Zero. Such was often the life of a card collector in the pre-World War II era. While Greenberg's greatest season … [Read more...]
Vintage Set Break of the Week: 1939 Play Ball
1939 Play Ball was Gum Inc’s leap into the baseball card market with black-and-white photos of contemporary baseball players. The issue was very popular, and it remains so today, largely due to the rookie cards of Joe DiMaggio and Ted Williams. The back of the cards features each player’s full name, a biographical write up, and an advertisement for the issue which states … [Read more...]
Opening Day Record-Setters and Their Rookie Cards
The long wait ended Sunday and baseball’s multi-day Opening Day festival continues Monday with 12 games on the docket. Some players just seem to perform better during the first game of the season. We thought we'd take a look at a few Opening Day records and the rookie cards of the players responsible for setting them. Most Opening Day Starts Tom Seaver’s big league … [Read more...]
Top 10 Ted Williams Cards Span 4 Decades
Perhaps the best hitter of all-time, Ted Williams was also a United States marine who served his country in two wars and was quite the ladies’ man back in the day. He lived a colorful, long life and left quite a legacy on and off the field. “Best” lists are always subjective, but below are arguably the top ten Ted Williams cards from his playing career. A first ballot Hall … [Read more...]
1940 Play Ball is a Slice of Baseball History
Talk to dealers and collectors and the one word that keeps surfacing about the 1940 Play Ball Baseball set is ‘underrated’. Our Vintage Set of the Week is a 240-card whopper, overflowing with stars of the day and stars of the past. Play Ball made its debut with the 1939 set, another black and white issue that used what were for the time, clear photos of contemporary … [Read more...]
Ramblings: Williams Not Part of the Great Pre-War Rookie Card Debate
I'm always enamored of trivia so imagine my surprise when in one of the daily e-newsletters of baseball tidbits, Lee Sinise, mentioned the all-time leader in pinch-hit homers for the Boston Red Sox. Yes, the answer was a Hall of Famer, but not one you usually associate with coming off the bench. Would you believe Ted Williams? Teddy Ballgame was featured as an active player … [Read more...]
Goldin Auctions Catalog Garnered $2.65 Million
The best PSA-graded 1939 Play Ball baseball card set topped all bids in the recently completed Goldin Auctions October Legends catalog sale. The set pieced together by noted collector Jeffrey Gitomer and consigned in partnership with Steiner Sports, sold for a record price of $202,826. It carried a GPA of 8.71 (better than NM/MT+) and was awarded PSA registry Hall of Fame … [Read more...]
