In the pre-war era, cigarette cards were all the rage. They not only featured baseball players but plenty of other subjects as well. These cards were highly collected around the world and were mostly included inside packages of cigarettes. Cigarette cards continued to be produced at high levels in Europe and around the world well into the 1930s. However, American baseball … [Read more...]
Top Banner 486X60
Topps’ Baseball Card Run Began with 1948 Topps Magic Photos Set
When thinking about the history of baseball cards in the post-war era, Topps is the name that will most often come to mind. The company has issued baseball cards for decades and while other companies have joined in, Topps has been the longest-running producer of baseball cards. While the company's 1952 Topps set with the iconic Mickey Mantle card is often heralded as its … [Read more...]
1948 Blue Tints Set Full of Confusion
After World War II ended, the 'drought' on baseball card sets was soon over. An oddball set of sorts was distributed in 1948 that provided a small measure of competition for companies like Bowman, which also began printing baseball cards that year -- the 1948 Blue Tints set. Here's a closer look at this vintage set with plenty of confusion surrounding it. 1948 Blue Tints … [Read more...]
A Look at the Evolution of Early Bowman Baseball Cards
After World War II, the Bowman Gum Company quickly became a viable competitor to Topps. Both companies produced sets early in the postwar era but Bowman would eventually get swallowed up by its rival. Topps, of course, ceased printing cards under the Bowman label after 1955 until reviving the brand back in 1989. But while Bowman's first run lasted only from 1948 through … [Read more...]
Early and Mid 1940s Saw Few Baseball Card Sets
Baseball cards first made their mark in the late 1800s and early 1900s, primarily as tobacco card inserts. After a brief respite of sorts during World War I, the 1920s and 1930s saw the creation of even more sets. But by the 1940s, the collecting world was again on a bit of a hiatus. The 1930s brought about the gum card boom and, by that time, cards had really shifted from … [Read more...]
1940 Play Ball Set Filled With Post-Career Stars
The 1940 Play Ball set was the largest baseball card offering from Gum, Inc. With a total of 240 cards, it's not only the largest Play Ball set, but one of the larger gum card sets in general. Not many baseball card sets were printed in the 1940s but this was one of them. And while this set includes plenty of contemporary stars, it is also known for a large collection of … [Read more...]
The Wayback Collector: Two New Baseball Wrappers Checklisted In A Rare Set
It's baseball cards that most collectors are interested in. But a rare set of pre-war baseball wrappers is getting some interest in the news with the discovery of two that were previously unchecklisted. About the R301 Overland Wrappers The R301 Overland Wrappers aren't what most wrappers collectors would expect. Distributed by Chicago's Overland Candy Corporation, these … [Read more...]
1941 Goudey Set Marked End of an Era
Goudey Gum Company sailed across the pre-World War II landscape with a busy run that included standard issue baseball cards, premiums and some non-sport sets. The 1941 Goudey Baseball set would mark the end of a relatively brief but impactful run. The Boston-based firm got off to a huge start with its ultra-popular 1933 set that featured four Babe Ruth cards. The ’34 … [Read more...]
1949 Remar Bread Set Highlighted Strong Oakland Oaks PCL Team
“Let’s Be Friends” was the motto of the Remar Baking Company, and that slogan adorned the back of a 32-card minor-league set during the late 1940s. The 1949 Remar Bread Oakland Oaks cards, 2 inches by 3 inches, could be found in packages of the venerable bread, an institution in Oakland since the company was formed in May 1918 by brewer Jacob Paul Rettenmayer. The … [Read more...]
Bargain Cards of Early Long Ball Specialist Home Run Baker
When discussing the first great home run hitters, Babe Ruth's name usually jumps to the top of the list. But before the Babe came onto the scene, players such as Roger Connor and Home Run Baker were even earlier kings of the long ball. From 1911-1914, Baker led the league in home runs each season and, despite having only 96 in his career, he was one of the game's early great … [Read more...]
