Prior to his military service, Warren Spahn had little reason to believe he’d retire as the winningest left-handed pitcher in baseball history. In his rookie season with the Boston Braves in 1942, Spahn was only used in four games (two starts), yielding a discouraging 25 hits and 11 walks in 15 2/3 innings pitched. When duty called, Spahn hung up his spikes and spent three … [Read more...]
Important Card-Related Photos of Jackie Robinson, Babe Ruth Set for Auction
His rookie card is well known to collectors. Now, they'll have a chance to bid on a copy of the photo used by Leaf Trading cards to make it more than 70 years ago. Heritage Auctions says it will offer the 5x7-inch black and white image in its Winter Platinum Night Auction, scheduled for February 20 and 21. The posed head and shoulders photo of the … [Read more...]
Number One Rated 1948 Leaf Baseball Set Up for Grabs
If you've snuck a peek at the PSA Set Registry anytime in the last ten years, you've seen it atop all registered sets of 1948 Leaf baseball. A cardboard unicorn of virtually impossible high-grade cards from a production run that was notorious for overprints and off-center cards galore. Now, the old gang is breaking up. All of the cards in the long-running number … [Read more...]
The Underappreciated 1949 Leaf Premiums Set
Youngsters who bought Leaf baseball cards nearly 70 years ago had another set to collect, but unless dad was willing to share some knowledge, those “old timers” may not have generated much of a buzz on the playground. Today, the 1949 Leaf Premiums might be among the most underappreciated vintage cards in the hobby. Each box of Leaf bubble gum cards supposedly … [Read more...]
Jackie Robinson Baseball Cards: A Guide to His Best
Jackie Robinson baseball cards have always been popular and what few game worn jerseys, bats and other items have survived always sell for significant amounts of money. While no mainstream card company really existed in the aftermath of World War II, there were cards issued of him in 1947 and by '48, bubble gum and cards were back together again and Robinson helped usher … [Read more...]
Satchel Paige Rookie Card Cracks Six Figures at MHCC Auction
It's one of the most challenging post-War Hall of Fame rookie cards to find in any grade. On the rare occasions when a high-grade example comes up for auction, there's usually a lot of interest. However, Mile High Card Company appears to have reset the bar for the 1948-49 Leaf Satchel Paige. The company offered a PSA 7 (NM) Paige in its latest major … [Read more...]
5 Underrated 1948 Leaf Baseball Cards
It's one of those sets that looks enticing. Jackie Robinson's rookie card. Stachel Paige's rookie card. Babe Ruth. Joe DiMaggio as card #1. And fewer than 100 cards in the entire set. Those chasing the 1948 Leaf baseball set soon find out that completing it is challenging and very expensive in anything less than poor condition. The single print … [Read more...]
Photo Used for Lujack Rookie Card at Auction
It sounds like a cliché but Johnny Lujack really did ‘do it all’ at Notre Dame. As Frank Leahy’s star quarterback, he led the Irish to a 9-0 record and won the 1947 Heisman Trophy but not everyone knows Lujack also lettered in baseball, basketball and track. He was drafted by the Chicago Bears and by the fall of 1948, Lujack’s new Leaf football card was being chased by … [Read more...]
1948-49 Leaf Babe Ruth Honored Late Hero
Even after his death in August 1948, Babe Ruth was still a larger than life figure both in baseball as well as in American society. Thus it was little wonder that the Leaf Chewing Gum Company included Ruth in their 1949 Leaf set. I do understand that at one point we used to call this a 1948 set but after dogged research from long-time dealer and hobbyist Ted Zanidakis about 20 … [Read more...]
The Five Most Popular Babe Ruth Baseball Cards
Babe Ruth's place in baseball history is well documented. He sits at or near the top of the record books in several statistical categories. He is widely regarded by baseball historians as the most dominant hitter of his generation. Babe Ruth's emergence as a baseball star coincided with the surge in popularity of the sport. While baseball experienced incredible growth in … [Read more...]