Dizzy Dean was one of baseball's greatest pitchers in the 1930s. But injuries shortened his career and, as a result, he isn't found on a large number of cards. His less popular brother Daffy Dean (real name Paul) also didn't have the longest of careers, either, and that has also limited his card issues. Daffy Dean pitched in nine seasons in the majors but that number is … [Read more...]
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Five 1930s Diamond Matchbooks Bargains
The 1930s Diamond Matchbooks are an excellent way to find pre-war collectibles at a low price. If you're unfamiliar with them, these unique items feature players printed onto matchbook covers. Matchbooks complete with the original matches still inside will be more expensive. However, the majority are found without the matches and those are the real bargains. Classified as U1-U4 … [Read more...]
Rare 1938 Sawyer Biscuit Cabinets Featured Cubs, White Sox
In 1938, the Chicago-based Sawyer Biscuit Company offered cabinet photos of Chicago Cubs and White Sox players. Today, these cabinets are tough to find and they are so rare that the checklist is still being defined. 1938 Sawyer Biscuit Basics The Sawyer Biscuit cabinets were offered through the mail, which helps explain their rarity. For ten cents as well as a … [Read more...]
5 Great Goudey Cards (Besides Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig)
The 1930s Goudey issues are among the most popular pre-war cards around. Part of the reason for that are the several Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig cards found in the set. But there's plenty more in the Goudey releases besides the cards for those Yankees legends. Here are five other big time cards from the company's popular sets. 1933 Goudey Sport Kings Ty Cobb The great Ty Cobb … [Read more...]
Photo of the Day: Dizzy and Paul Dean are 1935 Autograph Machines
Think players are conflicted by autograph hounds today? It’s nothing new. “If you don’t talk to people, sign autographs and do what you can to accommodate them, they get sore at you,” said Dizzy Dean to baseball commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis in April of 1935. Sometimes, though, it was just part of the deal. And Diz was always ready to make a … [Read more...]
5 Great Dizzy Dean Baseball Cards
He streaked across the baseball sky during the Great Depression, a homespun hard thrower whose career wasn't dissimilar to Sandy Koufax. Dizzy Dean baseball cards came mostly with gum and upon their emergence from packs, surely launched 10,000 discussions among 1930s youth. Attending only a few years of elementary school in his home state of Arkansas, Jay … [Read more...]
5 Can’t Miss Cards From 1935 Goudey (Besides Babe Ruth)
Recently, I wrote about some of the cooler aspects of the 1935 Goudey set. When it comes to the actual players featured on the popular 4-in-1 1935 Goudey cards, the issue of Babe Ruth is key, obviously. But in between that card and the intriguing back combinations to create puzzles, there are some other really intriguing cards in the set. Here are five that any pre-war or … [Read more...]
Baseball Cards of 30-Game Winners Since 1917
In the 19th century pitchers posting a 30-win season was commonplace, with many winning 40, and a select few even won 50 games in a season. In the Deadball Era the game changed and fewer pitchers reached 30 wins, but it still happened. Since 1917 only five pitchers have won 30 games in a season, and no one has done so since 1968. It is a milestone that is likely not to be … [Read more...]
1930s and 1940s Brought Merging of Baseball and Gasoline
Tobacco and candy companies dominated the baseball scene in the early 1900s. But as the century went on, other types of businesses began to recognize the popularity of baseball cards. One of those was the gasoline industry, which began a push with baseball issues in the 1930s and 1940s. Here are some of the more well-known issues that came out of the partnership between the … [Read more...]
Tattoo Orbit Offers Collectors A Reasonable Challenge
Vintage baseball card collectors who like a challenge can point to the 1933 Tattoo Orbit set as a product worth building. It’ll keep you busy looking but the 60-card set is not impossible to piece together. Expensive? In some cases, yes, but there are lower grade cards available that can fill the tougher slots. It certainly is not as pricey as the 1933 Goudey baseball set, … [Read more...]
