Strip card sets have been known historically as issues that struggle with aesthetic appeal. But one set, in particular, is one that has made collectors wince for years -- the W9316 strip card set. Here's a closer look at this hidden 'gem.' W9316 Strip Card Basics Believed to have been issued in 1921, the W9316 strip card set is not a large one. It includes only ten cards … [Read more...]
The Wayback Collector: Pre-War Card Bargains Can Still Be Found
The sports card craze of 2020-21 isn't one that's going to be soon forgotten. Collectors have seen prices soar and the values of their collections rise -- in many cases, dramatically. That's good news, right? In a way, sure. Some collectors have cashed out, pocketing big profits. And while others have held onto their stuff, the value of what they possess is now in most cases … [Read more...]
1932 Bulgaria Sport Set Includes Babe Ruth and Other Sporting Greats
There are all sorts of pre-war international tobacco sets and a few of them include baseball and the legendary Babe Ruth. One of those is the 1932 Bulgaria Sport set, produced in Germany -- let's take a closer look at it. The Basics Despite its name, the 1932 Bulgaria Sport is actually a German tobacco card set. Bulgaria Sport was the name of a cigarette brand and the formal … [Read more...]
1932 New York Giants Schedule Postcards (Mostly) A Rare Find
Fresh off of a second place finish in the National League standings in 1931, hopes were high for the 1932 iteration of the New York Giants. But despite a lineup that featured Hall of Famers Mel Ott, Bill Terry, Fred Lindstrom, Travis Jackson, Carl Hubbell, and Waite Hoyt, the Giants never met expectations, finishing a disappointing 72-82 under Terry and fellow Cooperstown … [Read more...]
Action Shots Threw a Curve in the 1941 Double Play Set
The 1941 Double Play baseball card set is one of the few wartime issues that was printed. Stuck somewhere in between the bounds of pre-war and post-war, the cards were distributed in the same year the United States entered World War II. The set was created by Gum Products, Inc. Pictures are in black and white or, as sometimes described, in a sepia tone. The popular 1940s … [Read more...]
The Wayback Collector: International Babe Ruth Cards Climbing in Value
The majority of Babe Ruth's baseball cards are American made. But for many years, collectors have been able to find relative bargains in the slugger's international cards. If you've been paying attention to prices lately, though, those low-priced cards are starting to disappear. Ruth's early candy and gum cards have long been expensive. But prices for those cards, along with … [Read more...]
1936 S&S Game Set is a Pre-War Bargain
If you were a baseball-loving youngster 80 years ago and mom and dad’s bank account hadn’t been devastated by the Great Depression, you would have loved getting one for your birthday. “The National Game” was a board game issued by S&S, a Chicago-based company that marketed them at youngsters. Today, the 1936 S&S baseball cards that came with it are among the most … [Read more...]
Pre-War Baseball Card Holiday Gift Ideas for Any Budget
The holidays are here and if you're still looking for some last-minute gift ideas for fellow collectors--or give yourself a well-earned present for a challenging year-- I've got you covered. Just about all of these are easily attainable and while most are inexpensive, we've broken them down by the price ranges you can probably expect to pay. Under $25 1880s Baseball Comics … [Read more...]
The Baseball Cards of the Legendary Jim Thorpe
When collectors discuss the storied names of early football players, Jim Thorpe is one that quickly is at the forefront. Thorpe is certainly one of the key figures that was instrumental in growing that sport. But in addition to a storied football career and Olympic career that saw him win gold medals in the decathlon and pentathlon in 1912, Thorpe was also a baseball … [Read more...]
1907-09 Dietsche Postcards Featured the Tigers and Cubs
Many pre-war baseball (and all sports, for that matter) postcards featured generic subjects instead of specific players. Because of that, many of them can be found inexpensively. Even postcards from the early 1900s can be found for as little as $5-$10. That makes them a great target for collectors looking for cheap pre-war stuff. The postcards that do show real players, of … [Read more...]