What If Bowman issued a '42 Play Ball Set...Sets that never were
 

Obviously, Jacob Bowman issued sets from '48-'55 upon his return after WW2. He issued them--not as Play Ball--which was wildly successful--but under his name that were relatively poorly received. Most folks had no idea that Bowman WAS Philadelphia-based Gum, Inc.
Today, we adore them. However, back in 1952, the market shifted back to Topps Gum. Jacob Bowman eventually would sell to Topps in 1956.

In 2018, my company issued a 1942 Play Ball set. It's scaled back considerably from the actual '41 set. We figured war-time rations would have scaled back production quite a bit, so color was abandoned with exception to the pale flag on the reverse. But we designed them as they likely would have looked back in the spring of' 42.

Today, my company is producing a retro-set of 1952 Play Ball cards that would have gone toe-to-toe with Topps in the spring of '52. They are larger and using full color oil and crude air brush along with inconsistent color plates. The result is like the 49's & 51's had an oversized baby. Topps made a HUGE departure from their inaugural '51 issue. Dry and air-brush colorization of photos added a life-like feel and the close-ups of player's faces helped make them more popular...had Bowman made such a departure (their 52's are quite similar to their '51's--although beautiful), they may have looked like our retro-set.

In the end, Bowman would have still sold to Topps, eventually, but it's fun to think about a Play Ball set. I'm a huge collector of post-war Bowman's, and I'm having a blast with this '52 set. It is scheduled for 132 cards and will debut in March.

Finally, I enjoy when people do "cards that never were" with existing formats. I get it. But, for me, SETS that never were are my favorite.
I'd love to see everyone's original card designs. Please share them here.

Is the 1942 set you’re referring to the same as the 1983 TCMA set or independently produced?

https://www.tradingcarddb.com/ViewSe...Play-Ball-1942

If the latter can you share any pics or a link?

Jason

[QUOTE=jason.1969;1958193]Is the 1942 set you’re referring to the same as the 1983 TCMA set or independently produced?

https://www.tradingcarddb.com/ViewSe...Play-Ball-1942



Banty Red has a 54 card original set. It was produced in 2017 and began auction activity in 2018. A couple of collectors are getting close to completion! The Lombardi and the Checklist are really tough as they are only on one sheet each. The Gordon, Pesky, Passau and 2 others are printed the most to make up for the Lombardi and Checklist. When I made the set, I forgot the checklist and wasn't happy with the first Lombardi.
Once I make the sheets, I just keep 'em and the print runs are what they are. It keeps it "authentic" and organic.
The problem with privately produced cards is the lack of thought that goes into the process. I wont use a photo of a guy from 1945 for a 1941 card. The toning and production has to be a balance between what's attractive and POSSIBLE for the era that's intended.
This is why Topps Hertiage conpletely missed the boat.
That's the most poorly thought out project of all time, Lol.
Jason, I hope you dig the 42's!

Oh wow! Those look great! I should have checked your profile and made the connection. Nice work!

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

Thank you, Jason!!!

I'm hoping some other folks have some custom designs to share. The football board has some UNREAL images of cards guys have designed. They're absolutely spectacular.

Phil - I like the cards - really nice work, but...."TOBBACO?"

Please. You have NO idea. We ran a whole 2 sets with that typo.
The error wasn't actually a typo. It was from an error cutting and pasting
from a program we do font samples. It was two different cut/pastes, apparently, and neither was correct. Had it been a more obvious error--like acoTobac it would've, possibly, been caught. Truthfully, I work so fast sometimes, I don't even look as the type goes in. My kids call it the To-bbbbb-bacccco error like George Thorogood would say. I say "what's the harm in an extra b and one less c among friends.
Funny story, I had PSA holder 45 cards (with no typos) a couple years ago. They shipped 'em back with the spelling Tabacco. I didn't notice! It took me almost 3 days! I thought about keeping them, but sent them back for reholdering.
Of recent vintage, I painted, mounted, assembled a Harry Byrd card from our 1952 series...I assigned a spot on the checklist...printed it, prepped it...basically spent 3 hours with this thing. I went to list it and it said Barry Byrd. That was just last week. Alex Kellner is now #24 until a new Byrd is made...

Phil, are you familiar with the 'Custom Card and Graphics' section on Sportscollectors.net?

It's a site dedicated to collecting autographs, mostly through the mail. There is a small yearly fee to join.

There are some really creative folks on there who produce cards that never were, especially for players that had no other cards.

Outstanding! Thank you! I will check it out.

Tom,
Is it a chat board? I signed up and looked for it but have had trouble finding it.

The whole Banty Red Play Ball '42 set is up this week on eBay!
A look at all 54 cards...first time I've ever listed a full set. I wanted to give guys a chance to finish their sets as the print run is winding down to the final handful of each card.
For those of you who like to browse and enjoy something new or different--enjoy!
The '52 Play Ball debuts this week as well.

The '52 Play Ball set from BR debuted last night and were well received. Big sigh of relief here as I had completed 90 of the 132 cards before listing any.
Arguably my most time-consuming set, per card, to date but more fun than anyone should be allowed to have, Lol.
Here's what the cards look like. Most are in the player's home park--but about 2 dozen are "on the road". A couple of players have "home" and "away" cards--including the Mantle. The Mantle sold last night and won't come around again until at least Christmas. I include a typical card reverse...Hope you like 'em!

Doing this set almost exclusively with hard copy wire photos. Getting a lot of help with The Sporting News hoard that my good friend purchased a few years back. If anyone has wire photos they don't have an attachment to, from '50-'52, that are relatively clean--now is a great time to unload 'em!

Card #48 Ewell Blackwell