[nolemmings]

I was hoping this post would gain more traction and catch the eyes of team issue or Yankee collectors. As I mentioned in the other thread posted on the pre-war side, the presence of Jackie Jensen and Johnny Mize places this set as being issued in the 50's, and I now believe it was from 1951, as Austin Mike suggests. Jensen was a two-sport sensation at Cal who was acquired by the Yankees in 1950, which provides the earliest date for the photos, and since he was gone from New York less than a month into the 1952 season, that leaves a narrow window. Of course Dimaggio’s last season with the team was 1951, so unless his photo was included as some sort of homage, the set was from 1951. What I find odd is the inclusion of three coaches– Crosetti, Dickey and Henrich – in a 12 card/picture set. Also strange is why it would not include Mantle, who was being trumpeted as a star before he arrived that rookie year of 1951, or maybe even a young Whitey Ford.

The Phil Rizzuto photo really seems to pin down the year of issue to 1951, based on the outfield sign advertising seen in the background. Note that the sign seen along the left field line is for “Rainbo”, which is the same sign found in photos from Mantle’s first spring training in 1951– you can google it– one of which formed the basis of his 1951 Bowman rookie card. Also note that the Yankees held spring training in Phoenix in 1951 and only that year. So if the historians are correct as to the Mantle photos then Rizzuto’s pic must have been taken in 1951, and given the other player and coach selections in the set, the entire group would seem to be from 1951 also. Of course the origin of who produced it remains a mystery.