1959 Ted Williams Fleer Cards

[Jayworld]

Does anyone collect this set? I am thinking about starting this one, as the Ted Williams cards from this set seem pretty affordable. Anyone have any tips or would like to show cards from their collection?

Thanks.

[ALR-bishop]

I have the set and can post some scans later. The key card, Ted Signs, has been counterfeited, and I can post a scan of it side by side with the real one this afternoon

[Paul S]

I bought it complete in the sixties, still raw (only set I've ever bought complete). Like Al, I'll post anything you want to see.

[rsdill2]

Neat set...and not too difficult to complete. As has been said, only card that will set you back any significant amount is #68. Here's my set:

[ALR-bishop]

Can you pick out the fake..

[Jay Wolt]

Al, the bottom one

[the 'stache]

May I ask what makes the "Ted Signs" card more valuable than the others? Scarcity, or something else?

[rsdill2]

Originally Posted by the 'stache

May I ask what makes the "Ted Signs" card more valuable than the others? Scarcity, or something else?

Bucky Harris, the BoSox executive in the picture with the splendid splinter had an exclusive contract with Topps. Once Topps got wind of the card being sold, they threatened Fleer with a lawsuit so Fleer pulled it from distribution...at least that's how I understand it.

[the 'stache]

That makes sense, Robert. Thank you!

[Paul S]

Originally Posted by rsdill2

Bucky Harris, the BoSox executive in the picture with the splendid splinter had an exclusive contract with Topps. Once Topps got wind of the card being sold, they threatened Fleer with a lawsuit so Fleer pulled it from distribution...at least that's how I understand it.

I have no legitimate reason to doubt that, but I had always heard that Williams had not actually signed a contract at that point. I would wonder why Harris would even have a contract with Topps. What card company, not that there was much competition, would even want a contract with the Harris likeness? And if Harris had did indeed have some sort of BoSox contract with Topps, why wouldn't he have tried to pull the whole Fleer set, with all those Boston insignias on Williams' jerseys?

[ALR-bishop]

Paul---before he was a GM he was an active player and a manger

[Paul S]

Originally Posted by ALR-bishop

Paul---before he was a GM he was an active player and a manger

Al, I get that. But by the time the set came out that phase for Harris had been a long time gone. If Harris wanted money, wouldn't it have been easier for Fleer to just give him a few hundred? Also, as far as Harris being a "manger", maybe Harris thought he was the Second Coming (said in jest).

Paul

[pclpads]

Originally Posted by rsdill2

Bucky Harris, the BoSox executive in the picture with the splendid splinter had an exclusive contract with Topps. Once Topps got wind of the card being sold, they threatened Fleer with a lawsuit so Fleer pulled it from distribution...at least that's how I understand it.

That doesn't make sense. Why would Harris have an "exclusive" contract with Topps? Harris was never on a Topps card and in fact the last card he appeared on was the '53 Bowman B/W issue, six years prior. I think it's more likely Teddy was still under contract to Topps, since he appeared on two cards in the prior year '58T set and was still an active player.

[darkhorse9]

I have nothing to base this theory on, but isn't it possible that the problem wasn't with the subjects on card #68 but the photograph? Photograph copyrights are held by the photographer. That looks like it may have been an AP photo or some other press conference photo. Maybe Fleer never got clearance to use the picture and that was the problem. Or maybe Harris owned the photo and wanted compensation for it.

[ALR-bishop]

Oddly, he does appear on a Topps card, but in the 1953 Reprint set from 1991. Also Ted's contract status would not explain why card 68, as opposed to all the other cards in the set is shorted.

Topps contracts ( and Bowman's) were not exclusive of the rights to a players likeness. The contracts granted exclusive rights to market such likenesses with confections ( gum or candy)...which resulted in alternate packaging by Fleer with a cookie in 63 and Leaf with a marble in 1960. The contracts were often, or at least sometimes for indefinite periods. As has been pointed out, Harris appeared on a Bowman card and when Topps bought out Bowman, the purchase included the Bowman contracts