53 Bowman Reese

[CW]

1) not sure

2) It's iconic because it's a piece of art on cardboard -- a perfectly framed action shot (albeit staged) of a HOFer in a highly collectable, attractive set.


more trivia on the card (this, according to legendary collector Anthony N.e.x from an old thread on another forum ).... "it is the only black and white image in the set- it was hand colored to use on the card."

[GoldenAge50s]

I love the '53 Bowman set & have it complete since buying the packs back in the day, but I've never understood the fascination w/ that card. It's a terrible grainy,blurry photo, the action is a thousand miles away and the players are unidentifiable. Nothing at all neat about that card for me!

[t206blogcom]

One of my favorite post-war cards for sure and one of my favorite players. Beautiful & iconic!

[ALR-bishop]

Say now, we can't have Mr Nex thinking he is legendary. No telling where that could lead

[Volod]

I think it's status derives from the kids who originally collected the set back in 1953. Many of them became influential in the hobby and emphasized the significance of certain cards that had been their favorites. I, myself, can recall briefly glimpsing the Reese card in another youngster's stack in that year, and it definitely left an impression on my fevered 8-year-old brain. Mostly, because it is the only true action shot in the set, as pointed out above, and things like that tend to excite kids for inexplicable reasons.

[CW]

Originally Posted by ALR-bishop

Say now, we can't have Mr Nex thinking he is legendary. No telling where that could lead

LOL! I guess I added some "puffery" there.



(although Anthony's helpfulness and willingness to share info are well known on the forums, and the same could be said for you, Al.)

[Paul S]

Thanks to all who have and will replied/reply. I agree with all and learned a few things.
My thoughts: Isn't it bizarre that you can't really make out Reese's face very well? It's like, you'd have to read the back of the card if you didn't already know who it was. I mean, as well as other "action" cards of the era,, because to me it was posed, but not like other action cards where a player is swinging a bat or making a catch. And darn, Reese does the splitz like an Olympic gold medal winner.
Maybe my favorite card from one of my favorite sets. Keep the replies coming.

BTW -- Nex and I used to purchase from the same dealer, although we didn't know each other then (and have still never met) from Goodwin Goldfadden of ADCO, way back when.

[Volod]

Anyone know if there is any actual evidence of the identity of the player on the ground? The uni number is not visible, and the face is not clear from that distance, so what is the speculation about Toby Atwell and Frenchy Bordagaray based on? The shot does appear to be staged in a spring training ballpark, so Bordagaray is a possible suspect, as he was with the Dodgers through 1945.