1949 Leaf BB cards....show us your Leaf's

[tedzan]

For many years we've known that these cards were skip-numbered, and that there are 98 different BB subjects.
But, in the Spring of '49....us kids had no idea how many cards we needed to complete this set. A premium adv.
on the back of some cards mentioned a 168-card album was available for mailing in a number of wrappers.
We kept spending our pennies buying LEAF cards by the 100's. It was a "nasty" marketing trick that LEAF Gum
played on us kids back then. My original collection had all 49 (1st series) cards and approx. 80 duplicates.


Here is an old photo of an uncut sheet of 1st series cards. Along with a diagram of the card #'s on their backs.









TED Z
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[steve B]

Pretty neat stuff Ted.

I've been studying the first series a bit trying to figure out the order of what to me looks like three printings, or maybe three sets of plates with some transitional cards using elements of two different groups. Having the major variations in some sort of order is huge.

The stuff I'm, looking at.

Pink vs Red and background differences like backgrounds extending along the players body or bat or not.



And not only pink vs red, but dark blue vs light blue and similar background issues.



I've suspected for a while that pink and those extensions of the background were earlier, pink changed because the target market would probably very much prefer red, and the little extensions removed to cut a bit of cost. Not saving much ink per card, but over a big press run it would add up.

There's other changes that are less obvious and that I don't have good scans for like shading on hats or not.

A fun set that I like, and one I like all the more for that complexity. I'll probably complete the basic regular cards someday, probably not the SPs.

Steve B

[tedzan]

Hi Steve B.

Thanks for chiming in, and thanks for the compliment.


Here are other LEAF's from my 2 sets that have both shades of Blue.

The Musial card is mostly found with the Dark Blue color. Very rarely, a Light Blue one is found. I prefer the Light Blue version.














And then, there is BLUE or no BLUE.




And if you're lucky (rarely in a "blue-moon") you can find a no-Blue LEAF card.

You got to love this stuff.


TED Z
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[jb67]

Some great cards being posted. I only have one Leaf card but really love this set and will eventually add more. Here is my Jackie Robinson.

[Bumpus Jones]

Great post Ted Z. I've long admired these cards and have several Reds players in my collection, but I'm also an advanced Reds pennant collector of all shapes and sizes and this is the only pennant I own that measures 12" x 6". In my opinion, this is the Reds version of the pennant offer shown on the back of some Leaf cards. Wanted to hear yours and everyone else's opinion on the subject. I'm also interested in hearing what you have to say about the other premiums offered by leaf. Do you have any pics to share of these items?

[yanksfan09]

my 2...

[Joem36]

Here is my six. Just started this great set. Looking for centered ones in the new PSA holder.

[tedzan]

Originally Posted by Bumpus Jones

Great post Ted Z. I've long admired these cards and have several Reds players in my collection, but I'm also an advanced Reds pennant collector of all shapes and sizes and this is the only pennant I own that measures 12" x 6". In my opinion, this is the Reds version of the pennant offer shown on the back of some Leaf cards. Wanted to hear yours and everyone else's opinion on the subject. I'm also interested in hearing what you have to say about the other premiums offered by leaf. Do you have any pics to share of these items?

Hi Chris

Great looking pennant you have there.

I've never gone after the pennants. I had a chance to get the 32-page LEAF album. But, I thought the price was too high, so I didn't get it. I sort of regret not purchasing it,
as it is very difficult to find this album.

I have the Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig HOF premiums. When I return home tomorrow, I will post pictures of them


TED Z
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[Snapolit1]

One of the AHs last year had a blue background DiMaggio which was very sweet. Kicking myself I didn't buy it.

If anyone wants to sell a nice Newhouser let me know.