What is Feller's True American Rookie?

[Cozumeleno]

Hi Ben -

The issue is that some R314s have been misclassified. Really, some are V352s, which are in the American Card Catalog. That classification, for whatever reason, has disappeared these days. Instead of calling some R314s and some V352s, everything is now lumped under the R314 header.

We call everything R314 these days and there are five classifications of those per the Standard Catalog. (R314-1, R314-2, R314-3, R314-4, and R314-5). R314-5 is the all Canadian subset. That one is without question supposed to be V352. R314-4 is a bit murkier. That's the one with the Feller. However, I believe those are V352s as well for several reasons.

First, they are believed to be printed in 1937 with R314-5 (R314-1, R314-2, and R314-3 are all believed to be 1936. Second, R314-4 has the creamy borders just like the Canadian R314-5. Third, in the American Card Catalog, Burdick says that V352 includes 'additional Canadian players'. That infers to me that the set also includes some American players. There are no American players in R314-5 so that leaves us with R314-4.

At a minimum, R314-5s are V352s, and personally, I believe that R314-4s are V352s as well.

Originally Posted by The Nasty Nati

Bob Feller has three rookies. The 1937 R314C "Creamy" Wide Pens, 1937 V300 OPC, and 1937 W463-7 "4-on-1" Exhibits.

The R314 Wide Pens and V300 OPC were made in Canada, but what about the 1937 W463-7? Is that considered his first true American rookie or do we have to resort to the 1938 Goudey?

Finally, what do people consider his most highly coveted rookie? The 1937 OPC?

[rhettyeakley]

Originally Posted by Cozumeleno

There are no American players in R314-5 so that leaves us with R314-4.

I agree 100% with everything you said up to this point. There are Detroit Tigers players in the Canadian set. They are really difficult to find and somewhat hard to differentiate than the creamy r314’s but they are part of that set (even though they have never really been cataloged as such. I have collected the regular “creamy” R314’s for many years and nearly every card I have rec’d has come from the United States (original “new to the hobby” finds). There should be some prior threads about the Tigers players as I remember posting about them years ago.

[MikeGarcia]

Originally Posted by rhettyeakley

I agree 100% with everything you said up to this point. There are Detroit Tigers players in the Canadian set. They are really difficult to find and somewhat hard to differentiate than the creamy r314’s but they are part of that set (even though they have never really been cataloged as such. I have collected the regular “creamy” R314’s for many years and nearly every card I have rec’d has come from the United States (original “new to the hobby” finds). There should be some prior threads about the Tigers players as I remember posting about them years ago.

..The "creamy" 1937 Type 4 is much more intense..

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[MikeGarcia]

..the graders very rarely got it right. I don't even bother submitting unusual stuff anymore. Not worth the aggravation of explaining to young kids at PSA and mailing rare expensive stuff back and forth 3,000 miles several times. As long as we on 54 know what things are , that's fine. I've mellowed my stance on TPGs.

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[Cozumeleno]

Thanks - that's interesting. I've never seen any cataloged as such, as you said. The Standard Catalog has only identified Canadian cards as Type 5s. Will look for the previous Tigers post you referenced.

Originally Posted by rhettyeakley

I agree 100% with everything you said up to this point. There are Detroit Tigers players in the Canadian set. They are really difficult to find and somewhat hard to differentiate than the creamy r314’s but they are part of that set (even though they have never really been cataloged as such. I have collected the regular “creamy” R314’s for many years and nearly every card I have rec’d has come from the United States (original “new to the hobby” finds). There should be some prior threads about the Tigers players as I remember posting about them years ago.

[MikeGarcia]

Originally Posted by Cozumeleno

Thanks - that's interesting. I've never seen any cataloged as such, as you said. The Standard Catalog has only identified Canadian cards as Type 5s. Will look for the previous Tigers post you referenced.

This is the hardest of the Type 5 Tigers I think-- the left photo is the Canadian washed-out "matte finish" ; the "creamy" type 4 on the right has a slightly thicker "C" and "G" in the "Charles Gehringer"..... coffee helps.

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[Cozumeleno]

Originally Posted by MikeGarcia

This is the hardest of the Type 5 Tigers I think-- the left photo is the Canadian washed-out "matte finish" ; the "creamy" type 4 on the right has a slightly thicker "C" and "G" in the "Charles Gehringer"..... coffee helps.

..

Great cards/photos - and relatively easy to spot the difference when next to each other.

[Throttlesteer]

I hope this ended up with a board member. One of my biggest regrets was selling this one. Great eye appeal for a "5"

[ls7plus]

My vote is for the R314 above, for two reasons: (1) it is to me by far the best looking of the contestants; and (2) I have owned one in nice shape for over 25 years. It is interesting to think that the image was undoubtedly taken in 1936, when he was just 17, and after the season was over, went home to finish high school! He would have won somewhere around 350 games but for his heroic voluntary service in WWII. Very, very underrated player!

Best always,

Larry