Reflections on 1949 BOWMAN's (25 HOFers, many Rookies)...show-N-tell us of your cards

Bram99 · #1 11-23-2019, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tedzan

The elusive 7th sheet has never been seen. On display here is my simulated version of it, which I put together many years ago. Note,
the 12 variations in the 1949 BOWMAN set are printed on the lower rows of this last sheet. Ralph and I have evidence (in the form of
overprinted backs) of the exact placement of 32 cards on this sheet. When I constructed this simulation, four of the variations on the
bottom row were unknown. Recently, additional evidence has surfaced and I have switched the placement of these 4 cards (as noted).

��....��.�� ^________________________^ ��.��.. ^_____________^

Note....evidence surfaced in recent years which made me switch the positions of Dillinger & Murtaugh, and switch Fitzgerald & Priddy

Stay tuned for more information regarding the 12 variations in this set.

TED Z

T206 Reference
.

Here's my imagined rendering of the even more elusive 8th sheet:

tedzan · #2 11-25-2019, 07:21 PM

Indeed, the toughest series of cards in the 1949 BOWMAN set are in the 5th Series (#145 - 180). My theory is, these were most
likely short-printed. As Bowman was in a hurry for the production of their last 72 cards of this set (the 6th Series). The 6th Series
cards (comprising of sheets 6 and 7) are somewhat more available than the 5th series cards.

In completing several 1949 Bowman sets throughout the years, my experience is, that these 2 cards are the most difficult to find:
Preacher Roe (#162) and George Stirnweiss (#165).

I am not sure why the Preacher Roe card is tougher to find than other cards in the 5th Series. But, one thing is for sure, Roe was
the Dodgers' southpaw pitching "ace" during 1948 - 1953 with a 93 - 33 Won-Lost record.

Now, on the other hand, the scarcity of the George Stirnweiss card goes with a story......

Back in the 1980's and 1990's, when I would set up at BB cards Shows in New Jersey, George Stirnweiss' family often attended.

His family would buy every Stirnweiss card I had (1947 Tip Top, 1948 - 1951 Bowmans, 1952 Topps, etc.). Therefore, my guess
is this is partially the reason for why his 1949 Bowman card is very difficult to find.

I'm curious....you collectors of 1949 BOWMAN cards....what card (or cards) in this set have you found difficult to get ?

TED Z

T206 Reference
.

tedzan · #3 11-26-2019, 08:27 PM

Zabel Bros. Printers in Philadelphia produced the Bowman Sportscards & Non-Sports cards. The 1948 - 1952 cards were printed using 38-inch (track width) presses.
This press dimension neatly accommodated the printing of two adjacent 36-card sheets on a standard size cardboard sheet.

Unlike the first five series (36 subjects each), the 6th Series comprises of 72 subjects. Cards #181 - 216, and cards #217 - 240 (plus the 12 variations).

The 6th Series cards are Hi #s, and they are pretty tough to find. From my experience, though, the Bob Lemon (#238) card is considerably more difficult to find
than the other 71 cards in this series. I don't understand why this is. Anyone on this forum, who collects these cards, having a tough time finding certain cards ?

Here's a list of some of the star players of that era that are in the 6th Series...�

Richie Ashburn
Ralph Branca
Larry Doby
Joe Gordon
Larry Jansen
Charlie Keller
Bob Lemon
Eddie Lopat
Johnny Mize
Satchell Paige
Pete Reiser
Phil Rizzuto
Schoolboy Rowe
Dick Sisler
Duke Snider
Virgil Trucks

TED Z

T206 Reference
.

tedzan · #4 11-26-2019, 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bram99

Here's my imagined rendering of the even more elusive 8th sheet:

Hey Tony

Neat "sheet"......but, Porterfield, Shea, and Sanford are missing from your Yankees Pitcher's display ?

TED Z

T206 Reference
.

Bram99 · #5 11-26-2019, 09:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tedzan

Hey Tony

Neat "sheet"......but, Porterfield, Shea, and Sanford are missing from your Yankees Pitcher's display ?

TED Z

T206 Reference
.

Ted, my sheet isn�t all Yankees pitchers, just the big 3.

I�ve completed a couple of 49 bowman sets and the hardest cards for me have been 162 Roe, 175 Appling, 189 Wooten, 194 Branca, 211 Ferriss, and 238 Lemon HOF RC. I also do find the 145 to 181 relatively scarce as well. Also the PNOB versions of the 12 �double prints� are also hard to find.

With all of the copies of these cards out there, do you really think that the Stirnweiss family collecting of the card could have the impact of making it scarce? There had to be millions of these printed. But how many could be in circulation / existence now? I wonder...

Tony

tedzan · #6 12-02-2019, 08:33 PM

It's sort of disappointing that this 1949 BOWMAN thread has not received more responses. It's a classic BB card set of 252 cards. The largest color set since the 1933 GOUDEY set.

OH WELL ! Let's see if we can generate some more interest by including the mysterious 1949 BOWMAN Pacific Coast League (PCL) set of 36 cards. Bowman expanded their market
to the west coast by introducing the PCL cards. Judging by their design and their colors, my guess is that these 36 cards were printed and issued during the Summer of 1949.

In the 1970's and early 1980's, the general consensus in the hobby was that these cards were only issued as sheets, of which the cards were hand-cut. This myth was dismissed in
the late 1980's by several finds.

Displayed here is the PCL waxpack wrapper.

�..�...... extremely rare 1949 PCL wrapper .................................................. ................... regular 5-cent 1949 wrapper

.

Since the early 1980's, in the process of acquiring all 36 cards Factory-cut, I have completed 3.4 sets
of these PCL cards. Here is page #1 (of 3 pages) in my 1949 BOWMAN album.

��.�...� Factory-cut ��..��..�..��...��.. Hand-cut

Stay tuned for more 1949 PCL stuff....which includes my first "big deal" with Alan "Mr Mint" Rosen....and, my PCL find.

And, if you have some of these very "rare gems", don't be shy, share them with us.

TED Z

T206 Reference
.

jason.1969 · #7 12-02-2019, 08:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tedzan

It's sort of disappointing that this 1949 BOWMAN thread has not received more responses. It's a classic BB card set of 252 cards. The largest color set since the 1933 GOUDEY set.

OH WELL ! Let's see if we can generate some more interest by including the mysterious 1949 BOWMAN Pacific Coast League (PCL) set of 36 cards. Bowman expanded their market

to the west coast by introducing the PCL cards. Judging by their design and their colors, my guess is that these 36 cards were printed and issued during the Summer of 1949.

Displayed here is the PCL waxpack wrapper.

�..�...... extremely rare 1949 PCL wrapper .................................................. ................... regular 5-cent 1949 wrapper

.

Since the early 1980's, in the process of acquiring all 36 cards Factory-cut, I have completed 3.4 sets

of these PCL cards. Here is page #1 (of 3 pages) in my 1949 BOWMAN album.

��.�...� Factory-cut ��..��..�..��...��.. Hand-cut

Stay tuned for more 1949 PCL stuff....which includes my first "big deal" with Alan "Mr Mint" Rosen....and, my PCL find.

And, if have some of these very "rare gems", don't be shy, share them with us.

TED Z

T206 Reference

.

Ted, I only posted once here but I've been loving all the info and pics! Thank you!!

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

jayshum · #8 12-03-2019, 04:17 PM

Can you comment on the light and dark backs of the first series (1-73 minus #4)? Are the dark backs rarer? When I put my set together without paying attention to the backs, I ended up with 44 light backs and 28 dark backs so it appears that the dark backs are harder to find. Do you know if that is really true?

tedzan · #9 12-03-2019, 06:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jayshum

Can you comment on the light and dark backs of the first series (1-73 minus #4)? Are the dark backs rarer? When I put my set together without paying attention to the backs, I ended up with 44 light backs and 28 dark backs so it appears that the dark backs are harder to find. Do you know if that is really true?

Hi Jay

BOWMAN printed and issued their 1st series (72 cards) with White backs. These cards were very plentiful in the Spring of 1949, especially in the Northeast.
The Gray backs followed (circa May-June 1949), and it's my understanding that these cards were distributed in the South. And, the Mid West.

Apparently, the Gray backs were printed in lower quantities than the White backs.

TED Z

T206 Reference
.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
FS 26 Different 1949 Bowman Error Cards With HOFers & Rookies	Northviewcats	1920 to 1949 Baseball cards- B/S/T	2	10-15-2016 03:00 PM
1949 LEAF seldom seen HOFers Premiums....show us your's	tedzan	Net54baseball Vintage (WWII & Older) Baseball Cards & New Member Introductions	11	03-09-2016 07:52 PM
Reflections on 30 years of the Philly Show	tedzan	Net54baseball Vintage (WWII & Older) Baseball Cards & New Member Introductions	94	09-03-2015 08:21 AM
WTB 1948 and 1949 Bowman or Leaf autographed rookies of the following:	Archive	1920 to 1949 Baseball cards- B/S/T	0	12-25-2008 09:02 PM
WTB: 1949 Bowman HOFers and stars SGC/PSA 5-7	Archive	1920 to 1949 Baseball cards- B/S/T	0	11-03-2007 07:16 PM