Truly scarce postwar cards

Harliduck · #1 05-06-2025, 06:36 PM

That is true and one of the best post war stories out there. Apparently they never mailed out Gil's back in the day (the players used these to hand out to fans, and some were sold at specific stadiums) and his stash was found in the artists basement years later after he passed, not that long ago. The VERY FEW that were in the hobby were going for 5 digit prices, even for poor cards and it was considered by many as one of the rarest post war cards of them all. The discovery was purchased in whole at an auction and unfortunately for anyone who spent big bucks to get one, the value dropped exponentially. There is a PSA 10 on ebay for like $300 right now. The stash was in mint shape. I have a 7 I graded myself, and also picked up an 8 a while back for next to nothing. Just goes to show there are winners, and LOSERS when there is a big find. If you google it there are many articles on this...again, a pretty cool story.

I've read, not sure what the truth is, but Skowron and Elston Howard threw most of theirs away, thus the premium.

Rickyy · #2 05-06-2025, 07:27 PM

Tough one.

raulus · #3 05-06-2025, 11:30 PM

Here�s another fun one. PSA Pop 3.

For the uninitiated, the numbered version was a test, and never actually issued on boxes. The unnumbered version is pretty ubiquitous.

ALBB · #4 05-07-2025, 06:59 AM

Bazooka Mays

In addition the unnumbered version..is found everywhere

Marckus99 · #5 05-07-2025, 07:08 AM

This, over any others�.all day, everyday.

paul · #6 05-08-2025, 10:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by raulus

Here�s another fun one. PSA Pop 3.

For the uninitiated, the numbered version was a test, and never actually issued on boxes. The unnumbered version is pretty ubiquitous.

Is the 1971 numbered Bazooka Mays particularly scarce within the numbered set? I know the numbered cards are tough, but I never thought they'd have a population of only 3 each. I have about twenty of the numbered cards (but no Mays).

raulus · #7 05-08-2025, 11:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by paul

Is the 1971 numbered Bazooka Mays particularly scarce within the numbered set? I know the numbered cards are tough, but I never thought they'd have a population of only 3 each. I have about twenty of the numbered cards (but no Mays).

They are all pretty scarce, but Mays seems to be extra scarce. Pop 3 is also a bit of a misdirect, because there are also 4 complete panels with Mays.

71buc · #8 05-09-2025, 02:39 PM

1971 Pirate Team Issued Autograph card Bruce Kison. It�s not listed as part of the set in PSA. There is one on eBay at the moment. It�s the only one I�ve seen other than the one I have in my collection. The 1958 Clemente Team issue is scarce. The 1971 Pirates action photos are pretty tough as well especially in nice condition due to the paper stock

Zach Wheat · #9 05-09-2025, 03:46 PM

When International Bakery was experimenting with their initial baseball issue which we now know as the 1975 Hostess Twinkies set, they experimented with different back colors including black ink and brown ink on the back. The Twinkies set differs from the normal "Hostess" set as it has black bars along the top and bottom of the card.

International Bakery's printer was out of Pittsburgh. They printed some test sheets in other colors as well including yellow, red and pink. The sheets were thrown away in the dumpster and an employee went dumpster diving after work. The sheets were recovered and were sold to a dealer. The dealer cut up and sold a number of the brown bar Hostess Twinkie cards on the open market. Most of the brown bar Hostess Twinkies you see on the market come from these sheets.

1975 Hostess Twinkies is a limited set and considered more rare than the 1975 Hostess set. The 1975 Hostess Twinkie Brown Bar variations are even more rare than the Black Bar variations, which are perhaps 1/4 more rare than the black bar variations.

To date I have never seen any of the other color - but I am told they exist. Maybe a Yount rookie in 1975 Hostess Twinkie red back variation will pop up some day. Or maybe a Ryan.....we might never know. But I am told they exist.....

captainfitz · #10 05-07-2025, 08:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Harliduck

I've read, not sure what the truth is, but Skowron and Elston Howard threw most of theirs away, thus the premium.

My Elston Howard is in pretty good shape, but I still need one of those Skowron's. I'm hoping to find a decent one at a good price eventually. Dormand's and those little 1950 Callahans are some of my favorites non-standard cards from the 50s.

John, for your complete set, did you you go with one per player, or did you make sure to get each of the known photo variations for each guy?

Harliduck · #11 05-07-2025, 09:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by captainfitz

My Elston Howard is in pretty good shape, but I still need one of those Skowron's. I'm hoping to find a decent one at a good price eventually. Dormand's and those little 1950 Callahans are some of my favorites non-standard cards from the 50s.

John, for your complete set, did you you go with one per player, or did you make sure to get each of the known photo variations for each guy?

That's a super nice Elston...took me a while to pick that one up as well. I did go with all the poses, yes...and dabbled in a few of the auto positioning and no number cards but didn't focus on those. It is shocking to see the low PSA graded totals on all Dormands, seems only the 2 Mickey's are popular to sub...my set is all SGC.

The only variation that I would like to pick up one day but not sure it's even considered a "card", is the Arkansas auto dealership Johnny Sain. It's over sized and PSA has only graded 3 of them. I've never seen one available.

hcv123 · #12 05-07-2025, 12:11 PM

1957 Salesman sample panel: better of 2 examples I know of
1960 Clemente Bazooka complete box - only known example
1962 Jell-O complete box - only known complete box
1962 Salesman sample panel: best of 3 or 4 known examples
1968 Topps Test disc: Only known example (though there should be some various proof versions out there somewhere)
1972 Topps prototype - Only known example
1960 Mickey Mantle complete Bazooka box - Finest of 2 known examples

ScooterD · #13 05-07-2025, 01:53 PM

What is the Clemente card next to the disc?

Smanzari · #14 05-07-2025, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScooterD

What is the Clemente card next to the disc?

I think that's the 1972 Topps Prototype (and the coolest one of the Grouping IMO)

Rich Klein · #15 05-07-2025, 04:11 PM

And this one on EBay is not mine but,

https://www.ebay.com/itm/38836087625...3ABFBMiJylydVl

Beckett and TCDB have never catalogued this set. COMC has never had one card from this set submitted and this is the only one we found on the Bay

I picked up this card up as a raw card as part of a lot at the DCS and to be honest, both the person who sold me the lot and myself treated this card as well it's just a LeBron. Sometimes you walk into things you just don't know.

Regards
Rich

raulus · #16 05-07-2025, 04:17 PM

Howard busting out the complete boxes!!

Here’s another 62 Jello complete box, also 1 of 1. Obviously more were made, but not many survived.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
WTB: PostWar HOF Rookie Cards	Robextend	1950 to 1959 Baseball cards- B/S/T	5	05-30-2014 01:53 PM
What are your top 10 postwar cards?	Doug	Postwar Baseball Cards Forum (Pre-1980)	53	12-29-2011 04:17 AM
Postwar Baseball Cards	jerrys	1950 to 1959 Baseball cards- B/S/T	1	11-09-2011 12:10 AM
WTB: PostWar HOF Rookie Cards	Robextend	1950 to 1959 Baseball cards- B/S/T	4	07-07-2011 03:02 PM
SGC and Postwar Cards	Doug	Postwar Baseball Cards Forum (Pre-1980)	10	11-24-2010 09:58 AM