1954 Orioles Uncatalogued Photo Set: Help Needed

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Posted By: James Feagin

I apologize that this doesn't meet the pre-war genre, however, this is where the most knowledgable folks are. I've been trying to find the ID of a picture set of the 1954 Orioles for a long time. I checked my 2003 Standard Guide and updated editions, and it is not listed with other photos. These measure 6x8" and feature some very obscure 1954 Orioles. I have a group of 25. Can anyone offer me a maker of this set?










Players in set are:
Neil Berry, Vern Brickford, Gil Coan, Joe Coleman, Chuck Diering, James Dyck, Howard Fox, Jim Fridley, Jehosie Heard, Bill Hunter, Darnell Johnson, Dick Kokos, Lou Kretlow, Dick Kryhoski, Don Larsen, Don Lenhardt, Dick Littlefield, Sam Mele, Les Moss, Duane Pillette, Vern Stephens, Marlin Stuart, Bob Turley, Vic Wertz, Bob Young.

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Posted By: davidcycleback

I don't know, but the obvious guess would be one of thos Picture Pack team sets sold at stadiums. I know that some other team sets were around the same size. The cards were printed on paper.

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Posted By: jamie

jay publishing were the folks that made the picture packs. i believe they are listed in the scd.

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Posted By: James Feagin

Thanks for your replies. However, Jay Publishing was primarily in the early 1960's, this is 1954. I bought this as a group, so I assume this is a complete set? Any other ideas? Think it's worthy of inclusion in the Standard Guide???

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Posted By: Todd Schultz

Agree that they are likely team issued. They're too big for Jay pubs, and too early. Jay Pub team sets did not have that many players for each team like your Orioles, either.

You might try writing Bob Lemke at SCD. Back when I subscribed there was a column for newly discovered or uncatalogued issues that he would write, "Std catalog update" or something, where readers would write in with their info. He's also active in seeking info about uncatalogued sets for the big book, so he'd probably like to hear from you. He posts here periodically.

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Posted By: James Feagin

It appears from my research of these players that this set was made VERY early in the 1954 season, probably between Mid-February to Mid-April. A couple of these guys were gone by early May. Perhaps this is a very early Spring Training release, Opening Day give-away, or early team issue? I just got contacted from Beckett. I would also like Mr. Lemke to know about this. I searched for an e-mail, but couldn't find one. Any help?

James

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Posted By: Todd Schultz

lemkeb@krause.com

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Posted By: leon

Bob L. reads the board fairly regularly so he might chime in. I know he gets inundated with these kinds of requests but he's always been pretty good to this board ( Hi Bob if you are reading ) best regards

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Posted By: James Feagin

If Mr. Lemke reads this I think they should also come out with an "International Standard Guide". A book for Cuban, Japanese, and other foreign cards....Topps parallels inclusive....

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Posted By: Chad

I would love a guide that was only 1969 and earlier but included all the foreign sets. Until then, Gary Engels at Prestige Collectibles self-publishes a nice guide on the Japanese stuff. He was gracious enough to comp me a copy and it's been an education. Lots of good Japanese stuff out there and the vintage stuff is still reasonable.

--Chad

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Posted By: Texas Ted

Amen to the 1969 and earlier catalog. I get a hernia lugging the big ole thing around, and more than half of it is totally worthless to me.

Seems like it would be a fairly simple matter to break it into two editions, and maybe even boost sales for SCD.

Texas Ted

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Posted By: davidycleback

James, I don't know who was the printer, but there were team issues similar to these from in the 1940s and 50s and possibly earlier. They're generally called team issues or 'picture packs,' and originally came in an envelope with a cellophane window. Collectors can pick up the vintage team sets containing rookes and pre-rookies of players like Mickey Mantle and Satchel Paige. Many of these issues are in the SCD, probably alphabetically listed by team. I just checked my Beckett Almanac, which is a few years old. The 1954 Orioles set is not listed-- though the 1958 Orioles and later team issues are.

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Posted By: James Feagin

Does anyone have any scans for the 1954 Esskay Meats Orioles set? I don't have any 1954 Esskay Orioles. It came to mind that if this is not a team issue (which it probably is) that these could be some sort of promotional posters for Esskay in 1954.

James