1955 Sport Magazine Fan Club baseball cards

[jason.1969]

I have a baseball card from this set on the way, so I was hoping to read up a bit on the set. From what I can tell there are 500 subjects in the set, ranging across multiple sports.

Not sure if paper vs cardboard. Guessing blank back, but I don't know. Pics are black/white, mainly headshots, and not super exciting. Am guessing these are much smaller than standard cards, but I'll be pleasantly surprised if they're anywhere near 2.5x3.5. Finally, I believe they were part of a mail-in offer. Not sure if you sent in to get some random stack vs whole set vs something else.

Any info is appreciated.

[Exhibitman]

What you are describing are the 1955 All American Sports Club issue. Paper, blank backs, nominally strip card sized.

https://loveofthegameauctions.com/LotDetail.aspx?inventoryid=17297

FWIW there are also a set of premiums that were issued. They are about 5 x 6, much harder to find, and are not well known. Here are a few:

http://photos.imageevent.com/exhibitman/picturepacks/websize/Robinson%20small%20publicity.jpg
http://photos.imageevent.com/exhibitman/picturepacks/websize/1950s%20Snider%20small%20publicity.jpg
http://photos.imageevent.com/exhibitman/picturepacks/websize/Marciano%20small%20publicity.jpg

[jason.1969]

Thanks for the info. Will be fun to see it when it arrives. Was the last Dave Hoskins I needed for my Dave Hoskins master set.

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[swarmee]

If it's the set I'm thinking of, it's a bunch of small black and white pictures on an 8x10 photo sheet or something with numbers written on the negatives. I think there was a thread about them on PSA's message board last year.

But I could be thinking of a different oddball issue.

[Bigdaddy]

Is that Don Newcombe's signature on a photo of Duke Snider?

[swarmee]

Sure looks like it.

[Exhibitman]

Not a signature; just a mistaken name.

Dave Hoskins master set: that's a rather idiosyncratic collection. What is the story behind it?

[jason.1969]

Dave Hoskins master set: that's a rather idiosyncratic collection. What is the story behind it?

I really enjoyed the book "Black Aces," and Hoskins was featured in it as an honorary/early ace. In writing up his story for the SABR blog I became interested in picking up his cards.

https://sabrbaseballcards.blog/2019/03/06/uncommon-common-dave-hoskins/

This particular one was his one tough card based on the set it came from, but all of his cards, even his RC, are commons, hence the title of my article.

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[commishbob]

Jason, that was a great read, thanks. I really enjoy learning about some of the interesting backstories of so-called 'common' players. Hank Foiles, Chuck Harmon and Steve Korcheck for example.

As for the set...there was a Billy Pierce on eBay that I kept watching, never willing to pull the trigger on something that seemed to be too expensive for what it was. Now it's gone and I wish I hadn't hesitated. I'm not sure what defines 'master set' and I don't know if my Pierce collection is ever going to reach that level, but that piece would have helped.

[jason.1969]

Thanks. Will keep my eyes open for Pierce. The guy I got my Hoskins from has 100+ of these but most player don't come up in eBay search. He just lists names in the description area since there are so many.

I just checked and there was no Pierce, but other player collectors may want to check his listings. Searching "1955 Sport Magazine Fan Club" will bring up his stuff.

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