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Posted By: Stephen Mitchell

After a bit of searching, the February 1974 and March 1974 issues of SPORTS SCOOP reveal some early information on the Bra-Mac cards. George Brace ran full page advertisements in which he introduced "The First Full-Color Picture Set of the 1930's!"

The first series of 8 cards (for $3) included Ed Brandt (1932 Braves), Bill Sweeney (1931 Red Sox), Earl Whitehill (1936 Senators), Fred Ostermueller (1934 Red Sox), Chuck Klein (1935 Cubs), Tommy Thevenow (1936 Reds), Clyde Shoun (1938 Cardinals) and Les Mallon (1934 Braves). Buyers of the first series were guaranteed the opportunity of purchasing the complete set at no increase in price. The complete set was said to have every team and every year in full color, from 1931 to 1939.

Another full page ad with different text ran in the April 1974 SPORTS SCOOP. It offered series 2 through 5 (which were checklisted) as well as series one for $3.00 each.

By the May '74 issue, Brace was offering the first 12 series (96 cards) of his proposed "288 picture set". In addition, OTHER sets and single cards were offered: 37 Baseball Hall of Famers in 3-1/2" X 5" or 5" X 7" size; 6 oldtime team photos (5" X 7") including 1889 Boston, 1889 Philadelphia, 1898 New York, 1898 Louisville, 1914 Braves and 1915 Red Sox; and 30 Groups cards in both postcard and 5" X 7" formats. The May issue contains the first mention of BRA-MAC. It continued to use George Brace and his Chicago address but with BRA-MAC added.

Finally, I should add that I have seen a checklist of the 288 cards somewhere. But where? The guides I most frequently use (2003 Krause Standard Catalog and 2005 Beckett Almanac) do not list this set; rather, just a smaller Bra-Mac (or Bramac) set of 1933 National League All-Stars (in black & white). A guess would be that Krause (possibly Beckett) listed the 288 in an earlier edition.

Even given the obvious inflation of our currency with $3 in 1974 being more like $12-15 today, I wish I had made more than a token purchase. Over the years I have seen just a few of these cards and have never laid eyes on Bra-Mac's Hall of Fame and team photos or ANY 5" X 7" format cards.