Calling W517 Experts

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Posted By: Texas Ted

I just picked up a full set of W517 cards, and noticed that some of them are different colors. SCD says that while they were issued in Sepia, there are some colors known to exist, and that the colored examples bring a premium. SCD was not helpful however in detailing what colors were available, if they represent all of the players and what kind of premium is involved.

Do any of you W517 experts have any insight into these questions?

Texas Ted
Never stop learning.

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Posted By: Paul

I have at least a few that are colored. The one that comes to mind is a Chick Hafey because it is a fairly strong shade of red. The other colors I've seen are more subtle. Unfortunately, I don't know much about their scarcity or whether every card is available in every color.

This is a set with a whole bunch of variations. Some cards have a baseball play at the top (like "strike out"), and some don't. I believe both numbered and unnumbered varieties are know. There are many team variations known. And, of course, there are the minis.

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Posted By: brian p

In April 2000 Ron Oser offered several lots from a collector who had amassed large quantities of the W517 set. There were two complete set lots; one had 44 sepia and 10 green tone cards, the other 29 sepia and 25 green toned. Two other lots with a combined amount of 95 cards came in a variety of other colors (unfortunately quanties of each not listed). Colors indicated are bright blue, red, violet, and green (I believe a lighter green). These lots make it sound like there is quite a spectrum of different hues for each color. Also there was a lot of 12 of the baseball plays/positions printed at top variation cards, a lot of 24 mini cards, as well as three lots of strips of three--one sepia, one green toned, and the third of the baseball plays.

Both the minis and the player/position variation cards are tough to come by (the player/position ones I'm not sure if I have ever seen--then again, haven't been looking too hard). I imagine the more unusual colors would bring a small premium, but once again, don't know for sure, since I don't really collect the set.

Brian

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Posted By: leon

Recently I picked up (and haven't received yet) a strip of three of these cards. It has 3 hof'ers on it. I paid $100.00......probably too much but my question is are these uncut strips scarce? Also, this item looks real to me, but I don't know them that well so am curious if others can tell better than I? regards (and to ask a question FIRST and wait for a response would have taken time and this was a BIN)

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=5210301251

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Posted By: brian p

The same Oser auction had three lots of uncut 3-card strips: one that had 12 green toned, a lot of 7 sepia, and a lot with 10 of the baseball plays/positions. It is interesting to note that the baseball plays variation lot has the exact configuration that you picked up (Cuyler top, Vance middle, P.Waner bottom), while the sepia lot includes a Earnshaw/Vance/Collins, so it appears that possibly these weren't always issued in the same configuration.

Brian

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Posted By: dan mckee

The largest W517 expert on the planet passed away last year. Bob Bostoff of Empire Sports. Steve verkman bought most of his collection before he died. Maybe he would have some insight. Dan.

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Posted By: Mark Tylicki

I recall meeting Bob and his wife two years ago in Atlantic City - great couple. I gave her one of my RustyWilly shirts - it cracked her up. Sorry to hear the news.

I have an article all about the W517 set that I'll post when I return home this weekend. I received it from Joceleyn Kaligis after meeting him at the National - Atlantic City in 2003. I purchased a SGC-graded Dazzy Vance from him and he sent me a letter with the literature shortly thereafter. I'm glad I noted the exchange in my database

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MY COLLECTION: http://www.rustywilly.com/MYCOLLECTION.htm

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Posted By: warshawlaw

a yellow stock with brown print Bill Terry and a sepia Lefty Grove. My limited knowledge of the issue is sepia on tan stock, brown (sepia?) on yellow stock and greenish stock with ink I can't recall.

Edited to add: I also have a tan stock with green ink Lefty O'Doul. See my web site for the image.

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Posted By: Mark Tylicki

Here's the article that I have on the set...




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MY COLLECTION: http://www.rustywilly.com/MYCOLLECTION.htm

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Posted By: warshawlaw

Please see my web site on the Exhibits page.

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Posted By: identify7

How many Exhibits contain the same poses as the w517s?

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Posted By: Darren J. Duet

Hey leon,
I think you made a nice pick-up for a C note, your just lucky I didn't get to it first.

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Posted By: dennis

thanks for the article.i love to read stuff like this.a bunch of 3 card w517 strips were just listed on ebay today(6/29),inc one w/ruth. IMO the 517's are the nicest strip cards ever issued.

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Posted By: Lyman

A checklist and gallery of all cards in the W517 set can be seen at http://www.oldcardboard.com/w/w517/w517.asp?cardsetID=821. The checklist includes the year of induction for all HOFers (the set is HOF-rich with a total of 32 cards). The gallery includes a full range of colors used on the cards, although some of the color differences may be due to differences in scanners used.