Jim Thorpe Cards
 

I have been thinking about adding a Jim Thorpe card to my collection. I'd love to see some examples of Thorpe cards that others have collected.

Thanks!

Ethan

Bought this one raw back in the 1980s and subbed it to PSA in the 90s...

T200 - The card has Thorpe and a few HOFers including Matty.

https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/uEsAA...k6/s-l1600.jpg

We have one coming up in our November Pre War Auction.

There's Thorpe in the front row.

This 1933 Sport Kings card of Thorpe is always popular, but perhaps more so when 100% present. It was included in the Sport Kings set even though it was several years after his sporting career, an indication of how highly regarded he was at the time. The Thorpenstein shown, featuring a guest appearance from a 1933 Goudey George Connally, is as close as I get to a complete card.

Brian

Here is the Thorpe 1912 Olympic postcard from Sweden. I did not have to pay the crazy prices people are paying for it in the U.S. as I purchased it in Sweden. Some minor damage at the top but that does not matter as the idiot opinion sellers with never get their hands on it. It serves the purpose for which it was acquired; an original Olympic image of Thorpe for my American Olympian photography archives.

1959 Fleer Ted Williams #70
 

Here is mine.

This is my favorite Jim Thorpe card...not mine of course.


https://dyn1.heritagestatic.com/lf?s...oduct.chain%5D

The Goudey card is my favorite (and the only one I have). Those postcards are really neat, though I don't collect them.

I do collect photos, though, and really enjoy this one....

Love that card also and one of the very few baseball cards of his

I don't have any of his cards, but I can keep this going with a few photos, one of which shows him with the NFL's Oorang Indians along with Joe Guyon, Pete Calac, and Elmer Busch.

Bryan,
That second photo appears to show a left-handed hitter, unless my eyes are playing tricks on me. Did Thorpe experiment with with switch hitting?

EDITED TO ADD: Looking into it, I find the answer is yes--he did try switch hitting. I did not know that. Thanks for posting the photo.

Thorpe Supplement
 

http://www.oldcardboard.com/m/ny-eve...9-thorpe30.jpg

This is a pen and ink drawing of Thorpe published as a 9 x 12-inch supplement to the New York Evening News in 1914. To my knowledge, it is the only known example. The supplements were created by Larry Semon, a cartoonist that later became a Hollywood slapstick comic and international silent film superstar.

A profile and all supplements of the set can be found at:

http://www.oldcardboard.com//m/ny-ev...cardsetID=1232

More detailed info about Larry Semon and other baseball sets he created is provided in "The Baseball Artwork of Larry Semon: A Prelude to Silent Movie Stardom" (Old Cardboard Magazine, Issue #28, p. 26-33)

.

Nice looking card and again one of the few cards of him on a baseball card

Thanks; here's another:

Thorpe
 

Beautiful Jay. I'd love a M101 if someone has one to spare. 😊

Scott, I have to ask - Do you remember what you paid for the card in the 80's?

Help us remember the good ol' days!!!!!

Here's a fun one:

https://photos.imageevent.com/exhibi...Thorpe%201.jpg
https://photos.imageevent.com/exhibi...Thorpe%202.jpg

Wow, this is cool and is brand new to me!

I was a teenager without a ton of money and never spent more than $100 on any card at the time, so I am guessing it was in the $50-75 range.

I’m just happy I was a fan of vintage in the 80s and didn’t just buy 88 Topps and Donruss then!

ditto!

I have never seen this supplement before either. Very cool.

There's lots more cards out there for Thorpe, fellas, if you include postcards and exhibits. I'm actually writing an article for Gridiron Greats Magazine on his 'cards' as we speak. On the football side, there's cards from his days at Carlisle, his pre-NFL days with Canton, and his NFL days. Obviously he has Track and Baseball cards as well. There is at least one documented basketball card. Also numerous cards from his acting days in Hollywood too. A postcard (or two) from his first wedding, etc.

And these are just from his playing days. Of course there are just a bazillion tribute cards but I don't catalog that stuff. Only his pre-war items.

jeff

P.S. If you're looking for traditional baseball cards don't forget about the Thorpe Zeenuts card! It is a nice one.