Posted By:
Ted ZanidakisWe know that the post-WWII exhibits range from 1947 to 1966 (according to Price Guides).
While I am not suggesting that the Paige exhibit came out in 1947....it is not impossible.
As a kid and an avid American League fan (primarily the Yankees), I recall the excitement
that Paige generated amongst us kids. Before he came up to the Majors in 1948, he was
getting a lot of publicity and coverage in the Sporting News. And then, when he was a
force in the AL Championship for Cleveland, he was just as popular and received as much
attention as Jackie Robinson was in 1948.
His exhibit card (whether 1948 or 1949) was more than likely regionally distributed in the
Ohio area and was probabily somewhat short-printed. Remember, he pitched for Cleveland
only in 1948 and 1949. He was not in the Majors in 1950. Then, he came up with the St Louis
Browns and pitched with them from 1951 to 1953.
And yes, he made a 1 game appearance with the KC A's in 1965 at the grand old age of 60.