[tedzan]

The confusion in the hobby regarding these LEAF BB cards stems from the Copyright dates on the back of each card. In each of the two 49-card
series, 33 of the cards have a 1948 Copyright....while 16 cards have a 1949 Copyright.
However, these Copyright dates identify when LEAF Gum acquired the "Rights" to portray these ballplayers. And, not when the cards were issued.
Back in the 1980's, I had a complete uncut 49-card sheet of these LEAF's. So, I can attest to the fact that these were all printed together. Fur-
thermore, I was lucky to have saved all my BB & FB cards from my youth and I had a complete run of the 49 BB cards in the 1st series.

I wrote an 8-page article on this set in The Old Cardboard magazine (Issue 9, Spring 2006). In this story, I tell how these cards themselves provide
ample proof when they were produced. To illustrate this, certain player's biographical info reflect December 1948 trades. Also, Lou Boudreau's card
and Alvin Dark's card read that they were the MVP players of their respective Leagues. These awards were not known until sometime in December
of 1948. Therefore, it would have been virtually impossible to have printed and issued these cards in 1948.

Check-out my article when you get a chance.

Regards,

TED Z