[ls7plus]

This thread reminds me of one a short while back when I believe we were tossing around the idea of rare cards which were not recognized as such, or why certain cards were rare, and I brought up the '39 Exhibits Gehrig. Larruping Lou's last card was quite likely pulled from production by late May, 1939, when the nature of his terminal illness became widely known, and the Exhibit Supply Company would not have wanted to be seen as seeking to profit from the misfortune of a dying man. And indeed, the PSA pop count reflects this, with a total of 11 graded to date, as compared to 20-some of the Ted Williams, No. 9 shows (which I personally believe to be a one-year issue, replaced by the truly more artistic follow-through pose which was issued for many years thereafter).

Adam (Exhibitman), who most certainly is in a position to know as one of the foremost Exhibits experts here on this board or anywhere, for that matter, pointed out that while Gehrig is indeed difficult to locate, Johnny Rizzo, a journeyman outfielder who played a total of five seasons for the Pirates, Reds, Phillies and Dodgers from 1938-1942, is almost impossible to find. In 557 career games, Rizzo hit a total of 61 homers and batted .270. Since the Exhibits were purchased [I believe] one at at time for [a penny?] from machines located in arcades and the like, the possibility that Rizzos were discarded in disappointment looms large, while a much higher percentage of the Gehrigs were kept.

I know that as kids, those of us who wanted the stars and were not completist, set collectors, absolutely threw away a lot of '60's Topps cards depicting players we derisively referred to as "scrubs."

My 50 cents worth. Nice thread.

Larry