SMR Article: 1953-55 Stahl-Meyer Sets

[Kevin Glew]

Hi everyone,

Hope you are well.

I'm writing an article for SMR about the 1953 to 1955 Stahl-Meyer Franks sets.

I was wondering if there was anyone out there who has any information about how these cards were originally distributed. I've heard they were distributed in both packages of franks and at the New York ballparks. I'm also interested in finding out:

1. How exactly were the cards packaged with the franks? Right on top of them?
2. Did these cards have wax coating on them?
3. Were these cards distributed in the same manner every year (e.g. were they distributed in packages with franks and at ballparks every year?)
4. Were the production numbers approximately the same each year? Or were fewer printed of a certain year?
5. Why is Mays only in the 1954 set?
6. Why did these sets not include Jackie Robinson, Pee Wee Reese, Whitey Ford or Yogi Berra?
7. Has anyone ever seen the Johnny Stahl-Meyer kit that was available as a promo listed on the 1954 cards?

Sorry for all the questions, but I thought I would throw them all out there.

Thanks in advance for any help you can provide.

Sincerely,

Kevin Glew

[Zach Wheat]

Kevin,

I have always found this set interesting. Here is some of the old information I had saved on the set from an old Net54 Post back in 2009 or 2010. In fact, here is the link:

http://www.network54.com/Forum/15365...l-Meyer+Franks

Good luck and keep us posted on how the article turns out. Sounds like fun.



Zach Wheat

[Kevin Glew]

Thanks very much for sharing this, Zach.

[toppcat]

There are 1950's ballpark photos I have seen that have Stahl-Mayer advertisements prominently shown. I believe the Polo Grouinds had a major one. Not sure if this is germane but it does tie the franks to the ballparks.

[Kevin Glew]

Originally Posted by toppcat

There are 1950's ballpark photos I have seen that have Stahl-Mayer advertisements prominently shown. I believe the Polo Grouinds had a major one. Not sure if this is germane but it does tie them franks to the ballparks.

Thanks very much for this, Dave.

[brian1961]

Dear Kevin,

Normally I would like to help you, but I am in the process of having my book on postwar regionals published. Spending 5 years as I did writing and editing it, I would much prefer that I opt out to help you for the time being, until NEVER CHEAPER BY THE DOZEN is finally published. Then you'd sure be welcome to quote it, providing you find something usable. With 50+ years off and on in the hobby collecting many of these cards, including Stahl-Meyer, and gathering any research I could lay my hands on, I would like to think the hobby could use such a book.

Most of the guys here major in prewar, as you know, but since WWII is approaching its 75th infamous anniversary, eras taking place after the war are beginning to seem long, long ago.

I wish you the very best Kevin, regardless. One thing that I would love for you to hunt for that I failed to find is this: Rob Lifson spoke of seeing a Sunday Funnies advertisement for the Stahl-Meyer cards from a major New York City newspaper. Sadly, he could not recall who owned it. That little item might just unlock even more of the mystery of these great cards than what I was able, by the grace of God, to find. I checked several reels of microfilm from 1953 but came up empty. Tough on the eyes!

That's the kind of piece that needs to be shared with the hobby community, and not locked up in a drawer for nobody to see 'cept the owner. He might just die and the old ad be thrown away afterwards.

Lord willing, this will be the year my book is published. By the way, the cover photograph is smashing, but the three cards are SGC-graded. I approached PSA first, and they turned me down on two of them, so ......... Fortunately for all concerned, there's a healthy mix of graded cards from both firms.

Again, wishing you the very best. ----Brian Powell

[Kevin Glew]

Thanks very much for your kind response, Brian.

I totally understand. I actually contacted Sports Collectors Digest hoping to purchase your book, but they told me it hasn't been published yet. I will be the first in line to buy it when it's released.

Thanks for all your research efforts.

Sincerely,

Kevin Glew

[Hot Springs Bathers]

Brian do you have a publication date?

[hcv123]

Originally Posted by brian1961

Dear Kevin,

Normally I would like to help you, but I am in the process of having my book on postwar regionals published. Spending 5 years as I did writing and editing it, I would much prefer that I opt out to help you for the time being, until NEVER CHEAPER BY THE DOZEN is finally published. Then you'd sure be welcome to quote it, providing you find something usable. With 50+ years off and on in the hobby collecting many of these cards, including Stahl-Meyer, and gathering any research I could lay my hands on, I would like to think the hobby could use such a book.

Most of the guys here major in prewar, as you know, but since WWII is approaching its 75th infamous anniversary, eras taking place after the war are beginning to seem long, long ago.

I wish you the very best Kevin, regardless. One thing that I would love for you to hunt for that I failed to find is this: Rob Lifson spoke of seeing a Sunday Funnies advertisement for the Stahl-Meyer cards from a major New York City newspaper. Sadly, he could not recall who owned it. That little item might just unlock even more of the mystery of these great cards than I was able to, by the grace of God. I checked several reels of microfilm from 1953 but came up empty. Tough on the eyes!

That's the kind of piece that needs to be shared with the hobby community, and not locked up in a drawer for nobody to see 'cept the owner. He might just die and the old ad be thrown away afterwards.

Lord willing, this will be the year my book is published. By the way, the cover photograph is smashing, but the three cards are SGC-graded. I approached PSA first, and they turned me down on two of them, so ......... Fortunately for all concerned, there's a healthy mix of graded cards from both firms.

Again, wishing you the very best. ----Brian Powell

Do you talk about Kahns, Bazookas and Sugardales in the book?


Have you ever seen a 1960 complete Bazooka box with Clemente?

[brian1961]

Kevin------Thank you for your kind support and understanding. See if the owner of the one set listed on the PSA Set Registry will allow you to interview him. His Stahl-Meyer set is virtually impossible to match. Better yet, if you feel so inclined, work on another feature and perhaps NEVER CHEAPER BY THE DOZEN will have been published. I honestly believe you would find it most useful in preparing an article. Furthermore, thanks ever so much for wanting to write a piece regarding some of the toughest pieces to find in graded EXCELLENT or better.

Mike------no future publication date. Tom Bartsch just submitted NEVER to the publisher early last month. The wheels of progress move slowly, as the saying goes. I just hope they're interested in publishing it, and put as little red tape in front of it as possible. No one is slammed; it's a hobby celebration concerning a wonderful niche of postwar card collecting.

Howard----I'm afraid I have to disappoint you on the choices you inquired about. Nothing on Kahn's and Sugerdales. I wanted to do a chapter on Kahn's, but I ran out of time and space. My book was already quite long enough. I had a beautiful story to include with a Kahn's chapter, and a prime source in the form of someone who owns all of pioneer collector Buck Barker's many correspondences with the Kahn's company. I never owned Sugardales. One of our members here, Jim Manos, is very, very big on Sugardales. I don't have his contact info available though, and I'm sorry.

However, chapter 18 has some coverage on Bazookas. When I say "some", I must emphasize that my book is not exhaustive in regard to regionals. If it were, the length and price would be extremely prohibitive. In a previous thread response, I told you I've never seen a 60 Clemente box, and put you on the trace to contact Mr. Irv Lerner. Remember?

As I like to phrase it, my book is a fine sampling of regionals. However, I have reasonably good taste, and made succulent choices for the book chapters. Frankly, I needed good firsthand, and in some instances, reliable secondhand stories to base each chapter. In having much personal experience collecting most of these items, some in their year of issue, I could bring to the reader something worth knowing. However, many of the stories that other individuals shared with me are simply off the charts--the finds responsible for supplying the hobby with virtually ALL the high-grade 1960 HOME RUN DERBY cards, STAHL-MEYERS, and DAN-DEE Cleveland Indians. Other finds are discussed, of course. I better stop.

Sadly, I had numerous people refuse to help me, essentially unwilling to divulge what they knew and keep it to themselves. I interpreted their refusal at least in part because they were still active in collecting these babies and did not want any more competition! Really, most understandable, but frustrating when trying to research a book. Think about it.