Minimalist Artistic Vintage Baseball Sets

[robw1959]

I am wondering which vintage baseball sets feature 100% artwork without player names on the front? 1950 Bowman comes to mind, but are there any others?

[John1941]

The 1948 Signal Oil Oakland Oaks set comes to mind. The Calbee cards are a bit short of perfect purity.

[bobsbbcards]

1959-1961 Morrell

[jayshum]

1953 Bowman is another

[Chris Counts]

The Bowmans from '48, '50 and '53 are have no-frills designs ...

[Chris Counts]

Along with the Play Balls from 1939, are also three regional "no-frills" sets from 1940-41 that feature players from the Reds, Browns and Cardinals ...

[G1911]

These sets are photographs rather than artwork. I can’t think of a baseball artwork set, off the top, that has no design elements other than the 1950 Bowman’s.

[carlsonjok]

Originally Posted by G1911

These sets are photographs rather than artwork. I can’t think of a baseball artwork set, off the top, that has no design elements other than the 1950 Bowman’s.

Ansel Adams and Dorothea Lange would like a word...

[Chris Counts]

Aren't the 1950 Bowmans hand-colored photographs?

[carlsonjok]

I guess it depends on how you define vintage and how broadly you define cards. Looking through my collection, I see the following:

1955 All American Sports Club
1966 James Elder Postcards
1968 Dexter Press
1975 and 1978 SSPC

Added in Edit:
1939 Play Ball
1952 Berk Ross

[Eric72]

1953 Brown & Bigelow.

[robw1959]

Originally Posted by Eric72

1953 Brown & Bigelow.

This example works, but unfortunately, the entire set isn't minimalistic like the one you posted. Many have advertising on the front at the bottom. Minimalistic means only the player is featured on the front, with no words or names, or advertising to go with it.

[Eric72]

Originally Posted by robw1959

This example works, but unfortunately, the entire set isn't minimalistic like the one you posted. Many have advertising on the front at the bottom. Minimalistic means only the player is featured on the front, with no words or names, or advertising to go with it.

I thought the advertising was placed on the cards (as an add-on feature) per the request of the business that ordered them.

However, what do I know? Apparently, I'm a dolt who doesn't comprehend the definition of minimalistic. Thank you ever so much for the edification.

[robw1959]

That's interesting! I never knew of a set in which the players could either be sponsored or not. That may be a unique feature of the Brown & Bigelow set.

[Tom S.]

The c.1920's Universal Toy cards would be another set to include:

[robw1959]

The knowledge base that exists here is astounding. I have never even heard of
Universal Toy Cards, but they are reminiscent of strip cards to some extent. I think the artwork seems better though. Thanks!

[ullmandds]

some more unis.

[jingram058]

Time to change your underwear, maybe? Jeez....

[robw1959]

Is that Ruth in the lower right corner wearing a Boston jersey? By 1920, practically the whole world knew he was no longer a Red Sox player.