1959 Home Run Derby - cards and ads?

[brian1961]

Originally Posted by Pat R

Wikipedia is wrong about the series being filmed in 1959 most of the episodes were filmed in early 1960.

Hi, Patrick. To set the record straight, as I wrote about at length in my book, NEVER CHEAPER BY THE DOZEN, the entire one-season series was filmed in 1959 AFTER the major league season was over. ZIV shot the series at Wrigley Field, home of the Los Angeles Angels of the Pacific Coast League. The weather was still perfect to do the batting. A little proof of this may be heard when announcer Mark Scott mentions about Ernie Banks that he's a TWO-TIME winner of the National League Most Valuable Player award. Ernie had just won his second MVP award late in 1959.

As for the TV series, it was shown in 1960

As for the cards, they were available in 1960. Proof is the Rocky Colavito card. Shown in his Cleveland Indians uniform on film AND on the card, the key is at the bottom of Rocky's card. The card gives his team designation as the Detroit Tigers! It's a historical fact the idiot Indian general manager, "Frantic Frankie" Lane, made a cannonball blockbuster trade THE DAY BEFORE THE 1960 SEASON BEGAN, on April 17, 1960. He traded Indian fan favorite Rocky Colavite to Detroit for AL batting champ, Harvey Kuenn. Indian fans were so enraged, they hung Frank Lane in effigy.

Thus, since Rock's team designation on the Home Derby Cards says Detroit Tigers, the HRD's year of issue is 1960, period.

As for the reprints, they are super well-done reprints, and have a notation on the lower right border, to the effect, CCC 87, which means the Card Collectors Company of Franklin Square, New York issued them in 1987. As I recall, the proprietor was Richard Gelman. I think I bought my reprint set from super dealer Larry Fritsch. They are beautiful, and cheap. I ALMOST won a set of the genuine originals in superb condition, but that's another story which I included in my book.

Hope this helps, Patrick. Wishing you the best. --- Brian Powell