1913 Lajoie game card.

[Brian Van Horn]

Originally Posted by Jay Wolt

When Parker Brothers made the set in 1913, all 50 cards showed Lajoie on the front w/ different game configurations on the back.
So since every card front is the same (w/ the exception of the Blue tinted ones), there's a ton of these out there.

Jay,

Isn't it odd that, if they are from 1913, so many have survived in such good shape?

[Jay Wolt]

Brian I think that has more to do w/ the game cards manufactured rounded corners.
There's a bunch of National Game & Tom Barkers in high grade too but since each card is different it makes them seem scarce.
What year or era do you think the Lajoie set is from?

[Brian Van Horn]

I know a lot of people are going to laugh, but I would say the 1960s given the print on the back and type of paper. I am not a paper expert, but the print and the texture of the paper I do not associate with the early 1900s.

[darwinbulldog]

Originally Posted by Brian Van Horn

I know a lot of people are going to laugh, but I would say the 1960s given the print on the back and type of paper. I am not a paper expert, but the print and the texture of the paper I do not associate with the early 1900s.

Perhaps someone on the board can attest to having seen one before 1960.

[Paul S]

Originally Posted by darwinbulldog

Perhaps someone on the board can attest to having seen one before 1960.

Is 1966 close enough? I was given 2 Blues (no Reds) by a close, and much older, relative.

[Jay Wolt]

I won a set w/ the original box a decade or so ago from Lelands
Had 50 cards enclosed.
Here's a scan of a box w/ instructions, it looks period to me.
This scan has the blue tinted version, mine was the red tinted version.
W/ most of the cards being in high grade. Had them graded by PSA and I got grades from 4's to 10's.
W/ the lower graded ones having wrinkles in them.

[Brian Van Horn]

Jay,

I appreciate the picture, but the print and the paper on the back for me weigh heavier than the box.

As for 1966, Paul, that would be good if for no other reason that was the year I was born.

[JustinD]

While I think this is a bit of a silly argument and I feel like I am being tricked into a 9/11 conspiracy conversation, I have only one thing to add -

It is accepted and documented this game was produced from 1913 to around the early 30s. It was made by a huge game company so the production numbers were likely large meaning good examples if it was not really a fun game in great shape are logical.

What is illogical is that a marketing or production exec in the 60's, in a time of mega baseball stars like Mantle. Could somehow get the green light to produce a game and hope to sell to kids with Nap Lajoie as it's subject.

That's all I got, other than the feeling I just got "punked".

[Jay Wolt]

Just checked the PSA pops of the three 1913 game sets, Lajoie, National Game & Tom Barker.
Seems that the Lajoie set has fewer graded than the other two.
Not sure if SGC's pop is in line.

Lajoie has 308 graded w/ 163 PSA-9's & 10's

National Game - 2279 w/ 602 9's &10's

Tom Barker - 1113 w/ 270 9's & 10's

[Brian Van Horn]

Jay,

Maybe the one way to get a definitive answer would be to contact Parker Brothers who is now owned by Hasbro.

[Jay Wolt]

Just checked the SGC pops

Lajoie 253 graded w/ 113 SGC-96/98's

Nat'l Game 602 w/ 115 SGC-96/98's

Tom Barker 440 w/ 64 SGC-96's (No 98's)

Based on the pops of PSA & SGC for these three 1913 game sets, the Lajoie set has the fewer graded examples by far

[darwinbulldog]

I used to own a set of (48? of) them, along with the original packaging. The box was in poor condition, but the cards were probably all in the ex-nm range. I've never doubted the date of origin. If each of the original owners had 48 or more of them, and they had rounded corners to begin with (the cards, not the owners), and the game was even moderately popular, it's unsurprising to me that it would be easy to find nice copies 100 years later.