1949 Leaf BB cards....show us your Leaf's

[mrmopar]

Leaf did me a favor by not including that many Dodgers, although I have wanted a SP Reiser forever even though he is not a Dodger in the set.

[tedzan]

Originally Posted by Bumpus Jones

Great post Ted Z. I've long admired these cards and have several Reds players in my collection, but I'm also an advanced Reds pennant collector of all shapes and sizes and this is the only pennant I own that measures 12" x 6". In my opinion, this is the Reds version of the pennant offer shown on the back of some Leaf cards. Wanted to hear yours and everyone else's opinion on the subject. I'm also interested in hearing what you have to say about the other premiums offered by leaf. Do you have any pics to share of these items?

Hi Chris

The last time I saw any of the Pennants that LEAF Gum offered, I was very young. They really are very rare. Your Cincinnati pennant looks like what was offered by LEAF.
And, it certainly measures correctly.

The 32-page LEAF album premium is seldom seen. Both the Album and the Pennants were mail-in items, and this may have something to do why these items are so rare.

The HOFer's picture premiums were available at our corner candy stores. These premiums were inside the 24-count wax pack boxes. Kids would get a HOFer's picture by
simply giving the store manager ten LEAF wrappers and requested a certain ballplayer.

Also, I've heard that some generous store managers would reward a kid with a HOFer premium when that kid purchased the very last wax pack(s) in the box.

Here are my 3 premiums....two Babe Ruth pictures, and the Lou Gehrig pix.



. . . .




Premiums Checklist

Grover Cleveland Alexander
Mickey Cochrane
Lou Gehrig
Walter Johnson
Christy Mathewson
John McGraw
Babe Ruth (light background, no text)
Babe Ruth (blue background, no text)
Babe Ruth (dark background, text)
Ed Walsh



TED Z
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[Bumpus Jones]

Those are great Ted Z.! I very much appreciate your taking the time to do this. Would you happen to have or have any pictures of promotional items or card wrappers to share? How many cards came in a package? Thanks, Chris.

[tedzan]

Chris

Here are the wrappers of the two competing Gum Co. in 1949. The BOWMAN and LEAF wax-packs were available for a Penny and a Nickel.



................ 1949 BOWMAN …….............................................. 1949 LEAF .....................





TED Z
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[Bumpus Jones]

Thanks, Ted Z.

[Yoda]

Ted, I am sure you recall when Boudreaux tried the Ted Williams Shift, by pulling all the Indian infielders way over towards right field so that the 3rd baseman was playing where the shortstop normally would be and the left fielder was way over in center. I don't think it was a great success.

[tedzan]

Originally Posted by Yoda

Ted, I am sure you recall when Boudreaux tried the Ted Williams Shift, by pulling all the Indian infielders way over towards right field so that the 3rd baseman was playing where the shortstop normally would be and the left fielder was way over in center. I don't think it was a great success.

Hey John....always great to hear from you.

Boudreau devised his "famous shift" in the Summer of 1946. Ted Williams laughed at the Indians players and hit the ball over all of them into the deep confines of Municipal Stadium.
Or into the RF stands at Fenway Park.

Ted Williams was a stubborn guy, who would never resort to slicing the ball to LF where there was no Outfielder, or a line drive down the 3rd base line when this "shift" was in place.

Can you imagine....if Ted had hit the ball to the opposite field when this defensive "shift" was used against him....what his BA would have been ?

Ted's career Hits = 2654, his career Walks = 2021, for a .344 career BA. He needed only 200 more Hits in order to raise his career BA to a lofty .370

The point I am driving at here......had Ted driven the ball to the opposite field just 10 % of the times that he Walked, he would have achieved a .370 BA.

Then Ted would be the all-time Batting leader, instead of Cobb.


TED Z
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