Could be the first 1955 Mascot Dog Food Cards of Mantle and Berra. Any Info?

quitcrab · #1 10-27-2017, 04:59 AM

Very cool... Never seen that before and I have been playing with baseball cards for 46 years !

stlcardsfan · #2 10-27-2017, 08:15 AM

Could be an incredible find, Chuck! Care to share the story behind these cards?

chuckw · #3 10-27-2017, 08:41 AM

I got the cards recently from an antique dealer friend in Pennsylvania. Another antique dealer purchased them in an estate - the cards were stored in an album of antique photographs for 50+ years (it looked like the album/cards were never touched in years). The back of the cards indicate that Mascot Dog Food was out of Philadelphia, not far from where the cards were found. Makes sense to see a Philadelphia Phillies player as the only known example. It would be great to find out more information about how long Mascot Dog Food was in business. Do you think these are so rare because anyone who had them would have sent them in for the great redemption package they offered or because the dog food company may have gone under? Maybe both, and maybe they were limited to begin with. In my research I have not found any cards other than the Roberts in the price guide and I have not found any of those other redemption items. Somewhere there must be information. I did find a couple web blogs where collectors indicated that it is a regional set they'd love to find, so some collectors must know about them. I never thought I would stumble upon a one of a kind Mantle card from the 1950s!

Stonepony · #4 10-27-2017, 09:32 AM

Great find! You need to get it authenticated as there are so many questions.

chuckw · #5 10-27-2017, 11:23 AM

Looks like Mascot Dog Food and Mascot Pet Supply were out of East Orange, NJ. I was able to find an old Mascot Dog Food can label! Makes sense that the three cards that were found so far are Phillies (Roberts in the price guide) and Yankees (my Mantle and Berra), as those teams are near East Orange. Since there are no other examples known (so far) I'm guessing the other cards in the set could include Ashburn, Ford, ... and maybe some Dodgers (since the cards are likely from 1954-1955 and they left Brooklyn after 1957). I really find it interesting that the Roberts and Berra indicate a redemption program that includes 8 cards, and the Mantle indicates 11 cards - so I wonder if they may be from 2 different years.

stlcardsfan · #6 10-27-2017, 01:00 PM

I can't believe no one on this board (so far) has even heard of this issue.

sflayank · #7 10-27-2017, 01:52 PM

ive heard of the issue
its listed
i know who has the robin roberts

clydepepper · #8 01-01-2018, 08:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stlcardsfan

I can't believe no one on this board (so far) has even heard of this issue.

I'm amazed at that also! A Mantle issue no one was aware of?

.

swarmee · #9 10-27-2017, 05:44 PM

Great cards, but what is going on with the Mantle facsimile signature?

AustinMike · #10 10-27-2017, 10:03 PM

Great find! Very cool to see.

Bored5000 · #11 11-13-2017, 03:02 AM

I love the obscure and impossible to find, so this thread has been fascinating to read. With how hot Mantle cards have been the last few years, it seems the sky would be the limit for that card in an auction like REA.

sago · #12 11-14-2017, 01:15 PM

Search for ads for mascot dog food in Philadelphia an Jersey newspapers from that era. There is a newspaper archive site you can start with.

JLange · #13 11-14-2017, 08:04 PM

Searched on GenealogyBank in PA and NJ for ads from 1952-56 and didn't get any hits at all using the search "mascot dog food." I expanded my search for the whole country, and got this tantalizing piece of info (photo) which came from the April 27, 1954 Evening Star out of Washington, D.C. in "The Baseball Beat" column by Burton Hawkins.

The text reads,
"Bucky Harris is a business associate of Al Rosen, Ed Mathews, Robin Roberts, Yogi Berra, Ed Lopat, Monte Irvin and Specs Toporcer. Their pictures appear on cans of Mascot dog food and they get a slice of the sales."

That's it! Sure would be great if those guys were on the remaining cards in the set!

Pbruderer · #14 08-04-2020, 03:53 PM

I read some previous post about these 2 cards that went up for auction and sold. I have a complete collection from mascot dog food with 10 cards in mint condition with geo specs toporcler, don newcombe, Eddie Matthews, Gil Hodges, Monte Irvin, yogi Berra, Mickey mantle, Robin Roberts, al flip Rosen, Ed lipstick. Need some help on how to authenticate and possibly value. I noticed the Mickey mantle sold with Wheatland auction for $23k. I have the whole collection

GasHouseGang · #15 10-27-2017, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chuckw

I got the cards recently from an antique dealer friend in Pennsylvania. Another antique dealer purchased them in an estate - the cards were stored in an album of antique photographs for 50+ years (it looked like the album/cards were never touched in years). The back of the cards indicate that Mascot Dog Food was out of Philadelphia, not far from where the cards were found. Makes sense to see a Philadelphia Phillies player as the only known example. It would be great to find out more information about how long Mascot Dog Food was in business. Do you think these are so rare because anyone who had them would have sent them in for the great redemption package they offered or because the dog food company may have gone under? Maybe both, and maybe they were limited to begin with. In my research I have not found any cards other than the Roberts in the price guide and I have not found any of those other redemption items. Somewhere there must be information. I did find a couple web blogs where collectors indicated that it is a regional set they'd love to find, so some collectors must know about them. I never thought I would stumble upon a one of a kind Mantle card from the 1950s!

The redemption doesn't say you have to mail in the card. It just says to mail in 25 cents and a label from the dog food to receive the various items. Regardless, you've found two very rare cards that don't appear to be cataloged.

kvnkvnkvn · #16 10-27-2017, 11:20 AM

I collect 1990 Fleer so don't listen to me, but you might be on to something here...Great cards buddy...

Volod · #17 10-29-2017, 03:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chuckw

I got the cards recently from an antique dealer friend in Pennsylvania. Another antique dealer purchased them in an estate - the cards were stored in an album of antique photographs for 50+ years (it looked like the album/cards were never touched in years). The back of the cards indicate that Mascot Dog Food was out of Philadelphia, not far from where the cards were found. Makes sense to see a Philadelphia Phillies player as the only known example. It would be great to find out more information about how long Mascot Dog Food was in business. Do you think these are so rare because anyone who had them would have sent them in for the great redemption package they offered or because the dog food company may have gone under? Maybe both, and maybe they were limited to begin with. In my research I have not found any cards other than the Roberts in the price guide and I have not found any of those other redemption items. Somewhere there must be information. I did find a couple web blogs where collectors indicated that it is a regional set they'd love to find, so some collectors must know about them. I never thought I would stumble upon a one of a kind Mantle card from the 1950s!

My question is - are these actual cardstock, or are they, as the promo blurb states, "printed on the label." If the "cards" are simply printed on can labels, it's more understandable that collectors would send them in for redemption and thus render them scarcer over time. But, the images of the cards you posted look like usual cardstock, so I'm curious. The puzzle of the number of cards in the issue: 8 vs 11, reminds me of the 1951 Topps Current All-Star set, with three cards with Philadelphia connections withdrawn from publication due to contractual concerns. I wonder if perhaps Mascot had poor sales, leading to early cancellation of the promotion, however, reading the label ingredients, the stuff sounds a lot more nutritious, if not tastier, than some of the MRE stuff I gagged on in the service.

quitcrab · #18 10-29-2017, 06:52 AM

What are the difference in the redemption info. On the backs? Your saying your Mantle and Berra are different from the Roberts or is your Mantle different from your Berra ? These are really interesting !

glynparson · #19 10-29-2017, 07:15 AM

The berra has the same offer as the roberts the mantle has an offer for 11. they are on a normal card stock, they are not glossy per se but they aren't dull either. They are not on the labels. These are pretty cool and Chuck may have hit the lotto. One of the first "new" things I have seen in years that i could genuinely say was cool.

Volod · #20 10-30-2017, 04:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by glynparson

The berra has the same offer as the roberts the mantle has an offer for 11. they are on a normal card stock, they are not glossy per se but they aren't dull either. They are not on the labels. These are pretty cool and Chuck may have hit the lotto. One of the first "new" things I have seen in years that i could genuinely say was cool.

Thanks for that info, Glyn. I agree that it is a great find. But, I'm still wondering - what does "printed on the labels" refer to then, if the cards are all on cardstock?

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