1939 Play Ball Variations

[RCMcKenzie]

Does this card also come with thin borders? I was thinking some players have thin borders and some have large, but you don't find both options with the same player?

[Zan]

I think we are on to something. First picture has upper case names on the back, and the second is upper and lower case.

[RCMcKenzie]

Thanks, Brian. I'll need to look for a Warstler with the narrow borders now.

[brianp-beme]

Originally Posted by Zan

I think we are on to something. First picture has upper case names on the back, and the second is upper and lower case.

Definitely we are onto something. I am surprised that I don't ever remember this being discussed before. The below scan shows five cards featuring each the Upper case/lower case version in front of the all Capitals version of the card.

Excuse my alignment...try flipping cards onto a scanner and maintaining the positioning you want. Note that the photo portion of upper case/lower case version of each card is smaller than the all Capitals version, and thus creating the different widths of borders. The orientation of the photo also has been shifted. For example, the Grissom card on the upper left you can see more of the Cincinnati on the uniform on the all Capitals version, while there is a bigger gap between the sleeve and the border, as can be seen on the bottom right pair of cards of Hassett,.

Always something new to discover...good job Net54'ers!

Brian

[brianp-beme]

Thought I would bump this one time just because I think we came up with something that has not been noticed/written about before.

My summary would be that all the cards with player's name on the back having All Capitals appear to have a larger size photo, and thus thinner borders, than the Upper/Lower case variation cards (cards that have capitalized first Letter then lower case on back for the player's name), and thus because of this smaller image area have wider borders.

Each card from #1 through 115 is available as All Capitals, while a good chunk of these card #'s also have the Upper/Lower case variation. Card #'s 116 and above are only available with Upper/Lower case names on back, and they also appear to have the smaller size of photos as is seen with the Upper/Lower case variations with card numbers #115 and lower.

Brian

[Leon]

I agree, Brian. It is an interesting detail for anyone who has collected or had '39 Play Balls.

Originally Posted by brianp-beme

Thought I would bump this one time just because I think we came up with something that has not been noticed/written about before.

My summary would be that all the cards with player's name on the back having All Capitals appear to have a larger size photo, and thus thinner borders, than the Upper/Lower case variation cards (cards that have capitalized first Letter then lower case on back for the player's name), and thus because of this smaller image area have wider borders.

Each card from #1 through 115 is available as All Capitals, while a good chunk of these card #'s also have the Upper/Lower case variation. Card #'s 116 and above are only available with Upper/Lower case names on back, and they also appear to have the smaller size of photos as is seen with the Upper/Lower case variations with card numbers #115 and lower.

Brian

[soxinseven]

This one has upper and lower case letters. I've also noticed over the years that many of the high grade Williams examples (7/8) are off centered with large borders. I am unsure of the backs, but this theory could help explain it.

[Sterling Sports Auctions]

I have scanned all the variations together but I have not web site that I save images. All the cards will be in the March 7th Sterling Auction.

Lee Behrens
320-219-1372