1954 BOWMAN printing plates solve the Ted Williams mystery...Let's see your TW cards

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

I didn't realize this was a mystery. I thought Ted was famous for negotiating hard with card companies and Bowman didn't actually have the right to produce his card thus switching over to Piersall. Topps had to pay him AND agree to give him first and last card. Similar to Fleer getting him exclusively in 1959 except they gave him the whole set.

May just be urban legend but it's what I had always heard.

[tedzan]

Scott


TOPPS executive, Sy Berger, was an avid Ted Williams fan. When Ted returned from his military service in Korea in 1953, TOPPS acquired the Rights to portray him in their 1954 set.
BOWMAN, who had the Rights from before Ted went to Korea in 1952, featured Ted in their 1954 set. And, TOPPS sued BOWMAN and won their case, forcing BOWMAN to discontinue issuing their Ted Williams cards.

In the 1970's and the early 1980's, many in the hobby thought Ted's BOWMAN card was short-printed, or the printing plate broke, etc., etc. for why this card was so difficult to find.



TED Z

T206 Reference
.

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

Glad to know I sorta had it right.

I worked in an ad agency that had an in house print shop, Maybe plates were different back in the day but you can't really "break" one now-a-days. and even if you did crease or otherwise ruin one you'd just make another.

[tedzan]

I acquired my 1954 BOWMAN card in 1983 at an Al Rosen/John Broggi monthly auction in NJ. I was pleasantly surprised that there were only 2 guys
bidding on it. I won it with a $150 bid. Not a bad price for this card back then. It should grade Vg-Ex ( or if I'm lucky, perhaps an Ex).





I have been fortunate over the past 40+ years to have picked up some great finds (especially pre-war stuff). But this experience with these BOWMAN
printing plates is one of my best. How often in this hobby have we seen (and held in our hands) the actual printing plates of the vintage cards in our
collections ?

Hope you enjoyed reading it. So, how about posting your 1954 BOWMAN Ted Williams cards here.


TED Z

T206 Reference
.

[RedsFan1941]

great story ted. thank you for sharing it after nearly 35 years!

[tedzan]

Originally Posted by RedsFan1941

great story ted. thank you for sharing it after nearly 35 years!

Hi Ronnie

I didn't have a chance to reply earlier......thanks for the compliment.

We are away in Maine for Ron's (our Grandson) wedding.


TED Z

T206 Reference
.

[brian1961]

Thanks, Ted. Great story, and I'm glad you also included the other story of why Bowman had to discontinue printing Mr. Williams. A shame, really, since the '54 Bowman is a nice-looking card of Ted. Even if I don't own one, I'm sure glad Topps didn't go after the Wilson Franks people for their printing of a Ted Williams in their "little innocuous set" (ha, anything but, in the minds of hobbyists today!!!!)

I commend you, as I always do whether I acknowledge it on here or not, for sharing from your treasure trove of stories, information, and images. Have a swell day, my fellow collecting warrior.

I am sending you a PM on another subject. Please help if you can. Trust me, it's in good taste.

---Brian Powell

[tedzan]

Originally Posted by brian1961

Thanks, Ted. Great story, and I'm glad you also included the other story of why Bowman had to discontinue printing Mr. Williams. A shame, really, since the '54 Bowman is a nice-looking card of Ted. Even if I don't own one, I'm sure glad Topps didn't go after the Wilson Franks people for their printing of a Ted Williams in their "little innocuous set" (ha, anything but, in the minds of hobbyists today!!!!)

I commend you, as I always do whether I acknowledge it on here or not, for sharing from your treasure trove of stories, information, and images. Have a swell day, my fellow collecting warrior.

I am sending you a PM on another subject. Please help if you can. Trust me, it's in good taste.

---Brian Powell

Hi Brian

We are vacationing in Maine and attending our Grandson's, Ron, wedding.
I will better reply to you when we return home.

Thanks for your kind words.


TED Z

T206 Reference
.