1948-1955 Bowman - Series by Series breakdown and identification

[samosa4u]

This is an excellent thread.

I am currently trying to put together a complete 51' Bowman set. Prior to taking on this task, I laughed at the idea that the high numbers were more challenging to find. I used to think this whole thing was a marketing ploy. However, it has been a few months now since I've been working on this set and I realize that I was dead wrong. High numbers really are tough. Whenever somebody lists a group of these cards for sale online, there probably won't be a single high in there. I also think that the PSA Population Report gives us the wrong idea, because we don't see a big difference between the highs and lows, however, that's only because collectors are more likely to submit a high in for grading.

[G1911]

Originally Posted by samosa4u

This is an excellent thread.

I am currently trying to put together a complete 51' Bowman set. Prior to taking on this task, I laughed at the idea that the high numbers were more challenging to find. I used to think this whole thing was a marketing ploy. However, it has been a few months now since I've been working on this set and I realize that I was dead wrong. High numbers really are tough. Whenever somebody lists a group of these cards for sale online, there probably won't be a single high in there. I also think that the PSA Population Report gives us the wrong idea, because we don't see a big difference between the highs and lows, however, that's only because collectors are more likely to submit a high in for grading.

I did the same thing when I started collecting the 1951's, the high series is much, much more difficult than I had realized. I ended up with 0 highs from buying lots to fill in my low numbers and had to get each individually. I still need Murtaugh (alongside the Mantle and Mays I'm ignoring for $$$$ reasons). 49 and 51 Bowman highs seem to be the toughest Bowman series'. The 50 Lows, 52, 53 and 55 highs are all notably scarcer than the other series I think, but not as tough as the 49's and 51's. The 54's seem to be only a small difference to me. 52 Topps and 51 Bowman highs seem to be about equally available to me, if not as popular.

If you haven't come across it, there is an excellent article breaking down the probably printing date ranges based on the text of all the card backs and the teams players are credited too. I found this wonderfully helpful and interesting myself: https://www.pjdenterprises.com/baseb...man_print.html

[pingman59]

Great Super Sleuth work on these Bowmans. My experience with collecting the 1950 set is that the first 36 cards are tougher than the next 36. It seems that nicer condition cards (EX-MT or better) #1-36 are harder to find. #73 on up are definitely easier.

[G1911]

Originally Posted by pingman59

Great Super Sleuth work on these Bowmans. My experience with collecting the 1950 set is that the first 36 cards are tougher than the next 36. It seems that nicer condition cards (EX-MT or better) #1-36 are harder to find. #73 on up are definitely easier.

I put my set together without any real regard for condition, and can't say I noticed a scarcity difference. Perhaps it was two series instead of 1, I'm not aware of any direct evidence that the first series was one of the 'double length' series Bowman issued occasionally. It seems to be a long standing assumption I have always heard, and the fact that the first 72 are notably tougher than 73-252 hints that it may have been the traditionally assigned single series. I would love to find out for sure, if anyone has a sheet or has opened a pack

[samosa4u]

Originally Posted by G1911

If you haven't come across it, there is an excellent article breaking down the probably printing date ranges based on the text of all the card backs and the teams players are credited too. I found this wonderfully helpful and interesting myself: https://www.pjdenterprises.com/baseb...man_print.html

Yes, I did see that article, but the whole thing makes no sense to me. First of all, I was told that the reason Bowman printed the high numbers in smaller quantities was because kids around that time started to look forward to the football season (and wanted football cards instead). However, the NFL season didn't begin until close to October. So, how could they have printed the highs between late June to mid-July? How early did Bowman start printing the football cards? You will also notice that the first baseball series was printed sometime in April (the same month baseball season started), so again, why would Bowman start printing football cards way before the football season even started? Am I missing something here?

[G1911]

Originally Posted by samosa4u

Yes, I did see that article, but the whole thing makes no sense to me. First of all, I was told that the reason Bowman printed the high numbers in smaller quantities was because kids around that time started to look forward to the football season (and wanted football cards instead). However, the NFL season didn't begin until close to October. So, how could they have printed the highs between late June to mid-July? How early did Bowman start printing the football cards? You will also notice that the first baseball series was printed sometime in April (the same month baseball season started), so again, why would Bowman start printing football cards way before the football season even started? Am I missing something here?

Personally, I think it has nothing to do with Football either. Interest in Baseball is highest when a new season starts (and during the World Series), and then collectors 'drop out' as the year progresses. This happens even today. Topps issues its main set in 2 series + an update set. Topps series 1 is printed in much high numbers than Topps series 2, because you have a ton of people buying a few packs at Target or Wal-Mart when the season is just starting or about to start. Topps baseball series 2 comes out long before the football sets (which Topps no longer has a license for) still. I expect it was similar here.


I think this is partly the fault of how we see things today, focusing only on the major sports sets. Bowman and Topps printed (through a contracted printer) several sets throughout most years. Some of these appear to have been printed right around the same time. Football season coming doesn't appear to mean that they needed to cease production of one set to make another; and the drop in sales throughout a season does not seem to me to relate to football at all.


I think the writer did a great job of identifying the earliest possible print dates based on a thorough examination of the cards, but of course, barring a find of Bowman's internal records, I'll doubt we'll ever know the actual ones.

[tedzan]

G1911

Nice presentation.

But, starting with the 1948 set, some of the info you stated regarding Series make-up of these BOWMAN sets is not correct.





TED Z

T206 Reference
.

[G1911]

Originally Posted by tedzan

G1911

Nice presentation.

But, starting with the 1948 set, some of the info you stated regarding Series make-up of these BOWMAN sets is not correct.





TED Z

T206 Reference
.

I'm confident some of it is not; it's taken mostly from articles, variations that can help pinpoint, the little uncut material I have seen previously, and the catalogs. What is incorrect with 1948? Was it not two sheets? Is it known if it was 1 or 2 series?

[toppcat]

Hey Teddy Z, your uncut sheets remind me of something, You once (I believe many years ago) posted a big sheet of the 51 or 52 Bowman cards that was much bigger than the smaller ones normally seen. Do you still have that scan?