Question about Tom Barker Baseball Card Game

[FrankWakefield]

In a thread from 12 years ago, Leon had what looked like a paper instruction sheet for WG6's. Still, the paper above is more of an ad.

WG4 Polo 1914
WG5 National Game 1913
WG6 Tom Barker 1913
WG7 Walter Mails 1923
WG8 S&S 1936

So I just looked in my 1960 edition American Card Catalog... WG is the designation for greeting cards in there. At some point the designation changed??? Help!!!

[Peter_Spaeth]

Do we have any clue who Tom Barker was? I don't recall ever seeing an answer to that.

[nolemmings]

Originally Posted by FrankWakefield

In a thread from 12 years ago, Leon had what looked like a paper instruction sheet for WG6's. Still, the paper above is more of an ad.

WG4 Polo 1914
WG5 National Game 1913
WG6 Tom Barker 1913
WG7 Walter Mails 1923
WG8 S&S 1936

So I just looked in my 1960 edition American Card Catalog... WG is the designation for greeting cards in there. At some point the designation changed??? Help!!!

Frank, according to Old Cardboard, here is the explanation on how the sets got their current name:
"Notes on "WG" Nomenclature: The WG5 and WG6 designations are often attributed to the American Card Catalog. Curiously, however, the WG designation in the ACC (1960) is reserved for "Greeting Cards" with the lower numbers (WG1 through WG50) used more specifically for Valentine cards. The WG designation as applied to baseball-themed playing cards was apparently first used in the late 1970s in the Sports Collectors Bible under the general heading "Team Games.'"

Here is the link: https://www.oldcardboard.com/eNews/2...eNews154.htm#2

Old Cardboard's set summary also shows a four page paper rules insert as associated with the Tom Barker set, although different from what the OP shows, which I agree is more likely an ad:
https://www.oldcardboard.com/wg/wg6/...?cardsetID=951

Still, it looks like these things could vary, as the Scorecard in the Barker set differs from what Frank posted, at least when associated with Fenway Breweries. Frank I assume your scorecard is from the NG set and not Barker. I am uncertain if Barker used the same scorecards as National Game when not advertising for Fenway Breweries. I also do not know if the scorecard for Fenway Breweries is the same when it shows a National game back. Maybe others can clarify.

[scooter729]

Doesn't totally answer the questions, but seemed like a good time to share these two boxes which the sets came in. One of them has a Fenway Breweries ad on the back.

[FrankWakefield]

Todd, that's correct, those 4 cards I posted are all from WG5 National Game. Every time I look at the Scorecard card, my eyes go to that "use pin stuck in card to keep track of baserunners" line, and I cringe. A 9 year old me would have been doing that very thing. I'm glad no kid was poking holes in the card I have.

Scott, both of those boxes have ads on them, and they are great looking! Any idea if they held WG5s or WG6s?


Everyone, look at the bottom of the thread page, where Net54 lists similar threads. The top thread shows Tom Barker vs The National Game. And in that thread, Leon posted the rules paper for the Tom Barker game.

[scooter729]

Originally Posted by FrankWakefield

Scott, both of those boxes have ads on them, and they are great looking! Any idea if they held WG5s or WG6s?

Frank - both boxes have the runner and say "National Game" on one side. One has the Fenway Breweries ad on the reverse, and the other has this National Game logo on the flip.

Not to get off-topic, but confusing to me is where the Home Run Baker card with the Fenway Breweries ad would be found. Most Baker cards have the Tom Barker back, but I have one with the National Game back as well. Were they found in these box sets which have the Fenway Breweries ad?

[Southpaw85]

About 25 years ago my family received a moderately used set of WG5 National Game (avg. PSA 7) including the original box and 53/54 cards. It was missing the original score card - likely destroyed and tossed after a few uses. It did *not* include the above rules sheet.

[brianp-beme]

Here is what I believe is the National Game version of the scorecard on the left, and the Tom Barker version (this example has the Fenway ad stamp) on the right. Both of these got some nice usage, including a fair amount of pin poking on the Barker card.

Brian

[Casey2296]

Originally Posted by scooter729

Frank - both boxes have the runner and say "National Game" on one side. One has the Fenway Breweries ad on the reverse, and the other has this National Game logo on the flip.

Not to get off-topic, but confusing to me is where the Home Run Baker card with the Fenway Breweries ad would be found. Most Baker cards have the Tom Barker back, but I have one with the National Game back as well. Were they found in these box sets which have the Fenway Breweries ad?

Scott, I've always been interested about the Fenway Breweries stamped Baker and would love to own one someday, the mystery about that card has always fascinated me.