Let's Talk (and Show) Baseball Game Cards...Fan Craze, Tom Barker, Polo Grounds, etc.

[Rob D.]

I'm a fan:

[brianp-beme]

The Game cards are a great way to pick up some favorite players on the cheaper side. Like Rhett mentioned, the Walter Mails are definitely the toughest of the bunch. As far as aesthetics, the Fan Craze can't be beat for large size b/w portrait shots of the players (and not just amongst other game cards...that includes all the contemporary 'regular' issues as well). But my favorite is probably the Tom Barker/National game cards, because of their many full/partial body 'action' shots. Probably my least favorite is the Polo Ground, because of their awkward small photo but larger size card design.

Brian

[ullmandds]

I personally have never really cared for these playing cards and I do not own any of them at this time. I can certainly appreciate the value and the unique poses BUT I don't see myself buying any in the foreseeable future.

[jcmtiger]

These are the only game cards that I own. My interest is Cobb, not game cards.

Joe

[Leon]

Unfortunately the Walter Mails set, though I love it, isn't close to the toughest 20th century game set. The Alleghenys would be, by definition, since only 1 full set is known. I too like the game cards more than most and think it's a great way to pick up fairly inexpensive HOF poses that would be an arm and a leg, in other series. Here are a few game cards....

[docpatlv]

Leon,

At 1-of-1's the Allegheny would definitely be most rare, but how was the game actually played. It states baseball card game on the back of each, but the cards do not have any of the typical game card captions (i.e. Walk, Strike Out, Single).

Do you know how the actual game was to be played?

Mike

[Leon]

Originally Posted by docpatlv

Leon,

At 1-of-1's the Allegheny would most definitely be most rare, but how was the game actually played. It states baseball card game on the back of each, but the cards do not have any of the typical game card captions (i.e. Walk, Strike Out, Single).

Do you know how the actual game was to be played?

Mike

Mike- In one of my old auction catalogs I have where the full set of Alleghenys was sold. It came with the box too. It would take quite a while to go find it and I am not sure if the rules were with it, but I would guess they were. Other than that I don't know any specifics on how it was played. Here are a few more scans and cards too.....As for 19th century game cards, no doubt the Alpha Engraving cards are the rarest, imo.

[rhettyeakley]

Leon, obviously you are correct in regards to the Allegheny set being the toughest 20th Century game set as there is one set known. With my statement above I was thinking along the lines of the ones being in the ACC... WG2 and on up (Fan Craze, Tom Barker, National Game, Walter Mails, S&S, Polo Grounds, etc.). I have also always wondered how one actually "played" the Allegheny cards, that would be interesting--but the WG1's had to have been a complex game as there is a lot going on on the front of those cards and I don't know we have ever found any instructions for it.
-Rhett

[Leon]

Originally Posted by rhettyeakley

Leon, obviously you are correct in regards to the Allegheny set being the toughest 20th Century game set as there is one set known. With my statement above I was thinking along the lines of the ones being in the ACC... WG2 and on up (Fan Craze, Tom Barker, National Game, Walter Mails, S&S, Polo Grounds, etc.). I have also always wondered how one actually "played" the Allegheny cards, that would be interesting--but the WG1's had to have been a complex game as there is a lot going on on the front of those cards and I don't know we have ever found any instructions for it.
-Rhett

Hey Rhett
I think we are on the same page however (don't ya' hate the "howevers"?) Burdick didn't list "WG" as game cards. Bert Sugar did that in the Sports Collectors Bible. That is where all of our "WG"s designations came from. Burdick classified them as playing cards "PL" and I don't believe he even mentioned any of the sets, specifically, that we are talking about. I like the game cards!!