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

[triwak]

Some games, with a couple of modern ones (sorry):

[rhettyeakley]

Thanks Leon, I hadn't realized it was Sugar who had attached the Catalog designations to the WG cards.

[ethicsprof]

I have really enjoyed the Game Cards as part of my 'type' collecting.
after reading the great little article on billy owen i bought the Fan Craze card.
i also have the FanCraze of Theilman and Ritchey. i have the Polo Grounds of
Smokey Joe Wood, the national game of Evers and Chance, and the
Tom Barker's of Milan,Rucker,Meyers,Hoblitzel,O'Toole.

I particularly like my Polo Grounds Game with instructions,baseball diamond
at the base of the box,moving pieces,and score card with names of
buster and brewster in quite a competition.
I also have the beautiful forest green Fan Craze box which contained all the cards of the National League with Ritchey affixed to the bottom(outside).

great fun.
best,
barry

[drdduet]

Love then National Game and Tom Barker cards. I think the Joe Jax is his best image on a card. The Fan Craze portraits are great as well--Wagner is classic and they also include some 19th Century HOFers not easily found.

[hoot-owl]

Great thread. I also enjoy early game cards from the perspective of a type collector. I like the ground level view of playing the outfield at the Polo Grounds from the common reverse on that set of game cards.

A quick question--is there an easy way to determine reprints from the National Game set? I think one of the first threads I read on this board a few years ago convinced me that my National Game Johnson was an early reprint. I believe the discussion was about how rounded the corners were?

[docpatlv]

Peter M.

I believe the reprints have corners which are significantly more rounded than the originals. It would probably be easier to tell when held side by side.

Mike

[Leon]

Originally Posted by hoot-owl

Great thread. I also enjoy early game cards from the perspective of a type collector. I like the ground level view of playing the outfield at the Polo Grounds from the common reverse on that set of game cards.

A quick question--is there an easy way to determine reprints from the National Game set? I think one of the first threads I read on this board a few years ago convinced me that my National Game Johnson was an early reprint. I believe the discussion was about how rounded the corners were?

I generally tell the fakes by the "grainy" brownish look they have. I remember 2 Nationals ago a dealer had a reprint in his case for sale, as an original of course. I was 100% sure it was a reprint and told him so. He didn't believe me and continued trying to sell it as original. Oh well, you can lead a horse to water but.......

[ChiefBenderForever]

Very important issue to me right now because the 1904 Fan Craze is the oldest Bender in my collection and also the oldest baseball card I have ever owned. It's really cool to think kids and baseball fans used to play games with these !

[rc4157]

Great thread, here are a few of my game cards.
RC