W517 Minis

[iggyman]

Frank Ward has the mini's listed under the year 1932 and states there is proof that the W517's were printed in ca. 1931. The O'Doul Brooklyn variation is the corrected version (which only proves it was updated later in the print run). From my limited experience the Brooklyn version is tougher then the Phillies version. Francis "Lefty" O'Doul played with the Phillies from 1929-1930 and then moved on to Brooklyn (after the 1930 season). The card depicts him in a New York Giants uniform (1928 season). Here are three of the mini's I own (as well as a regular size W517 for comparison). Apparently, these three cards were once own by Exhibitman (way back in 2004). If I ever get them slabbed, perhaps I should label them the "Scgaynor Frederick MD + Exhbitman 2004 National + 2009 Iggyman find".......is there a limit on the numbers of letters I can use on a slab?

Lovely Day...

[scgaynor]

There were like 5 or 6 Gehrig's in my group. I think that there were about 20 different cards. If I remember correctly the most common cards in terms of qty were Grove, Kamm, Waner and I want to say Earnshaw and there were about 10-15 of each of them. I should have kept better records, but back then my interest was in selling them and moving on.

Scott

[Exhibitman]

Originally Posted by iggyman

Apparently, these three cards were once own by Exhibitman (way back in 2004).

Lovely Day...

Nope; I still have mine. Looked at the Klein the other night as a matter of fact.

[David W]

These are the ones I picked up on Ebay a couple years back

I also picked up some actors and actresses, scans available if anyone wants to see them

[paul]

Brad,

Yes, I think the W517s were issued from 1930-32. I base the 1930 date on the fact that Grover Cleveland Alexander is listed as a Phillie, where he played only in 1930 (and decades earlier). The 1932 date is based on George Kelly with the Dodgers. I haven't given much thought to whether the cards were issued in 1931. It's possible that the cards were issued only in 1930 and 1932, unless there is good evidence of a print run updating the players for the 1931 season.

Paul

[leftygrove10]

Paul:

That's interesting... Is there more evidence besides Grover Cleveland Alexander that the cards might have been issued in 1930? I say that, because it's possible that the cards could have been issued in 1931 before the baseball season began and before he was traded to the new team. I know nothing about when G.C. Alexander was traded.

I would think that if the cards were issued in 1930 and 1932, that you must also assume that the cards were issued in 1931 as well. Why would they do a print run in 1930 and 1932, but not in 1931?

As far as 1932, does the card actually show George Kelly in a Dodgers uniform? While the team may be listed as the Dodgers on the card, he may be shown in the uniform of his previous team. If that is the case, it's possible that the card might have been produced late in 1931 after he was traded but before they had a chance to snap a picture of him with the Dodgers.

I find all of this fascinating... We may never know all the answers...

Happy New Year to all!

Brad

[Exhibitman]

David W: please post the entertainers too!

[paul]

Kelly is shown in a Giants uniform. He hadn't played with them in quite some time, so it's just an old photo. Even the Reds version of the Kelly shows him in the Giants uniform. I don't think any photos were ever updated in this set.

Kelly played no major league games in 1931, and played with Brooklyn only in 1932. So I think it's pretty clear that the Brooklyn variation was issued in 1932 (or conceivably early 1933).

I don't think there are any other players besides Alexander who help date the first print run to 1930, but I haven't really looked into it. Alexander played just a few games in 1930 then was out of the majors, playing with Dallas and then the House of David team. It's possible that the set was first printed in 1931, and Alexander was just included because he was so great a player. Eddie Collins is also in the set. I believe he played his last game in 1930 as well, but he stayed on as a coach and made it into the US Caramel set in 1933. So he could have been included only because he was still active as a coach.

It would be a little odd to print the set in just 1930 and 1932, but not unprecedented. The W590 set was apparently printed in 1925 and then updated and reprinted in 1931, with no printings in between.