W517 Minis

[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.

[David W]

Here are the actors/actresses I picked up.