W560 advice; Hornsby and Johnson

[ls7plus]

Interesting question re the W560 Foxx being a true 1927 rookie. If one assumes the roster for the cards was determined based on the player's performance the year before, it would seem unlikely Foxx's card was truly issued in 1927. In 1926, he played in only 26 games and had just 32 at bats (hitting .313 with 0 HR's). Even if the issue was released during the 1927 season, or shortly thereafter, he might well not have been deemed worthy of selection for the set. That year he played in just 61 games, with 130 at bats, hitting .323 with five HR's (good states for a part-time 19-20-year-old, but maybe unlikely to gain him sufficient notice for inclusion into the set). Foxx' first real year of note was 1928, when he appeared in 118 games as a 20-21 year old, had 400 at bats, with 13 HR's and a .328 average. For a youngster, even then, that should have gotten him noticed! However, Jimmie's first big year didn't come until 1929, when he pounded out 33 HR's and batted a resounding .354. I'd always wondered how he would have managed to have been included in a 1927 set, based on where he was at in his career at that time.

Barry's on record as saying the 1926-1929 Exhibits Postcard back is his rookie, and I agree, but am somewhat biased, as I have that issue in EX (although I also have both the R315 in the scarcer gold/yellow stock variation as well as the more commonly seen black and white example). Frankly, I never did like the W560's, and would not be disappointed to learn that 1929 was the real date of issuance for that set. As Barry said in an earlier post on this very issue, let the debate begin!


Adam is almost certainly the most knowledgable with regard to the most probable date the 1926-1929 Exhibits Foxx was actually issued, however. It might be deduced from the PSA pop reports that this card was a one-year issue. It is fairly tough to acquire in higher grades.

Larry

[glchen]

I did not win this recent ebay auction (underbidder as usual), but was this a 2 tone (or 2 color) W560 Ruth card? It looks like red and black, but the black portion still has a reddish tint to it.

[glchen]

For comparison, here is the W560 Ruth that I do own.

[fkw]

the W560s are sometimes found with that pink card stock. that was a nice card, sold for good $$ too, but the earlier 2 tone ones are far tougher than the single color ones.

there is also a yellow stock and an orangeish stock too on the single color type

[shammus]

I have about 20-25 of the multicolored variations and always looking for more. Within this small sample size, I've noticed 3 paper stock variations - a pink, which I have the most of by far, a sickly greenish looking variation and the commonly seen orangish variation.

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[Exhibitman]

On Foxx, the best way to tell which printing the card is from is to check the card back. There should not be a plain back or a "correspondence" back Foxx card, as those appear to be 1925-1926-27 [at latest] series. I would expect Foxx always to have a "not to be used" PC back. If there one of the other backs, it would be an earlier issue. If the Foxx predates 1928 I would also expect not to see "Made in USA" and not to see a uniform sans serif small typeface on the card backs. Beyond that, unfortunately, I cannot see how to pin down the Foxx date any more closely. A "Made in USA" back with the cruddy looking mixed typeface could be any time from 1927 on. A coupon back could be as early as 1927 if it is a stamped coupon. If printed, it would be a 1928 or later. Rare either way in the PC back issue.

Hope that wasn't too cryptic or confusing but it is late in the day thursday and I am tired.

[ls7plus]

As a big-time Foxx fan, with several of his early cards, many thanks, Adam.

Best regards,

Larry