1949 Leaf Theory

[brunswickreeves]

Originally Posted by yanks87

I think the collecting community may need to give Nathaniel a HUGE pat on the back for uncovering definitive proof on the distribution of Leaf cards (listed in the complaint as March of 1949) as well as the outline of the settlement.

WELL DONE. This is the start of debunking some of the myths around this set, and checking the boxes of verifiable data.

I am STOKED.

+1

[yanks87]

I wanted to take a minute and wrap up a couple things on this thread that I started 2 years ago.

Before I dive too far in, I do want to say thank you to all the folks who chimed in and collaborated with me on my research. It helped me finish up my reference book (re: LEAF - available on Amazon.com) as well as put to bed many of the myths around this iconic set. Specifically Nathaniel Grow for the last minute Hail Mary of a research Rosetta Stone, Steve Birmingham for his color insights and process thoughts, and of course the Legendary TedZ, as Han Solo said in The Force Awakens, "It's true, all of it." Thanks Ted for letting me pick your brain, and hopefully this will all get a heavenly thumbs up!

* 1949 Leaf Baseball Cards came out in early March of 1949, with the first truck leaving for Boston on or around March 12, 1949. Placing the Leaf cards in market before Bowman, but still very much in 1949.

* Leaf cards, all of them, were printed in house and there was at least 3 printings which yielded variations to the early printing. Kent Peterson is an example of this change, but it extends to more than 80% of the "Non-Short Print" 49 card series.

* There is a difference between printing plate variations and color variations. Leaf was printing on a press used for printing their candy packaging, since standardized ink colors didn't emerge until the late 1950's, the color variations are tied to the inks, not to the plates. Plate changes yield trackable differences in the cards that are not printing issues/errors.

* The agreement between Leaf and Bowman ensured Leaf would not produce cards until 1951, the next time they pushed out cards was 1960, and they were packaged with marbles, in order to avoid legal attention from Topps.

I go much deeper in the book, as well as side by side images of the variations, but I thought it would be good to go on the record as it were to tie off some of the loose ends. It is a fascinating set, and it has been an amazing research journey!