1915 Federal League Cracker Jacks

Frank

Sorry for the delay in responding. We were out to dinner with a client

This is only the third Suggs card we have seen for auction in past three years
Accordingly, we would consider it a tough card (population 9) but not among the top 6 non HOFS.

We are very pleased with the card and the beautiful Baltimore uniform

By the way ,over the last 10 years, we have only held 2 PSA 8 1914 Cracker Jacks- neither was for sale.

See you in Baltimore

Bruce Dorskind
America's Toughest Want List

[Thrill-of-the-Hunt]

maybe i am off base , but randy's set were cards that never made it into original packaging. the set was complete and all together. there were actually 5 sgc 98 gem mints and alot of 96 & 92's. of course being 1914 even an sgc 60 is a very tough find. i didnt mean to say it was a 25 cent mail in, i was referring that this set came from the factory direct. it is the only known set in this grade to surface and with such a minute amount of ex/mt - mint singles out there it shows how rare of a find it really is.

the card stock on the 1915 is so flimsy and thin that its hard to imagine those cards (circulated out of the candy box) remaining in high condition just for the corner wear alone. must have been alot of sets sent out for 25 cents in that year.

with the success of gum cards in the 30s, i am surprised cracker jack did not offer another set, how cool would a cracker jack card be with babe ruth, lou gehrig, and joe dimaggio.

[Northviewcats]

It's not quite an 8, but it's still pretty sweet and the nicest prewar card I own.

Best,

Joe

[Thrill-of-the-Hunt]

By the way ,over the last 10 years, we have only held 2 PSA 8 1914 Cracker Jacks- neither was for sale.

did all 4 hands hold the cards at the same time?

[FrankWakefield]

Thank you, Bruce. Seems you and I think Suggs is slightly tougher than the others. Anyone else have thoughts on Suggs or any of the others?

I know not of Randy or his set. But getting the cards before they were jammed into candy boxes, that would have been the way to get them. The 1915 cards feel pretty flimsy, until you pick up a 1914 card...

And I agree about subsequent CJ issues. Would it not have been grand if CJ issued about 96 or 120 cards each year, on up to WW II ? Sisler on a Cracker Jack, Hornsby, Dean???

[Kawika]

Originally Posted by FrankWakefield

Would it not have been grand if CJ issued about 96 or 120 cards each year, on up to WW II ?

Indeed.

[calvindog]

[cfc1909]

SmithCJb.jpg

[cfc1909]

SmithCJ.jpg

[FrankWakefield]

Nice card, Cdog, about perfect condition. Great pose, Jim. I like the cards that display those Federal League uniforms well.

Anyone know or think anything about some cards being less plentiful than others? I think Suggs is slightly tougher to locate, and Bruce seems to agree with that. Not a peep outa the rest of you, though.

I think that some of the CJ collections were found with the cards jumbled together, some kids cared not whether a card was 1914 or 1915. In later times collectors sorted them by year, but some of the original kid collectors didn't. That might put a bit of a premium on cards numbered 145 and above from the 1915 set. The Standard Catalog shows a price difference for NM and EX cards 145 and up, but no price difference for lesser condition cards.

[cfc1909]

Suggs is available-each time I have seen the card come up for sale or auction it is in higher grade than what I collect. My collection is mostly vg-vg-ex.
The last one I saw on ebay was a 6, if it was raw I probably would have bid.

[baseballart]

Here's one perhaps aided in its past (prior to my purchase) by Mr. Clorox (the uneven edge is simply my bad photo editing)

[Exhibitman]

A nice and tough (IMO) Federal League issue is W530. I know Tinker is identified as the manager of the Chicago Federals. There may be others.

As for CJ's, I don't think there are short prints of the FL players, at least to the extent I was looking for them. I was able to pick up a Kauf and a Plank almost immediately after I decided to get them.

[Sterling Sports Auctions]

Gee Bruce in post 13 you say this:

3. As for Mr. Suggs- we recently obtained his card from a Board Member who responded to one of our most recent America's Toughest Want List posts.

Yet in your a later post you say you obtained the card in an auction.

You wonder why people question you and treat you the way you do.

What business are you in? If I need services in that area I want to be sure I call you first. I think we would all like the opportunity to hire you.

Lee

[plasorsa]

I recently purchased a letter written by Ed Harter of the Indianapolis Federal League. It was written on August 11, 1914 to H.W. Lanigan, editor of The Base Ball World, 1508 W. Dearborn St. Chicago Il.

The letter says
"Dear Sirs, The supply of Base Ball World sent to our Park has been entirely exhausted, in fact the fans fought for them and am glad to advise that the fans didn't leave them lying on the ground but took them home. We had five boys distributing them and the fans curious to know what was being distributed congregated around but their curiousity soon turned to anxiety when they found The Base Ball World and they were nearly all gone. They fairly fought for them. Pleased to state no one was killed in the rush. Federal fans appreciate your dandy paper but no more than we do ourselves. We are certainly for you and appreciate your fairness to our new league. With Kindest Regards"

I am Yours Very Truly,

Ed W. Harter (his actual signature in fountain pen)

Business Manager

That was our mistake- we obtained Suggs privately from a Board member.

Good catch.

Our business is global consulting for world class corporations and mergers and acquisitions. Because of the nature of our work, we do not have a web site.


Thanks for your inquiry


Bruce Dorskind
America's Toughest Want List
bdorskind@dorskindgroup.com

[tbob]

I didn't notice the Suggs card being that much tougher in the set but then again I don't collect the Cracker Jack sets. I sold one on ebay a couple of years ago which was either an SGC 60 or PSA 5 (can't remember which) and it brought a good, not great price.