W574 ...29 is an awful funny number

[brianp-beme]

There are 29 cards catalogued in the W574 set, which has remained the same since who knows when times. Is the W574 considered a strip issue? I have noticed that many of the strip sets were issued in strips of 10. Even if it is not a strip issue, 29 is an irregular number of cards to have been machine cut from sheets. Anyone have any insight or theories about this? Was one of the cards double printed, and if so has it been noted that any card is more prevalent?

Just something I always wanted to ask of the board.

Brian

[Leon]

I don't know Brian but as we do know the W574s can come with some of the largest borders, and weirdest cuts, of any pre-war cards. I can't imagine the number 29 being the way any company would physically make and distribute a set. Personally I do think they were a strip set just from the characteristics I have seen on them.

[nolemmings]

I've wondered that too, what with 29 being a prime number. I don't know enough about the set and don't follow it closely enough to guess which card might have been double printed. Maybe there was a card pulled from production and the space on the sheet/strip was left blank or was replaced with a header card of some kind?

[brianp-beme]

Good theories Todd and Leon. It is interesting that not only do these cards only depict American Leaguers, but that representatives from two American League teams are completely absent: the Yankees and the Senators. Since the team distribution lines up like this:

White Sox - 9
Tigers - 5
Indians - 5
Browns - 5
Athletics - 3
Red Sox - 2

Perhaps the original issue was two strips of ten, including the Tigers, Indians and Browns, and perhaps 5 of the White Sox. Then another strip was added, with one holdover from the original group double-printed, and the Athletics and Red Sox and the rest of the White Sox.

Another thought. Who was the American League team in the World Series the year they were issued?

Brian

[leftygrove10]

Originally Posted by brianp-beme

Who was the American League team in the World Series the year they were issued?

In 1933, the New York Giants beat the Washington Senators in five games.

[leftygrove10]

In case it matters (and it very well might), the Yankees played the Cubs in the 1932 World Series.