Card front (click for detail)
This box panel looks esoteric to 21st century eyes, since most fans worry more about changing power numbers (scoring, homers, strike outs) than particulars of its equipment. Would Topps or Panini attract catch anyone's eye with something like this today? (Of course, anything's fair game for Allen and Ginter--they might prove me wrong.)
Wheaties published this "100 Years of Baseball" series assuming 1839 as its "creation," a year linked to Abner Doubleday. No less than commissioner Bud Selig recently brought this debunked starting point back to public commentary, leading many to question his knowledge of the game's history. (Read Keith Olbermann's summary at his Baseball Nerd blog--and remember that off-season's a time for debating stories we ignore during playoff races.)
I think of this set as an early poetic history, focusing on fan-visible shifts in play. Without recognized players, there's not much collector interest, but it does demonstrate Wheaties' willingness to try out different ideas. Its checklist numbers eight panels.
- Design of First Diamond
- Lincoln Gets Nomination News on Baseball Field
- Crowd Boos First Baseball Glove
- Curve Ball
- Catcher's Mask
- Baseball Gets Dressed Up
- Modern Bludgeon Enters Game
- Casey at the Bat
Value: This mid-grade panel cost $10 on eBay in 2006 and others should run the same, excepting perhaps Lincoln and his Americana appeal.
Fakes / reprints: Haven't seen any in the marketplace and it'd be an odd choice to reprint.
UPDATE: By request, here's a scan of #2, the Lincoln panel, from TimePassagesNostalgia.com.
4 comments:
I'd love to see what the Lincoln one looks like... great post. It was very informative.
You got it! Found a scan of Mr. Lincoln and updated the post.
Thanks Matthew... that's pretty cool. One of those things that would look sweet... framed and mounted in my office. Do they pop up on eBay fairly often?
Good question--haven't looked in a while, since #5's already in my hands. Just did a search, but no Lincolns in the results. Perhaps they come around, though!
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