EXHIBIT BASEBALL CARDS 1939 TO 1966 ------------------ INTRODUCTION
EXHIBIT BASEBALL CARDS 1939 to 1966
When Were They Produced And What Are The Variations?
By David Kiehle
davidwkiehle@gmail.com
For the past few years I have been trying to obtain all Exhibit baseball cards from 1939 to 1966 using the checklists in the Standard Catalog of Vintage Baseball Cards, Edited by Bob Lemke, which includes several variations. When I noticed a few cards that I obtained were not listed by this catalog, I looked on-line for updated lists to use. Also, I was interested in finding the date that the cards were produced. I did find a few articles on-line (listed on page 2) which gave some valued information but left many unanswered questions for me.
I have obtained multiple cards and have searched on-line for cards that are for sale or auction. Thus, I have several observations, some speculations, and some questions about these cards as to when they were printed and what the variations are.
Here are a few assumptions that I am making to help in making my lists. First, I am going to say that each year from 1939 until 1966, starting in early spring, there would be new cards produced and these cards would be produced until the end of the baseball season. This might not truly be the case but it helps in making a yearly list. Thus, I am surmising, for example, that a card which shows the National League Champion for 1949 was produced in 1950. (Verification: A checklist produced by Nate’s Baseball Card Trading Co. shows the League Champions Giants from 1954 has a post card back which is for a set only produced in 1955.)
Concerning variations, I will only discuss picture or inscription differences - not cropping or color differences, which are numerous. Cropping differences that I have found also could be considered by some to be variations. For instance, I have seen a list which shows multiple cards for Lindy McDaniel because they have different amounts of his uniform button showing at the bottom of the card. I have cards with a full button, a half button, and a small portion of a button.
Also, many cards have color differences because they were produced in different years or perhaps at different times in a print year. For example, cards of Sal Maglie show varying shades of stubble on his face from almost none to a heavy amount.
It has been reported in various articles that in 1952 and 1960 the cards were black and white not tan colored. In this report I will only point out color differences when it is an issue of a black and white card versus a tan colored card.
In a post entitled ALL EXHIBIT CARDS FROM 1939 TO 1946 --- CHECKLIST, you will find a checklist of all cards first produced in 1939 to 1946 and in a post entitled ALL EXHIBIT CARDS FROM 1947 TO 1966 --- CHECKLIST is the list of cards first produced from 1947 to 1966. These lists show all the players alphabetically along with the variations. Reminder: these lists show the earliest possible date for the publication of the cards. But they could have been produced for several years after their debut.
Further, there are lists which show the cards by year, 1939 to 1966 found in the individual sections.
I have found varying opinions as to how many new cards were produced in each year since 1947. I am going to assume, as has been written often, that each year from 1947 to 1966 a total of 64 cards were produced. Apparently, they were produced in sheets of 32 cards.
I have listed all the cards that I have identified with characteristics which enable me to set the year of manufacture and assume that the remaining cards produced that year, which do not match these characteristics, were hold-over versions from previous years.
Valuable dating information can be found by examining uncut sheets of cards or advertising sheets containing cards. You will find that I have listed information obtained from sheets from 1958, 1960, 1961, and 1966.
If you know of other uncut sheets please contact me with the information at davidwkiehle@gmail.com
Also, if you have questions, corrections, or comments about my research or opinions please let me know.
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These are some websites that I have used in the past
Standard Catalog of Vintage Baseball Cards, Edited by Bob Lemke, Krause Publications, 2011.
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