This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/30/2006
ADDENDUM: Since the printing of the catalog the following cards have been added to this set: #43 Eddie Stevens PSA 8 NM-MT (oc) #54 Bobby Adams (SP) PSA 6 EX-MT and #81 George Kurowski (SP) PSA 5 EX. The set is 100% complete. The PSA Set Registry shows the set as being 97% complete due to the fact that 3 cards are graded by SGC.
In 1948 the Leaf Gum Company of Chicago produced the first set of color baseball cards issued after World War II. The series is numbered 1 through 168 with many gaps in the sequence. Fully half of the set was "short-printed" and numerous print and color variations contribute to the challenge posed to set builders. The offered completely graded near set is lacking only #81 Kuroski for completion and includes the scarce #102“ Hermansk” and #136 Aberson (short sleeve) variations. The lax production standards employed by Leaf in producing this set makes the assembly of a high-grade compilation such as this a monumentally arduous endeavor. To many collectors the complexities of Leaf’s 1948-49 baseball issue are also part of its charm. Eighty-six percent (87%) of the offered near set is graded NM or better with 20 cards in the group bearing a “qualifier”. As such this is the Third Finest set listed on PSA’s Set Registry! The condition breakdown is as follows:
(28) PSA 8 NM-MT: #4 Musial 5 (oc)(SP) 10 17 (oc) 27 29 38 Kluszewski 42 (Red Cap) 43 (oc) 47 (oc) 49 50 (oc) 56 57 (oc) 61 68 (oc)(SP) 70 Wagner (oc) 77 83 Doerr 85 (SP) 86 88 (SP) 93 Feller (SP) 95 106 Boudreau 120 Kell (oc)(SP) 127 Slaughter (SP) 128 133 (oc)(SP).
(57) PSA 7 NM: #1 J. DiMaggio 3 Ruth 8 Paige (oc)(SP) 11 Rizzuto 14 19 (SP) 20 (SP) 22 26 28 30 (SP) 31 33 (st)(SP) 36 (oc)(SP) 39 45 (st)(SP) 48(SP) 51 Dark (SP) 53 Vandermeer 55 Henrich (SP) 59 Appling 62 (SP) 63 (SP) 65 72 73 75 D. DiMaggio (oc)(SP) 76 Williams (oc) 78 (SP) 79 J. Robinson 82 84 91 Kiner 97 102 (correct) 104 (SP) 108 (SP) 111 113 (SP) 121 (SP) 123 (SP) 125 131 (SP) 136 (Short Sleeve) 136 (Long Sleeve) 138 Doby (SP) 139 142 (SP) 143 (SP) 144 (SP) 146 Reiser (oc)(SP) 149 (oc)(SP) 153 (SP) 159 (oc) 160 (SP) 165 (SP) 168 (SP).
(4) PSA 6 EX-MT: #13 (SP) 54 (SP) 158 (SP) 161 (SP) 163 (SP).
(2) PSA 5 EX: #81 (SP) #98 (SP) 102 Hermansk var.. (1) PSA 4 VG-EX: #117.
(2) PSA 3 VG: #66 (st)(SP) 137 (SP).
(1) PSA 1 PR-FR: #129 (SP).
(2) SGC GRADED: #32 Spahn 88 NM-MT #46 Mize 86 NM .