Presented here is an incredible collection of 70 consecutive Major League Baseball All-Star Game programs beginning with the inaugural July 6, 1933 Midsummer Classic at Comiskey Park in Chicago on July 6, 1933. The 1945 All-Star Game was cancelled due to World War II. From 1959-62 there were two games played and all eight of these programs are included. In our opinion, this set averages EX-MT condition overall, with pre-1950 programs averaging VG-EX, 1950-70 programs in the Near Mint range, and post-1970 primarily Mint. Nine programs are fully or partially scored: 1934, 1936, 1937, 1938, 1943, 1944, 1951, 1953, and 1956. Comes with a nice 1994 All-Star Game 24" by 36" laminated wood display board showing all programs up to 1994. In our Summer 2014 Premier Auction, we sold a partial collection of 25 programs between 1935 and 1980 (with just one pre-1950) for $3,203. A complete run (1933-2013) estimated at $12,500-$17,500 was offered by another auction house in 2015, but did not meet its reserve price. This set certainly falls more in line with the latter example, missing only 14 millennial programs that are easily attainable and have little value cumulatively. Here is how we rate the first 15 programs with the most value.
1933 Comiskey Park: 4-page program scorecard has some period ads with most of the center pages for scoring. Not scored. Moderate creasing, mostly on edges. Fairly clean overall both inside and out. GOOD
1934 Polo Grounds (New York): 8-page program loaded with period ads. Neatly scored in pencil. Very little creasing with smooth corners and edges. Some paper stuck to lower front and lower back covers from being taped/glued to an album at one point. VERY GOOD
1935 Cleveland Stadium: 32-page program on larger and thicker paper with player photos, articles, statistics, and period ads. Not scored. Very clean inside. Front and back covers in pretty good shape, with moderate soiling/handling. Front has white remnants of some sort of label on top and a few short creases on left bound edge. VERY GOOD
1936 Braves Field (Boston): 12-page program on smaller, thinner paper with period ads. Partially scored in pencil with date written neatly at top of that page. Rest very clean inside. Covers in fairly good shape with minor soiling, mostly on edges. Small tear on bottom of front that has been taped. VG-EX
1937 Griffith Park (Washington, DC): Program on larger, thicker paper with player photos, articles, statistics, and period ads. Partially scored in pencil. Rest very clean inside. Covers in decent shape with minor handling/grease staining. A few short creases on left bound edge. VG-EX
1938 Crosley Field (Cincinnati): 24-page program on smaller paper with player photos, articles, statistics, and period ads. Partially scored in pencil. Rest very clean inside. Covers have pretty sharp corners and are very clean except for some discoloration on upper front and minor creasing on back right bound edge. EXCELLENT
1939 Yankee Stadium: 12-page program on smaller paper with period ads. Not scored. Clean inside with a couple small tears at bottom edges on some pages. Covers in decent shape with some minor tearing at bottom that line up with internal tears. Paper on top section of back cover has come off on upper left corner from being taped/glued into an album. GOOD
1940 Sportsman's Park (St. Louis): Larger-page program with player photos, articles, statistics, and period ads. Not scored. Personal note written in pencil on front cover with date of game. Very clean inside. Covers in good shape with minor creasing, most noticeably on front's bottom right corner. VG
1941 Briggs Stadium (Detroit): Larger-page program loaded with player photos, articles, statistics, and period ads. Not scored and super clean inside. Front and back covers in remarkable shape with smooth feel, sharp corners and just a little bit of handling visible. NEAR MINT
1942 Polo Grounds: Smaller-page program loaded with period ads. Not scored. Date and score of game written in black pen on front cover. Very clean inside. Does not come with insert. Front and back covers in excellent shape with smooth feel and light soiling. EXCELLENT
1943 Shibe Park (Philadelphia): Larger-page program loaded with photos, articles, and numerous period adds including many patriotic ones related to the war. Scored neatly in pencil. Nice and smooth, clean and colorful covers with light soiling. EX-MT
1944 Forbes Field (Pittsburgh): Larger-paper program with player photos, articles, statistics, and period ads. Nicely scored in pen. Rest super clean inside. Covers in very good shape with little creasing and minor soiling, mostly on back upper edges. EX
1946 Fenway Park: Smaller-page program loaded with period ads. Not scored. Very clean inside. Very clean front and back covers with good color and little soiling/handling. Two pieces of tape used to secure upper and lower binding. VG-EX
1947 Wrigley Field: Larger-paper program with player photos, articles, statistics, and period ads. Not scored. Super clean inside. Covers in outstanding shape with hardly any handling visible and bright red and blue colors on front. Crease running down middle of back cover, but does not run entire length (smooth in center). EX-MT
1948 Sportsman's Park: Larger-paper program with player photos, articles, statistics, and period ads. Not scored. Very clean inside. Covers in excellent shape with sharp colors, a few small edge creases, and hardly any handling visible. "15 cents H" marked in red on cover is only real blemish. EX-MT