1954 Bowman Baseball Card # 22A Sam Mele - Chicago White Sox (VG/EX)

Description: 1954 Bowman Baseball Card # 22A Sam Mele - Chicago White Sox (VG/EX) 1950-1959 Baseball CardsOther decades may have produced more valuable cards, but 1950s baseball cards are arguably the most iconic and sought after vintage cards in the entire hobby. At times, they seemed more like art than simply sports cards. Vivid colors and beautiful images filled checklists with names that now populate Cooperstown. As the country moved on after World War II, this would become the Renaissance period for baseball cards. A dominant figure throughout much of baseball card history, Topps released their first baseball product in 1951 and would not look back. While the later years of the 1950s and beyond were owned by Topps, they got a serious fight from Bowman in the early 1950s.Although there are many great options from this decade, 1951 Bowman, 1952 Topps, and 1954 Topps have separated themselves from the pack. Top rookie card offering from this decade include Hank Aaron, Mickey Mantle, Roger Maris, Ernie Banks, Sandy Koufax, Roberto Clemente, Eddie Matthews, and Bob Gibson.1954 Bowman Baseball Cards1954 Bowman Baseball is highlighted by a classy, colorful design and the presence of many Hall of Fame cards. However, errors and variations are plentiful and the set does not have many notable rookie cards.Product DetailsA result of the new hobby that was emerging based on the on-going competition with Topps, 1954 Bowman Baseball was ultimately a frugal attempt to regain market share while cutting costs. Although the endeavor did not yield much for Bowman, the set still has a lot to offer collectors.1954 Bowman Baseball Set DetailsBy 1954, the battle between Topps and Bowman for the hearts and minds (and pocket change) of American kids was still in full force. The collateral damage from that fight was seen in some of the cards from the 1954 Bowman Baseball set. Not only were several cards corrected for errors after being rushed so quickly into production, but one ended up being withdrawn altogether and replaced.The 1954 Bowman Baseball set contains 224 cards. However, an estimated 40 variation cards are said to exist, bringing the total card count for the set builder to 264 cards. Printed and distributed in two series, cards #1-128 make up the first group and #129-224 comprise the second series. Unusual for the era, the high-number series is not all that much more difficult to find than the low-number series.Measuring 2-1/2" by 3-3/4", the 1954 Bowman Baseball card fronts consist of a player portrait, though not nearly as rich in color as the company's 1953 baseball card set. A small pastel-colored box in a lower corner contains the player's signature (or block print, for certain late-series cards), while a white border surrounds the picture and box.1954 Bowman Baseball card backs include a bat and ball graphic, with the card number located inside the ball and the player's name in the bat. A few vital statistics and a short biography follow. Also featured on the backs, a trivia question is found along the bottom and a small box to the right contains the player's 1953 stats. The answer to the trivia question is located below the stat box.The set utilizes a unique numbering system that rotates between all sixteen teams, so each team has a consistent pattern. For instance, the Yankees are found on cards #1, 17, 33, 49, 65, 81, 97, 113, 129, 145, 161, 177, 193 and 209. The Red Sox follow with cards #2, 18, 34, 50, and so on. Each team has 14 cards unless you include both #66 cards, which makes 15 for the Red Sox.The most valuable card in the set is Ted Williams. However, the high values are not simply because he was one of the biggest players in the game at the time. Topps managed to sign him to an exclusive contract in 1954, so Bowman had to pull card #66 and replace him with teammate Jimmy Piersall. This extreme scarcity results in huge values, but most collectors consider the set complete with the #66 Piersall in place of the Williams card.Bob Feller, Roy Campanella, Robin Roberts and Pee Wee Reese. Unfortunately for the set, there are very few notable rookie cards. Top options include Don Larsen and Harvey Keunn, which is made even more disappointing considering the rookie cards found in 1954 Topps.One oddity of note is the cards of Baltimore Orioles players. Their fans may be either amused or infuriated by the cards Bowman printed. 1954 was the team's first season in Baltimore after playing as the St. Louis Browns since 1901. The move was announced and the new team name and logo had been unveiled, but there were no pictures of any of the Orioles in their new uniforms. Bowman's art department had to make do with their best guesses, which resulted in having the bird looking the wrong way on some caps.How We Grade: Gem Mint (GMT): (10.0) A flawless card. To be in Gem Mint condition, a card’s borders must have a ratio of 50/50 side to side and top to bottom. Mint (MT): (9.0-9.5) A perfect card. Well-centered with parallel borders which appear equal to the naked eye. Four sharp, square corners. No creases, edge dents, surface scratches, paper flaws, loss of luster, yellowing or fading, regardless of age. No imperfectly printed cards – out of register, badly cut or ink flawed – or card stained by contact with gum, wax or other substances can be considered truly Mint, even if new out of the pack. Generally, to be considered in Mint condition, a card’s borders must exist in a ratio of 60/40 side to side and top to bottom. Near Mint/Mint (NM/MT): (8.0-8.5) A super high-end card that appears Mint 9 at first glance, but upon closer inspection, may exhibit a very slight wax stain on reverse, slight fraying at one or two corners, or a minor printing imperfection. Centering must be app. 65/35 to 70/30 or better on the front and 90/10 or better on the reverse. Near Mint (NM): (7.0-7.5) A nearly perfect card at first glance, but upon closer inspection, may have slight surface wear, slight fraying on some corners, slightly out-of-register picture focus, a minor printing blemish or slight wax stain on reverse. Centering must be 70/30 to 75/25 or better on the front and 90/10 or better on the reverse. Excellent/Near Mint (EX/NM): (6.0-6.5) Card may have visible surface wear or a printing defect. A very light scratch. Corners may have slightly graduated fraying. Picture focus may be slightly out-of-register. Card may have minor wax stain on reverse, may have very slight nothing on edges. Centering must be 80/20 or better on the front and 90/10 or better on the reverse. Excellent (EX): (5.0-5.5) Corners are still fairly sharp with only moderate wear. Card borders may be off center as much as 85/15. No creases. May have very minor gum, wax or product stains, front or back. Surfaces may show slight loss of luster from rubbing across other cards. Dark bordered cards may have one or two small nicks. Very Good/Excellent (VG/EX): (4.0-4.5) Shows obvious handling, but still looks nice. Corners may be rounded or have minor creases. No major creases, tape marks or extraneous markings or writing. Surfaces does exhibit loss of luster, but the printing is intact. May have paper wrinkles. May show major gum, wax or other packaging stains. All four borders visible, though the ratio may be as poor as 95/5. Exhibits honest wear. Very Good (VG): (3.0-3.5) A well-worn card, but exhibits no intentional damage or abuse. May be “Mis-cut or Off-Center” with no border visible. May have major or multiple creases, however, creases are not so deep as to show the underlying paper. This card is completely readable, has not been written on, and has no tape marks or holes. Corner rounding may extend well beyond the border. Good (GD) (2.0-2.5) Shows excessive wear, along with damage or abuse. Will show all the wear characteristics of a Very Good card, along with such damage as thumb tack holes in or near margins, evidence of having been taped or pasted, perhaps small tears around the edges or creases so heavily as to break the cardboard. Backs may show minor added pen or pencil writing or be missing small bits of paper. Still basically a complete card. Poor (P): (1.0-1.5) A card that has been tortured to death. Corners or other areas may be torn off. Card may have been trimmed, show holes from a paper punch or have been used for BB gun practice. Front may have extraneous pen or pencil writing, or other defacement. Major portions of front or back design may be missing. Not a pretty sight. We believe that all our listings are 100% Original and Authentic unless otherwise noted. They are all covered by a 30 Day Money Back Guarantee, if for whatever reason you are not happy with your purchase we will exchange it, replace it, discount it or you can return it for a full refund.Standard/Combined 1st Class Shipping via USPS is $3.95 for the first card and $0.15 for each additional card, with a max. of (40) items per invoice. Subject to change as postal rates continue to increase. Estimated delivery is 3-5 days. Subject to change as postal delivery schedules continue to increase. Please see shipping tab for current postage rates. All cards will ship in penny sleeves, top loaders, team bag & bubble wrap envelopes.Please see all of our other ads & visit our store for some great deals on both New & Vintage cards, comics and more.Get your copy of the DC Rebirth or the All New, All Different Marvel Series before they are gone!Yes! We are always buying & accepting consignments.We are trying to establish a Brand and grow our business within the E-bay cyber world, so please Join/Follow us, you never know what we will list next, because: We are: The Toy Collector 4 U 2 C

Price: 29.95 USD

Location: Madison, Alabama

End Time: 2024-11-17T20:47:57.000Z

Shipping Cost: 3.95 USD