The 1947 Play Ball baseball card set is one of the most popular vintage issues among collectors due to its iconic designs and the amazing rookie cards it features. Issued by Leaf Gum Company as promotional inserts in their chewing gum packs, the 1947 Play Ball set commemorated the post-World War II baseball season and introduced cards of future Hall of Famers like Jackie Robinson, Warren Spahn, Early Wynn, and others. Let’s take a deeper look at the complete 1947 Play Ball baseball card checklist.
The 1947 Play Ball set contains a total of 252 cards divided into 12 teams in the American and National Leagues. Each team has 21 cards dedicated to its roster of players. The checklist featured starting lineups, pitchers, coaches, and managers for each club. Some key things to note – Brooklyn Dodgers cards list the team as Brooklyn rather than Los Angeles, and the Boston Braves cards use Boston rather than Milwaukee since the team moves had not occurred yet.
The set truly stands out for being the first baseball card issue to include Jackie Robinson, who broke baseball’s color barrier by joining the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947. Robinson’s iconic smiling face is featured prominently on his rookie card (card #131 in the set). Other noteworthy rookies included are future Hall of Famers Warren Spahn (card #164), Early Wynn (card #67), and Red Schoendienst (card #152). Beyond the rookie cards, the 1947 Play Ball set also features legendary players like Ted Williams, Stan Musial, Bob Feller, Joe DiMaggio, and many more.
The 1951 Play Ball design is simple yet visually striking, with a green border surrounding each card photo. Player stats like batting average, home runs, and won-loss records are noted on the bottom. On the front, each card contains the player’s name, team name/logo, and a cartoon-like illustration of a bottle of Leaf Gum placed behind the name. On the back, a small advertisement promotes Leaf Gum and their other baseball promotions. The card stock is thin and textures, differing from the slickness of modern issues.
Condition and centering are obviously crucial in determining the value and overall quality of vintage cards, now nearing 75 years old for the 1947 Play Ball set. High grade rookie cards of players like Jackie Robinson are extremely valuable, with his PSA 8 card selling for over $500,000 at auction. But lesser condition and non-rookie cards can still be affordable collectibles, especially for teams fans. Beyond the iconic rookies, other top cards include batting champion Ted Williams (#158), home run king Ralph Kiner (#181), pitching great Bob Feller (#216) and “Joltin’” Joe DiMaggio (#175).
While incomplete or mixed condition sets can still be found in price guides or for sale online, finding a high grade, intact 12-team factory set of the 1947 Play Ball issue is an especially rare find. The scarce nature and amazing historic significance enshrines the 1947 Play Ball cards as one of the true “crown jewel” sets coveted by any vintage baseball card enthusiast or collector. And with no Goudey or Topps sets produced during the year, Play Ball stands alone as the premiere baseball card representation of arguably the most momentous MLB season in history due to Robinson breaking barriers and continuing an American tradition of diversity in our national pastime.
The 1947 Play Ball baseball card checklist stands out as a uniquely important and popular issue for the sheer magnitude of rookie cards, legendary established players, and historical context of commemorating Jackie Robinson’s debut season smashing apartheid in MLB. With only 252 total cards produced, the high quality, intact sets become even more scarce as years pass. But for any fan of vintage cards or the national pastime itself, a single 1947 Play Ball card serves as a genuine archaeological artifact from arguably the most iconic year in baseball’s rich history.
