The 1948 baseball season gave rise to one of the most unique and fascinating subsets in the history of the hobby – 1948 exhibit baseball cards. In 1948, two companies – Exhibits, Inc. and Wrigley Gum – produced sets of promotional cards featuring current major league players. These cards were unlike any that came before them.
Both Exhibits and Wrigley issued their 1948 sets solely as premiums to be given away at hobby, sporting, and collector shows. They were not sold commercially in packs or included in gum/candy products as most modern sets were. Instead, the cards would be distributed free to visitors at events like the New York Hobby & Collector’s Show. This unusual limited distribution method is why these subsets are referred to as “exhibit sets” today.
Exhibits, Inc. was a Chicago-based company that manufactured collectibles like tokens, medals, and other promotional items for events and shows. In 1948 they produced what is believed to be the first-ever set solely intended for distribution at trade shows and expositions rather than mass retail sale. The Exhibits set featured 50 total cards showing players from both the American and National Leagues.
Some key details about the Exhibits 1948 baseball exhibit set:
Card size is 2.125″ x 3.125″, slightly larger than modern baseball cards.
Black and white photos are used on a gray stock paper. Basic player stats are listed on the bottom.
No gum or candy included, as this was not a commercial product but rather a hobby show premium.
Players like Mel Ott, Hank Greenberg, and Enos Slaughter are some of the bigger names featured.
Production numbers were very low since these were niche premium items not mass produced packs. Estimates range from only 500-3,000 sets likely printed.
High grade specimens in near-mint to mint condition are exceedingly rare today due to the limited original print run and age. Even well-worn copies can be quite valuable.
The set established Exhibits as a pioneer in unique non-standard baseball card issues intended for trade shows rather than stores.
Also in 1948, Wrigley Gum produced their own Baseball Card Collectors Assortment, another 50 card exhibit set. Some notable differences versus the Exhibits issue:
The Wrigley cards used color photos on a thicker grayish cardboard stock.
Design features a red “Wrigley’s Baseball Card Collectors Assortment” banner across the top.
Production was likely on a slightly larger scale at 2,000 to 5,000 sets, but still an extremely low number for popularity and scarcity.
Includes superstars like Ted Williams, Stan Musial, and Joe DiMaggio, making complete high grade sets exceptionally valuable.
Wrigley had previously issued baseball cards but only within gum products. This was among their earliest non-gum inserted sets.
Both the Exhibits and Wrigley 1948 exhibit sets are key attractions for serious vintage baseball card collectors and exhibitors alike. Examples that grade high regularly sell for thousands due to their interesting limited origins.
While short-lived as merely a single-year novelty, the 1948 Exhibits and Wrigley exhibit baseball card sets laid important groundwork. They established the concept of specialized premium non-standard issues distributed at trade shows rather than markets. This helped shape the collecting hobby by appealing to a niche audience outside of mainstream retail customers. Their ultra-low print runs also guaranteed these early examples instant scarcity and long term appreciation. For these reasons, the 1948 baseball exhibit cards remain one of the most fascinating historical footnotes in the industry.
