Calvin Coolidge “Cal” Koonce was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the St. Louis Cardinals, Cincinnati Reds, and Philadelphia Phillies between 1948 and 1957. As a player who spent parts of 10 seasons in the majors, Koonce appeared on several baseball cards over his career. Let’s take an in-depth look at some of the most notable and collectible Cal Koonce baseball cards that were produced during his playing days in the 1940s and 1950s.
One of the earliest and most sought after Cal Koonce baseball cards is his 1948 Bowman Gum card. Issued as part of Bowman’s colorful and innovative set that year, the Koonce card carries a photo of him in a Cardinals uniform from his rookie season. The 1948 Bowman set is highly collectible today with Koonce’s rookie card being a key piece for any serious Cardinals or vintage baseball card collector. In high grade, mint condition examples of Koonce’s 1948 Bowman card can fetch hundreds of dollars due to its significance as one of the first cards featuring the young pitcher.
Koonce also appeared in the 1948 Leaf Trading Card Company set that same year. Like the 1948 Bowman issue, the Leaf card uses a photo of Cal in a St. Louis Cardinals uniform. The Leaf design and production values are not quite as vibrant or visually appealing as the Bowman release. Still, it’s an important early Koonce card that provides another key data point from his rookie season in the majors. In top condition, the 1948 Leaf Koonce card holds value but is not in the same collecting tier as the contemporary Bowman issue from the same year.
In 1950, Cal Koonce moved from the Cardinals to the Cincinnati Reds via the minor league draft. This change in teams was reflected on his baseball cards starting that year. Both the 1950 Bowman and 1950 Leaf sets included new Koonce cards showing him photographed in a Reds uniform. While not quite rookie cards, these 1950 Reds Koonce issues from Bowman and Leaf remain highly collectible pieces for any Koonce or Reds-centric baseball card collection due to their visual documentation of his playing days in Cincinnati. High grade examples in near-mint to mint condition can still demand over $100 on the current market.
Koonce’s best and most productive major league seasons came during his years with the Reds from 1950 to 1953. This period is well represented in his baseball card portfolio. In addition to the 1950 Bowman and Leaf cards already mentioned, Koonce also appeared in the 1951 and 1952 Bowman sets showing continuity in his Reds tenure. The 1951 and 1952 Bowman Koonce cards can be acquired for $20-50 each depending on condition. He also had a card in the colorful and decorative 1951 Red Man Tobacco issue that carries photos of Reds players. This Koonce card tends to trade hands for $75-150 based on condition.
After being released by the Reds in 1953, Cal Koonce spent his final MLB seasons splitting time between the Phillies and Cardinals from 1954 to 1957. He appeared in his last baseball card sets during this later phase of his career. Koonce garnered a card in the 1954 Bowman set showing him as a member of the Phillies. High grade examples of this late-career Koonce card can reach $50-100. He also made his final card appearance in the 1957 Topps set, which memorialized his last major league action back with the Cardinals that year. The 1957 Topps Koonce remains obtainable for $10-30 depending on condition.
In summary, Cal Koonce had a playing career spanning parts of 10 seasons that was well documented through the baseball cards produced during his time in the majors from 1948 to 1957. His rookie and early career St. Louis Cardinals issues from 1948 Bowman and 1948 Leaf are particularly desirable. His most substantial run of success came during his Reds tenure, for which he has several attractive and collectible cards from 1950 to 1952 Bowman and 1951 Red Man. Later Phillies and Cardinals cards also exist capping his career. High quality examples of Koonce’s complete baseball card portfolio offer historians a visual chronicle of this 1940s/1950s pitcher and remain key pieces for serious vintage card collectors and team enthusiasts.
