The 1939 Play Ball baseball card set is considered one of the most valuable vintage card issues in the hobby. Produced by the National Chicle Company as part of their Play Ball gum promotions, the 1939 set is historic as it was the first card series to feature all 16 major league teams from that season. Prior Play Ball issues from 1938 and earlier only featured a selection of teams.

The 1939 Play Ball set contains 126 cards in the regular issue. Each card features a colorful action photo of a notable player from that season on the front and stats on the back. Some key things that make the 1939s highly valuable include the fact they were only distributed regionally, so finding a fully complete set in high grade is extremely difficult.It was the last Play Ball issue before World War 2 gum rationing impacted baseball card production greatly.

One of the main chase cards of the set is the Hank Greenberg card. Greenberg, who played for the Detroit Tigers, was one of the premier power hitters of his era and is still considered one of the best Jewish players in baseball history. His 1939 Play Ball card is the true star of the set and high grade examples can sell for over $10,000 individually. Other star players with valuable cards include Ted Williams, Joe DiMaggio, and Bob Feller.

Some other factors that contributed to the scarcity and demand for the 1939 Play Ball cards include:

Limited Distribution: Play Ball cards were inserted randomly in packs of gum sold predominantly on the East Coast of the United States. Finding a complete set kept in high grade from limited distribution over 80 years ago is no easy feat.

World War 2 Impact: The outbreak of World War 2 in 1940 led to rationing of products like gum base, severely limiting baseball card production for the duration of the war. The 1939 issue was the last “high production” set before this occurred.

Poor Long Term Storage: Many early 20th century cards were not properly stored or taken care of long term compared to modern standards. This plus the effects of time have greatly reduced Survivor Populations grades of high grade.

Iconic Era Immortalized: The 1939 season captured legends like Williams, DiMaggio, Greenberg, and Feller during the prime of their careers. Collectors prize relics capturing the “Golden Age” of the game.

First to Feature All Teams: Being the initial Play Ball set to showcase every MLB franchise increased its historical value versus prior regional issues.

Iconic Design: The colorful action photography and retro look of the 1939 Play Ball card design remains a classic and fan favorite over 80 years later.

In the mid-1980s, the 1939 Play Ball set became a prime target for collectors as the postwar vintage boom took hold. With fewer than a dozen complete high grade sets believed left in existence, individual cards now sell for thousands based on condition and player. The total value of a completed near-mint 1939 Play Ball set today would easily top $100,000.

Grading and authenticity have become extremely important for 1939 Play Ball cards to guarantee value. Third-party authentication and grading services like PSA and SGC provide certification to differentiate restored or fake cards. Even low-grade examples still sell for hundreds due to their fleeting availability after decades of use and loss since initial distribution.

For dedicated baseball card collectors and historians, finding that elusive high-grade 1939 Play Ball Hank Greenberg or Ted Williams is the Holy Grail. As one of the earliest examples of the modern baseball card hobby, the historical and monetary value of this seemingly simple gum promotion from 1939 will likely continue appreciating for decades to come. The 1939 Play Ball set immortalized the Golden Age of baseball at its peak and remains a cornerstone of the collectibles industry eight decades later.

The 1940 Play Ball baseball card set is one of the most iconic issues from the early 20th century. Published by Play Ball, it featured cards on players from the American and National Leagues and has become highly collectible over the decades since its original release. Let’s take a deeper look at this seminal set.

Play Ball first began publishing baseball cards in 1933 and issued annual sets each year through 1941. Their 1940 set stands out due to featuring all teams from both major leagues for the only time. This marked the first time cards were produced on virtually every notable player active at the time. The set contains 198 total cards covering all 16 MLB teams from 1939.

In the 1940s, baseball cards were primarily seen as promotional materials to help market the sport to younger fans rather than serious collectibles. As such, they included more information and stats aimed at educating new followers of the game. Each Player Profile card in the 1940 Play Ball issue contained the player’s team, position, batting average, home runs and RBI from the previous season along with a black and white photo.

One of the unique aspects of these early 20th century cards was the differing image sizes used. For the 1940 Play Ball set, most cards featured larger headshots centered on a light gray background. Some players received smaller portrait photos with a white border around the edges. The photography quality was also inconsistent, with certain players having much sharper printed pictures compared to others. This reflects the less polished production standards of baseball cards during the pre-war era.

The 1940 Play Ball issues stands apart from other vintage card sets of the time period due to its massive player selection. Some notable names featured include Hank Greenberg, Bob Feller, Joe DiMaggio, Ted Williams, Stan Musial, and Enos Slaughter. Rarer short prints also exist of players like Eddie Matthews and Warren Spahn. The set was also one of the earliest to include Latino baseball pioneers like Martin Dihigo and Minnie Miñoso, helping expand baseball’s growing popularity with communities of color.

Perhaps most valuable of all the cards today is the #1 Hank Greenberg issue, considered the key card of the entire 1940 Play Ball set. In gem mint condition, a single Greenberg card can sell for well over $10,000 due to his iconic status and the card’s impressive state of preservation across eight decades. Other highly valuable commons include Ted Williams, Bob Feller, and Joe DiMaggio. Even mid-range stars from the era in top grades can fetch prices in the hundreds to low thousands.

After its initial release in 1940, the Play Ball set began gaining notoriety among collectors in the 1960s when the vintage baseball card hobby started to emerge. Its large collection of legendary players all in one set helped drive interest. Finding intact decades-old examples in top condition remains extremely challenging. The fragile paper stock and early printing processes took their toll over the decades prior to the rise of professional grading. As a result, truly pristine 1940 Play Ball cards graded gem mint are among the most exclusive trophies for serious vintage collectors.

While production values may not have matched later golden era issues, the 1940 Play Ball cards hold a special place in baseball and collecting history. They captured virtually all the giants of America’s pastime during a seminal period before World War 2 disrupted the national scene. Researchers also rely on the set today as a snapshot into the final year before many greats’ careers were postponed or influenced by enlisting in wartime service. After eight decades, this groundbreaking vintage issue continues captivating collectors with its expansive selection and prominent documentation of an iconic MLB season.