The 1951 Leaf brand baseball card set, known by the designation W551 in the industry, is one of the holy grails for collectors of vintage baseball cards. Issued between 1951-1952, these cards represent an important transitional era for the baseball card collecting hobby. While production and distribution of cards had declined greatly during World War II, the early 1950s saw things starting to ramp back up. The W551 is remembered today as one of the rare early post-war sets that helped reignite interest in baseball cards.
History and Production
In the late 1940s and early 1950s, the baseball card market was still recovering from the reductions that took place during World War II. Many companies like Bowman, Goudey, and Play Ball that produced cards previously had ceased operations. The Leaf Candy Company sensed an opportunity and began issuing baseball cards once again in 1951. The W551 set was produced using the same photo backup technology that companies like Bowman and Play Ball had utilized before the war. This involved applying lithographed images onto a thin paper stock that was then gummed and packaged with stick candy or chewing gum.
It’s estimated that around 75 million Leaf baseball cards from this era were printed in total, though the precise number for the 1951 set alone is unknown. The cards featured player photos on the front with colorful team logo designs on the backs. A notable feature was the inclusion of rookie cards for future Hall of Famers like Willie Mays, Roberto Clemente, and Billy Pierce amongst the 117 total players depicted. Distribution was primarily done by selling packs of cards inside Leaf Candy products across the United States and Canada. This helped the company regain a foothold in the baseball card market as other manufacturers were still absent.
Grading and Condition Issues
Because W551 cards were mass produced on a thin paper stock and given away as promotional items inside candy over 70 years ago, finding high grade specimens in collectible condition is extremely difficult today. The fragile cardboard tends to show edge wear, corners that are no longer sharp, and center creases or folds from years of being carried around in pockets as a kid. As a result, most W551s that come up for sale today grade somewhere between Poor and Very Good on the industry-standard 1-10 scale. Grades above EX-MT/MT are quite rare, and gem mint examples above a 9 are virtually unobtainable.
Another challenge is that the thin paper is prone to oxidation and color fading over decades of storage. Bold red team logos on the backs can often appear washed out. The fronts may take on a slightly faded, dull patina compared to the sharp original colors. Collectors still prize examples that retain above average color and crisp detail, showing minimal signs of handling. While finding a true near-mint W551 card may be close to impossible, ones that grade from about VG-EX can still possess plenty of eye appeal for set builders and investors.
Valuable Rookies and Stars
Of course, the biggest stars and rookie cards carry premium values even in worn condition compared to commons from the set. Three future Hall of Famers with their first MLB card appearances in this set command top dollar – Willie Mays (San Francisco Giants), Roberto Clemente (Pittsburgh Pirates), and Billy Pierce (Chicago White Sox). In top grades of EX-MT, these can fetch thousands of dollars individually or significantly more if they possess desirable autographs or serial numbers. Other notable rookies like Mickey Mantle also remain keenly sought after and trade hands for high prices relative to the era.
Beyond the rookies, stars of the day like Ted Williams, Mickey Vernon, Red Schoendienst, and Roy Campanella are valued pieces as well depending on the team and condition. Collectors enjoy accumulating team and player sets to showcase the greatest players at that time. Meanwhile, the less prominent commons can still have interest due to their historical significance from the early post-war period in baseball cards. Even worn examples provide an affordable connection to this transitional leaf brand issue.
Grading Populations and long term Appreciation
Professional grading services like PSA and SGC have firmly established population reports for W551 cards just like other sports and non-sports issues they handle. This provides collectors and investors important reference points regarding the surviving population percentages across different grades. For example, a PSA 8 Willie Mays 1951 Leaf has a population of just 23 copies, whereas a gem mint PSA 10 Example quite literally may not exist in the census records. Understanding rarity levels helps assess current valuations and long term potential.
While finding exceptionally high graded W551s will remain a challenge, demand for this early post-war issue shows no signs of slowing down. As the hobby expands globally with new generations, iconic vintage sets like this continue attracting strong prices. Examples that can bring a glimpse of history through their vivid colors and captured likenesses become prized holdings. Even in worn conditions, W551 cards hold intrinsic value for any collection and represent an attainable connection to the early pioneering era of modern baseball cards. Their legacy is cemented amongst the most elite issues for knowledgeable vintage collectors worldwide.