(LOT 419)
Ultra-Scarce 1950 Bowman Baseball 5-Cent Wax Pack w/5 Cards GAI NM/MT 8) – 26 Possible HOF Subjects incl. Jackie Robinson, Ted Williams, Roy Campanella, Bob Feller Casey Stengel and Yogi Berra!
In 1948, the prestigious Bowman Gum Company ended a serious drought of mainstream sport cards sets when they issued their inaugural black & white baseball, football and basketball card gatherings, that along with the Leaf Gum Co., resided as the first post-WWII major sport card sets distributed by any manufacturer. This renowned Philadelphia, Pennsylvania based distributor continued their newfound success by portraying extremely colorful poses of America's most popular players within their next several issues, with the 1950 Bowman set including a whopping 252 subjects that were extremely popular due to their imposing hues. Indeed, a plethora of spellbound kids would flood their local "mom & pop" candy stores after scratching up their meager pennies, nickels and dimes in an effort to purchase at least one of the 5-cent wax packs that housed these 2-1/16 x 2-1/2" thin-white bordered cardboard treats.

Of course, the popular stick of bubble gum was equally important for these eager young boys who would enjoy blowing bubbles as much as shuffling through the pack's 5 baseball card contents in an earnest search of their diamond heroes. A staggering 26 Hall of Famers were included in the 1950 Bowman set, with its most legendary Cooperstown Inductees being Jackie Robinson, Ted Williams, Yogi Berra, Bob Feller, Warren Spahn, Pee Wee Reese, Duke Snider, Phil Rizzuto Larry Doby (A.L's inaugural African-American ballplayer), Roy Campanella, Casey Stengel, and an additional fifteen players forever enshrined in Cooperstown, New York. Interestingly enough, the scarcer cards just happen to be included within the first 72 subjects (that include 15 or 58% of the total HOFs), an atypical scenario since most baseball card issue's more obscure subjects were incorporated in the high-numbered series. Now 5 years separated from a horrific World War, America's illustrious National Pastime was now entering a new decade of promise, and baseball continued to serve as a "beacon of light" for all of its captivated fans, justifying why the Bowman Gum Company achieved monumental success from their popular Gum Card issues.

Obviously, a majority of these 1950 Bowman Baseball wax packs no longer exist since a myriad of America's youth removed their contents during that 1950 baseball campaign. Yet, as is the case for three other world class pre-1950 wax pack offerings in this auction, presented here is a miraculous 1950 Bowman Gum Co. Baseball card unopened pack, with its contents including 5 baseball card subjects and the aforementioned bubble gum stick. Assessed a spectacular 'NM/MT 8" by the renowned Global Authentication Inc. (GAI) wax pack grading company, the critical GAI silver flip includes the following pertinent information: "AUTHENTIC – UNOPENED; 1950 Bowman Baseball; WAX PACK 5 CENT; NM-MT 8". Of significant note is the label's flipside that mentions this revered wax pack was part of Alan "Mr. Mint" Rosen's historic Dearborn, MI. Million Dollar Vintage Unopened Pack Find.

The imperative wax wrapper reveals most of its original factory issued impeccable attributes including a riveting array of red and blue hues for the following obverse side multiple captions: "BUBBLE GUM – 5 PICTURE CARDS INSIDE – BASEBALL". Additionally, there are two super neat line drawings, one of which depicting a catcher about to receive a thrown baseball, with the second imposing image portraying a right-handed twirler releasing his pitch. Equally noteworthy is the wax pack's verso that exhibits secure factory issued glued seals, an ultra-critical feature that unquestionably authenticates this offering as a bona-fide unopened wax pack. Truly residing as one of the foremost unopened wax packs extant, its enclosed cardboard treasures could possibly include some of the most renowned players who ever graced a diamond; spearheaded by the iconic Jackie Robinson and baseball's arguable greatest all-time hitter Ted "The Kid" Williams. Its time-defying existence will ultimately lead to an extremely privileged new owner who, similar to most elite wax pack enthusiasts, will most likely cherish it in its current unopened state!

(*) It should be noted that Steve Hart, the hobby's foremost authenticator of unopened wax (packs & boxes), has extensively reviewed this '50 Bowman Baseball 5-Cent wax pack and confirmed its un-opened status.

MIN BID $5,000
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