Lot # 7: Extremely Rare 1948 Leaf Baseball 5-Cent SP Wax Pack w/6 Cards from the Highly Coveted “Short PRINT” Series (GAI NM/MT 8) – Possible HOF Short Prints incl. Satchel Paige, Bob Feller, Hal Newhouser, George Kell, Enos Slaughter & Larry Doby

Category: Unopened Material

Starting Bid: $10,000.00

Bids: 22 (Bid History)

Time Left: Auction closed
Lot / Auction Closed




This lot is closed. Bidding is not allowed.

Item was in Auction "Spring 2021 Rarities Auction",
which ran from 2/27/2021 10:00 AM to
3/20/2021 7:00 PM




(LOT 7)
Extremely Rare 1948 Leaf Baseball 5-Cent SP Wax Pack w/6 Cards from the Highly Coveted "Short PRINT" Series (GAI NM/MT 8) – Possible HOF Short Prints incl. Satchel Paige, Bob Feller, Hal Newhouser, George Kell, Enos Slaughter & Larry Doby

In 1948, with America now three years removed from a momentous World War, the Chicago. IL. based Leaf Gum Co. released their landmark 98-card set (101 cards including 3 variations) with each card measuring approximately 2-3/8" by 2-7/8". Colorful images graced the obverse side while the flipsides included vital player statistics and brief "bio's" affixed on a light gray surface. This was an exciting time for America's youth, especially considering that aside from the rather "drab" 1948 Bowman black & white set released in the same year, aspiring young baseball fans had not been offered the opportunity for quite some time to storm their local candy stores to purchase baseball card packs in search of capturing their diamond heroes.

Aside from the '48 Bowman gathering, the country's focus on WWII had literally put the "clamps" on gum companies releasing any mainstream baseball card sets, and while President Roosevelt advocated for our National pastime to continue playing games throughout the war, finding related cardboard subjects became an excruciating endeavor. It is therefore no secret that the emergence of the 1948 Leaf set sparked an unparalleled enthusiasm for America's young fan base, with the Leaf Co. releasing a 168-card checklist including many of the game's prominent stars such as Jackie Robinson and Stan Musial rookies, "Joltin Joe" DiMaggio, Ted Williams and retired Hall of Fame immortals Babe Ruth and Honus Wagner. While the checklist's final card was #168, as previously mentioned, only 98 basic subjects appeared in the set due to the gum company utilizing a "skip-numbering" methodology for their inaugural compilation. Of special interest is the undisputed scarcity of 49 "Short Print" subjects, with these seldom surfacing keepsakes highly coveted by the collecting community.

That said, presented here just happens to be one of the most extraordinary unopened baseball wax packs on the planet, and actual 1948 Leaf Gum Co. SHORT PRINT SERIES pack encapsulated in a Global Authentication Inc. (GAI) NM/MT 8 holder! Indeed, this miraculous wax pack contains SIX 1948 Leaf "Short Print" baseball cards, with the possibility of the pack including the following Short Print Hall of Famers: (8) Satchel Paige/Rookie); (93) Bob Feller; (98) Hal Newhouser/Rookie; (120) George Kell/Rookie; (127) Enos Slaughter and the inaugural American League African-American ballplayer Larry Doby (138/Rookie). As hobbyists surely realize, most significant is the possibility of the pack including the iconic #8 Satchel Paige that resides as one of the most desirable and valuable Hall of Fame rookie cards extant. Of special note is that this particular pack was submitted to GAI for grading at the highly noted 2003 Hollywood Park show where it was graded in the presence of prominent pack expert Paul Wright.

It's critical "Short Print Series" designation was concluded based on the fact that Mr. Wright and GAI were able to identify a short print card situated at the bottom of the pack. The visual appeal obviously merits the extremely high "NM/MT 8" assessment, the classic red & blue hued "ALL STAR BASEBALL BUBBLE GUM" text and random stars have retained virtually all of their original vibrant color and the verso's factory seal is completely intact. It should also be noted that the GAI "flip" clearly states this is a 1948 Leaf Baseball 5-Cent "Short Print Series" pack that includes 6 subjects. A captivating museum worthy masterpiece, its undisputed rarity cannot be overemphasized for it may be quite some time before another "short print" unopened pack containing six 1948 Leaf Gum cards including a possible Satchel Paige surfaces for the taking!

For the convenience of our bidders, the following list includes the 49 "Short Prints" existing on the 1948 Leaf Baseball Card Checklist with all Hall of Famers and rookie cards noted:

(5) Virgil Trucks/R; (8) Satchel Paige/HOF/R; (13) Casimer Michaels; (19) John Wyrostek; (20) Hank Sauer/R; (30) Billy Goodman/R; (33) Harry Lowrey; (36) Al Zarilla; (43) Eddie Stevens; (45) Ken Keltner; (48) Johnny Schmitz; (51) Alvin Dark/R; (54) Bobby Adams; (55) Tommy Henrich; (62) Eddie Joost; (63) Barney McCosky; (66) Orval Grove; (68) Ed Miller; (75) Dom DiMaggio; (78) Walter Evans; (81) George Kurowski; (85) Dave Philley/R; (88) Frank Gustine; (93) Bob Feller/HOF; (98) Hal Newhouser/HOF/R; (104) Edward Stewart; (108) Matthew Batts; (113) Emil Leonard; (120) George Kell/HOF/R; (121) Johnny Pesky/R; (123) Clifford Fannin; (127) Enos Slaughter/HOF; (129) Kirby Higbe; (131) Sid Gordon; (133) Tommy Holmes; (137) Harry Walker; (138) Larry Doby/HOF/R; (142) Danny Murtaugh/R; (143) Dick Sisler; (144) Bob Dillinger; (146) Pete Reiser (149) Henry Majeski; (153) Floyd Baker; (158) Harry Brecheen/R; (160) Bob Scheffing; (161) Vern Stephens/R; (163) Fred Hutchinson/R; (165) Dale Mitchell/R; ; (168) Phil Cavaretta

(*) It should be noted that Steve Hart, the hobby's foremost authenticator of unopened wax (packs & boxes), has extensively reviewed this '48 Leaf Short-Print wax pack and confirmed its un-opened status.

MIN BID $10,000
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