Just a quick update...

I haven't posted in several days now. I haven't abandoned the blog - I've just been too busy getting ready for Japan! I leave in 12 hours, and while I'm almost prepared, I won't be able to make new posts for at least a couple more days - maybe a week or more. I wanted to write a bunch of posts in anticipation of being away from internet, but I've been too busy with other projects. Meanwhile, thank you to all my readers and followers! I look forward to bringing you even more great cards. I'll probably change the template just a bit to better meet my desires with how I present each set.

 From California...

To Japan!

The Japan blog is live: Chaos and Kanji can be found at http://japanryan.blogspot.com!

1973-02 Book Promotional Cards

Set size: approximately 32

Distribution: Cards in this "set" were issued in conjunction with various baseball-related books.

Thoughts: While this is a "set" listed in the Beckett database, it's really a collection of separate releases. Occasionally, book manufacturers will issue a "baseball card" (or series of cards) to promote an upcoming or bestselling book. This example is for the 1989 book Out of the Blue, about pitcher Orel Hershiser. Occasionally, two different cards are issued for a book (Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig for 2002's Breaking the Slump), or even a dozen cards (Who was Harry Steinfeldt? and other baseball trivia). I'm not sure why Orel is wearing something other than Dodger Blue in this promo - especially given the title of the book - and I'm not familiar enough with his history to identify what team he might be representing. I was quite excited to find this card sitting in a dime box at a card show!

1921-23 National Caramel (E220)

It's been a busy New Year's weekend for me, so I haven't posted on the site in a while. Let's start 2012 with a great card from 90 years ago!

Set size: 120 cards; 2 x 3-1/4" size

Front Design: A black and white photo is in a black frame, with a white box at the bottom of the photo containing the player's name, position, and team.

Back Design: Black printing on the white card stock is identical on all cards, as seen to the right.

Parallels and Similars: This set is often confused with the American Caramel sets of the same time period. The design, photos, and text on the back are the same in most cases. However, this set is identifiable by the National Caramel Company text on the back.

Distribution: Cards would have been issued with caramel candies, just like American Caramel issues.

Thoughts: The design is plain but clean, with nice photographs on the front. With a fairly large set, children would have made dentists very busy trying to complete sets by eating candy. I'm sure the kids of the 1920s didn't mind. While I like the set, it doesn't stand out with any special design features. The photographs aren't special and the design itself is plain. Hopefully Topps keeps their hands off this set as a throwback Caramel issue wouldn't interest me one bit.