Pacific Coast League

A Complete 1943-1947 Centennial Flour Seattle Rainiers Collection

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In 2005, Sotheby’s offered a collection of some of the scarcest Pacific Coast League cards in their “Important Sports Memorabilia and Cards” auction. The lot included 136 cards, plus a few original mailing envelopes, of the four Centennial Flour’s Seattle Rainiers sets issued between 1943 and 1947.

Here’s the lot’s description:

Produced by Centennial Flouring Mills this scarce regional consists of four sets of unnumbered cards featuring only players from the Seattle Rainiers. Includes the following: 1943-Complete Set of 25 mostly NM, 1944 Complete Set of 25 mostly NM/NM+ with original mailing envelope, 1945 Complete Blue Tint Set of 27 all but a couple NM, 1945 Complete Black & White Set of 27 EX-MT to NM but for 1/3 having a water stain in the corner (includes original mailing envelope), 1947 Complete Set of 32 mostly NM/NM+ (includes original mailing envelope).

I hadn’t even been tracking that the 1945 set had both black & white and blue tint variations.

Here’s how you can tell each of the sets apart.

  • The 1943 cards are 4” x 5”. The bottom of the card backs read “Compliments of / CENTENNIAL FLOURING MILLS.”
  • The 1944s say, “Compliments of / CENTENNIAL HOTCAKE AND WAFFLE FLOUR.” on the back.
  • The 1945s are slightly narrow but longer than the two previous releases. They have a borderless photo on the front and the name and team printed in a black bar at the bottom.
  • The 1947s share the exact dimensions of the ’45s but have a white-framed box with the player’s bio on the back.

Heritage sold a collection of all five of these complete sets (both 1945 variations) in April 2010 for $3,107.

1933-36 Zeenut Pacific Coast League Joe DiMaggio

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Here’s a card I only recently learned about, a 1933-36 Zeenut Pacific Coast League B&W Joe DiMaggio “Minor League” card.

I put “Minor League” in parenthesis because, while the PCL was a minor league, the play was nothing but.

Anywho, I learned about this card after I saw it in a June 2005 catalog. It was a Mastro Classic Collectors Auction, so it didn’t include a description in the catalog. However, PSA has this synopsis on their site:

Produced between 1933 and 1936 by the San Francisco-based Zeenuts Company, this set consists of 166 cards, each approximately 1-3/4” by 3-1/2”. Card fronts bear clear, borderless images of its subject with a right text box boldly identifying (in white-on-black type) the league, player, and team. Card backs are blank. These cardboard classics were originally issued with coupons at the bottom meant to be cut and redeemed for items. The images remained unchanged during the production run, with the expiration dates on the coupons the only way to distinguish their issue year. This set is anchored by two appearances from Joe DiMaggio during his early career with the San Francisco Seals. Card #108 pictures him throwing and card #109 shows him batting. The set is also highlighted by Jimmie Reese (#10) and Vince DiMaggio (#100). Cards that have retained their coupons through the years are highly coveted artifacts. 

Obviously, the pictured card above is a DiMaggio (misspelled DeMaggio on the card) throwing variation without the coupon. Here’s a graded example that includes the coupon. Goldin sold it for $51,660 in May 2021.

Each variation is relatively low-pop. PSA has only slabbed 12 DiMaggio Batting copies, plus three more with coupons, and 17 examples of him throwing, plus five more with coupons.

Update 27 October 2024: On 26 October 2024, Heritage Auctions sold the lone authenticated, signed copy of the throwing variation for $37,200.

The hobby has so much breadth and depth!

1938 Signal Oil Oakland Oaks Stamps Set and Album

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Only a few complete 24-stamp sets of 1938 Signal Oil Oakland Oaks Stamps are known to the hobby, including this one, which was auctioned off in December 2005.

The 24 Pacific Coast League player stamps in this lot were each mounted in their original album.

The collection’s album has a big scuff on the left side, but the stamps were described as in excellent to near-mint condition.