Portraits of Sportsmen - Spot The Winner

One of the beautiful things I love about pre-war cigarette cards is the artwork that went into many of them. Celebrities and Sportmen were depicted in a majestic portraits that were recognizable to the public.

 

The 1935 Godfrey Phillips Sportsmen tobacco series was one of the finest examples. A few weeks ago I picked up this DIXIE DEAN  card for my PC.

 

There were 2 variations in this set. Regular backs with a "Spot The Winner" contest. And then there were the up-side-down version ...

 

The error backs are more common as the corrections were printed in fewer quantitiy.

 There are a variety of contemporary star athletes in the series. Along with the footballers are boxers, jockeys, tennis players and cricketers. Each is featured in a full color pastelbackground portrait.

Adding this Dixie Dean increased my personal collection of the great goal scorer. Amazingly, this card can still be obtained for under $10 if you can find it.

Tribecards Colorblind Gift

Sometimes we just don't realize how good we have it - until we realize how good we have it. I was on the receiving end of a package from Dave over at TRIBECARDS.

I have been receiving lots of mail lately and most of it are through trades. I don't remember trading Dave or even contacting Dave, yet he sent me a package. Unusually, I tell people that they can send me Yankees or RED SOX cards. I don't ever remember asking for WHITE SOX cards.

But Dave chocked a package full of White Hosers and they were some very nice ones including these high lights:

6 Ozzie Guillens - with 1997 Stadium Club

10 Frank Thomas' - with 1995 Bowman's Best Chrome (see above)
4 Joe Credes - with Allen & Ginter

5 Charlie Houghs

8 Carlton Fisks - with tattoo decal (see above)

And surprisingly, for all the soccer cards I own (well over 10,000) I did not have this card of Scottish hero Duncan Ferguson. "Big Dunc's" career was hampered by jail time due to his temperament both on and off the playing field. This 1996 card with Everton FC was one of his best seasons.

In addition, there was some hockey stuff - highlight record card of "The Great One"

A ProSet Mark Messier - but wait ! - it is a French version which I did not have.

and a baby faced Mike Modano - who is now a grizzled veteran of the NHL seen here with the Minnesota North Stars - Franchise player indeed !

Many thanks to Tribecards for this kind gift - I intend to visit him at Indians Baseball Cards to send a personal thanks.