1909 Fan-Ball Baseball Game Cards Set and Checklist

Posted on September 7, 2016 by Pre-War Cards

‘It’s In The Details’

Title	Fan-Ball Baseball Game Cards
Year	1909
Size	2 1/2″ x 3 1/2″
Images	Color and Black and White
Type	Game Cards
Number in Set	100

1909 Fan-Ball BaseBall Game Cards Overview

1909 Fan Ball Game.jpg One of the rarer 20th Century baseball games that included cards is certainly the 1909 Fan-Ball Base Ball Game. The overall game included a deck of playing cards, instructions, a felt baseball field, and assorted game pieces.

The playing cards are what would be of interest to most collectors. One side has action words printed on it to dictate game play. The other side has the Fan-Ball Game logo printed in blue ink.

While most cards simply have the action words with no images, a few feature some basic pictures, such as a baseball bat to accompany the words.

The Fan-Ball Company was based out of Indianapolis, Indiana. The box contained the cards was blue with gold ink printing. The box’s exterior stated that the game was, “A perfect representation of the great national game.”

The game strove to cover all conditions for a true game. In fact, there is a card that, when played, would end the game on the basis of poor weather. The card was to be disregarded unless it was agreed upon in the beginning of the game by the players that play would end if the card was played.

The price was a little higher than other similar games of the era. While many could be purchased for pocket change, this one was priced at a dollar.

Advertising

Like most games did, Fan-Ball relied on advertising to help spread the word about its product.

One says ‘Fan-Ball is Baseball and plays out the scenario of Ty Cobb and Donie Bush being on base with Hall of Famer Sam Crawford at bat, and wonders how the situation will turn out. In the game, the Tigers are playing the Pittsburgh Pirates, which makes sense as it was those two teams that met in the 1909 World Series.