1923 Fleer W515 Set and Checklist
‘It’s In The Details’
Title | W515 Fleer |
Year | 1923 |
Size | 1 5/8″ x 2 1/2″ |
Images | Color |
Type | Strip |
Number in Set |
70 (?) |
1923 Fleer W515 Strip Card Overview
Two separate sets make up the W515 strip card series. Both have a similar look and design with colored pictures on the fronts and blank backs. Both also utilize the same checklist. the second of the two sets (W515-2) is slightly larger than its counterpart.
However, the most intriguing W515 cards are actually Fleer’s first baseball cards. The Fleer company that grew to prominence in the 1980s got its early start way back in 1923. Fleer used the same cards as the W515 issue, only placing an ad for their company on the back to distinguish them.
The cards, it should be pointed out, are not easy to find. They are pretty rare and not seen too often, only occasionally popping up for sale a auction houses.
A total of 60 baseball players are included the set and the rest of the 120-card issue is made up of other famous personalities. However, it is not known if all cards were printed with the Fleer advertising as only some of the cards are known with that back. Adding to the difficult in a potential set is that there are two Babe Ruth strip cards in the main W515 set.
Fleer distributed these cards with their Bobs and Fruit Hearts packages. Not much is known about that product today. Additionally, the backs of the cards state as such:
“Every five-cent package of Fleer’s Bobs and Fruit Hearts contains a picture of a famous person. Get the complete set of 120 – Frank H. Fleer Corporation, Philadelphia.
Most strip cards, by design, are not very attractive. The W515 set, though, tests the limits by fans and is one of the least artful issues among W-Cards. Still, because Fleer was involved with these makes it an interesting set.
Here’s a little more on the first Fleer set and the origins of Fleer.
1923 Fleer W515 Strip Card Checklist
This checklist currently represents only baseball players in the set.
Also note that it is assumed these cards can be found with a Fleer back. However, not all such cards have been discovered to date.
Baseball
- Bill Cunningham
- Al Mamaux
- Babe Ruth
- Dave Bancroft
- Ed Rommell
- Babe Adams
- Clarence Walker
- Waite Hoyt
- Bob Shawkey
- Ty Cobb
- George Sisler
- Jack Bentley
- Jim O’Connell
- Frankie Frisch
- Frank Baker
- Burleigh Grimes
- Wally Schang
- Harry Heilmann
- Aaron Ward
- Carl Mays
- Bob/Emil Meusel
- Art Nehf
- Lee Meadows
- Casey Stengel
- Jack Scott
- Kenneth Williams
- Joe Bush
- Tris Speaker
- Ross Youngs
- Joe Dugan
- Barnes Brothers
- George Kelly
- Hugh McQuillan
- Hughie Jennings
- Tom Griffith
- Miller Huggings
- Whitey Witt
- Walter Johnson
- Wally Pipp
- Dutch Reuther
- Jim Johnston
- Willie Kamm
- Sam Jones
- Frank Snyder
- John McGraw
- Everett Scott
- Babe Ruth
- Urban Shocker
- Grover Alexander
- Rabbit Maranville
- Ray Schalk
- Heinie Groh
- Wilbert Robinson
- George Burns
- Rogers Hornsby
- Zack Wheat
- Edd Roush
- Eddie Collins
- Charlie Hollocher
- Red Faber
Boxing
- Jack Dempsey
- Battling Siki
- Harry Wills
- Georges Carpentier
- Floyd Johnson
- Lew Tendler
- Luis Firpo
- Benny Leonard
- Tommy Gibbons
- Harry Greb
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