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

1923 Fleer Back.jpg

w515-1

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

  1. Bill Cunningham
  2. Al Mamaux
  3. Babe Ruth
  4. Dave Bancroft
  5. Ed Rommell
  6. Babe Adams
  7. Clarence Walker
  8. Waite Hoyt
  9. Bob Shawkey
  10. Ty Cobb
  11. George Sisler
  12. Jack Bentley
  13. Jim O’Connell
  14. Frankie Frisch
  15. Frank Baker
  16. Burleigh Grimes
  17. Wally Schang
  18. Harry Heilmann
  19. Aaron Ward
  20. Carl Mays
  21. Bob/Emil Meusel
  22. Art Nehf
  23. Lee Meadows
  24. Casey Stengel
  25. Jack Scott
  26. Kenneth Williams
  27. Joe Bush
  28. Tris Speaker
  29. Ross Youngs
  30. Joe Dugan
  31. Barnes Brothers
  32. George Kelly
  33. Hugh McQuillan
  34. Hughie Jennings
  35. Tom Griffith
  36. Miller Huggings
  37. Whitey Witt
  38. Walter Johnson
  39. Wally Pipp
  40. Dutch Reuther
  41. Jim Johnston
  42. Willie Kamm
  43. Sam Jones
  44. Frank Snyder
  45. John McGraw
  46. Everett Scott
  47. Babe Ruth
  48. Urban Shocker
  49. Grover Alexander
  50. Rabbit Maranville
  51. Ray Schalk
  52. Heinie Groh
  53. Wilbert Robinson
  54. George Burns
  55. Rogers Hornsby
  56. Zack Wheat
  57. Edd Roush
  58. Eddie Collins
  59. Charlie Hollocher
  60. Red Faber

Boxing

  1. Jack Dempsey
  2. Battling Siki
  3. Harry Wills
  4. Georges Carpentier
  5. Floyd Johnson
  6. Lew Tendler
  7. Luis Firpo
  8. Benny Leonard
  9. Tommy Gibbons
  10. Harry Greb

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