1888 WG1 Base Ball Playing Cards Set and Checklist

Posted on October 5, 2016 by Pre-War Cards

‘It’s In The Details’

Title	WG1 Base Ball Playing Cards
Year	1888
Size	2 1/2″ x 3 1/2″
Images	Color
Type	Game Cards
Number in Set	72

1888 WG1 Base Ball Playing Cards Overview

WG1 Galvin.jpg The WG1 Base Ball playing card set is the oldest catalogued gaming card designated as a WG set in the American Card Catalog.

At 72 cards, it is a little bigger than the typical gaming card issue in terms of quantity. And because the cards feature actual players, they are more desirable than most others.

The cards feature color images of players as well as their name and position. Backs of the cards have a typical playing card design printed in blue ink. Numerous big names are included in the set, such as Cap Anson and King Kelly. The players’ names are in small font compared to their team and position at the top and bottom, respectively. Backs have a decorative blue background.

The set is interesting in that it uses virtually the same pose/design for all players of the same position. All right fielders, for instance, are depicted with their left hand on their hip and leaning over slightly. Uniform combinations change between player as do some other minor characteristics, such as facial hair. But in general, the poses for each position remain the same throughout the set.

A Unique Code

The strangest characteristic of the cards, no doubt, are the codes at the top.

These do not have traditional suits and numbers like regular playing cards. Instead, they utilize a bit of a more cryptic code.

In the upper left hand corner, the player’s team name initial is printed (i.e. C for Chicago). Notably, two team names began with a P — Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. Philadelphia cards simply have a ‘P’ while Pittsburgh has a ‘PG.’ Teams represented were Boston, Chicago, Detroit, Indianapolis, New York, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Washington.

Numbers on the cards were represented by position as designated below: