1920 W520 Strip Card Set and Checklist

Posted on October 5, 2016 by Pre-War Cards

‘It’s In The Details’

Title	W520 Strip
Year	1920
Size	1 7/16″ x 2 3/8″
Images	Color
Type	Strip
Number in Set	20

W520 Strip Overview

The 1920 W520 strip card set includes 20 cards. Fronts include colored images as well as a card number and the player’s name. Backs of the cards are completely blank. Some of the cards have the player’s full name but others have only last names.

Approximately half of the set consists of portraits while the other half features full body action shots. As is the case with most strip issues, these cards are printed on a low-quality grade of card stock, making them susceptible to tears.

W520 Zack Wheat

W520 Stan Coveleski

Keys to the set include Babe Ruth and Christy Mathewson. Mathewson, it should be noted, last played in the majors in 1916 — several years before this set is believed to have been printed. The set is also virtually a mirror image of the W522 strip card set, using the same players and pictures.

Even though the set is small, it has a few interesting characteristics.

Several spelling errors exist and Hall of Famer Zack Wheat has two cards as does Mike Gonzales. Benny Kauff (spelled Kauf) and Stan Coveleski (spelled Kovaleski) cards also include typos.

One of Wheat’s two issues shows him looking like he is about to throw a pitch despite the fact that he was an outfielder. Interestingly enough, it could even be a bit of an error. The pose is eerily similar to that of Coveleski’s card (Stan was a pitcher).

These cards are somewhat rare and to date, PSA has not even graded 100 of them.