1933 Eclipse Import Set (R337)

Posted on October 5, 2016 by Pre-War Cards

‘It’s In The Details’

Title	R337 Eclipse Import
Year	1933
Size	2 1/2″ x 2 7/8″
Images	Color
Type	Candy/Gum
Number in Set	24

R337 Eclipse Import Overview

The 1933 R337 Eclipse Import set includes only 24 cards. Fronts include a color cartoon sketch and the player’s name and team. The backs had a short biography of the player on the card as well as a card number.

The cards are hand cut as they were initially included in strips of eight.

The overwhelming theme on the cards is a series of bright, unique colors. While the colors make the cards look a bit unique, they aren’t all that realistic. In the card shown here, for instance, the infield dirt is more of a burnt orange instead of an actual brown color. Same for the playing field, which looks just as much blue as it does green.

In short, this set is kind of a mess aesthetically and it also has other problems, including card numbering.

Card Numbering

Cards are numbered 401-424 for some reason, making it seem like it was part of a larger set. But the big issue is that, curiously, three cards are not numbered at all.

Three card numbers are also not known with a player so the unnumbered players are likely meant to be those cards. Those players are Jimmie Foxx, Roy Johnson, and Pie Traynor.

No. 403, 413, and 414 are the numbers that do not appear so those players correspond with those numbers. But it is impossible to try to figure out which players belong with which numbers.

Ugliest Card Ever?

Drawings were somewhat low quality compared to other issues and they even sort of resembled strip cards. Still, this remains a popular issue because of its rarity. Many of the cards are manageable but the Babe Ruth is downright hideous.

Ruth’s card, pictured here, is a sight to behold.

Ruth is pictured with a sloppily drawn ‘NY’ logo on his hat in a uniform that resembles something more similar to pajamas than an actual baseball uniform. The card doesn’t even make it apparent that the Babe has two legs and his frail hand is sort of the icing on the cake of what is a horribly drawn card.

Plus, if you want it, it doesn’t come cheap. Due to its rarity, Ruth’s card is generally over a grand.

Advertising Backs

Finally, another characteristic of this set is that a few of the cards are known to have advertising backs. Standard cards in the set had a card number, noted the set included 24 cards, and included the player’s name, team, and biography.

However an advertising back is also known. The content of the ad makes it seem like these were not intended for distribution.

These ads mentioned that eight cards were printed onto a strip and that 24 were included in the series. The ad continues, stating that the cards could be purchased by the Eclipse Import Corporation, located at 20 E. 17th Street in New York City. Finally, it gives the price (.70) per gross strips.

By offering the gross price, it’s clear that these were cards intended to get into the hands of stores and outlets that would be distributing the cards – not to collectors themselves. These cards occasionally pop up but are rare.

R337 Eclipse Import Checklist

Below is a full checklist of the set.

401. Johnny Vergez
402. Babe Ruth
403. Not identified
404. George Pipgras
405. Bill Terry
406. George Connally
407. Watson Clark
408. Lefty Grove
409. Henry Johnson
410. Jimmy Dykes
411. Heinie Schuble
412. Bucky Harris
413. Not identified
414. Not identified
415. Al Simmons
416. Heinie Manush
417. Glenn Myatt
418. Babe Herman
419. Frankie Frisch
420. Tony Lazzeri
421. Paul Waner
422. Jimmy Wilson
423. Charlie Grimm
424. Dick Bartell

Unnumbered players in the set include Jimmie Foxx, Roy Johnson, and Pie Traynor. They were likely supposed to be the players for card numbers 403, 413, and 414 but it is not known which each should be.