Pre-War Cards

‘It’s In The Details’

Title	W462 Salutations Exhibits
Year	1939-46
Size	3 1/2″ x 5 5/16″
Images	Sepia
Type	Exhibit
Number in Set	65 (Base set without variations) / 89 (Master set)

Exhibit Salutations (W462) Overview

While most of the W462 Exhibits were printed after 1939, the date we deem as the end of the pre-war card era, this series was started in that year.

88 cards are in the set, but there are only 63 if you don’t count the variations. In addition to the player’s image (in sepia tone) and a replica of his signature on the front, these also included a short greeting, such as ‘Sincerely’ or ‘Best Wishes.’ Backs were entirely blank.

While the set is often referred to as the ‘Salutations’ set, the American Card Catalog does not specifically give it a name.

Numerous variations exist and in most cases, they are minor. One is that the “Made in USA” print is found in either the left or right corners on many of the cards. Other variations exist, too. One involves Andy Pafko (pictured) who has cards with both a blank cap and one with a ‘C’ on it.

Many of baseball’s biggest stars of the 1930s and 1940s are here, including Joe DiMaggio, Lou Gehrig, Ted Williams, Jimmie Foxx, Dizzy Dean, Bob Feller, Hank Greenberg, and more. Even beyond the biggest names, there are some other notables here, too. Hal Newhouser, another Hall of Famer, for example, has his rookie card in the set — and it’s one of the more affordable pre-war Hall of Fame rookie cards that can be bought.

83 Cards vs. 89 Cards … and Additional Variations

While 83 are sometimes cited in the set, there are actually at least 89 cards.

Tommy Holmes has three variations and only two are generally cited. Typically, Holmes’ “Yours Truly” and “Sincerely Yours” variations are the ones noted on checklists. But Holmes actually has two different “Yours Truly” cards. One has ‘An Exhibit Card’in the lower left corner and the other has “Made in U.S.A.” in the right corner.

Additionally, a small and large version of picture is known for Bob Feller’s pitching card. That discovery was only recently made on the Net54 site.

A slight variance is found on a few other known cards, too. Lou Boudreau, Ernie Lombardi, Ted Williams, and Rudy York all have photo issues with slightly different projections that are generally not checklisted as separate cards. In all, you get six more cards not previously known and more could be out there. Whether or not these are significant enough to be considered as true variations is up for interpretation.

In addition, even more variations are known. As these cards were printed in various years, you will find them with various tints. Some have a reddish tint while others are closer to (or purely) black and white. Others are sepia toned. The complete number in this set, with all of the photo variances, the text variances, and tint variances is truly unknown. For purposes of the checklist below, only the recognized variances, as well as the other slight photo variances I mentioned above, are listed.

Here’s a bit more on the variations in the set.

All of that said, exactly how many cards can considered to be in the set is up for debate. Some collectors do not consider these minor variations to be needed for a set. A basic set minus any variations and errors could consist of as few as 65 cards.

Exhibit Salutations (W462) Checklist

For purposes of the checklist below, only the recognized standard checklist, as well as the other slight photo variances I mentioned above, are listed.

1. Luke Appling (USA left)
2. Luke Appling (USA right)
3. Earl Averill
4. Red Barrett
5. Hank Borowy
6. Lou Boudreau
7. Lou Boudreau with slight photo variation
8. Dolph Camilli
9. Phil Cavarretta
10. Harland Clift
11. Tony Cuccinello
12. Dizzy Dean
13. Paul Derringer
14. Bill Dickey (USA left)
15. Bill Dickey (USA right)
16. Joe DiMaggio
17. Bob Elliott
18. Bob Feller (pitching – small picture)
19. Bob Feller (pitching – large picture)
20. Bob Feller (portrait)
21. Dave Ferris
22. Jimmie Foxx
23. Lou Gehrig
24. Charlie Gehringer
25. Lefty Gomez
26. Joe Gordon (Cleveland)
27. Joe Gordon (New York)
28. Hank Greenberg (Truly Yours)
29. Hank Greenberg (Very Truly Yours)
30. Lefty Grove
31. Gabby Hartnett
32. Buddy Hassett
33. Jeff Heath (large picture)
34. Jeff Heath (small picture)
35. Kirby Higbe
36. Tommy Holmes (Sincerely Yours)
37. Tommy Holmes (Yours Truly – with ‘An Exhibit Card’)
38. Tommy Holmes (Yours Truly – without ‘An Exhibit Card’)
39. Carl Hubbell
40. Bob Johnson
41. Charles Keller (USA left)
42. Charles Keller (USA right)
43. Ken Keltner
44. Chuck Klein
45. Mike Kreevich
46. Joe Kuhel
47. Bill Lee
48. Ernie Lombardi (Cordially)
49. Ernie Lombardi (Cordially Yours)
50. Ernie Lombardi (Cordially Yours with slight photo variation)
51. Marty Marion
52. Marty Marion (An Exhibit Card)
53. Merrill May
54. Frank McCormick (USA left)
55. Frank McCormick (USA right)
56. George McQuinn (USA left)
57. George McQuinn (USA right)
58. Joe Medwick
59. Johnny Mize (USA left)
60. Johnny Mize (USA right)
61. Hugh Mulcahy
62. Hal Newhouser
63. Buck Newsom
64. Buck Newson (misspelled)
65. Mel Ott (USA left)
66. Mel Ott (USA right)
67. Andy Pafko
68. Andy Pafko (with ‘C’ on cap)
69. Claude Passeau
70. Howard Pollet (USA left)
71. Howard Pollet (USA right)
72. Pete Reiser (USA left)
73. Pete Reiser (USA right)
74. Johnny Rizzo
75. Glenn Russell
76. George Stirnweiss
77. Cecil Travis
78. Paul Trout
79. Johnny Vander Meer
80. Arky Vaughan
81. Fred Walker
82. Fred Walker (‘D’ on cap)
83. Bucky Walters
84. Lon Warneke
85. Ted Williams
86. Ted Williams (with #9)
87. Ted Williams with slight photo variation
88. Rudy York
89. Rudy York with slight photo variation

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