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In 1951 after a 10 year absence
in issuing baseball cards, the General
Mills Corporation was planning on
issuing baseball cards once again. A
set of 8 (baseball) Photographic cards
measuring 5" x 7" were test marketed
and issued in 1951 as a "test issue"
set, in a sample market to determine
public popularity. However, after only
a few weeks in production, the set was
pulled from the market because General
Mills was not able to come to terms
with two of its players, Cleveland
Indians outfielder Al Rosen and a brash
young 20-year old rookie from the New
York Yankees named Mickey Mantle.
General Mills
were able to secure agreements with
Stan Musial, Roy Campanella, Bob
Feller, Bob Lemon, Yogi Berra,
Richie Ashburn and would go on to use
those exact portrait photos from the 1951
test
issue for the set released in 1952.
General Mills issued a set of 60 hand
cut trading cards of 30 athletes on the
backs of Wheaties cereal boxes. Each
athlete
was produced in both portrait and action
drawings. Ten baseball players were
featured on 20 cards, that measured 2" x
3-3/4," had a blue-line drawing, with
a Wheaties-orange background and a white
border. The players name team and
position at the bottom.
The checklist for these blank back
unnumbered baseball cards are in
alphabetical order by the players last
name. The two cards issued for each
player is indicated by A - Action card,
and P - Portrait card.
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1952 Wheaties Baseball
Card Checklist |
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A- Action Card
P- Portrait Card |
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