1951 Bowman one of the most valuable and collectible sets

Number of Cards

The 1951 Bowman set included 324 cards featuring 19 Cubs players.

Size of Cards

These old cards measure 2-1/16" by 3-1/8."

Basic Features

The cards feature vibrant reproductions of actual photographs, with many of the designs being enlarged versions from the 1950 set. The card numbers ranging from 243 to 324 are particularly scarce due to their limited print runs. Among all the Bowman sets, the 1951 collection stands out as one of the most sought-after and valuable, primarily due to the presence of outstanding players rather than the design quality itself.

On the front of the cards, the player's name is displayed in white within a darkened box that is framed by a white border. The reverse side of the Bowman Baseball cards offers more detail, including a brief biography, essential statistics, and a prominent advertisement for "Baseball Picture Cards" at the bottom, along with the card number. The player's name is also highlighted in red, ensuring it catches the eye against the other text. The 1951 Bowman Baseball Cards were likely produced in seven series, with printing once again contracted to the Zabel Brothers Co., Inc., located at 5th and Columbia Avenues in Philadelphia. Card values are assessed based on their condition, with Near Mint (NM) cards appearing flawless at first glance, though a minor imperfection may be detected upon closer inspection. For cards that are well-centered, three of the four corners should be perfectly sharp, while any yellowing or fading can downgrade a card from mint to NM.

Chicago Cubs 1951 Bowman Checklist

Number		Player
22		Hank Sauer
44		Roy Smalley
69		Johnny Schmitz
70		Ron Northey
102		Dutch Leonard
103		Andy Pafko
138		Phil Cavarretta
139		Doyle Lade
174		Mickey Owen
175		Wayne Terwilliger
211		Hal Jeffcoat RC
212		Bob Rush
246		Bill Serena
247		Bob Ramazzotti RC
248		Johnny Klippstein RC
282		Frankie Frisch MG
283		Walt Dubiel RC
317		Smoky Burgess RC
318		Warren Hacker RC

The first series (1-36) came out about mid-April and contained olny one cub player

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The 2nd series (37-72) came out around the end of April

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The 3rd series (73-108) came out around the middle of May.

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The 4th series (109-180) came out at the end of May and contained 72 cards.

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The 5th series (181-216) came out mid June.

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The 6th series (217-252) came out at the end of June.

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The final 7th series (253-324) was the second and last 72 card issue series. It appears to have come out around the second or third week of July and is the high series which carries a premium.