A Cracker Jack set I can afford
Stone193
Posts: 24,438 ✭✭✭✭✭
Many of us know the history of Cracker Jack which was immortalized - forever after - in Norworth's Take Me Out to the Ball Game in 1908.
(Variation with Norworth on the cover)
I've always been a CJ fan - the one difference - if ya go back in time - the prizes were an integral part of the experience and for me - far more rewarding.
When prizes were more than just a piece of paper:
Now I know there's far better caramel corn out there - but there's something about the box - the prize - and the much anticipated bonus of the peanuts at the bottom. This is not gourmet stuff but rather baseball's fuel - part of the fabric of a tradition worth saving.
Here's a "display" box I picked up a long while back (probably 1920s?) - the guy said he picked up some boxes and wished he had bought out the entire store display - the packaging is representative of CJ without the actual product inside.
Side note for those who didn't notice - in 1918 they introduced the boy and dog: names: Sailor Jack and Bingo.
Now, lets fast forward "back" to 1993 - Cracker Jack for their 100th anniversary, reprised their 1915 CJ set to commemorate the event.
Since Mary bought CJ every time she went to the commissary - I was pleasantly surprised to see the set and thought it was pretty cool. A bonus!
We purchased a total of 242 boxes - at least that's how many cards were saved.
Here's the checklist with the frequency/distribution of the 24 card set:
Checklist (quantity pulled)
1 – Cobb (9)
2 – Jackson (14)
3 – Wagner (16)
4 – Mathewson (12)
5 – Johnson (13)
6 – Speaker (11)
7 – Alexander (6)
8 – Lajoie (9)
9 – Marquard (11)
10 – Mack (2)
11 – Evers ((13)
12 – Rickey (11)
13 – Clarke (6)
14 – Hooper (10)
15 – Wheat (12)
16 – Tinker (15)
17 – Collins (9)
18 – Brown (6)
19 – Plank (14)
20 – Maranville (7)
21 – McGraw (7)
22 – Huggins (12)
23 – Walsh (10)
24 – Bush (7)
And the set - I'm sure most of you either saved some or did the entire set:
The cards are small -1 1/4X1 3/4"
There was an album that one could pick up thru the mail:
For me this is - by far - the best set they did in the early 90s.
I'm not sure if one can truly draw any conclusions from the distribution - but the anecdotal SP's can be seen. The shortest being Mack.
And last - I don't want to look a gift horse in the mouth - but there were size discrepancies in the cutting along with some really bad centering - some individuals lacking - entirely - a centered specimen.
For me this is a winner of a set - hope some share that sentiment?
(Variation with Norworth on the cover)
I've always been a CJ fan - the one difference - if ya go back in time - the prizes were an integral part of the experience and for me - far more rewarding.
When prizes were more than just a piece of paper:
Now I know there's far better caramel corn out there - but there's something about the box - the prize - and the much anticipated bonus of the peanuts at the bottom. This is not gourmet stuff but rather baseball's fuel - part of the fabric of a tradition worth saving.
Here's a "display" box I picked up a long while back (probably 1920s?) - the guy said he picked up some boxes and wished he had bought out the entire store display - the packaging is representative of CJ without the actual product inside.
Side note for those who didn't notice - in 1918 they introduced the boy and dog: names: Sailor Jack and Bingo.
Now, lets fast forward "back" to 1993 - Cracker Jack for their 100th anniversary, reprised their 1915 CJ set to commemorate the event.
Since Mary bought CJ every time she went to the commissary - I was pleasantly surprised to see the set and thought it was pretty cool. A bonus!
We purchased a total of 242 boxes - at least that's how many cards were saved.
Here's the checklist with the frequency/distribution of the 24 card set:
Checklist (quantity pulled)
1 – Cobb (9)
2 – Jackson (14)
3 – Wagner (16)
4 – Mathewson (12)
5 – Johnson (13)
6 – Speaker (11)
7 – Alexander (6)
8 – Lajoie (9)
9 – Marquard (11)
10 – Mack (2)
11 – Evers ((13)
12 – Rickey (11)
13 – Clarke (6)
14 – Hooper (10)
15 – Wheat (12)
16 – Tinker (15)
17 – Collins (9)
18 – Brown (6)
19 – Plank (14)
20 – Maranville (7)
21 – McGraw (7)
22 – Huggins (12)
23 – Walsh (10)
24 – Bush (7)
And the set - I'm sure most of you either saved some or did the entire set:
The cards are small -1 1/4X1 3/4"
There was an album that one could pick up thru the mail:
For me this is - by far - the best set they did in the early 90s.
I'm not sure if one can truly draw any conclusions from the distribution - but the anecdotal SP's can be seen. The shortest being Mack.
And last - I don't want to look a gift horse in the mouth - but there were size discrepancies in the cutting along with some really bad centering - some individuals lacking - entirely - a centered specimen.
For me this is a winner of a set - hope some share that sentiment?
Mike
0
Comments
Doug
Liquidating my collection for the 3rd and final time. Time for others to enjoy what I have enjoyed over the last several decades. Money could be put to better use.
<< <i>Mike ... this is the first commercial for CJ that I remember as a kid. >>
Hiya Doug
That's the first one I remember also!
That set looks very familar to me.
When Mike first showed me this set, I was very impressed with it as I was out of the hobby when it came out.
Thanks for shining the light on this beautiful set!!!
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep."
"Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans."
Collecting:
Any unopened Baseball cello and rack packs and boxes from the 1970's and early 1980s.
Hi Mike
<< <i>I JUST bought 2 boxes of the ole CJ's during a recent road trip, there wasn't one peanut in 2 WHOLE boxes!Hi Mike >>
I KNOW Ted ... that sucks! New jingle should be PEANUT (singular) and a prize!
Doug
Liquidating my collection for the 3rd and final time. Time for others to enjoy what I have enjoyed over the last several decades. Money could be put to better use.
<< <i>I JUST bought 2 boxes of the ole CJ's during a recent road trip, there wasn't one peanut in 2 WHOLE boxes!
Hi Mike >>
Hiya Ted!
I hate when that happens.