Mid-Atlantic Sports: 1952 Red Man

1952 Red Man Pittsburgh Pirates

The 1952 Red Man Tobacco card set marked the first national set of tobacco cards produced since the early part of the 20th century. The set consists of 52 cards, each measuring 3-1/2” by 4”. The 25 top players and one manager from each league comprised this highly desirable first year issue. Each item featured a colorful, quality likeness of the respective ballplayer resting against a solid background, with his name, team name and biographical data appearing in a white block on the card front. Card backs contain company advertising and one of two expiration dates: March 31 or June 1, 1953. Condition issues abound with the set, including the sensitive nature of the colored borders. As the large cards were sealed in plastic and affixed to the outside pouches of their tobacco product, handling wear and creasing is often problematic. Furthermore, each piece was originally issued with a ½” perforated tab along the bottom of the card, which was often haphazardly removed, resulting in further damage. The cards are numbered and dated only on the tabs.