1915 Cracker Jack Baseball Cards
Product Details
For the second straight year, Cracker Jack issued a set of cards to be included inside boxes of their familiar product. This time, however, they expanded the set to 176 total cards and offered compete sets for sale through a mail in offer. They also designed a special album to display the collection of cards as well. In additional to a larger checklist, the 1915 Cracker Jack Baseball set also offered collectors image variations that were different than those found in the 1914 set.
Featuring virtually the same design and many of the same images as the cards in the 1914 Cracker Jack set, 1915 Cracker Jack Baseball has all the charm of the previous release. A color image of a player appears on the front, which showcases the headline "Cracker Jack Ball Players" at the top. A vivid red background also appears on the card. The colorized player photo, set against the deep, rich red background, creates a stunning contrast. The player's name, city and league affiliation appear within the lower border of the card.
Just like in 1914, the 1915 card backs feature the card number, biography of the player pictured, and an advertisement stating that there are 176 cards in the complete set.
Although they are very similar, there are a couple of key differences to distinguish the 1914 and 1915 Cracker Jack Baseball cards. An clear difference can be found on the back with the mention of a 176-card set. The 1914 set has 144 cards. Another noticeable difference in the 1915 set is that it was printed on a thicker cardboard-like stock.
Perhaps the most obvious difference, the 1915 backs are printed upside down compared to the traditional way the 1914 cards are oriented. This allowed customers who mounted them into the album using photo hinges (common in the day) to still be able to flip the cards over and easily read them. The above image of the card back has been flipped so that it is easier to examine.
As noted on the card backs, collectors could send in 100 Cracker Jack coupons or one coupon and 25 cents to receive the full 1915 Cracker Jack Baseball set. Additionally, an album to house the set was available for 50 coupons or one coupon and ten cents.
While most of the players from cards #1-144 remained the same from 1914, some were updated to reflect any team or league changes. In addition, Christy Mathewson (#88) and Del Pratt (#93) had their images changed. Five players that were part of the 1914 offering were dropped from the set entirely because they left the major leagues and were replaced by new players.
Harry Lloyd (#48) was replaced by Steve O'Neil, Rollie Zeider (#60) was replaced by Oscar Dugey, Jay Cushion (#62) was replaced by Willie Mitchell, Frank Chance (#99) was replaced by Hal Chase and Nixey Callahan (#111) was replaced by Herbie Moran. As for the final 32 cards (#145-176), they were comprised of players who didn't originally appear in the 1914 set. Those cards carry a bit of a premium due to increased demand.
Since Cracker Jack cards from 1915 were available directly from the company, as well as in the candy boxes, more can be found in higher grades. Because of this, 1915 cards are generally less valuable than their 1914 counterparts. Vintage collectors often choose to pursue this set as opposed to the 1914 set for this very reason.
The short-lived, two year run of production left early collectors wanting more. Unfortunately, the start of World War I changed the company's focus and priorities. The Cracker Jack sets have left an indelible impression on the hobby and the trading card landscape.
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Key Cards
Key 1915 Cracker Jack Baseball Cards
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Joe Jackson #103
Ty Cobb #30
Christy Mathewson #88
Honus Wagner #68
Walter Johnson #57
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Set Checklist
1915 Cracker Jack Baseball Set Checklist
Base Set Checklist
2 Frank Baker
3 Joe Tinker
4 Larry Doyle
5 Ward Miller
6 Eddie Plank
7 Eddie Collins
8 Rube Oldring
9 Artie Hoffman
10 Stuffy McInnis
11 George Stovall
12 Connie Mack
13 Art Wilson
14 Sam Crawford
15 Reb Russell
16 Howie Camnitz
17 Roger Bresnahan
18 Johnny Evers
19 Chief Bender
20 Cy Falkenberg
21 Heinie Zimmerman
22 Joe Wood
23 Charles Comiskey
24 George Mullen
25 Michael Simon
26 Jim Scott
27 Bill Carrigan
28 Jack Barry
29 Vean Gregg
30 Ty Cobb
31 Heinie Wagner
32 Mordecai Brown
33 Amos Strunk
34 Ira Thomas
35 Harry Hooper
36 Ed Walsh
37 Grover Cleveland Alexander
38 Red Dooin
39 Chick Gandil
40 Jimmy Austin
41 Tommy Leach
42 Al Bridwell
43 Rube Marquard
44 Jeff Tesreau
45 Fred Luderus
46 Bob Groom
47 Josh Devore
48 Steve O'Neill
49 John Miller
50 John Hummel
51 Nap Rucker
52 Zack Wheat
53 Otto Miller
54 Marty O'Toole
55 Dick Hoblitzell
56 Clyde Milan
57 Walter Johnson
58 Wally Schang
59 Harry Gessler
60 Oscar Dugey
61 Ray Schalk
62 Willie Mitchell
63 Babe Adams
64 Jimmy Archer
65 Tris Speaker
66 Nap Lajoie
67 Otis Crandall
68 Honus Wagner
69 John McGraw
70 Fred Clarke
71 Chief Meyers
72 John Boehling
73 Max Carey
74 Frank Owens
75 Miller Huggins
76 Claude Hendrix
77 Hughie Jennings
78 Fred Merkle
79 Ping Bodie
80 Ed Ruelbach
81 Jim Delehanty
82 Gavvy Cravath
83 Russ Ford
84 Elmer E. Knetzer
85 Buck Herzog
86 Burt Shotton
87 Hick Cady
88 Christy Mathewson
90 Frank Smith
91 Roger Peckinpaugh
92 Al Demaree
93 Del Pratt
94 Eddie Cicotte
95 Ray Keating
96 Beals Becker
97 Rube Benton
98 Frank LaPorte
99 Hal Chase
100 Thomas Seaton
101 Frank Schulte
102 Ray Fisher
103 Shoeless Joe Jackson
104 Vic Saier
105 Jimmy Lavender
106 Joe Birmingham
107 Tom Downey
108 Sherry Magee
109 Fred Blanding
110 Bob Bescher
111 Herbie Moran
112 Ed Sweeney
113 George Suggs
114 George Moriarty
115 Addison Brennan
116 Rollie Zeider
117 Ted Easterly
118 Ed Konetchy
119 George Perring
120 Mickey Doolan
121 Hub Perdue
122 Owen Bush
123 Slim Sallee
124 Earl Moore
125 Bert Niehoff
126 Walter Blair
127 Butch Schmidt
128 Steve Evans
129 Ray Caldwell
130 Ivey Wingo
131 George Baumgardner
132 Les Nunamaker
133 Branch Rickey
134 Armando Marsans
135 Bill Killefer
136 Rabbit Maranville
137 William Rariden
138 Hank Gowdy
139 Rebel Oakes
140 Danny Murphy
141 Cy Barger
142 Eugene Packard
143 Jake Daubert
144 James C. Walsh
145 Ted Cather
146 George Tyler
147 Lee Magee
148 Owen Wilson
149 Hal Janvrin
150 Doc Johnston
151 George Whitted
152 George McQuillan
153 Bill James
154 Dick Rudolph
155 Joe Connolly
156 Jean Dubuc
157 George Kaiserling
158 Fritz Maisel
159 Heinie Groh
160 Benny Kauff
161 Edd Roush
162 George Stallings
163 Bert Whaling
164 Bob Shawkey
165 Eddie Murphy
166 Joe Bush
167 Clark Griffith
168 Vin Campbell
169 Raymond Collins
170 Hans Lobert
171 Earl Hamilton
172 Erskine Mayer
173 Tilly Walker
174 Bobby Veach
175 Joseph Benz
176 Hippo Vaughn
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stanley m. gibson
I have a Wagner Cracker Jack card. Whats it worth?