1948-49 Ben Hogan Rookie Card - Sports Exhibit Champions - Front Notes '48 U.S. Open Win
Oversize 'exhibit' cards have long been part of the industry, making their hobby entrance in the 1920's with the likes of Lou Gehrig's five-figure cardboard debut and Babe Ruths through Willie Mays and Jackie Robinson sought after cards from the mid-1940's. The point is, 'exhibit' cards play a significant part in the industry and three years prior to Ben Hogan's 1951 Berk Ross card came out.
Here is a choice example of Bantam Ben's true rookie card featuring Hogan post-swing dated to 1948-1949! Often found with adhesive on the verso from the en vogue time-period display method of mounting in a scrapbook, this thick paper-stock example remains clean on the verso matching the vibrant black and white graphics of The Hawk on its frontside.
The 1948-49 issue comes on the heels of one of Hogan's career seasons, having won two Majors with triumphs at the 1948 U.S. Open and PGA Championship on his way to PGA Player of the Year honors. The front of this extremely rare 1949 issued card makes note of Hogan's 1948 U.S. Open win. To best example the condition of this card please use the accompanying lot photos of the front and back.
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