More Hidden Gems from the ’40s
Welcome to the second installment in our series on the rarest baseball cards of the 1940s. In the last article, we talked about the last Goudey set and a few releases from Latin America up through 1945. This article will continue to look at sets through 1948.
Let’s get into it.
1946 Caramelo Deportivo
This is the second release of the Caramelo Deportivo set, featuring Hall of Famers Buck O’Neil, Ray Dandridge, Minnie Miñoso, and Martin Dihigo. While not a Hall of Famer, Don Newcombe is also included in the set, and his card commands a strong premium among collectors.
Buck O’Neil was one of the more recent inductees into the Negro League wing of the Hall of Fame. He starred for the Kansas City Monarchs and later made history as the first African American coach in Major League Baseball.
Don Newcombe was a standout pitcher for the Brooklyn Dodgers and was the first player to win the Rookie of the Year, MVP, and Cy Young awards during his career.
This 1946 Caramelo Deportivo set is significantly scarcer than the 1945 release. Certain individual cards surface so rarely that it’s not unusual for five or more years to pass between public sales. For example, a Buck O’Neil graded a 1 MK sold in January 2024 at Heritage for $3,300. The only two other sales on record are from 2012 and 2021.
1946 Propaganda Montiel
The 1946 Propagandas Montiel set stands out as one of the most popular Cuban issues, thanks to its inclusion of both MLB legends and Negro League stars. The cards are extremely thin — so thin, in fact, that you can see through them when held up to light. Because of their fragile construction, it’s common to find examples with ripped corners, holes, or other significant wear.
The set also features athletes from a variety of other sports, ranging from tennis star Helen Wills Moody to boxing legend John L. Sullivan. However, the two most sought-after cards are easily Martin Dihigo and Stan Musial. Other notable baseball names include Joe DiMaggio, Ted Williams, Bob Feller, Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Hank Greenberg, and Ty Cobb.
In terms of value, the Stan Musial typically sells for $4,000–$5,000 in a PSA/SGC 1, with 2s fetching around $8,000. A 2.5 even reached $30,000 back in 2021. Meanwhile, a Martin Dihigo graded 2.5 has sold for as much as $9,500.
1946 Almanaque Deportivo
This magazine included collectible cards designed to be hand-cut by readers. Among the confirmed Hall of Famers featured in the set are Martín Dihigo, Buck O’Neil, and Minnie Miñoso. There may be additional Hall of Famers included, but a complete checklist has not been verified.
While not a Hall of Famer, Hank Thompson is also part of the set. Thompson had a notable Major League career and made history as the first African American player to appear in both the American and National Leagues, playing for the St. Louis Browns and the New York Giants.
These cards are extremely rare, with few known sales. The ones that have surfaced — particularly those of O’Neil and Miñoso — have sold for between $4,000 and $6,000.
1946 Parade Sportive Jackie Robinson
This is a pre-MLB card of Jackie Robinson, issued during his time with the Montreal Royals — the Triple-A affiliate of the Brooklyn Dodgers. Notably, this card captures a historic moment, as Robinson was not only on the cusp of breaking Major League Baseball’s color barrier but was also the first African American to play in the minor leagues.
Even low-grade copies of this card now command five-figure prices.
1946-47 Sensacion Cuban & MLB Stars
Sansacion produced two premium sets: one dedicated to Cuban players and another featuring Major League Baseball stars. These oversized premium cards were printed on fragile, paper-thin newspaper stock. Among the notable players included in the sets are Martín Dihigo, Stan Musial, and Ted Williams.
1947 Tip Top Bread
This set includes several Hall of Famers, most notably Yogi Berra and Warren Spahn. While many collectors believe their rookie cards first appeared in the 1948 Bowman set, these were actually released a year earlier by a lesser-known issuer.
Due to their limited distribution, they are significantly scarcer and often overlooked.
1947 Sports Exchange (W602)
This hand-cut set shares similarities with the Tip Top Bread issue, featuring a number of notable stars. However, the true highlights — and most sought-after cards — are those of Yogi Berra, Warren Spahn, and Stan Musial.
1947 Bond Bread
Be cautious when purchasing these cards, as counterfeit or later printed copies are known to circulate. A key indicator of authenticity is the card’s shape — originals were cut to fit into bread packages, so they should have irregular, non-rectangular edges.
The most sought-after cards in this set are those of Stan Musial, Jackie Robinson, and Yogi Berra.
1947 Bond Bread Jackie Robinson (Set) Portrait
This set is entirely dedicated to Jackie Robinson, and while every card holds significant value due to his historic impact, the most desirable piece is the portrait shot. A PSA/SGC 1 typically sells for between $4,000 and $5,000, while a PSA 7 once fetched $42,000 at REA.
