I came across an insert that interested me for my
Griffey collection but once I started to get in to the information of the
insert I decided to just walk away. The set? The 2004 Leaf Exhibits insert set.
The set is based on the cards that the Exhibit Supply
Company produced between 1921 through 1980. They produced a set nearly every
year, or multi-year sets, until 1966 and then one set in 1977 and a final set
in 1980. The Exhibits insert is based on the cards between 1921 and 1966.
The checklist contains 50 players and is made up of
current (for 2004) and retired players but the kicker is that each player has
at least 45 variations with AL players having a 46th variation. To
add to the difficulty is the cards are limited to the year the original cards
were released meaning that the cards based on the 1921 release are #/21 through
the cards based on the 1966 release, which are #/66. If that was not difficult
enough there are variations of the variations, I know… we are getting in to
Panini realm now. For example, there are cards based on the 1963 set (so they
are #/63) but then there is a card with no name on the left, one with no name
on the right, one with the name in black on the left, one with the name in
black on the right, one with the name in red on the left and one with the name
in red on the right. Uggg, now you know why I gave up before I even started.
The three images that I have included are just an example of how close the cards appear. From left to right they are 1947-66 w/ black name, 1939-46 w/right Yours Truly and 1939-46 w/left Yours Truly.
