Sepia Hall of Fame Plaques

The Sepia postcards were printed by The Freeman's Journal of Cooperstown using Cooperstown's professional photograph A.J. Telfer photos.

The first Hall of Fame postcards were issued in two types between 1939-1943. They share an identical format and are differentiated by the typography on back, one set having been issued prior to the Hall of Fame's opening in June, 1939, and a later version issued after the opening. The 3-1/2" x 5-1/2" cards are similar in format to the later series printed in black and white and various colors, but this initial effort is printed in sepia on a cream-colored background. Most fronts picture the plaque of one of the 25 first inductees, with a wide bottom border to accommodate an autograph. Designated Type 1, this issue has a back caption which ends with, "National interest centers in the Centennial Celebration in 1939 at Cooperstown." The later version, Type 2, ends its description. "The National Base Ball Museum and Hall of Fame and Doubleday Field are maintained here as a Shrine to the national game." On both types, vertically at centers Is a credit line "Pub. by National Base Ball Museum." At right are a stamp box and line for the mailing address.

1936 Tyrus Cobb Hall of Fame Plaque — 1936 Tyrus Cobb

1936 Christopher Mathewson Hall of Fame Plaque — 1936 Christopher Mathewson

1936 George Babe Ruth Hall of Fame Plaque — 1936 George Babe Ruth

1936 Jonn Houns Wagner Hall of Fame Plaque — 1936 Jonn Houns Wagner

1936 Walter Johnson Hall of Fame Plaque — 1936 Walter Johnson

1937 Tris Speaker Hall of Fame Plaque — 1937 Tris Speaker

1937 Byron Johnson Hall of Fame Plaque — 1937 Byron Johnson

1937 Connie Mack Hall of Fame Plaque — 1937 Connie Mack

1937 Denton CY Young Hall of Fame Plaque — 1937 Denton CY Young

1937 George Wright Hall of Fame Plaque — 1937 George Wright

1937 John J McGraw Hall of Fame Plaque — 1937 John J McGraw

1937 Morgan Bulkey Hall of Fame Plaque — 1937 Morgan Bulkey

1937 Napoleon Lajoie Hall of Fame Plaque — 1937 Napoleon Lajoie

1938 Henry Chadwick Hall of Fame Plaque — 1938 Henry Chadwick

1938 Alexander Joy Cartwright Hall of Fame Plaque

1938 Grover Cleveland Alexander Hall of Fame Plaque — 1938 Grover Cleveland Alexander

1939 Charles Comiskey Hall of Fame Plaque — 1939 Charles Comiskey

1939 Adrian Anson Hall of Fame Plaque — 1939 Adrian Anson

1939 Albert G Spalding Hall of Fame Plaque — 1939 Albert G Spalding

1939 Charles Radbourne Hall of Fame Plaque — 1939 Charles Radbourne

1939 Edward Collins Hall of Fame Plaque — 1939 Edward Collins

1939 George Sisler Hall of Fame Plaque — 1939 George Sisler

1939 William Buck Ewing Hall of Fame Plaque — 1939 William Buck Ewing

1939 William cummings Hall of Fame Plaque — 1939 William cummings

1939 William Keeler Hall of Fame Plaque — 1939 William Keeler

1939 Henry Louis Gehrig Hall of Fame Plaque — 1939 Henry Louis Gehrig

1942 Rogers Hornsby Hall of Fame Plaque — 1942 Rogers Hornsby