Lot # 1025: 1945-1946 Caramelo Deportivo Cuban Baseball Card Near-Complete Set (81/100) Plus Album

Presented is an extremely rare near-complete set of 1945-1946 Caramelo Deportivo Cuban Baseball series consisting of 81 different cards (out of 100 in the set), plus an original album. This is one of the most fascinating sets of the 1940s. This set was issued with Caramelo Deportivo (“Sporting Caramels”) in Cuba and features players from the Cuban Winter League. The set includes many Negro League stars as well as future Major League stars! Because they are printed on thin stock, Caramelo Deportivos damage easily. Condition of the set is Pr to Fr (mostly Pr to Pr-Fr), with six trimmed and a few that measure small. Six cards have been professionally graded and encapsulated by SGC. The original album offers a presentable appearance but is technically in very modest condition and displays a tape repair to the binding. The interior pages show some writing and evidence of card removal. Keys: #1 Intro Card (POOR 1), 7 (POOR 1), 8 Marsans (Pr, with missing pieces), 26 McDaniels (Authentic), 31 (POOR 1), 47 Sisler (FAIR 1.5), 55 Luque (Pr), and 76 (POOR 1). Missing the following 19 cards for completion: #18 Salazar, 25 Dandridge, 27 Minoso, 30 Brown, 39, 42, 43, 51, 54, 62, 63, 65 DiHigo, 66, 73 Reyes SP, 75, 84, 91, 93, and 94. Card #73 Reyes (not present), is generally not considered part of the set as it is a virtually impossible short print. It was not issued in packs and was available only to collectors who assembled 99 different cards, pasted them in an album, and brought the album to the factory. A company representative would then paste the missing card #73 directly into the album. Though it receives little attention, possibly because this set was virtually unknown until just a couple decades ago and because they are rarely found in high grade, this is one of the most interesting baseball card sets ever issued. Total: 81 cards plus album.