1948 Exhibit Baseball's Great Hall of Fame Fred Clarke
Fred Clarke · Exhibit Supply Co. (ESCo) · Base / Vintage Hall of Fame Exhibit
Player
Fred Clarke
Set
1948 Exhibit Baseball's Great Hall of Fame
Year
1948
Card #
Not visible (Series features 33 cards)
Condition Grade
PSA 1.5 (Fair) - PSA 2 (Good). Centering is decent, but visible staining across the surface significantly impacts eye appeal and technical grade.
Category
Base / Vintage Hall of Fame Exhibit
Manufacturer
Exhibit Supply Co. (ESCo)
Demand Level
Moderate. Pre-war and early post-war Hall of Fame exhibits have a dedicated niche following, though Clarke is a lower-tier HOFer in terms of market volume.
Valuation
Raw (Ungraded) Value
$40.00 - $75.00
Graded Value
PSA 1: $35-50 | PSA 2: $80-120 | PSA 3: $140-180
Comparable Sales
Recent raw copies in similar condition have sold between $45 and $60. PSA 3-4 examples typically reach the $150-$225 range, but this copy's surface damage prevents that premium.
Description
Authentic 1948 Exhibit Supply Co. postcard-sized card featuring Hall of Famer Fred Clarke. The card features a sepia-toned 'Baseball's Great Hall of Fame' design with Greek columns on the sides and a facsimile signature. Includes a biographical blurb at the bottom regarding his tenure with Louisville and Pittsburgh.
Key Features
Features an early Hall of Fame induction set design; iconic oversized postcard format (3-3/8" x 5-3/8"); predates many standard 1950s base cards for this HOFer.
Authenticity Indicators
High Confidence. The 'MADE IN U.S.A.' line placement, card stock thickness, and 'AN EXHIBIT CARD' text are consistent with 1948 originals. Specific halftone dot patterns under magnification confirm 1940s printing.
Flaws to Note
Significant brownish-yellow staining/foxing across the middle of the image; noticeable corner rounding; minor edge wear. The staining is the primary detractor.
Selling Guide
Where to Sell
eBay is the best platform for this card due to the high volume of vintage raw card buyers. Specialty vintage auction houses like Love of the Game or Heritage are better for higher grades.
Selling Tips
Do not grade this specific card; the staining will result in a 'Qualifying' grade or a very low technical grade that won't cover the cost of grading. List as 'Authentic Original' and take clear photos of the stains.