Red Whale Harpooned - Diamond Stars Max Bishop

For years I've had a small running list of some of the harder-to-track-down Red Sox cards that I one day hope to own, my "red whales".  If you read this blog often, you won't be surprised to learn that the good majority of these cards were released prior to 1960 (one of the benefits of being a fan of a team that's been around well over 100 years).  I don't really bother posting them in my want list, because I think it's fair to say that not many people have T206's and American Caramel cards up for trade.  So I just keep a list of them in my head, set up some saved eBay searches, and go on the hunt.  Recently I was able to track down a nice one...

Max Bishop here represents my very first Diamond Stars card.  These were released over a three-year period between 1934 and 1936, with some different backs, ink colors, etc used to identify the print year.  All told, there were 108 subjects, but dozens more cards in a master set if you were to pursue all the variations.  The cards were printed by National Chicle chewing gum company of Cambridge, MA.

I just love the brightly colored, almost surreal, art deco ballpark backgrounds on these cards.  The infield dirt, vibrant blue and red of the grandstands, and even the small yellow flag flying below Bishop's name still pop almost eight decades after printing.  I really like the small touch of the players' shadows as well.

Here's a better look at the front.  I never thought that when I finally tracked this card down I'd be able to land one in anywhere near this condition, but for the price I couldn't pass this one up.  If I were to buy a hobby box of 2014 Topps today ($54.99 at Dave and Adam's Card World), it would cost me more than I spent on this card.  A lot more.  I will certainly never need to upgrade this copy, crease-free with awesome visual appeal.

The back does a great job of highlighting the one characteristic that Bishop was really known for in his playing days, a keen eye in the batter's box.  He nearly always collected 100 walks in a season, and had a career on base percentage well north of .400.  Max was a damn good second baseman as well, but was really known for his approach at the plate.

I couldn't be happier that after 79 years this little piece of cardboard has found its way to my Red Sox collection...