While we started off our blog with lots and lots of baseball, make no mistake: Love of the Game Auctions is by no means a baseball-only company.
Our first auction will also feature some of the most sought-after football cards in the hobby, including a group of high-grade 1948 Leaf football, led by this gorgeous example of HOF offensive lineman George Connor’s first card. The Connor, which has a PSA-graded population of just sixteen examples (with only one higher), has seen recent sales as high as $2,400.
The 1948 Leaf set is popular among collectors due to being the first color football set of the postwar era, the availability of a host of color variations, as well as containing a high concentration of Hall of Famers in the set. Well-centered ’48 Leafs are particularly tough, and our selection of five high-grade rarities each host exceptional centering, as well as image clarity, color, and corners.
The set was issued in two series, #1-49 and #50-98, the second series much more scarce than the first. Our grouping of five high-grade ’48 Leafs also include two of the scarce high number series – #58 Art Weiner (PSA 7.5 ) and the condition scarce #84 Earl Girard (PSA 8, pop. 4 with none higher). Both cards are stunning in their color and clarity, as you can see:
The lot is rounded out by an exceptional copy of the #2 card in the set, Steve Suhey (PSA 8, pop. 9 with 2 higher), and an extraordinarily high-grade example of #30 Paul Governali (PSA 8.5, pop 3 among three variations, with just three higher).
Like its baseball counterpart, 1948 Leaf football is a fascinating set, filled with variations and Hall of Famers, and is difficult to obtain in high grade. Our selection of Leafs, which will be offered individually, can serve as an excellent kickoff to a high-grade set, a great improvement to an existing set, a beautiful addition to a type collection, or in the case of the Connor, an excellent addition to a Hall of Fame rookies set.
Stay tuned, as we have a beautiful selection of football cards in our inaugural auction, which we will be previewing for you in this space.
