1951 Bowman Baseball Cards

Bowman released a more elongated format for their 1951 baseball card set, with the cards measuring 2-1/16"x3-1/8". The number of cards in the set was increased to 324.

The card fronts showed a color art reproduction of the player, usually in action, with the player's name in a block of text superimposed over the image, with a white border around the edge of the card.

Card backs were vertical; at the top in red ink was the player's name followed by basic information and a biographical paragraph. Below that was the card number and the phrase 'Baseball Picture Cards,' with the word Baseball in red lettering. The copyright line was along the bottom.

Some of the photos from this set are enlargements from the previous year's issue.

This set is considered a classic and commands a high price tag - one reason being the rookie cards of Mickey Mantle and Willie Mays it contains.

Prominent players in this set include Mickey Mantle (rookie), Willie Mays (rookie), Duke Snider, Whitey Ford (rookie), Yogi Berra, Ted Williams, Gil Hodges, and Warren Spahn.