The Conlon Project

At a recent estate sale, my wife’s uncle, who is in the antique business, came across a number of shoeboxes containing baseball cards.  While the majority of the boxes contained Topps cards from the 1980s, one box contained 25 unopened packs from the 1991 Conlon Collection put out by MegaCards in conjunction with the Sporting News during that era.

The cards depict black and white photographs taken by noted baseball photographer, Charles M. Conlon.   According to Dean Hanley from Dean’s Cards, the cards in this 330-set, are organized by team, award, or Hall-of-Fame status.

I would like to offer (free of charge) one pack of cards to 24 of our SABR baseball card enthusiasts, and then ask that when each person receives their pack, they select a card of interest and write a paragraph or two on the card (max. 250). That is, why did you select the card?  What do you see in the photo?  How does the photo make you feel?  Something of that nature.  You can talk a bit to the players career, but I’m more interested in the holistic value.

I will ask that once you’ve selected card, please notify me immediately, as I will be keeping a list to ensure that there are no duplicated efforts.  For example, I opened a pack and found MEL ALMADA.  As it so happens, I have a particular affinity for Almada, a Mexican who played minor league ball in Seattle.

If you are interested in participating in this CONLON PROJECT, email me at salazar8017@yahoo.com with the subject line “Conlon Project” and send me your mailing address.  I hope to gather the 25 “reactions” into a document to submit to the SABR Baseball Card blog or other SABR publication.

By the way, key cards in this set, Hanley indicates, include: #110 Babe Ruth ’27 Yankees, #145 Babe Ruth Champs, #250 Ty Cobb, and #310 Lou Gehrig.

Thanks for playing!

Author: sabrlatino

Anthony Salazar is the chair for SABR's Latino baseball committee, and editor of its publication, "La Prensa del Béisbol Latino." He has written on the Latino experience in the national pastime, and has consulted with baseball teams, museums and programs looking to tap into the US Latino market. View all posts by sabrlatino