1948-49 Leaf Card Set Overview

Card Specs: 1.5" x 2.75”  |  98 cards  |  Color  |  Classification: Vintage/Postwar

The 1948-49 Leaf card set marked a turning point in postwar card production as the first major color release following World War II.

The 98-card set is loaded with Hall of Famers and early postwar stars, headlined by Jackie Robinson’s mainstream rookie card.  While once thought to be a 1948 issue, new research confirms the cards shipped in 1949, aligning their release with Bowman’s competing set. 

Mulit-Sport Assortment from the 1948-49 Leaf Set

Other notable rookies include Leroy (Satchel) Paige, Stan Musial, Warren Spahn and Larry Doby,  appearing alongside icons like Babe Ruth, Joe DiMaggio, Ted Williams, and Honus Wagner, whose card humorously shows him stuffing chewing tobacco despite his anti-tobacco stance from the T206 era.  Other sports’ athletes were also included, making the 1948 Leaf set the first post-war multi-sport set, and the most prominent since 1933 Goudey Sport Kings.

1948-49 Leaf Card Design

Measuring 2⅜” x 2⅞”, the cards feature bold, two-tone backgrounds with simple player portraits and clean typography.  Leaf capitalized on the use of color lithography after wartime printing restrictions were lifted, bringing much-needed excitement to the hobby while also introducing a new set of challenges. 

1948-49 Leaf Babe Ruth

The back side of the card contained a now-familiar mix of player biography and advertising, including a wrapper trade-in offer for player portraits to hang on young collectors’ walls.

Nearly half the set was short-printed, creating one of the most notoriously difficult postwar sets to complete. Registration flaws and skewed coloring are also common due to the rudimentary printing processes.  Centering and print quality issues are typical, and high-grade examples are extremely rare and desirable.

1948-49 Leaf Warren Spahn & Bob Feller

1948-49 Leaf Card Distribution

Collectors acquired one card per 5-cent pack of gum.  The set was distributed nationally, but much more scarcely overall than its contemporary 1948-1949 Bowman sets.  Leaf skipped a series of numbers as a marketing tactic, leaving collectors chasing card numbers that didn’t exist. Also,  nearly half the set was short-printed, including Paige and Larry Doby, creating a notoriously difficult set completion.

1948-49 Leaf Fred Apostoli, Larry Doby & Jackie Robinson

1948-49 Leaf Card Value

Today’s 1948-49 Leaf card value weighs heavily on condition and scarcity, as well as the magnitude of the featured athlete, with rookie and short-prints carrying a premium. Raw or low-grade commons can go for $10-$50, while more prominent players and short-prints can approach four-figures.  A low-grade Jackie Robinson or short-printed rookie can easily clear $10,000, while a mid-grade of either can reach mid-five figures.  Robinsons graded 7 or above will command low to mid six-figures at auction.

Recent REA Auction 1948–49 Leaf Sales

1948-49 Leaf Jackie Robinson PSA 7 - $150,000 - 2025 Summer Auction

1948-49 Leaf Leroy "Satchel" Paige PSA 5 - $69,000 - 2025 Summer Auction

1948-49 Leaf Babe Ruth PSA 8 - $31,200 - 2025 Spring Auction

1948-49 Leaf Footall Partial Set - $3,840 - 2025 Summer Auction

FOR MORE AUCTION RESULTS, SEARCH "1948 LEAF" IN OUR AUCTION ARCHIVE.

How to Sell 1948-49 Leaf Cards

If you’re considering selling 1948-49 Leaf graded single cards or raw collections, REA is the trusted destination for vintage and postwar baseball auctions. Reach out today to connect with a specialist to learn more about our consignment process.