1950 Bowman Baseball Card Set Overview

Card Specs: 2.06" x 2.5”  |  252 cards  |  Color  |  Classification: Postwar/Vintage

As baseball surged in popularity during the postwar boom, fueled by television exposure and an improving economy, Bowman's 1950 baseball card set solidified its position as the leading baseball card producer. With its 1948 set being black and white, and 1949 set partial color, Bowman completed its design evolution in 1950 with full color artwork, unofficially ending the era of cards' muted and monochromatic design and paving the way to color-driven graphic design in the 1950s.

1950 Bowman Warren Spahn & Bob Feller

The 252-card checklist features many of the era’s most recognizable stars, including Jackie Robinson, Ted Williams, Yogi Berra, Duke Snider, Warren Spahn, and Bob Feller. While notable rookies such as Don Newcombe and Hank Bauer appear, the set is best remembered as the final Bowman release before the historic rookie class of 1951. The strength of its veteran star power gives the set lasting appeal despite the absence of later hobby-defining debut cards.

1950 Bowman Card Design

Cards measure 2-1/16" by 2-1/2", featuring both horizontal and vertical hand-painted, photo-based artwork with realistic backgrounds. The cards' reverse include the player’s name and profile information above a short biographical paragraph, and the card number at the bottom above the Bowman copyright.

1950 Bowman Ted Williams, front & back

1950 Bowman Card Distribution

Similarly to previous years' sets, 1950 Bowman cards penny or nickel packs, each containing one or more cards and a stick of Bowman Gum. Unlike the 1949 and 1951 sets which were released in tranches, the 252-card 1950 set was all one series, available for the entire baseball season. Examples exist that lack of copyright line on the back, likely the result of multiple back plates used during printing and an unintentional omission. Like many issues of the era the cards were frequently stacked and stored with rubber bands, leading to widespread corner wear and surface damage, leading collectors to pay a premium for well-preserved examples.

1950 Bowman Yogi Berra & Duke Snider

How Much are 1950 Bowman Cards Worth?

Auction prices for the very best graded Jackie Robinson or Yogi Berra can approach $50,000, with values falling dramatically beyond the top 1% of examples. Stars such as Snider, Feller, and Pee Wee Reese can sell for more than $1,000 in top condition, with values falling between $300-700 in mid-grade. Raw and low-grade commons can range widely, from under $10 to over $100, depending on centering, corner sharpness, and surface quality.

Recent 1950 Bowman Auction Sales

1950 Bowman Yogi Berra PSA 9 - $33,600 - 2024 September Auction

1950 Bowman Jackie Robinson PSA 8 - $22,200 - 2023 Fall Auction

1950 Bowman Ted Williams SGC 8.5 - $9,300 - 2023 Summer Auction

1950 Bowman Complete Graded Set GPA 6.74 - $37,200 - 2024 June Auction

TO FIND MORE RECENT 1950 BOWMAN BASEBALL CARD SALES, SEARCH "1950 BOWMAN" IN OUR AUCTION ARCHIVE.

How to Sell 1950 Bowman Baseball Cards

We specialize in postwar baseball cards, and we have a strong bidding audience of collectors for 1950 Bowman. Work with us to sell single graded cards, near complete sets, and we can help with grading and authentication of raw examples. If you'd like to maximize the return on your cards, reach out today to connect with a specialist for a free consultation.