King of Candy Cards: E145 Cracker Jack

Card Specs: 2.25" x 3" | 1914: 144 cards, 1915: 176 cards | Color | Classification: Candy/Caramel | 1914: E145-1, 1915: E145-2

E145 Cracker Jack cards are amongst the most coveted in the prewar hobby mainly due to their substantial star power, as it captured several Deadball Era heroes in their prime. Four of the five members of the Baseball Hall of Fame's Inaugural Class are included - Ty Cobb, Honus Wagner, Christy Mathewson, and Walter Johnson - only missing Babe Ruth who would burst onto the scene a couple years following the sets' publication. "Shoeless" Joe Jackson, not inducted due to his participation in the 1919 Black Sox Scandal, rounds out arguably the most talented group of ballplayers to appear in a single set until the 1933 Goudey issue.

There’s probably not another set that immediately evokes such a strong connection to baseball than the Cracker Jack sets. They are such classics, with numerous important cards and strong player selection. I think the 1914 Mathewson and the Joe Jackson cards are among my favorite vintage cards of all time. We've handled a lot of Cracker Jacks, including a factory set from 1915 many years ago, but it’s still exciting any time a group of these cards comes in for auction. - Brian Dwyer, President, REA

Seeing Red: E145 Cracker Jack Card Design

1914 E145 Cracker Jack Honus Wagner front and back

The red backgrounds, crisp portraits, and uniform design across both sets make it easily recognizable. Unlike most cards from the era that featured a full advertising back, Cracker Jack cards were ahead of their time in including a short player bio, and also a card number to help collectors assemble a set.

1914 vs 1915: Knowing the Difference

Cracker Jack card fronts from 1914 and 1915 are identical (with the exception of Christy Mathewson and Del Pratt who have different poses in each set), so the easiest way to tell the difference is to look at the text on the back. Card from the 1914 release will indicate a set of "144 pictures", versus 176 for 1915 cards.  Also, the reverse side of the 1915 issue is upside down compared to the front.  Both were printed on thin stock, though slightly thicker in 1915.

Comparing 1914 vs 1915 Cracker Jack card backs

Cracker Jack Card Distribution and Condition: A Sticky Situation

Due to their delivery method, riding along with sticky snacks, high-grade examples of the 1914 issue are extremely rare.  Only 2% of examples submitted to PSA & SGC have graded above 8, and 50% of submissions have graded 3 or below.

In addition to delivery in boxes of Cracker Jack, collectors could mail in for the 1915 cards, resulting in a stark contrast in condition variance from the 1914 issue.  In fact, 33% of the 1915 issue have graded six or above, compared to just 8% of the 1914 release. While both years are highly desirable, 1914 Cracker Jack cards are typically of greater value due to their relative scarcity and the significant condition challenges associated with the release.

E145 Cracker Jack PSA Population Reports: 1914, 1915

E145 Cracker Jack SGC Population Reports: 1914, 1915

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Recent 1914 E145 Cracker Jack Card REA Auction Sales

1914 E145 Cracker Jack #88 Christy Mathewson PSA 2.5+ - $190,650 - 2025 Fall Auction

1914 E145 Cracker Jack #30 Ty Cobb PSA 7 - $184,500 - 2026 Summer Auction

1914 E145 Cracker Jack #103 Joe Jackson SGC 2.5 - $102,000 - 2024 Summer Auction

1914 E145 Cracker Jack #68 Honus Wagner SGC 4 - $55,350 - 2026 Spring Auction

1914 E145 Cracker Jack #70 Fred Clarke PSA 7 - $49,200 - 2026 Spring Auction

1914 E145 Cracker Jack Partial Set (98/144) - $60,000 – 2024 Fall Auction

Recent 1915 E145 Cracker Jack Card REA Auction Sales

1915 E145 Cracker Jack #30 Ty Cobb PSA 7 - $123,000 - 2026 Spring Auction

1915 E145 Cracker Jack #103 Joe Jackson SGC 3 - $98,400 – 2026 Summer Auction

1915 E145 Cracker Jack #37 Grover Alexander - $41,820 - 2026 Spring Auction

1915 E145 Cracker Jack #88 Christy Mathewson PSA 7 - $41,820 - 2025 September Auction

1915 E145 Cracker Jack #65 Tris Speaker PSA 8 - $22,755 - 2025 September Auction

FOR MORE AUCTION RESULTS, SEARCH "E145 CRACKER JACK" IN OUR AUCTION ARCHIVE.

1914 E145 Christy Mathewson Sold for $190,650 in 2025 Fall Auction

How to Sell E145 Cracker Jack Cards

Cracker Jack cards are highly desired by our bidding audience.  If you’re considering selling a Cracker Jack card or collection, REA is the industry leader in prewar baseball card auctions. Reach out today to connect with a specialist to learn more about the auction process.

1914 E145 Cracker Jack Card Checklist

1. Otto Knabe

2. Home Run Baker

3. Joe Tinker

4. Larry Doyle

5. Ward Miller

6. Eddie Plank

7. Eddie Collins

8. Rube Oldring

9. Art Hofman

10. John McInnis

11. George Stovall

12. Connie Mack

13. Art Wilson

14. Sam Crawford

15. Reb Russell

16. Howie Camnitz

17. Roger Bresnahan

18. Johnny Evers

19. Chief Bender

20. Cy Falkenberg

21. Heinie Zimmerman

22. Smoky Joe Wood

23. Charles Comiskey

24. George Mullin

25. Michael Simon

26. James Scott

27. Bill Carrigan

28. Jack Barry

29. Vean Gregg

30. Ty Cobb

31. Heinie Wagner

32. Mordecai Brown

33. Amos Strunk

34. Ira Thomas

35. Harry Hooper

36. Ed Walsh

37. Grover Alexander

38. Red Dooin

39. Chick Gandil

40. Jimmy Austin

41. Tommy Leach

42. Al Bridwell

43. Rube Marquard

44. Charles Tesreau

45. Fred Luderus

46. Bob Groom

47. Josh Devore

48. Harry Lord

49. Dots Miller

50. John Hummel

51. Nap Rucker

52. Zack Wheat

53. Otto Miller

54. Marty O’Toole

55. Dick Hoblitzell

56. Clyde Milan

57. Walter Johnson

58. Wally Schang

59. Harry Gessler

60. Rollie Zeider

61. Ray Schalk

62. Jay Cashion

63. Charles Adams

64. Jimmy Archer

65. Tris Speaker

66. Nap Lajoie

67. Otis Crandall

68. Honus Wagner

69. John McGraw

70. Fred Clarke

71. Chief Meyers

72. Joe Boehling

73. Max Carey

74. Frank Owens

75. Miller Huggins

76. Claude Hendrix

77. Hughie Jennings

78. Fred Merkle

79. Ping Bodie

80. Ed Reulbach

81. Jim Delahanty

82. Gaavy Cravath

83. Russ Ford

84. Elmer Knetzer

85. Buck Herzog

86. Burt Shotten

87. Hick Cady

88. Christy Mathewson

89. Lawrence Cheney

90. Frank Smith

91. Roger Peckinpaugh

92. Al Demaree

93. Del Pratt

94. Eddie Cicotte

95. Ray Keating

96. Beals Becker

97. Rube Benton

98. Frank LaPorte

99. Frank Chance

100. Tom Seaton

101. Wildfire Schulte

102. Ray Fisher

103. Joe Jackson

104. Vic Saier

105. Jimmy Lavender

106. Joe Birmingham

107. Tom Downey

108. Sherry Magee

109. Fred Blanding

110. Bob Bescher

111. James Callahan

112. Edward Sweeney

113. George Suggs

114. George Moriarty

115. Ad Brennan

116. Rollie Zeider

117. Ted Easterly

118. Ed Konetchy

119. George Perring

120. Mickey Doolan

121. Hub Perdue

122. Donnie Bush

123. Slim Sallee

124. Earl Moore

125. Bert Niehoff

126. Walter Blair

127. Butch Schmidt

128. Steve Evans

129. Ray Caldwell

130. Ivy Wingo

131. Elber Baumgardner

132. Leslie Nunamaker

133. Branch Rickey

134. Armando Marsans

135. Bill Killefer

136. Rabbit Maranville

137. Bill Rariden

138. Hank Gowdy

139. Rebel Oakes

140. Danny Murphy

141. Cy Barger

142. Eugene Packard

143. Jake Daubert

144. Jimmy Walsh

1915 E145 Cracker Jack Card Checklist

1. Otto Knabe

2. Home Run Baker

3. Joe Tinker

4. Larry Doyle

5. Ward Miller

6. Eddie Plank

7. Eddie Collins

8. Rube Oldring

9. Art Hofman

10. John McInnis

11. George Stovall

12. Connie Mack

13. Art Wilson

14. Sam Crawford

15. Reb Russell

16. Howie Camnitz

17. Roger Bresnahan

18. Johnny Evers

19. Chief Bender

20. Cy Falkenberg

21. Heinie Zimmerman

22. Smoky Joe Wood

23. Charles Comiskey

24. George Mullin

25. Michael Simon

26. James Scott

27. Bill Carrigan

28. Jack Barry

29. Vean Gregg

30. Ty Cobb

31. Heinie Wagner

32. Mordecai Brown

33. Amos Strunk

34. Ira Thomas

35. Harry Hooper

36. Ed Walsh

37. Grover Alexander

38. Red Dooin

39. Chick Gandil

40. Jimmy Austin

41. Tommy Leach

42. Al Bridwell

43. Rube Marquard

44. Charles Tesreau

45. Fred Luderus

46. Bob Groom

47. Josh Devore

48. Steven O’Neill

49. Dots Miller

50. John Hummel

51. Nap Rucker

52. Zack Wheat

53. Otto Miller

54. Marty O’Toole

55. Dick Hoblitzell

56. Clyde Milan

57. Walter Johnson

58. Wally Schang

59. Harry Gessler

60. Oscar Dugey

61. Ray Schalk

62. Willie Mitchell

63. Charles Adams

64. Jimmy Archer

65. Tris Speaker

66. Nap Lajoie

67. Otis Crandall

68. Honus Wagner

69. John McGraw

70. Fred Clarke

71. Chief Meyers

72. Joe Boehling

73. Max Carey

74. Frank Owens

75. Miller Huggins

76. Claude Hendrix

77. Hughie Jennings

78. Fred Merkle

79. Ping Bodie

80. Ed Reulbach

81. Jim Delahanty

82. Gaavy Cravath

83. Russ Ford

84. Elmer Knetzer

85. Buck Herzog

86. Burt Shotten

87. Hick Cady

88. Christy Mathewson

89. Lawrence Cheney

90. Frank Smith

91. Roger Peckinpaugh

92. Al Demaree

93. Del Pratt

94. Eddie Cicotte

95. Ray Keating

96. Beals Becker

97. Rube Benton

98. Frank LaPorte

99. Hal Chase

100. Tom Seaton

101. Wildfire Schulte

102. Ray Fisher

103. Joe Jackson

104. Vic Saier

105. Jimmy Lavender

106. Joe Birmingham

107. Tom Downey

108. Sherry Magee

109. Fred Blanding

110. Bob Bescher

111. Herb Moran

112. Edward Sweeney

113. George Suggs

114. George Moriarty

115. Ad Brennan

116. Rollie Zeider

117. Ted Easterly

118. Ed Konetchy

119. George Perring

120. Mickey Doolan

121. Hub Perdue

122. Owen Bush

123. Slim Sallee

124. Earl Moore

125. Bert Niehoff

126. Walter Blair

127. Butch Schmidt

128. Louis Evans

129. Ray Caldwell

130. Ivy Wingo

131. Elmer Baumgardner

132. Leslie Nunamaker

133. Branch Rickey

134. Armando Marsans

135. Bill Killefer

136. Rabbit Maranville

137. Bill Rariden

138. Hank Gowdy

139. Rebel Oakes

140. Danny Murphy

141. Cy Barger

142. Eugene Packard

143. Jake Daubert

144. Jimmy Walsh

145. Ted Cather

146. Lefty Tyler

147. Lee Magee

148. Owen Wilson

149. Hal Janvrin

150. Doc Johnston

151. Possum Whitted

152. George McQuillen

153. Bill James

154. Dick Rudolph

155. Joe Connolly

156. Jean Dubuc

157. George Kaiserling

158. Fritz Maisel

159. Heinie Groh

160. Benny Kauff

161. Edd Roush

162. George Stallings

163. Bert Whaling

164. Bob Shawkey

165. Eddie Murphy

166. Leslie Bush

167. Clark Griffith

168. Vin Campbell

169. Ray Collins

170. Hans Lobert

171. Earl Hamilton

172. Erskine Mayer

173. Tilly Walker

174. Bob Veach

175. Joe Benz

176. James Vaughn