The 1980’s and 90’s gave us several trading card sets which were manufactured by obscure companies.  This 1992 box set featuring the 1919 Chicago “Black Sox” is one of them.

This set was created by TNTL Studios out of Toms River New Jersey, and features 25 black and white cards and one additional color card of Shoeless Joe Jackson.  The cards measure approximately 2” x 3” and were sold as a complete box set.  They are unnumbered and most of them are blank backed, however the eight players who were part of the scandal received special treatment.  Those eight cards have a thin black border on the front and a brief player write up on the back.

As I looked into these cards I had several questions.  

First, what the heck is TNTL Studios?  Well, I have no idea.  I couldn’t find any other cards or references to the company.  

Second, many of the references to this set refer to it as the “1992 Manning” Black Sox set, but I the name is nowhere to be found on the packaging.  It turns out a dealer named Greg Manning was the mastermind behind this box set and despite not being named on the packaging, was still associated with the set description according to the Sabrbaseballcards blog.  Uncut sheets of cards which are similar, but not exactly like these, can be found on eBay with “The Greg Manning Company Inc” printed on the back.

Finally, the box says it was a reprint set, but what set is it a reprint of?  Apparently, in 1917 the White Sox had a team issued box set printed by Davis Printing Works in Chicago.  That was the inspiration for this 1992 version.

The sets came in 48 count boxes, and full boxes can be found for around $70.  Individual sets sell for about $5 or $6.

Checklist:

Joe Benz

Eddie Cicotte

Eddie Collins

Shane Collins

Charles Comiskey

Dave Danforth

Red Faber

Happy Felsch

Chick Gandil

Kid Gleason

Joe Jackson (Color)

Joe Jackson (B&W)

Joe Jenkins

Ted Jourdan

Nemo Leibold

Brad Lynn

Fred McMullen

Eddie Murphy

Swede Risberg

Pants Rowland

Reb Russell

Ray Schalk

James Scott

Buck Weaver

Lefty Williams

Mellie Wolfgang