Card Identification Forum

Does anyone know the History, Story, Logic (or lack thereof) behind the over 80 different versions of the 2004 Leaf Exhibits sets.  It took me forever to finally figure out what the three cards I have of the sets were then I had to narrow down what set each I felt each card fit in.  It didn't help that there is a second edition to each set as well.  I think the first edition is serial numbered.  I know they are basically parralel sets but I don't see the logic in so many different versions.  I'm wondering if they are based on older "penny arcade" type cards or what.

There aren't that many of these type of cards added to the database yet and some of the versions don't have any added.  I just added the two Barry Zito cards above and a Nolan Ryan but they may not show up for a while.  I'm pretty sure I put them in the proper set versions they are supposed to be in but please let me and/or admin know if you think I'm wrong.

Just kind of a curiosity question.

I can't help you in figuring out why Leaf did what they did, but I can tell you a little bit about Exhibit. It was indeed something you would get in arcades. They covered a wide variety of subjects, with the most popular being athletes and movie stars. They were large black and white photos, occasionally color (I think), and they almost never dated them. They were "made to order" and they would make running changes as needed, which makes it very hard to pin down exact information about them. Some of the baseball versions had stats on the back which is a great help, but most were blank back or simply had an Exhibit Supply Co logo.

Sports Collectors Daily did a great article on them late last year, which is how I learned about them. I don't have any of the originals in my collection yet although a local dealer does have a stack, no athletes- mostly people I've never heard of, or movie stars I have heard of but were popular in the 40s and 50s.

I did a post about them on my blog last year, here are a couple of paragraphs that covers the history of the Exhibits sets:

"The set is based on the cards that the Exhibit Supply Company produced between 1921 through 1980. They produced a set nearly every year, or multi-year sets, until 1966 and then one set in 1977 and a final set in 1980. The Exhibits insert is based on the cards between 1921 and 1966.

The checklist contains 50 players and is made up of current (for 2004) and retired players but the kicker is that each player has at least 45 variations with AL players having a 46th variation. To add to the difficulty is the cards are limited to the year the original cards were released meaning that the cards based on the 1921 release are #/21 through the cards based on the 1966 release, which are #/66. If that was not difficult enough there are variations of the variations, I know… we are getting in to Panini realm now. For example, there are cards based on the 1963 set (so they are #/63) but then there is a card with no name on the left, one with no name on the right, one with the name in black on the left, one with the name in black on the right, one with the name in red on the left and one with the name in red on the right."

How were these distributed?  Packs?

I kind of remember pulling them from packs years ago as inserts but I can't be sure.  Part of the reason I couldn't remember what they were.  Bill Kingsley or Corky probably would know better. - DN

They were packed out in packs of 2004 Leaf Baseball (Hobby) and 2004 Leaf Baseball Second Edition (Retail). The original cards from 1921-1980 were postcard sized and sold in vending machines and were multiple sports.

There are two sets that I do not have included on my Griffey wants list, and do not actively chase, the 2004 Leaf Exhibits and any of the Tek/High Tek sets. If I get caught up in them I will end up going down the rabbit hole and want all of the parallels.