Spearheads: Series Guide









Set Description:

The design for the Spearheads series was inspired by the W.S. Kimball & Co.’s 1887 Champions of Games and Sports (N184) tobacco cards.

1887 W.S. Kimball Champions (N184)

  • The Champions of Games and Sports (N184) tobacco cards were issued in packs of High Grade tobacco products by W. S. Kimball & Co. in 1887
  • The complete Kimball set features 50 different figures from the world of games and sports, including a champion cannonball catcher, a champion heel & toe pedestrian, and a champion water queen
  • Fortunately, four of the subjects are professional baseball players: catcher Dell Darling, pitcher Hardie Henderson, fielder E.A. Burch, and batter Tip O’Neill
  • Kimball Champions measure 1.5 x 2.75 inches

Ars Longa: Spearheads

spear·head: a leading element, force, or influence in an undertaking or activity

  • Spearheads is a set of 4 cards featuring men whose contributions to baseball extend far beyond their substantial achievements as players
  • My intention with this set was to combine the pastoral illustrations of the four baseball-themed Kimball Champions cards with more luminary subjects than those depicted on the originals, making the original design and the chosen subjects more accessible to collectors
  • By integrating legendary subjects with an authentic vintage design and manually distressing each piece to create one-of-a-kind art cards, my goal is to create an intriguing and attractive set of cards that is not only fun to collect, but inspires further exploration into the lives and achievements of these trail blazers



Before & After:


Dell Darling
Champion Base Ball Catcher
W.S. Kimball Champions (N184)


Connie Mack
Spearheads


Hardie Henderson
Champion Base Ball Pitcher
W.S. Kimball Champions (N184)


Albert Goodwill Spalding
Spearheads


E.A. Burch
Champion Base Ball Fielder
W.S. Kimball Champions (N184)


John Montgomery Ward
Spearheads


Tip O’Neill
Champion Base Ball Batter
W.S. Kimball Champions (N184)


George Wright
Spearheads



Card Reverses:

Connie Mack
2013-2014

Albert Goodwill Spalding
2013-2014

John Montgomery Ward
2013-2014

George Wright
2013-2014


Connie Mack
2016 to present

Albert Goodwill Spalding
2016 to present


John Montgomery Ward
2016 to present

George Wright
2016 to present




Size, Weight, Design, History & Status:

  • Dimensions: 1.75″ x 3″
  • Thickness: 24 pts
  • GSM: 300
  • Complete Set: 4 cards
  • Inspiration: 1887 W.S. Kimball Champions of Games and Sports (N184)
  • Designed: March, 2013
  • Introduced: May, 2013
  • Completed: May, 2013
  • Current Status: Active
  • Current Frequency of Release: On average, one of each card per year