When you think of Cracker Jacks, you might think of the 7th inning tune “Take Me Out to the Ballgame”.
“Take me out to the ball game,
Take me out with the crowd.
Buy me some peanuts and cracker jack,
I don’t care if I never get back,”
Well, in 1914 and 1915 the Cracker Jack company decided to replace the toy inside with cards.
Measuring 2 inches by 3 inches, Cracker Jack Baseball cards are larger than most familiar tobacco and caramel card sets of the era. Often known for their E145-1 designation, they are some of the most sought-after cards of the deadball era.
On the front of the card is the player’s name, city, and league association.
You may notice on some cards the addition of a Federal League.
The federal league only lasted for 2 years in 1914 and 15. Although short lived, it did leave an impact on Baseball. The Chicago Whales (A Federal Team) home stadium was the legendary Wrigley Field. The same field used by the Cubs today.
With regards to cards, Cracker Jacks lined up with both years of the league’s operation. Having a Federal League card is a great way to own a piece of baseball history. You can find HOF players like Joe Tinker and Mordecai Brown among the 42 federal cards in the set.
Joe Tinker – Chicago Whales
Mordecai Brown – St. Louis Terriers
The card backs feature the card number, biography of the player, and an ad specifying that there are 144 cards in the complete set.
In 1914, the cards were distributed in Cracker Jack boxes which made them prone to staining. Most contain discolorations from the snack that accompanied them.
The following year, Cracker Jacks had an option to buy a whole set. These cards have an upside down back and don’t have staining issues. That’s one of the reasons why the 1914 CJs have a premium price.
Key Cards
Joe Jackson #103
One of the most iconic cards in the set is the Joe Jackson. His official rookie card is from 1909, but many flock to this card as it’s one of his best pictures.
Jackson didn’t have a T205 or T206.
He only had a few more cards after this release before being banned from baseball.
Due to the lack of cards during his playing day and the low pop of the release, this card is expensive. Especially when you get to mid to high grades which are nearly impossible to find.
Ty Cobb #30
Ty Cobb is always a popular subject matter in every set he’s in; easily being the best player to represent the dead ball era.
His Cracker Jack card is often used in images depicting famous cards of the era alongside the 1916 Babe Ruth Rookie and 1933 Goudey Nap Lajoie.
Christy Mathewson #80
Christy Mathewson was one of the three best pitchers of the dead ball era. Cracker Jacks used two different designs for Matthewson in 1914 and 1915. Which makes both highly collectible.
1914 uses a horizontal design of him pitching while 15 uses a portrait shot.
The 14 is much rarer, having a total PSA pop of 32. The 1915 has 118 graded.
Walter Johnson #57
Walter Johnson was the most dominant pitcher during the deadball era. The Big Train put up video game numbers the year before when he won the Triple Crown and MVP.
He won 36 games, with a 1.14 ERA, 243 strikeouts, and an insane 259 ERA+.
Like Cobb, many collectors want any playing day Walter Johnson available to purchase.
Honus Wagner #68
The 1914 Cracker Jack Honus Wagner is a much more affordable option compared to his T206. While both have about the same pop report, you can subtract two digits from the T206 price.
The CJ is one of Wagner’s last cards before he hung up his spikes in 1917.
Eddie Plank #6
Like Honus Wagner, Eddie Plank has a super expensive T206 card. Rumors are that a printing plate broke and halted production of his card.
Plank’s CJ card is desired by those who collect HOF players and can’t afford his short printed T206 card.
Grover Cleveland Alexander #37
The 1914 Fatima and Cracker Jack are some of the earliest baseball cards of Grover Cleveland Alexander.
During his HOF career he would win 373 games, 3 triple crowns, and 5 ERA titles.
1914 Cracker Jack Checklist
144 Card Checklist
1 Otto Knabe
2 Frank Baker
3 Joe Tinker
4 Larry Doyle
5 Ward Miller
6 Eddie Plank
7 Eddie Collins
8 Rube Oldring
9 Artie Hoffman
10 Stuffy 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 Joe Wood
23 Charles Comiskey
24 George Mullen
25 Michael Simon
26 Jim 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 Cleveland 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 John 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 Babe 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 John Boehling
73 Max Carey
74 Frank Owens
75 Miller Huggins
76 Claude Hendrix
77 Hughie Jennings
78 Fred Merkle
79 Ping Bodie
80 Ed Ruelbach
81 Jim Delehanty
82 Gavvy Cravath
83 Russ Ford
84 Elmer E. Knetzer
85 Buck Herzog
86 Burt Shotton
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 Thomas Seaton
101 Frank Schulte
102 Ray Fisher
103 Shoeless Joe Jackson
104 Vic Saier
105 Jimmy Lavender
106 Joe Birmingham
107 Tom Downey
108 Sherry Magee
109 Fred Blanding
110 Bob Bescher
111 Jim Callahan
112 Ed Sweeney
113 George Suggs
114 George Moriarty
115 Addison 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 Steve Evans
129 Ray Caldwell
130 Ivey Wingo
131 George Baumgardner
132 Les Nunamaker
133 Branch Rickey
134 Armando Marsans
135 Bill Killefer
136 Rabbit Maranville
137 William Rariden
138 Hank Gowdy
139 Rebel Oakes
140 Danny Murphy
141 Cy Barger
142 Eugene Packard
143 Jake Daubert
144 James C. Walsh
