1954 Quaker Oats Sports Oddities card #10 – Chicago Blackhawks
At the 2011 National Sports Collectors Convention, I found cards that I’ve never seen before, including this. Issued by Quaker Oats in 1954, the Sports Oddities set features illustrations on the front and an unusual sports story on the back.
The left half of the card front is a cool action painting of a Chicago Blackhawks player – clad in the old “barber pole-style” uniform – slamming on the breaks, spraying ice everywhere. A goalie who, based on his orange and yellow jersey, appears to be with the Philadelphia Blazers (I know, wrong era, wrong league) sprawls out to make a stick save.
And to the right, we have a boring political illustration. But what do the ‘Hawks have to do with politics?
The card back explains how the two are linked:
If the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League are superstitious about Election Day, they have ample reason. On Election Day in April, 1934, the Hawks won the final game in the Stanley Cup series for their first world title, making it three games won and one lost. Exactly four years later, the very same thing happened. On Election Day in April, 1938, the Blackhawks won again – and again they did it by the same margin, three games to one! It’s Odd but True!
The Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup on April 10, 1934 and again on April 12, 1938. Coincidentally, both of those days were Election Day in Chicago.
The bottom of the card states that “Sports Oddities cards come only in Quaker Puffed Wheat and Rice.” But that isn’t entirely true. Kids could send in two box tops and 15 cents to get the complete set.
Special thanks to Nigel Sellars for his help with this story. ■
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I said it before and I'll say it again. That card is awesome!
Its stuff like this that makes this hobby interesting
Very cool card Sal!
Found it in a box at my dads
What is the value of this card?
I think I paid $15 for this one.
I think in this case the election date in reference is for Chicago city hall elections, which generally are in April. I can check this out, but I suspect that’s the connection.