1948 Leaf Satchel Paige #8

Quick Value Summary

Condition	Estimated Value
Raw/Ungraded (presentable)	$3,000 - $8,000
PSA 1 (Poor)	$5,000 - $10,000
PSA 2 (Good)	$10,000 - $18,000
PSA 3 (VG)	$30,000 - $45,000
PSA 4 (VG-EX)	$45,000 - $65,000
PSA 5 (EX)	$55,000 - $80,000
PSA 6 (EX-MT)	$70,000 - $100,000+
PSA 8 (NM-MT)	$89,000+ (only 5 exist, none higher)

Values based on PSA auction data, Heritage Auctions results, and eBay sold listings through early 2026.

The Story Behind the Card

In 1948, the Leaf Gum Company of Chicago did something nobody else had done since World War II: they produced a full-color baseball card set. While Bowman had released a modest set that same year, Leaf went bigger, bolder, and more colorful. The result was the 1948-49 Leaf Baseball set, a 98-card collection that would become one of the most significant postwar issues in the hobby.

Card #8 in that set belongs to Leroy Robert "Satchel" Paige.

Paige was already a living legend before this card existed. He had spent over two decades dominating the Negro Leagues, beginning with the Chattanooga Black Lookouts in 1926. His fastball was so devastating that Joe DiMaggio once called him "the best and fastest pitcher I've ever faced." He would routinely showboat during games, sometimes telling his outfielders to sit down before striking out the side. He once intentionally walked the bases loaded just so he could strike out Josh Gibson, widely considered the greatest power hitter in Negro League history.

But the major leagues were closed to Black players until Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in 1947. Paige had wanted to be the one to integrate baseball. As he wrote in his autobiography: "Signing Jackie like they did still hurt me deep down. I'd been the guy who'd started all that big talk about letting us in the big time."

When Cleveland Indians owner Bill Veeck finally signed Paige in July 1948, Satchel was 42 years old, making him the oldest rookie in Major League Baseball history. It didn't matter. He went 6-1 with a 2.48 ERA and three shutouts in seven starts, helping the Indians win the World Series that year.

The timing of his MLB debut is exactly why this card exists and why it matters so much. This was the first mainstream trading card ever produced of Satchel Paige. For a man who had been arguably the most famous pitcher in America for two decades, having no trading card until age 42 tells you everything about the era he played in.

The Set: What You Need to Know

The 1948-49 Leaf set is fascinating for several reasons. The cards measure 2-3/8" by 2-7/8" and feature players against vividly colored solid or two-tone backgrounds. Player names appear below the photo in a colored box. The backs include biographical information, a brief write-up, and an ad for All-Star Baseball Gum.

Here is the critical detail for collectors: the set is skip-numbered from 1 to 168, but only 98 cards were actually produced. Leaf may have done this deliberately to keep kids buying packs looking for cards that didn't exist. Or perhaps future series were planned but scrapped when Bowman locked up player contracts.

Even more important: roughly half the set was severely short-printed. The Paige card is one of these short prints, making it substantially rarer than many other cards in the set. The Jackie Robinson (#79) gets more attention in some circles, but collectors who have studied population data note that the Paige is actually harder to find.

There is an ongoing debate about whether this is technically a 1948 or 1949 set. The cards carry both 1948 and 1949 copyright dates, and nearly all card backs reference the 1948 season, suggesting they were printed in 1949. Most price guides list them as "1948 Leaf" or "1948-49 Leaf."

The set includes three known variations: Gene Hermanski (with and without the final 'i'), Cliff Aberson (two different sleeve lengths), and Kent Peterson (red cap vs. dark cap). None of these involve the Paige card.

Identification Guide

Card Front:

• Colorful illustration of Paige, not a photograph (the entire set uses hand-colored images that can appear somewhat crude by modern standards)

• Solid or two-tone colored background

• "SATCHEL PAIGE" printed below the image

• Card number #8

Card Back:

• Biographical data and a short write-up

• 1948 copyright date from Leaf Gum Co., Chicago

• Advertisement for All-Star Baseball Gum

• Wrapper redemption premium offer

Card Size: 2-3/8" x 2-7/8" (slightly smaller than modern cards)

Key Authentication Points:

• The card stock should have a specific feel and weight consistent with late-1940s production

• Colors should show the characteristic slightly off-register printing common to the set

• The back printing should be crisp with period-appropriate ink

Value by Condition

The 1948 Leaf Satchel Paige is a five-figure card in virtually any condition. As of early 2026, PSA has graded approximately 197 examples total, and only five have reached NM-MT 8, with none grading higher.

PSA 1 (Poor): Even at the lowest grade, expect to pay $5,000 to $10,000. Cards at this level typically show heavy creasing, staining, or paper loss, but they are still highly sought after simply because they are authentic examples.

PSA 2 (Good): $10,000 to $18,000. Significant wear but structurally intact.

PSA 3 (VG): Around $40,000 based on recent sales tracked by Old Sports Cards. This is where the market has the most data points, with 22 copies at this grade (about 11.2% of the population).

PSA 4-5 (VG-EX to EX): $45,000 to $80,000. Mid-grade examples are scarce enough that prices can vary significantly based on eye appeal.

PSA 6 (EX-MT): $70,000 to $100,000+. Very few examples exist at this level.

PSA 8 (NM-MT): A PSA 8 sold for $89,087 through Goodwin & Company in February 2015. Heritage Auctions has described their offering of a PSA 8 as the first time such a grade had ever appeared at public auction. Only five copies exist at this grade, and none have been graded higher by PSA or SGC.

Ungraded: Raw cards in presentable condition (roughly PSA 2-3 equivalent) trade in the $3,000 to $8,000 range, though the spread is wide depending on the specific condition issues.

PSA's total auction sales for this card across all grades exceed $2.4 million, giving you a sense of the cumulative market activity.

Authentication and Fakes

Given that even low-grade examples sell for thousands of dollars, counterfeits are a real concern. Here is what to watch for:

Reprints: The most common issue. Several reprint sets of 1948 Leaf cards have been produced over the decades. Reprints typically have brighter, more uniform colors and smoother card stock. Authentic cards show the slightly rough printing quality of 1940s production. Forum members at Freedom Cardboard note that Leaf reprints "are not the easiest to spot" for beginners.

Card Stock Test: Authentic 1948 Leaf cards have a distinct feel. The cardboard is slightly thinner than modern cards and has a texture that differs from reprints. Side-by-side comparison with a known authentic card is the most reliable test.

Color Registration: Original cards frequently show slight color misregistration, where the printed colors don't perfectly align. Reprints tend to have cleaner registration.

Professional Grading: For a card at this value level, professional authentication is essentially mandatory. PSA and SGC are the most recognized grading services for vintage baseball cards. Budget $50 to $150+ for grading fees depending on the declared value and service level.

Buy the Holder: Always purchase from established auction houses (Heritage, Robert Edward Auctions, Goldin, PWCC) or from listings with clear photos of the grading label and card. Verify the certification number on the grading company's website before purchasing.

Where to Sell

For a card worth $5,000 to $89,000+, your selling venue matters enormously.

Major Auction Houses (Heritage, REA, Goldin): Best for high-grade examples (PSA 4+). Buyer's premiums typically run 20% to 25%, which means the hammer price is what you receive minus any seller's fees. Heritage Auctions charges sellers 0% to 10% depending on the consignment terms. For a card worth $40,000+, this is likely your best option.

PWCC Marketplace: Specializes in sports cards. Seller fees range from 0% to 10% depending on the sale method (auction vs. fixed price vs. vault).

eBay: Viable for lower-grade examples. eBay charges approximately 13.25% in fees (final value fee) for sports trading cards. For a $10,000 sale, that is about $1,325 in fees. eBay offers broad exposure but less curation than specialist auction houses.

Private Sales: Through dealer networks or collector forums. No platform fees, but you need to know the market well to negotiate fairly.

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