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On the Player:
Arthur “Artie” Wilson was one of the premier shortstops of the Negro American League. He starred for the Birmingham Black Barons and was a seven-time All-Star. In 1948, Wilson won the Negro American League batting title with a .433 batting average and .500 on-base percentage.
Wilson was already an established veteran with Birmingham when a teenage Willie Mays began his professional career with the Black Barons, and Wilson is remembered for helping guide the young Mays during those formative years.
Wilson moved to the Pacific Coast League in 1949, splitting the season between San Diego and Oakland. Across 165 games he collected 211 hits, scored 129 runs, and stole 47 bases. In 1950, with Oakland, Wilson played 196 games and recorded 265 hits, 168 runs, 27 doubles, 17 triples, 31 stolen bases, and a .313 batting average.
He later appeared with the New York Giants in 1951 before continuing a lengthy Pacific Coast League career with Oakland, Seattle, Portland, and Sacramento. Baseball Reference credits Wilson with 1,319 hits over 10 minor-league seasons, in addition to his recognized Negro League and major-league record.
On the Set:
The 1950 Remar Bread Oakland Oaks issue is part of a six-year series of regional bakery cards produced for the Oakland Oaks from 1945 through 1950. Collectively, the Remar issues are classified as D317 in the American Card Catalog, with the 1950 set generally identified as D317-5.
Only team cards were issued in 1945 and 1948, while individual-player sets were produced in 1946, 1947, 1949, and 1950. The 1950 set contains 27 cards, each measuring approximately 2 1/8\" x 3 1/8\".
The fronts are printed in black and white and feature the player’s name, Oakland Oaks team designation, and position in a white panel along the bottom. The backs include Remar Baking Co. advertising, a loaf-of-bread illustration, and player statistics or biographical information.
The 1949 and 1950 issues can be distinguished in part by the statistics shown on the reverse: 1949 cards generally present 1948 statistics, while 1950 cards generally show 1949 statistics. This Artie Wilson card follows that pattern.
These were Northern California regional bakery issues tied to the Oakland Oaks and the Pacific Coast League, rather than nationally distributed baseball cards. This is therefore an Oakland Oaks/PCL card featuring a player with an important Negro League career, rather than a Negro Leagues-issued card itself.
Condition Summary:
The card has strong overall eye appeal with a clear photographic image. It shows moderate corner and edge wear consistent with age, along with light surface and border toning. No major crease is readily apparent. Please review the front and back images carefully, as they form an important part of the condition description.
