1996-2000 Rare Danbury Major League Baseball Chess Set

The item up for sale is an absolute, one-of-a-kind instant family heirloom piece... The Baseball Chess Set !   This set is missing 8 pieces of the original 32 pieces, which can easily be picked up on Ebay to complete your set.  A complete chess set recently sold for $1160.00 at a Robert Edward Auction.  This set is 75% complete.  However, I have included doubles of 6 of the 24 included pieces so the set is completely playable with the inclusion of just 2 more pieces.      

This set was produced by The Danbury Mint in conjunction with The Sporting News in the mid-90's. In it, the greatest legends of baseball come to life in expertly detailed, hand painted chess pieces!

When the Danbury Mint originally offered this item, it was attainable only in monthly purchases of $22.90 per figure, plus applicable tax charges. Thus, at two figures every other month (player and pawn), it took the purchaser 32 months to attain, and the board was shipped (for free) at the end. Total cost over the 32 months would have been $732.80 + tax!  Needless to say, that was nearly a decade ago, and this set is no longer in print, and is available to you , in one lot, at one time. This is the perfect gift for any baseball fan, chess fan, collector, or person wishing to establish a tradition or solidify a wonderful heirloom for generations to come. Don't miss out; you can own this item today !

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to e-mail me. The board is included, as are 30 (24 diff.) of the 32 pieces.

To provide you with more information about this exquisite product, the majority of the text from the pamphlet included with the chess set can be found below. 
The Danbury Mint Presents...The Baseball Chess Set!

They are the immortals of the game...and to many, the greatest sport heroes who ever lived. Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Ty Cobb, Ted Williams, Jimmie Foxx, Walter Johnson and Yogi Berra...the royalty of the American League.

They are joined by Stan Musial, Rogers Hornsby, Willie Mays and Carl Hubbell... the cream of the crop of the National League.

Now these titans of the game take the field against each other! The Danbury Mint proudly presents... The Baseball Chess Set, 30 magnificently crafted chess pieces!
The greatest of the greats!

When you acquire The Baseball Chess Set, you will own chess pieces portraying the greatest players in the history of the game. To be included in this collection, a player had to meet strict selection criteria established by distinguished panels from Major League Baseball and The Sporting News. 

This is a great set that was very hard to collect from 1996 to 2000. There are 24 pieces of the 32 included, + 6 doubles to facilitate the immediate enjoyment of this set, including the ball players & prawns with a great hardwood Chess board with storage space underneath. It measures 17" X 17" & 2 1/4" deep. This was a hard set to collect. Each piece is authentic in detail & cast from solid metal & hand burnished finish by the Danbury Mint. It is 1 of their alltime great collectibles. Each piece sold for $22.90, + tax and was expected to grow in value. Would make a great gift or club item. Check it out!!!

The game of chess is often cited as a metaphor for managing a baseball game and here is a chance to put that symbolism to the test with the exclusive collector's edition Baseball Chess Set from The Danbury Mint. Offered only to registered subscribers, this spectacular set features a magnificent handcrafted hardwood board (17 x 17 x 2.25 inches) along with thirty (24 different) individually painted pieces depicting the legends of the American and National Leagues. Perfect for library or den display, Hall of Famers including Ruth, Williams and Gehrig, come to life in these intricately detailed, meticulously sculpted solid metal pieces. The set was fully licensed and presented in conjunction with Major League Baseball and The Sporting News. To collect the entire set required considerable patience and dedication to the project. For those determined baseball and chess enthusiasts, two pieces were sent every other month at a cost of $22.90 each + tax. Collecting the entire set took nearly three years to complete.   Although contemporary by collecting standards, the elaborate ordering process, the limited offering, superb quality, and official licensing earmark this set as a potential "Future Classic." Just as a chess set, this set is worth having, and it makes for a great display. We find it almost curious that the chess set is virtually absent from guides and even discussions of modern collectibles. This one is simply not on the radar of collectors. We like this set. Aesthetically stunning and handcrafted with care, this is a beautiful chess set and an exquisite and very overlooked modern production.   This set is missing 8 pieces, which can easily be picked up on Ebay to complete your set.  Missing pieces are Hank Aaron(King), Jackie Robinson(rook), Roy Campanella(knight), National League Logo(queen), Giants(pawn), Dodgers(pawn), Braves(pawn) and Cubs(pawn).   Jackie Robinson and Roy Campanella (a knight & rook) are replaced in this set with another Rogers Hornsby and Carl Hubbell, the other knight and rook.  The Giants, Dodgers, Braves and Cubs pawns are replaced by 2 more Phillies pawns and 2 more Reds pawns which look identical except for the team name. The aquisition of the Henry Aaron (National League King) and the National League logo (Queen) would make this set completely playable while you collect the last 6 pieces.  This set has been played/displayed so some wear but just an unbelievable addition to anyones baseball memorabilia collection.