This is card #311 from the iconic 1955 Bowman baseball set — one of the hobby's most beloved vintage releases, instantly recognized for its distinctive "Color TV" design that framed each subject inside a vintage television set. Lawrence J. Goetz was a veteran National League umpire entering his 20th consecutive season of service in 1955, making this one of the rare umpire cards from the set — a specialized niche that attracts a dedicated collector base. Card #311 also falls in the high-number series (#261–320), which was produced in smaller quantities and is genuinely harder to find than low-number cards from the same set.
The back tells a great story — Goetz started his career calling games in the Blue Grass League in 1920 while working at the Cincinnati post office, and worked his way up through the minor league ranks before landing in the National League in 1936. He is pictured in his umpire's uniform with the "Color TV" frame intact and vibrant. A genuinely scarce piece of baseball history from 70 years ago.
| Grade | VG-EX (Raw / Ungraded) |
| Centering | Off-center left/right (~65/35) — visible but not severe |
| Corners | Light to moderate wear — softened on all four corners, most noticeable top-left and bottom-right |
| Surface | Clean — no creases, no scratches, no writing. Print grain consistent with the 1955 Bowman set. |
| Back | Very clean and bright — no writing, no stains, text fully legible, orange Q&A insert intact |
Condition was evaluated with the assistance of AI image analysis. While every effort has been made to assess accurately, AI may make mistakes — all photos show the exact card you will receive and represent the final word on condition. Questions about condition are always welcome before purchase.
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