When thinking about the history of baseball cards in the post-war era, Topps is the name that will most often come to mind. The company has issued baseball cards for decades and while other companies have joined in, Topps has been the longest-running producer of baseball cards. While the company's 1952 Topps set with the iconic Mickey Mantle card is often heralded as its … [Read more...]
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1933 W574 Set an Oddball Strip Issue
Most strip sets of baseball cards from the pre-war are kind of quirky and the W574 issue certainly fits that bill. These black and white cards are among the later strip cards that were produced in the pre-war era and have several interesting characteristics. Here's a closer look at this interesting 1930s set. W574 Strip Card Basics Believed to have been issued in 1933, the … [Read more...]
1960 Tacoma Giants Set Featured HOFer Juan Marichal’s First Card
The 1960 Tacoma Giants boasted three future Hall of Famers, a former World Series hero and a member of a famous baseball family who had a career average of .307 in the major leagues. The squad was a Triple-A minor league affiliate of the San Francisco Giants, and to welcome Pacific Coast League baseball back to the City of Destiny, 3-inch by 5-inch cards were sold at … [Read more...]
1981 Topps Baseball Capped A New Era For Cards
Baseball cards in 1981 entered a new era. Competition was alive and well again, and it was important for Topps to produce a product that would be superior to longtime rival Fleer and newcomer Donruss. It was a turbulent time for Topps as it ended a long and winding legal road. That led to competition from the other two companies, but it also spurred Topps to produce a … [Read more...]
1971 Topps Super Baseball Set Ended Brief Era
It was one of many ideas drummed up by Topps decades ago to create more sales. There had been pins, stand-ups, posters, stamps and glossies. For two years, the company gave its standard cards the super size treatment, creating sets that filled up a good chunk of the shoebox. The 1971 Topps Super baseball set would be the end of the brief experiment. … [Read more...]
Broadleaf/Cycle Shortprints are the Keys to the T207 Set
Issued in 1912, the T207 release is a different kind of tobacco baseball card set. We've written about the set here before and, personally, it's a favorite of mine. From the dark and mysterious aesthetics and somewhat odd player checklist, it's significantly different than most other tobacco sets from the same time period. The set is difficult to complete for any number of … [Read more...]
Short 1920 W520 Strip Card Set Full of Surprises
The 1920 W520 strip card set has a total of only 20 cards. Despite that, it's one of the more, shall we say, odd strip issues out there. Here's a closer look at this somewhat interesting set. W520 Strip Card Basics As stated, a total of only 20 cards are found in the W520 strip card set. That's certainly a bit on the short end but not really all that odd for strip card sets. … [Read more...]
1959-1961 Morrell Meats Dodgers Were Big League
Dodger fans who opened their morning newspaper in southern California on April 30, 1959 probably read about Johnny Podres of the Phillies beating his old team. The Dodgers were in the midst of a grueling 17-game early season road trip across the country as their second season in Los Angeles unfolded. In another part of the paper, fans learned of a new promotion that … [Read more...]
1925 W504 Strip Cards Featured Four Teams
The W504 Strip Cards set is not quite as well known as some others. But given the roster and rarity, it's difficult to understand why it isn't more celebrated. Here's a closer look at this release that is somewhat difficult to find. W504 Strip Card Basics Believed to have been printed in 1925, these unique cards include black and white player images. These strip cards were … [Read more...]
1955 Topps Doubleheaders Have Pre-War Roots
Forty-four years after smokers of Mecca cigarettes pulled them out of packs, Topps reincarnated the interactive design for a "double folders" set of its own. The 1955 Topps Doubleheaders set was the company's first sidebar baseball issue and continues to be popular with collectors of vintage cards. 1955 Topps Doubleheaders Basics Topps Doubleheaders were issued with … [Read more...]
