• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Get Sports Collectors Daily via EMail
    • Advertise with SC Daily
    • Write for Sports Collectors Daily
    • Write About Your Sports Collection
    • Where Can I Sell My Baseball Cards?
  • Hot on eBay
    • Most Watched Graded Rookies
    • Most Watched PSA 10 Cards
    • Most Watched BGS, BVG Cards
    • Most Watched SGC Cards
    • Most Watched CSG,CGC Cards
    • Most Watched Baseball Cards
      • Most Watched 2023 Baseball Cards
      • Most Watched 2022 Baseball Rookie Cards
      • Bowman Chrome Cards
      • Ronald Acuna Jr. Cards
      • Shohei Ohtani Cards
      • Mike Trout Cards
      • Fernando Tatis Jr. Cards
      • Babe Ruth Cards
      • Hank Aaron Cards
      • Jackie Robinson Cards:
      • Mickey Mantle Cards
      • Willie Mays Cards
      • Vintage Baseball Card Sets
      • T206 Cards
    • Most Watched Basketball
      • Top 100 Most Watched Basketball Rookie Cards
      • 100 Hottest 2022-23 NBA Rookie Cards
      • 100 Hottest 2021-22 NBA Rookie Cards
      • 100 Hottest 2020-21 NBA Rookie Cards
      • 100 Hottest 2019-20 NBA Rookie Cards
        • Zion Williamson Rookie Cards
        • Ja Morant Rookie Cards
      • Michael Jordan Cards
      • Kobe Bryant Cards
      • LeBron James Rookie Cards
      • Nikola Jokic Rookie Cards
      • Giannis Antetokounmpo Cards
      • Luka Doncic Rookie Cards
      • Prizm Basketball Cards
      • Panini National Treasures
    • Most Watched Football Cards
      • Most Watched NFL Rookie Cards
      • 2022 NFL Rookie Cards
        • Brock Purdy Rookie Cards
      • 2021 NFL Rookie Cards
      • 2020 NFL Rookie Cards
        • Joe Burrow Rookie Cards
        • Justin Herbert Rookie Cards
        • Jalen Hurts Rookie Cards
      • Josh Allen Rookie Cards
      • Patrick Mahomes Rookie Cards
      • Tom Brady Cards
    • Most Watched Hockey Cards
      • Top 100 Most Watched Hockey Rookie Cards
      • Most Watched 2021-22 NHL Rookie Cards
      • Most Watched 2020-21 Rookie Cards
      • Most Watched 2019-20 Rookie Cards
      • Connor McDavid Cards
      • Wayne Gretzky Cards
      • Bobby Orr Cards
    • Most Watched Soccer Cards
    • Most Watched UFC Cards
    • Most Watched Golf Cards
    • Most Watched 1 of 1 Cards
    • Most Watched Racing Cards
    • Top Sports Card Dealers on eBay
    • Most Watched Memorabilia
      • Vintage Sports Memorabilia
    • Vintage Sports Tickets, Stubs
    • Most Watched Autographs
  • Ending Soon on Ebay
    • Baseball Cards
    • Basketball Cards
    • Football Cards
    • Hockey Cards
    • Soccer Cards
    • Golf Cards
    • UFC Cards
  • Top - Ad

Sports Collectors Daily

Sports Collectors Daily

Sports collecting news - Sports cards and sports memorabilia industry news.

When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network. 

  • Sports Memorabilia News
  • Sports Card News
    • Modern Sports Card News
      • New Sports Card Release Calendar
      • Shop Talk
    • Vintage Sports Card News
      • Affordable Vintage Cards, Collectibles
      • Old Baseball Card Sets
      • Old Basketball Card Sets
      • Old Football Card Sets
      • Old Hockey Card Sets
      • Vintage Pack Facts
  • Business/Industry News
    • Sports Memorabilia Business News
    • Sports Memorabilia Industry News
  • Around The Hobby
    • Editor’s Blog
    • David Cycleback’s Identification and Authentication Advice
  • Popular Stories
  • Sell Your Cards
You are here: Home / Rich Klein's Ramblings / Ramblings: Dreaming of the Cards That Might Have Been

Ramblings: Dreaming of the Cards That Might Have Been

August 30, 2015 By Rich Klein

Today, as usual I was letting my mind wander and realized a great topic would be cards you wish covered events or featured players at certain times in their career but were not issued for one reason or another.  I’m not referring to players who signed with one company or another during Topps versus Bowman contract wars of the 1950s or similar situations such as Ted Williams landing with Fleer in the late 50s.  What I was dreaming about were sort of missed opportunities that, in retrospect, would have been possible—and great to own today.Rich Ramblings 2014

We’ll begin with Reggie Jackson in 1968. Was Jackson not under contract with Topps at that point, or did Topps just forget to include him In their set?   We know he’d been a high-profile college star who quickly ascended to the big league roster with the Oakland Athletics near the end of the 1967 season.  He was playing just about every day and by early 1968, he was established as the A’s starting right fielder where he would remain into the mid-1970s.  Considering other prospects who were either featured on the two-player ‘Rookie Stars’ cards or, like Manny Sanguillen with approximately 96 at-bats, got their own card, it’s always a shock to realize Topps could have had Reggie in the 1968 set. Instead, his “rookie card” didn’t arrive until his third year in the big leagues.

Ernie Banks Topps photo negative 1972
Ernie Banks Topps photo negative 1972

Another group of lost opportunities would have been final “ceremonial” cards for players such as Hank Aaron, Willie Mays or Stan Musial, among others. Players who were incredibly famous and had announced their retirement the previous season would have still be on the mind early in the next season.  While cards were aimed at kids and printing cards of retired players wasn’t on the agenda, perhaps to avoid confusion or simply to stick with tradition, a card with complete career stats on the back would have been great to see from a historical perspective.  Ernie Banks was a Cubs’ coach following his retirement in 1971 and although Topps didn’t do coach’s cards, we know they shot photos of Ernie in spring training during the 70s because they’ve sold some of them in their Vault auctions.

For many years, Topps featured detailed highlights of each World Series game. Sure enough, the first time in many years that did not occur was the 1976 Topps set with just a brief recap of the 1975 World Series.  With the base of adult and teen collectors now growing and the incredible popularity the 1975 World Series had, I know I was very disappointed at the lack of detail given to that phenomenal Reds-Red Sox series when the 1976 Topps set was released.  I suppose it could have been a timing issue.  With the Series ending later in the season and Topps now producing all of its cards in one series, I suppose the deadlines came too fast to get really creative with events that happened in late October.  But how cool would it have been to see cards of Luis Tiant running the bases in Game 1 or Carlton Fisk jumping for joy in Game 6?  Heck, they could have done an entire subset on Game 6.

View image | gettyimages.com

There were a lot of ‘Season Highlight’ type cards in the 1970s, but not so much in the 60s.  Sandy Koufax perfect games, Willie Mays home run milestones or even Mickey Mantle’s 500th homer on Mother’s Day would have made for great cards. We would have included the no-hitters and other fun events and think about the great history which could have been forever captured on primary source cardboard sets.  Yes, I know, many of these great highlights were eventually available on cards issued much later but think about how cool those cards would have been with some 20-20 hindsight and historical foresight.  Today, with so many memories captured on a day-to-day basis we might lose sight over what is truly important but back then, the event usually overshadowed the actual record.

And how amazing is it that as we approach the final month of the 2015 season both Texas teams, who were both prognosticated to be at the bottom of their division were actually competing for playoff spots?  And we’ll throw in the Mets over the Washington Nationals as well. While we won’t know until the conclusion who really makes the playoffs,  cards of Cole Hamels in a Rangers uniform or Mike Fiers no-hitter as an Astro down the stretch give us a living history today we only sort of had way back when. And if Hamels tosses another no-hitter this year imagine how cool a “split-screen card” would be.

Cards have always been a great way to recall players and moments from the past and card companies should always remember how important those touchstones can be when they sit down to design and chronicle what happens on the field for collectors today—and tomorrow.

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Reddit
  • Facebook Messenger

Related Stories:

1978 burger king topps alan trammell card1978 Burger King Sets Marked Promotion’s Expansion Bobby Thomson's 1951 'Shot Heard 'Round the World'Ramblings: Post-Season Moments That Begged for Baseball Cards Terry Owens -Hulk HoganRamblings: Recalling Look-Alikes and Cardboard Rumors Hal Jones 1962 ToppsRamblings: Readers Write on 1962 Backs, Rare Cards, Trivia Cowboys police set Doug DonleyRamblings: Show Notes and Successful Dealers Ramblings: Reader Reaction Ramblings: Sometimes It’s Not the Dealer’s Fault Bill Skowron 1961 Topps SPRich Klein’s Ramblings: Tracking Scarcities

Filed Under: Rich Klein's Ramblings Tagged With: Cards That Never Were, Carlton Fisk, Ramblings, Reggie Jackson

Primary Sidebar

Our articles may contain affiliate links. When you click on links to merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network. 

Shop Sports Cards on Ebay
  • Football
  • Basketball
  • Baseball
  • Hockey

High End Cards and Memorabilia

  • BBCE Authenticated Boxes, Packs opens in a new window
  • Graded pre-War Card eBay Auctions
  • PWCC Premier Auction
  • PWCC Fixed Price Marketplace
  • Graded Rookie Cards on eBay opens in a new window
  • Authenticated Photos on eBay opens in a new window
  • Graded Tickets & Stubs opens in a new window

Bargain Corner

  • Michael Jordan cards $5 and less opens in a new window
  • Kobe Bryant cards $5 and less opens in a new window
  • Mickey Mantle Cards Under $150 opens in a new window
  • Graded T206 Cards Under $150 opens in a new window
  • Pre-War Cards Under $100 opens in a new window
  • Pre-1980 Graded Baseball Cards $10 and Less opens in a new window
  • Pre-1980 Graded Football Cards $10 and Less opens in a new window
  • Vintage Graded Basketball Cards $25 and less opens in a new window
  • Vintage Graded Hockey Cards $10 and Less opens in a new window
  • Complete Sets $20 and Less opens in a new window
  • Baseball Hall of Famers for $5 or Less opens in a new window
  • Football Hall of Famers for $5 or Less opens in a new window
  • Hobby Boxes Under $30 opens in a new window
  • Pre-1986 Rookie Cards Under $1 opens in a new window
  • Buy Boxes Directly from Topps opens in a new window

RSS Auction Report

  • Pristine Auction October 2023 Daily, Weekly and Featured Auctions
  • Alt Liquid Auctions Current Auction Ends October 12, 2023
  • One of a Kind Collectibles Rare Autograph & Document Auction Ends October 12, 2023

Footer

Categories

  • Around the Hobby
  • Business/Industry News
    • Sports Memorabilia Business News
    • Sports Memorabilia Industry News
  • David Cycleback's Identification and Authentication Advice
  • Editor's Blog
  • Featured Articles
  • Hobby Shop Talk
  • National Sports Collectors Convention
  • Popular Stories
  • Rich Klein's Ramblings
  • Sports Card News
    • Modern Sports Card News
      • New Sports Card Release Calendar
    • Vintage Sports Card News
      • Old Baseball Card Sets
      • Old Basketball Card Sets
      • Old Football Card Sets
      • Old Hockey Card Sets
      • Vintage Pack Facts
  • Sports Memorabilia News
  • Uncategorized

Sponsor Links

  • Sports Card Forumopens in a new window
  • Buying Vintage Sports Cardsopens in a new window
  • Game Used Jerseysopens in a new window
  • Championship Rings For Saleopens in a new window
  • Vintage Basketball Cardsopens in a new window
  • NBA Signed Itemsopens in a new window
  • Autographed Baseballsopens in a new window
  • NASCAR Autographsopens in a new window
  • Vintage Graded Baseball Cardsopens in a new window
  • Player Picturesopens in a new window
  • Vintage Football Cardsopens in a new window
  • Sports Collectors Storeopens in a new window

Pages

Ending on eBay Soon
  • Baseball Card Auctions on eBay Ending Soon
  • Basketball Card Auctions on eBay Ending Soon
  • Football Card Auctions on eBay Ending Soon
  • Hockey Card Auctions Ending Soon on eBay
  • Vintage Sports Memorabilia on eBay Ending Soon
Top 100 on Ebay
  • Top 100 Most Watched Baseball Rookie Cards on eBay
  • Top 100 Most Watched Basketball Rookie Cards for Sale on eBay
  • Top 100 Most Watched Hockey Rookie Card Auctions
  • Top Authenticated Vintage Unopened Sports Card Boxes, Packs on eBay
Most Watched on eBay
  • 100 Most Watched Graded Rookie Cards for Sale on eBay
  • 100 Most Watched Tom Brady Card Auctions on eBay
  • 50 Hottest Hobby Boxes at Auction on eBay
  • 50 Most Watched Golf Trading Cards on eBay
  • 50 Most Watched Wrestling Trading Cards on eBay
  • 75 Most Watched Bowman Chrome Cards
  • Most Popular Bobbleheads on eBay
  • Most Watched 1/1 Cards on eBay
  • Most Watched Basketball Cards on eBay
  • Most Watched Complete Baseball Card Sets at Auction on eBay
  • Most Watched Football Cards on eBay
  • Most Watched Football Rookie Card Auctions
  • Most Watched Goudey Baseball Cards on eBay
  • Most Watched Hockey Cards on eBay
  • Most Watched Racing Cards on eBay
  • Most Watched Soccer Cards for Sale on eBay
  • Most Watched Sports Autographs on eBay
  • Most Watched Sports Jerseys on eBay
  • Most Watched Unopened Sports Card Boxes, Packs on eBay
  • Most Watched Vintage Sports Memorabilia on eBay
  • Hottest Panini National Treasures Cards on eBay
  • Hottest PSA 10 Cards for Sale on eBay
  • What’s Hot on eBay
Sports Memorabilia
  • Sports Card Bargain Bin
  • Sports Memorabilia Auctions Ending Soon on eBay
About Sports Collectors Daily
  • Advertise with SC Daily
  • Contact Us
  • Get Sports Collectors Daily via EMail
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
Sell Your Cards
  • What’s It Worth
  • Where Can I Sell My Baseball Cards?

Copyright © 2023 SportsCollectorsDaily.com | Web Design by Wickam Groupopens in a new window