A fresh generation of kids grew up in the 14-year break between the last Dixie Lid baseball set of the 1930s and the first of the 1950s. In between, America fought World War II and a new set of stars came to the forefront. Dixie Lids were again found on the underside of the little cups of ice cream that were produced by various dairy companies. The revival began … [Read more...]
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Huge High-Grade 1950s Find Includes Crazy Haul of HOFers
It's the kind of find that will make a vintage card collector drool. Someone inherits a stash of 1950s baseball cards but doesn’t want them. You can tell they came from the original collection of a kid from the 1950s, because even the superstar cards like Ted Williams have rubber bands bundled around them. Dealers buy 1950s era cards from the public on a regular basis … [Read more...]
PSA 10 1956 Topps Roberto Clemente at Auction
The only 1956 Topps Roberto Clemente card graded as a PSA 10 is on the auction block. The second-year card of the Hall of Fame outfielder was listed on eBay Sunday. As of Tuesday afternoon, the high bid had reached $95,600. Where it will end when the auction closes March 14 is hard to predict. One of the four ’56 Mickey Mantles graded PSA 10 sold last August … [Read more...]
Kahn’s Baseball Cards Had A 15-Year Run
For 15 years, fans who loved hot dogs and baseball had a chance to collect an annual set of trading cards. Based in Cincinnati, Kahn's baseball card sets started with only Reds players but the company later expanded its checklists to include players from teams in areas where its products were sold. Here's an overview of the history of the Kahn's issues. Kahn's … [Read more...]
Johnston Cookies Braves Cards Had Three-Year Run
For three years from 1953 through 1955, Wisconsin-based Johnston Cookies produced Milwaukee Braves baseball cards with their product. Here's a special look at the string sets distributed by the manufacturer. Background While the Johnston Cookies cards were first printed in 1953, the company's roots began long before that. According to the Milwaukee County Historical Society, … [Read more...]
Vintage Set Break of the Week: 1956 Topps
1956 Topps is a sweet victory lap issue. Having just won the bubble-gum war by buying out its chief competition, the ’56 Topps issue showcases beautiful dual-image cards, featuring a portrait and an in-action shot. The artwork jumps off the cards of a design, favorited by many collectors. The set contains some variations, but the basic set consists of 340 cards (excluding … [Read more...]
Should the 1959 Home Run Derby Set Be Labeled a 1960 Issue?
The following is an excerpt from collector Brian Powell's new CD book 'Never Cheaper By the Dozen', a look back at giveaway baseball card sets issued with food and through other promotions from 1947-1971. His chapter on the Home Run Derby set issued in conjunction with the TV show produced in the late 1950s yields a little more light on this somewhat rare issue that had … [Read more...]
Vintage Set Break of the Week: 1957 Topps
The 1957 Topps baseball set was a landmark issue. It was the first set made from player photographs and also the largest gum card set to date at over 400 cards. Although the '50s photography left many images appearing excessively dark, the white borders and classic stadium backdrops have made it a favorite of collectors for decades. The set is anchored by Mickey Mantle, … [Read more...]
1952 Tip Top Bread Set a True Rarity
Any talk of Mickey Mantle’s earliest rare cards usually starts and stops with the debate over the 1952 Topps #311 and his ‘true’ rookie card in the 1951 Bowman set. Mantle collectors will tell you those are a breeze if you’ve got the cash but if you want a true challenge, try finding a 1952 Tip Top Bread Mantle for sale or auction. PSA and SGC have graded only seven … [Read more...]
Vintage Set Break of the Week: 1959 Topps
To most collectors, the 1959 Topps set was an upgrade in terms of design from the 1958 issue. The lower case font was definitely different and so were the round pictures surrounded by bold-colored backgrounds. Mickey Mantle's card was in the first series, meaning kids didn't have to wait long to pull the popular slugger's card from packs. Hall of Fame pitcher Bob Gibson's … [Read more...]
