It had been ten years since the glory days of the Milwaukee Braves but Eddie Mathews, whose career began in the early 1950s when most teams still traveled by train, was still swinging on the night of July 14, 1967. In the Houston Astros lineup after a trade from the only franchise he’d ever known, Mathews climbed to a summit only six other players in history had reached … [Read more...]
1952 Bowman Baseball: Underrated Elegance
When old baseball card collectors gather around their shoe boxes full of rubber-band-bound stacks and conversation turns to the greatest sets of the post-War era, as it inevitably does, the predictable run of iconic issues fills the air: 1951 Bowman, 1952 Topps, 1953 Topps and Bowman. Sandwiched among these heavyweights of the hobby, maybe the 1952 Bowman set … [Read more...]
Recapturing Memories: The Hunt for 1957 Topps
Long-time broadcaster John Clemens takes the Editor's Blog for a spin, recalling memories of a special set and the hunt to rebuild it. The year was 1957 and death was not coming easy for Grandpa Baynes who had come to live with us so he could be closer to his doctors. As a boy about to turn 13 I had to be very respectful and not make a lot of noise when my friends came … [Read more...]
Connie Mack’s 1950 Book Promotion Included 4-Card Set That’s Rare Today
In 1950, Hall of Fame manager Connie Mack released a book about his baseball career titled, "My 66 Years in the Big Leagues." The book chronicled his famous career from a 19th century player to iconic skipper. To help promote the book, a special set of baseball cards was produced. It's one of those obscure issues that's unknown to a lot of collectors today. Seventy … [Read more...]
Kahn’s Promoted its Baseball Cards in 1950s, 60s Newspapers
As baseball card food issues go, it was an impressive run. While Kelloggs released an unbroken string of baseball (and some football) sets in the 1970s and 80s, Kahn's Wieners card sets were regional issues that required a lot of hot dog eating to collect. The Cincinnati-based company issued baseball card-oriented promotions from 1955 through 1969 and as our … [Read more...]
At 90, Thomas Using Autograph to Help Kids with Cancer
The “original” Frank Thomas, who hit 35 home runs and drove in 109 runs for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1958, is still around, still signing autographs and still helping youngsters. Thomas played for six teams during the 1950s and 60s, amassing 286 homers as a teammate of players like Roberto Clemente, Frank Robinson and Hank Aaron. His ’58 season landed him on the cover … [Read more...]
Packs of Sports Cards Were Once a Grocery Enticement
Ever since tobacco companies used them as collectible package stiffeners for fragile boxes of cigarettes, baseball cards have been inserted into consumer products. They've been in smokes, soda, snack cakes and razor blades--just to name a few. Sometimes, though, the promotion went between their traditional home inside bubble gum card packs and the food products that … [Read more...]
1950s Mother’s Cookies Cards Depicted West Coast’s “Major Leaguers”
In 1952 and 1953, west coast-based Mother's Cookies issued two sets of baseball cards as a spring and summer promotion for their products. Here's a closer look at these unique sets of minor league players. 1950s Mother's Cookies Basics While the brand may not have been familiar to most consumers east of the Rockies, Mother's Cookies issued bakery products from 1914 until … [Read more...]
5 Bargains Found in the Massive 1947-66 Exhibit Set
The 1947-66 Exhibit cards have long been known for providing bargains to collectors. The set includes more than 300 cards with some of baseball's biggest stars and picked up where the 1939-46 Salutation Exhibits left off. Like those cards, many of the 1947-66 Exhibits are priced modestly and that includes those of the top players. Here are some of the bargains to be found in … [Read more...]
1950 R423 Cards are Small in Size but Full of Stars
Across the wide spectrum of the hobby, collectors will find baseball cards printed in all shapes and sizes. But one of the smallest sets of cards ever created is a relatively oddball issue from 1950. Today, we know this set mostly as the R423 set. 1950 R423 Set Overview The 1950 R423 set is made up of 120 very small baseball cards. The cards were issued in 13-card … [Read more...]