His first card was actually a minor league issue. Bruce Bochy looks a LOT different on that card, issued in the 1970s when he was a young catcher hoping to reach the big leagues. He spent parts of eight seasons in the majors before becoming a coach and eventually a manager with the Padres and Giants. Winning three World Series in San Francisco has put him on a … [Read more...]
1974 Topps Puzzles Were a One and Done
Long before video games, Topps was often the go-to choice for kids entertainment and it usually wasn't sophisticated. They went interactive with the 1974 Topps Puzzles issue, one designed to while away at least a half hour or so of a youngster's summer. Today, it's among the most unusual sports products ever produced by the company and fairly rare. Topps often … [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...]
Mike Schmidt Rookie Card Last of the Vintage High Number HOFers
He's arguably one of the best to ever play third base in the majors, dazzling fans with his great glove work but also providing historically significant run production at the plate. Mike Schmidt also has another distinction: the last of the important vintage high number rookie cards. Schmidt's 1973 Topps rookie card (#615) is one he humbly shares with … [Read more...]
1974 Topps Baseball Stamps Set is Hall of Famer Heaven
Looking to lick a vintage set that includes a roster full of Hall of Famers but doesn't stick you with a hefty bill? You might consider the 1974 Topps Stamps issue. Lightly regarded for, well, being stamps, the 240-player set otherwise has everything collectors generally like. Packaging and Distribution The '74 set wasn't Topps' first stamp rodeo. They had … [Read more...]
Vintage Fleer Issues Focused On Former Stars, Teams
In 1963, Fleer produced a set of cards hoping to challenge Topps, which was the only mainstream producer of baseball issues. However, a lawsuit by Topps ended Fleer's hopes of creating sets featuring current players. Finally by the early 1980s, Fleer won the court fight to be allowed in the baseball card game with current players. However, the company didn't keep … [Read more...]
Dimes for Decor: 1972 Topps Posters
Searching for baseball card-related products beyond the annual Topps set was often a tough task prior to the mid-1970s. The 1972 Topps Posters set wasn’t traditional but it did serve the purpose of getting youngsters to fork over more dimes and quenched what seemed to be a never-ending desire of American youth to put posters in their room. Topps was all about the … [Read more...]
1977 Kellogg’s Set Highlighted By New Players, Design Changes
For the eighth consecutive year, Kellogg's produced a baseball card set for collectors with cards being included in its popular boxes of cereal. While much remained the same from previous years, an infusion of a few big name players and continued design changes helped the 1977 Kellogg's issue stand out from prior releases. 1977 Kellogg's Basics Kellogg's stuck with its … [Read more...]
Eddie Murray’s First Cards Go Beyond Topps Rookie
At the time he hit his 500th home run on September 6, 1996, Eddie Murray was just the 15th player in history to reach the milestone. Murray, though was more than just a power hitter. He won three Silver Slugger Awards, three Gold Gloves and collected 3,255 hits in a career that lasted from 1977 to 1997. Eddie Murray rookie cards began appearing in 1978 and unlike most … [Read more...]
Editor’s Blog: Recalling the Frenzy of 1979 Topps Test Comics
The card companies issue multiple sets per month these days. The sport doesn't even have to be in season for some new product to hit the market. That's not exactly a revelation. The flood of products really began in the 1990s. The contrast between modern era and the world of collectors of current releases back in the late 1970s is mind-boggling and one unique, one-and-done … [Read more...]