For this week’s final installment on Topps vintage cartoon artwork, I’ll show pieces that were used more than once, and others that probably shouldn’t have been used at all. I’ll conclude the 3-part series with a couple noteworthy cartoons and leave you with some mysteries to ponder. Oh yeah, and if you missed part 1 or part 2, feel free to read either or both before heading … [Read more...] about Topps Baseball Cartoon Artwork – Part 3: Say What?
1970's baseball cards
SC Daily Contributor Roy Carlson’s Work Honored by SABR
Sports Collectors Daily contributor Roy Carlson has been honored with a 2024 Baseball Research Award by SABR (Society for American Baseball Research). Starting in the summer of 2023, Carlson has produced a series of stories uncovering previously unknown facts about vintage Topps baseball card photos, including team cards, background images and more. His good … [Read more...] about SC Daily Contributor Roy Carlson’s Work Honored by SABR
Woulda, Coulda, Shoulda: Vintage Baseball Team Photos Topps Left Out
Last August, I brought to light that Topps recycled photos on 20% of their vintage baseball team cards from 1951-1980. Then in November, I introduced a Who’s Who database highlighting players and staff featured in those 500+ cards. Now, in an effort to tie up loose ends and put a bow on this enjoyable and enlightening project, I’m sharing with readers the team photos Topps … [Read more...] about Woulda, Coulda, Shoulda: Vintage Baseball Team Photos Topps Left Out
Roll Call: All-Time Topps Vintage Baseball Team Cards Roster Revealed
A few months ago, I shared with the collecting community the identities of almost all the players and staff on over 500 Topps vintage baseball cards from 1951-1980. As a result of finding hundreds of matching photos and rosters of these teams on the internet, many intriguing findings came to light. If you missed it, I recommend you read that 8/10/23 article before reading the … [Read more...] about Roll Call: All-Time Topps Vintage Baseball Team Cards Roster Revealed
Halloween Trading Card Repacks Go Way Back
If you're of a certain age, you might remember walking down the candy aisle in the days leading up to Halloween and seeing something way better than the bags of fun size Snickers, Baby Ruths and Reese's. Resting inside a similar bag were the kind of treats collectors preferred. "Fun Bags" is what they came to be called and for the price, both dentists and collectors … [Read more...] about Halloween Trading Card Repacks Go Way Back
Mike Schmidt Rookie Card: Last of the Vintage High Number Hall of Famers
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. The long running concept that had Topps typically pushing out several different series as … [Read more...] about Mike Schmidt Rookie Card: Last of the Vintage High Number Hall of Famers
6 Cards to Recall the Career of Vida Blue
Vida Blue's Major League Baseball debut was overshadowed by something even a confident young man from Mansfield, Louisiana had to admit was a bigger deal. He first took the mound on the same night man walked on the moon for the first time, July 20, 1969. In the next few years, though, Blue would become famous in his own right, both for his memorable name and his … [Read more...] about 6 Cards to Recall the Career of Vida Blue
Lefty At 78: A Look Back At Steve Carlton’s Career Through Baseball Cards
Only four left-handed pitchers have won 300 or more games in major league history. Steve Carlton is No. 2 overall with 329 victories, trailing only Warren Spahn’s 363. No wonder Carlton was called “Lefty.” On Dec. 22, the wily southpaw celebrates his 78th birthday. Carlton is in the mix when naming the top southpaws of the post-World War II era, along with Spahn, Sandy … [Read more...] about Lefty At 78: A Look Back At Steve Carlton’s Career Through Baseball Cards
1974 Topps Deckle Edge Set Packed with Big Names
In the mid-1970s, the small fraternity of adult baseball card collectors surely began corresponding by mail and sharing long-distance phone conversations once the existence of a new set. The only place it seemed to be showing up was in a small area of New England. The 1974 Topps Deckle Edge set, as it came to be known, was one of the many 'test' issues Topps … [Read more...] about 1974 Topps Deckle Edge Set Packed with Big Names
2nd Ranked 1975 Topps Baseball Set Brings $600,000
The second ranked 1975 Topps Baseball set on PSA's Set Registry sold for $600,000 Sunday night at Goldin Auctions. While most ungraded higher quality 1975 Topps sets in can be had for under $1,000, this one required a lot of work. Painstakingly pieced together, all but two cards in the 660-card set are graded either Gem Mint 10 (308) or Mint 9 (350). Only … [Read more...] about 2nd Ranked 1975 Topps Baseball Set Brings $600,000