This weekend, a 16-member Modern Baseball Era Committee will gather to consider nine players and one former executive for induction to Cooperstown. Obviously, Hall of Fame election tends to mean a boost for a player’s rookie cards. As of now, all but the highest graded examples of most of the players’ cards are inexpensive. With results due to be announced Sunday at … [Read more...]
Vintage Pack Facts: 1973 Topps Baseball Was Year of Change
After producing its largest set ever in 1972, Topps scaled back to a 660-card set in '73 and was in the midst of a landmark change in how its flagship set was created, delivered and collected. The whole process was a bit of an experiment. This week's edition of Vintage Pack Facts from VintageBreaks.com looks at how Topps marketed its first set of the "660 … [Read more...]
1973 Topps Comics ‘Test’ Set an Unreleased Rarity
Of all of the various Topps “test” issues, the 1973 Topps Comics set is one of the company’s most unique, most rare, most mysterious and most colorful issues. Chances are you don’t have any in your collection. Don’t feel bad. Few do. If you do have one—or more—you’ve got a truly rare piece of collecting history. Topps created numerous sets that had either a … [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...]
Editor’s Blog: Boyhood Photos Subsets Challenged Topps Execs
Years ago, before we had early access to what would be in the new sets of baseball cards, newly opened packs offered the first revelation of some of the little subsets and creative touches that were included. Who knew that the 1971 set would have such a unique look? Who could have guessed that some players would have “extra” cards in 1972 when the “In Action” cards … [Read more...]