The 1970s were a quirky time for baseball card collectors. There were so many oddball choices: scratch-off s, 3-D, comics, posters, cloth stickers, Supers, Pin-Ups, stamps and puzzles and magazine panels. And that’s just from Topps. Perhaps one of the more unusual offerings is the 1973 Topps Candy Lids. This oddball set was part of a tub of bubble gum that weighed .095 … [Read more...] about 1973 Topps Candy Lids Offered Sweet Chance For Collectors
food issues
Major Stars, Larger Set Make 1962 Bazooka An Attractive Issue
The 1962 Bazooka set was the fourth set of baseball cards produced by the chewing gum company. It not only included the largest number of players at the time, but it featured the biggest names in baseball. 1962 Bazooka Baseball Basics As was the case in previous Bazooka issues, the individual blank-backed cards measured approximately 1 3/4" x 2 3/4" and were part of … [Read more...] about Major Stars, Larger Set Make 1962 Bazooka An Attractive Issue
1980 Burger King Sets Included HOFers, Champs
It was fun while it lasted. Topps and Burger King had produced hyper-regional card sets for three years (1977, 1978 and 1979) but just before two other companies joined the bubble gum card fray and changed the hobby forever, they rolled out two final sets. In the final part of our four-part overview, we take a look at the Burger King baseball sets of 1980. 1980 Topps Burger … [Read more...] about 1980 Burger King Sets Included HOFers, Champs
1960 Armour Coins Knowledge Buoyed by ‘Popcorn Bucket’ Auction
The summer of 1960 brought with it the third and last series of Armour Coins. The 1960 MLB season was the final year of 16 clubs and the end of the 154-game schedule. In the American League, Mickey Mantle was in the process of hitting 40 homers while Roger Maris driving in 112 runs and becoming MVP. In the NL, Ernie Banks would hit 41 dingers and Hank Aaron would drive in 126. … [Read more...] about 1960 Armour Coins Knowledge Buoyed by ‘Popcorn Bucket’ Auction
1978 Burger King Sets Marked Promotion’s Expansion
From 1977-1980, one of the world's most popular fast food chains produced sets of baseball cards. Distributed on a regional basis and produced by the Topps Company, they were similar to the mainstream cards that came with bubble gum during those years. However, there were some pose variations and, of course, different numbering on the 1970s Burger King sets. We've got a … [Read more...] about 1978 Burger King Sets Marked Promotion’s Expansion
1959 Armour Coins Set Checklist a Bit of a Mystery
After kicking off a three-part series with the 1955 Armour set last month, Armour expert Dr. Phil Garrou is back with a look at the meat company's second issue, one which came four years later. The summer of 1959 brought with it the second series of Armour Coins. By 1959 the Dodgers and Giants had moved to California and the Armour coins had only Ford and Turley , both … [Read more...] about 1959 Armour Coins Set Checklist a Bit of a Mystery
1977 Burger King Yankees Cards Kicked Off Four-Year Promotion
Let's face it - some of the later 1970s Topps baseball card sets aren't credited for being all that popular from an aesthetics point of view. However, if you're a 1970s and early 1980s collector and looking for a little bit of a twist, the 1977, 1978, 1979, and 1980 Topps Burger King baseball card sets might fit the bill. What are they? In a nutshell, they are … [Read more...] about 1977 Burger King Yankees Cards Kicked Off Four-Year Promotion
Walmart, Topps Team Up for New Baseball Card Promotion
If you’re among those who’ve been clamoring for more food issue sets in the hobby, clamor no more. Marketside Pizza baseball cards have arrived. Well, if your local Walmart has them, anyway. Look for the specially-marked boxes before you head to the checkout. There were a small number of sightings late last week but the promotion is just now cranking up nationwide. The … [Read more...] about Walmart, Topps Team Up for New Baseball Card Promotion
Review: New Standard Catalog Is Eclectic And Thorough
The just-released fifth edition of the “Standard Catalog of Vintage Baseball Cards” remains a sturdy reference guide for collectors. Packed into 696 pages are more than 250,000 values for cards issued between 1863 and 1980, with most broken down into three conditions (near mint, excellent and very good). In the book, cards are organized alphabetically and then by year, and … [Read more...] about Review: New Standard Catalog Is Eclectic And Thorough
1971 Bazooka Baseball Set Marked End of Era
Bazooka Gum's 13-year run of card sets ended in 1971, but not without an air of mystery. The 1971 Bazooka baseball set is actually a two-headed monster. Again created for placement on the back of Bazooka boxes which were filled with penny pieces of bubble gum, the set consists of 36 unnumbered cards, produced on 12 panels of three players each. However, there is also a … [Read more...] about 1971 Bazooka Baseball Set Marked End of Era