1950s Topps
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Topps joined the sports cards market in the 1950s becoming a rival to Bowman. After competing with each other for five years Topps bought out Bowman in 1956. Competition still remained however, in the form of Parkhurst hockey cards. Topps produced cards of the United States based National Hockey League teams while Parkhurst covered the Canadian teams. Topps had produced multi-sport photo cards prior to 1950, namely the 1948 Topps Magic Photos but each set was very small and not considered a major set[1] . This trend was consistent with their first baseball and college football issues: the 1950 Feltbacks resembled college pennants; 1951 Magic football included a scratch-off game on the reverse; Red/Blue Backs intended to be a card game; Connie Mack/Current All-Stars are foldable stand-ups. It was in 1952 that Topps released their first truly major card set. The 1957 Topps set featured dimensions of 2-1/2 by 3-1/2 inches which has become known as the standard card size. Below is a list with brief descriptions of Topps trading card products for the 1950s.
Contents |
[edit] Baseball
| Year | Set | Quantity | Size(in.) | Distribution1 | Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1951 | Blue Backs | 52 | 2 x 25⁄8 in (5.1 x 6.7 cm) | Wax (2), Rack (all) |  |
| Red Backs | 52 | 2 x 25⁄8 in (5.1 x 6.7 cm) | Wax (2), Rack (all) |  |
|
| Connie Mack All-Stars | 11 | 21⁄16 x 51⁄4 in (5.2 x 13.3 cm) | Wax (1), Rack (#) | ||
| Current All-Stars | 8 | 21⁄16 x 51⁄4 in (5.2 x 13.3 cm) | Wax (2), Rack (#) | ||
| Team Cards | 9 | 21⁄16 x 51⁄4 in (5.2 x 13.3 cm) | Wax (2), Rack (#) | ||
| 1952 | Topps | 407 | 25⁄8 x 33⁄4 in (6.7 x 9.5 cm) | Wax (1,6), Cello(#) |  |
| Master set | 487 | 25⁄8 x 33⁄4 in (6.7 x 9.5 cm) | Wax (1,6), Cello(#) | ||
| 1953 | Topps | 274 | 25⁄8 x 33⁄4 in (6.7 x 9.5 cm) | Wax (1,6), Cello(#) |  |
| 1954 | Topps | 250 | 25⁄8 x 33⁄4 in (6.7 x 9.5 cm) | Wax (1,6), Cello(15) |  |
| Canadian | 50 | 25⁄8 x 33⁄4 in (6.7 x 9.5 cm) | |||
| 1955 | Topps | 206 | 25⁄8 x 33⁄4 in (6.7 x 9.5 cm) | Wax (1,6), Cello(15) |  |
| Double Header | 66 | 21⁄16 x 47⁄8 in (5.2 x 12.4 cm) | Wax (1) | ||
| 1956 | Topps | 340 | 25⁄8 x 33⁄4 in (6.7 x 9.5 cm) | Wax (1,6), Cello(15) |  |
| Pins | 60 | 13⁄16 in (3 cm) diameter | Box (1) | ||
| 1957 | Topps | 407 | 2.5 x 3.5 in (6.4 x 8.9 cm) | Wax (1,6), Cello(12) |  |
| 1958 | Topps | 494 | 2.5 x 3.5 in (6.4 x 8.9 cm) | Wax (1,6), Cello(12) |  |
| Master set | 534 | 2.5 x 3.5 in (6.4 x 8.9 cm) | Wax (1,6), Cello(12) | ||
| 1959 | Topps | 572 | 2.5 x 3.5 in (6.4 x 8.9 cm) | Wax (1,6), Cello(12) |  |
| Bazooka | 23 | 213⁄16 x 415⁄16 in (7.1 x 12.5 cm) | Box Panel (1) |
1 Pack type(card quantity) # indicates varying quantity
[edit] Licensed Sets
From 1959, Topps started distributing cards in Venezuela on account of it being a viable baseball market. Significant differences from the U.S. issue include all cards being printed on both white and gray cardboard stock, 50% of the card backs having a print line which states 'Impreso en Venezuela por Benco CA,' a lack of surface gloss, and poorer cardboard quality.[citation needed]
| Year | Set | Quantity | Size (in.) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1959 | Topps Venezuelan | 196 | 2.5 x 3.5 in (6.4 x 8.9 cm) |
[edit] Football
| Year | Set | Quantity | Size (in.) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 | Felt Backs | 100 | 7⁄8 x 17⁄16 in (2.2 x 3.7 cm) | College football |
| 1951 | Magic | 75 | 21⁄16 x 215⁄16 in (5.2 x 7.5 cm) | College football |
| 1955 | All-American | 100 | 25⁄8 x 35⁄8 in (6.7 x 9.2 cm) | College football |
| 1956 | Topps | 120 | 25⁄8 x 33⁄4 in (6.7 x 9.5 cm) | NFL |
| 1957 | Topps | 154 | 2.5 x 3.5 in (6.4 x 8.9 cm) | NFL |
| 1958 | Topps | 132 | 2.5 x 3.5 in (6.4 x 8.9 cm) | NFL |
| Topps CFL | 88 | 2.5 x 3.5 in (6.4 x 8.9 cm) | CFL | |
| 1959 | Topps | 176 | 2.5 x 3.5 in (6.4 x 8.9 cm) | NFL |
| Topps CFL | 88 | 2.5 x 3.5 in (6.4 x 8.9 cm) | CFL | |
| Bazooka | 18 | 213⁄16 x 415⁄16 in (7.1 x 12.5 cm) | NFL |
[edit] Basketball
| Year | Set | Quantity | Size (in.) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1957-58 | Topps | 80 | 2.5 x 3.5 in (6.4 x 8.9 cm) | NBA |
[edit] Hockey
- 1954-55 Topps- See Main Article 1954-55 Topps Hockey
The following sets each total 66 color cards and measure the standard 2.5 x 3.5 in (6.4 x 8.9 cm). The players in these sets are from the four U.S. based teams of the NHL. Bilingual backs(English/French) feature previous season statistics, a short player biography and a cartoon question and answer section.
- 1957-58 Topps
- 1958-59 Topps
- 1959-60 Topps
[edit] Boxing
1951 Topps Ringside
Topps' only boxing issue came out in 1951 and was called 'Ringside'. The set featured current and former boxing stars as well as wrestlers. The set totals 96 color cards with biographical information on the back. Some of the cards depicted a championship belt above the athlete's name indicating their weight class and year(s) they held the title.
[edit] Multi-sport
1948 Topps Magic Photos (R714-27)
This set contains 252 small individual cards featuring sport and non-sport subjects. They were issued in 19 lettered series with cards numbered within each series. The 'magic' of the cards were the fact that they came out of the pack blank until the image was revealed by moistening the surface and applying the developing agent which was supplied by the wrapper in a one cent pack or a piece of orange mystery paper supplied in the five cent packs. The subsets by group letter are: A Boxing Champions, B All-American Basketball, C All-American Football, D Wrestling Champions, E Track & Field Champions, F Stars of Stage & Screen, G American Dogs, H General Sports, I None issued, J Movie Stars, K Baseball Hall of Fame, L Aviation Pioneers, M Famous Landmarks, N American Inventors, O American Military Leaders, P American Explorers, Q Basketball Thrills, R Football Thrills, S Figures of the Wild West, T General Sports. Size: 7⁄8 x 17⁄16 in (2.2 x 3.7 cm)
1956 Hocus Focus
The second issue of Magic Photos came in 1956. This set was similar in that it was a series of subsets featuring various sports and non-sport subjects. Among them are aircraft, buildings, world leaders, actors, submarines, automobiles, and famous landmarks. Size: 7⁄8 x 17⁄16 in (2.2 x 3.7 cm)
[edit] Non-sport
The sets listed below cover a variety of subject matter from Television and Movie personalities to Cars and Planes. Topps' offerings for non-sport sets were not limited to cards. A number of the issues were tattoos, stamps, coins and the well known Bazooka Joe and Archie Comics. Set information is listed here by Year, Set Name, Quantity of Cards(#), and the card's Dimensions in inches.
1950 Bring 'Em Back Alive (100) 2-1/16 X 2-5/8
1950 Hopalong Cassidy (238) 2-1/16 X 2-5/8
1950 Hoppy Pops Puzzles 8-1/4 square
1950 License Plates (75) 1-3/4 X 2-7/8
1950 Rudolph Pops 8-1/4 square
1950-51 Freedom's War (203) 2-1/16 X 2-5/8
1951 Animals of the World (100) 2-1/16 X 2-5/8
1952 Look 'N See (135) 2-1/16 X 2-15/16
1952 Wings (200) 2-5/8 X 3-3/4
1953 Fighting Marines (96) 2-1/16 X 2-15/16
1953 License Plates (75) 1-7/8 X 3-3/4
1953 Tarzan & The She Devil (60) 2-5/8 X 3-3/4
1953 Tarzan's Savage Fury (60) 2-5/8 X 3-3/4
1953 Who-Z-At Star (80) 2-5/8 X 3-3/4
1953-55 World On Wheels (180) 2-5/8 X 3-3/4
1954 Scoop (156) 2-1/16 X 2-15/16
1955 Funny Foldees (66) 1-3/16 X 1-9/16
1955 Rails and Sails (200) 2-5/8 X 3-3/4
1956 Davy Crockett (160) 2-5/8 X 3-3/4
1956 Davy Crockett Tatoos 1-9/16 X 3-1/2
1956 Elvis Presley (66) 2.5 X 3.5
1956 Flags of the World (80) 2-5/8 X 3-3/4
1956 Jets (240) 2-1/16 X 2-15/16
1956 Round-Up (80) 2-5/8 X 3-3/4
1956 U.S. Presidents (36) 2-1/2 X 3-3/4
1957 Goofy Series Post Cards (60) 2.5 X 3.5
1957 Hit Stars (88) 2.5 X 3.5
1957 Isolation Booth (88) 2.5 X 3.5
1957 Planes (120) 2.5 X 3.5
1957 Robin Hood (60) 2.5 X 3.5
1957 Space Cards/Target: Moon (88) 2.5 X 3.5
1957-58 Archie Comics (~30) 2-3/4 X 3-5/8
1958 T.V. Westerns (71) 2.5 X 3.5
1958 Zorro (88) 2.5 X 3.5
1958-59 Popeye Tatoos 1-9/16 X 3-1/2
1959 The Fabulous Fabian (55) 2.5 X 3.5
1959 Funny Valentines (66) 2.5 X 3.5
1959 Wacky Plaks (88) 2-1/2 X 4-5/8
1959 Woody Woodpecker Tattoos 1-9/16 X 3-1/2
1959 Funny Monsters (66) 2.5 X 3.5
1950s Famous American Heroes (18) 7/8 X 1-3/8
1950s Bazooka Joe
[edit] Confections
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Please help improve this article or section by expanding it. Further information might be found on the talk page or at requests for expansion. (September 2008) |
[edit] External links
[edit] References
- ^ "The Battle for Football Card Supremacy Begins: A Look at the 1950 Bowman Football Set - PSA Library". Psacard.com. Retrieved on 2008-09-06.
- Beckett, Dr. James et al (2002). "Beckett Baseball Card Price Guide". Beckett Publications-Dallas, Texas ISBN 1-930692-17-X
- Churilla, Jim (2007-08-29), The Battle for Football Card Supremacy Begins, http://www.psacard.com/articles/article_view.chtml?artid=5071&universeid=314&type=1. Retrieved on 13 December 2007
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