A celebration of Topps' 75th Anniversary with a comprehensive auction of Topps baseball items from 1948 through 2025.
TOPPS 75 TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION AUCTION
CLOSES OCTOBER 31, 2026
(845) 750-6366 | WWW.LOVEOFTHEGAMEAUCTIONS.COM
IN NEARLY 50 YEARS IN THE HOBBY, one thing I’ve discovered is that for as many different collectors as there are, there are just as many ways to collect. We all approach the hobby differently, with different goals, priorities, and things we love. Despite our different approaches, there’s one thing almost all of us have in common: we all began our journey with a pack of Topps baseball cards. Mine was in 1977. I was a young boy, and my mother bought me a couple of Topps packs to keep me busy while grocery shopping. She tried to explain what they were and what they were for, and
or without the issue – fingerprints, blemishes, ink spray, extra color (or missing color), various attempts to obscure something in the background of a photo. There are, quite literally, hundreds throughout these pages – our intent is to show you all of them, but it’s impossible to do so in this catalog. If we did, it would be hundreds of pages long! You can, however, see each on our website, where they will remain documented for as long as the website exists. Consider our website to be a companion to this catalog, both during and after the auction. You may, of course, disagree about what constitutes a “variation” – and that’s awesome. That’s
I didn’t quite understand. But once I opened that pack, an entirely new world was revealed to me – a world that still captivates me every single day. Over the years, many companies have made baseball cards, but Topps has done far more. It has documented the game, shaped a hobby, pushed its boundaries, and created many of the images that define how generations of fans remember baseball. It has innovated and experimented, set trends and followed them, taken chances, made mistakes, and continually found new ways to put baseball in the hands of its fans. These small pieces of cardboard captivated us as children and, decades later, can still take us back to a particular player, season, or moment. Other companies have made baseball cards. Topps became part of baseball. And after 75 years, it remains exactly what it has always claimed to be: The Real One. Welcome to an auction we have quietly been assembling for more than a year. It began with one fantastic collection and gradually evolved into what we think is one of the most exciting auctions the hobby has ever seen: nothing but Topps baseball cards, from its earliest output to its most recent. The auction contains the largest and most complete assortment of Topps cards we have ever seen assembled in one place. When you dive into the following pages, you’re going to see every mainstream Topps set and insert, and virtually every test and regional issue the company produced, broken down by year. There are a few things, specifically, that I’d like to point out: Chronology: There are several issues – particularly test issues – where the true date of issue either remains in question or has been proven different from what conventional wisdom indicates (i.e. “1961” Dice Game or “1972” Candy Lids). In such cases, we have listed the cards chronologically based on how they are catalogued, for ease of reference. Variations: In these pages you’ll find a host of variations, including some in large groups. Many are well-known, documented variations – errors, corrections, and various anomalies of which we’re all aware. Many more are minor printing issues that recur and can be found with
the kind of hobby discussion we love. We’re not about to take a position on this, though – we’re just presenting them to you (and be on the lookout for a full checklist we’re working on with some pals). Test Issues: Topps has, over the years, produced a host of incredible test issues – things issued on a small scale, perhaps regionally, or things that never even made it out of the lab. In these pages, we have examples of virtually every one. Sometimes the entire test issue is offered as a complete set; other times we break the cards into smaller groups or individual lots. There are sets in this catalog that, before we started researching them, I’d never heard of! Maybe you’ll find something similar – some of them are fascinating. When I was a kid, I was a voracious reader of baseball card publications. Magazines, books from the library, the Beckett Baseball Card Price Guide and later the Standard Catalog. I’d even read the advertisements in magazines to learn about cards I’d never heard of. Years later, going through these cards, I can’t help but recall those things I’d read – after running Love of the Game for 14 years, there are still so many cards I’ve never handled. This auction has truly been a treat for me, but there are some folks who provided valuable information that helped us understand much of what is in these pages. As such, it’s important for me to thank Andy Broome, Spike Glidden, Steve Hart, David Hornish, Rob Lifson, Anthony Nex, Keith Olbermann, Arthur Rich, and a host of message board posters and hobby researchers who shared their knowledge over the years, enabling us to research many of these issues. It has always been a goal of mine to put together a themed auction like this one, and I hope you enjoy what you see. It was, without doubt, the most challenging auction we’ve ever done, jam-packed with information, research, and quality images, many of which have never been seen or highlighted. It’s certainly one of the coolest auctions I’ve ever seen!
Al Crisafulli Auction Director
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AUCTION TERMS AND CONDITIONS ABOUT OUR AUCTION
10. We reserve the right to withdraw any item from the auction at any time, for any reason. This includes after the close of the auction, in the event that there are issues or questions with title, authenticity, clerical error, untimely bid, untimely payment, or other issues related to human or mechanical error. On rare occasion, and solely at our discretion, we may feel that an error does not justify withdrawing an item but that placing a confidential reserve on the item is necessary to protect our consignor. Note that this is the only instance where there will ever be a confidential reserve in our auction. 11. Love of the Game Auctions wishes to conduct a reputable auction with reputable collectors and consignors. As such, Love of the Game Auctions reserves the right to refuse to accept bids or approve bidders for any reason. Similarly, Love of the Game Auctions reserves the right to refuse or withdraw consignments for any reason, at any time. PARTICIPATION IN THE AUCTION 12. A bid is a financial commitment, and bidders are responsible for the accuracy of their bids. Once you place a bid, it cannot be retracted. If you’ve got questions about how to bid, please contact us PRIOR TO PLACING YOUR BID. Bidder error does not constitute a reason to retract bids, nor does a lack of understanding of the auction rules. You are required to read and agree to these rules prior to placing a bid. If you have a question, please ask before bidding. YOUR BIDS MAY NOT BE RETRACTED UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES. Your bid is binding and cannot be retracted. This includes max bids. If you have questions about condition, or specific questions about an item in the auction, please contact us before you place a bid. Inspections of lots by special appointment is available up to 5:00 PM the Thursday prior to the auction close. Contact us for details. 13. Bid increments are as follows: LAST BID BID INCREMENT $0-49 $5 $50-199 $10 $200-999 $25 $1000-2499 $50 $2500-4999 $100 $5000-9999 $250 $10,000-34,999 $500 $35,000-74,999 $1000 $75,000-99,999 $2000 $100,000+ 5% 14. “Max” or “Ceiling” bids can be placed on any lot. They must conform to the proper bidding increment based on a lot’s high bid at the time such a bid is placed. In the event of a tie between bids, the earlier bid received will be recognized as the winning bid. This is especially important with respect to “Max” bids and “straight” bids, because if a bidder places a “straight” bid equal to a “max” bid left by someone earlier, the “max” bid will be considered the winner. 15. We cannot see max bids. We do not have access to max bids in any way. If you choose to leave a max bid, we will not know the amount of that bid. We do not have a fancy brand name for this; we just call it “integrity.” It should go without saying. 16. Consignors may not bid on their own materials. Love of the Game Auctions reserves the right to cancel any bid should we believe that bid was made by a consignor, or representative of a consignor, bidding on his/her own materials. We reserve the right to decline consignments for the same reason, at any point before, during, or even after the auction, if we believe a consignor or his proxy is placing bids on his lots. Love of the Game Auctions is the sole arbiter of this decision, and by participating in the auction, both bidders and consignors agree to this.
ABOUT OUR AUCTION 1. This auction is conducted by Crisafulli Ventures, LLC, doing business as Love of the Game Auctions. The auction is conducted under the following rules and applicable laws. Consignors and bidders in this auction agree to be bound by these rules. By bidding or consigning, you are expressly agreeing to these terms. If you have any questions, contact us at info@loveofthegameauctions.com. 2. A buyer’s premium equal to 20% of the high bid will be added to all lots. A $100 winning bidder will thus be charged $120. Any bidder who elects to pay by PayPal will also be subject to a 5% convenience fee on the entire lot. This fee applies only to payments made through PayPal (including credit card payments made through PayPal). Note that we cannot accept “Friends and Family” payments through PayPal. 3. This auction closes using the “Double Overtime” method, with a 15-minute rule for the entire auction. In order to bid on an item during the extended bidding session beginning on the date of the auction close, you must place at least one bid on that item prior to 9:00 PM Eastern on the auction closing date. If you do not bid on it by 9PM Eastern on the closing date, you cannot bid on it afterward. To ensure that everyone gets a chance to bid, we will apply the 15-minute rule to the entire auction beginning at 9PM, with the clock resetting every 15 minutes. Bidding continues until no bids have been placed in the entire auction for a full 15 minute interval. As long as there is at least one lot that receives a bid during a 15 minute interval, the entire auction will extend for 15 minutes. Once a 15-minute interval passes without a bid on any item in the auction , the auction will close. At 1:00 AM Eastern, any item that has not received a bid for one hour or more will close without notice. The remaining items will enter “Double Overtime,” with the 15- minute rule applied to the remaining lots. NOTE: There are no exceptions to this. If an item is closed, it is closed and we cannot accept additional bids. This auction may close without notice at any time once the Extended Bidding period begins. We do not guarantee that bidders will receive a “Fair Warning” notice before the auction closes. 4. Winning bids will be subject to additional charges for packing and shipping. We do not profit from shipping. As a convenience, we offer a standardized schedule for packing and shipping, based on the total invoice amount and average package weights. This standardized schedule is $14 per invoice valued at less than $400; $18 per invoice valued between $400 and $999, $25 per invoice valued between $1,000 and $4,999; $35 per invoice valued between $5,000 and $9,999; $60 per invoice valued between $10,000 and $49,999; $85 per invoice valued between $50,000 and $99,999, and $150 per invoice valued greater than $100,000. Bidders who win three or fewer graded cards valued at less than $400 in total may request USPS First Class shipping in a padded mailing envelope for $5, provided that they assume all risk of loss or damage. Please note that shipping fees are based on weight, not value. There are exceptions to the standardized shipping schedule in instances of shipments outside the continental US, or in the instance of large, heavy or fragile items that require special packing or shipping carrier (for example, stadium seats, oversized and framed items, large lots or graded sets, or lots containing many components or requiring multiple packages), or oversized items such as bats, pennants and display items. In the case of high-value items requiring bonded, insured transport and/or transport by special carrier, the winning bidder will also pay all shipping, packing and insurance charges. ALSO NOTE THIS EXPLANATION OF HOW OUR SHIPPING WORKS:
We primarily use the USPS and FedEx for shipping, and generally adhere to the following rules: • If your package is valued at $400 or less, we ship via USPS Priority Mail. • If your package is valued above $400, we ship via USPS Priority Mail with a signature confirmation requirement, USPS Express Mail, or Federal Express, at our discretion. • Oversized packages are shipped FedEx Ground. Please note, however, that the method of shipping is AT OUR DISCRETION, and we will choose whichever method we feel best fits the item we are shipping. We pride ourselves on packaging all items very carefully and diligently, but cannot honor special packaging and shipping requests. Please bear this in mind when bidding. WE DO NOT SHIP IN PADDED ENVELOPES, EXCEPT UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCE INDICATED ABOVE. We generally ship in corrugated boxes, typically wrapped in heavy-duty bubble wrap with other ultra- protective packaging inside. Insurance is amortized over the cost, value and weight of every package we ship. Thus we cannot reduce your shipping cost. It’s expensive to ship! 5. Residents of Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Washington State are subject to sales tax on purchases unless we have a valid resale certificate on file. We reserve the right to modify our sales tax policies, even mid-auction, as the laws and our responsibilities are currently changing. 6. We accept Paypal, Zelle, Check or Money Order. We do not accept direct credit card payment, though you can pay by credit card through PayPal. There is a 5% convenience fee for PayPal payments. Zelle payments can be made to Payment at LOTGAuctions.com. By special arrangement we can accept payment by wire transfer. There is an additional fee of $10 per wire transfer under $10,000. REGISTRATION AND CONSIGNMENT 7. In order to bid, you must be a registered bidder. In order to register, visit www.loveofthegameauctions.com and complete the bidder registration. Bidders are required to provide at least one hobby reference in order to register, and registrations are approved manually by management. By “hobby reference” we are referring to a nationally- recognized sports auction house or dealer. We cannot accept individual names, message boards, chat groups or hobby organizations as bidder references. If you use eBay as your hobby reference, you must provide your eBay ID. If you use eBay as your reference, acceptance of your registration is based upon the number of recent transactions, in addition to your positive feedback rating. Please note that beginning on Thursday prior to the auction close, we cannot guarantee new registrations will be approved, as we cannot check references when other businesses are closed or otherwise unresponsive. 8. All registrants must be 18 years of age. Love of the Game reserves the right to refuse any bidder registration or any consignment, for any reason. At its sole discretion, Love of the Game may at any time place a credit limit on a bidder’s account. The credit limit represents the maximum amount a bidder can bid with LOTG at that time. Registering to bid means you agree to these terms and conditions. 9. Bids can be placed online at www.loveofthegameauctions. com by registered bidders, or by phone at (845) 750-6366. Phone bids will be made by proxy, by Love of The Game Auctions staff acting on your behalf as quickly as possible. We promise that we will execute these bids as quickly as possible but cannot take responsibility for internet bids that are placed by other users prior to executing a telephone bid. We also cannot take responsibility for busy phone signals or slow internet connections.
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AUTHENTICITY, GRADES, DESCRIPTIONS, and CAVEAT EMPTOR 31. Love of the Game Auctions makes every attempt to describe each item in our sale as accurately as possible. We do not “sweeten” or otherwise enhance any scans or images, save for general unsharp mask or image re-sizing, general white-balance or color correction of photographs, and cropping out unsightly background distractions with the magical Photoshop program. Occasionally, an item in our auction may appear differently in the catalog photograph than in person, due solely to lighting or white balance. We do not enhance scans or photographs, but we do shine light on items we are photographing, in an effort to ensure they are as visible as possible. Despite all this, subtle variations in print color, computer monitors, background lighting, and even camera and scanner settings could result in a catalog or website image not being 100% color accurate, and we make no such guarantees. We cannot accept returns due to discrepancies over color, brightness, contrast, flaws, etc. Any bidder who is unsure of an item’s true appearance is more than welcome to contact us with questions or to schedule an in-person preview or receive additional photographs. Similarly, we cannot accept returns on graded items because of a condition issue or flaw that is not addressed in the written description of an item. This includes marks, discolorations, stains, creases, wrinkles or any other defect that might not have been described in our written description or is not easily visible in the scan or photo. 32. Card grading and authenticity: We utilize the card grading service of PSA, CGC and SGC, and are authorized dealers of each. Additionally, we occasionally offer cards graded by Beckett or, on rare occasion, GAI. We use the autograph authentication services of PSA/DNA and JSA, the photo authentication services of PSA/DNA, the equipment certification services of PSA/DNA and MEARS. As stated above, we make every effort to properly represent and describe items in our auction. However, we cannot be held responsible for the opinion of a third-party grader or authenticator. As most collectors understand, opinions on grade or authenticity, while typically rendered by skilled workers with vast experience, are exactly that: opinions. We cannot guarantee that every card graded by a third- party grading service, or every item authenticated by a professional authenticator, would receive the same grade upon resubmission to a different (or even the same) grading service, nor would we guarantee that the item would receive a grade or be authenticated at all. All we can tell you is the number on the holder and the company that graded it. WHEN YOU PURCHASE A GRADED OR AUTHENTICATED ITEM FROM US, YOU ARE PURCHASING AN ITEM GRADED OR AUTHENTICATED BY THAT COMPANY. YOU ARE NOT PURCHASING THE PROMISE THAT A COMPETING GRADING COMPANY WILL RENDER THE SAME DECISION OR ANY DECISION AT ALL. All sales are final, and we do not warrant items will “cross” from one grading company or authenticator to another. This is important: if a graded card that we sell is subsequently discovered to be overgraded or altered, we cannot be held responsible. We do our best to ensure that the items we sell are as described, but we cannot be held responsible for the opinion of an unrelated party, including the accuracy of a grade and whether flaws or alterations were “missed.” We do not warrant or guarantee any item authenticated or graded by a third party. Graded and/or authenticated items are sold “as is.” THIS IS IMPORTANT: Love of the Game shall not in any way be liable for any defect (either patent or latent) or controversy pertaining to or arising from any encapsulated collectible. In any such instance, the buyer’s remedy, if any, shall be solely against the authentication or grading company certifying the collectible. All graded cards are sold “as is” with no exceptions. Your participation in the auction constitutes your acknowledgement, agreement and acceptance of this rule.
We hold all checks for 7 days. Please note that the above does not say “we hold all checks until they clear,” it says “we hold all checks for 7 days.” Our bank has advised us that the best way to avoid issues is to hold each check for 7 days. This means that on the 8th day, we make sure checks have cleared, and then we forward the invoice to shipping. This does not mean your item will be shipped right away. It means it is “ready to ship,” and is in queue with all the other packages that have been paid for. We realize this is a one-week delay, which is why we offer a variety of electronic payment methods for bidders to get their winnings more quickly. While paying by check does require some patience, we can assure you that we are still quicker than most auction houses. 23. Insurance is provided by Collectibles Insurance Services. The buyer assumes the risk of loss on all items purchased once we ship said items. Shipping carriers are chosen at our discretion. In no event and under no circumstance will the liability of Love of the Game exceed the purchase price paid for any lot. 24. We will not commit customs fraud on packages shipped outside the United States. 25. All items are purchased “AS IS” and may not be returned for any reason. No returns are permitted. 26. ALL SALES ARE FINAL. All items are offered “as is.” 27. We accept PayPal, Zelle, checks, certified checks, cash or money orders. We do not accept any other form of payment. We can, by special arrangement, accept payment by wire transfer. Wire transfers under $10,000 are subject to an additional $10 fee. We ship as soon as possible after payment in full is received. Ownership of any lot does not pass to the winning bidder until the lot is paid for in full, nor do we ship items to winning bidders without first receiving payment. 28. If a winning bidder has not honored his/her winning bid per these terms and conditions, then Love of the Game Auctions is entitled to sell the winning lot, reauction the lot, or hold the non-paying bidder responsible for the entire amount, at our discretion, with the bidder responsible for the difference between the price received at resale and the non-paying bidder’s original bid. If the item is sold for more than what the bidder owns Love of the Game Auctions, Love of the Game Auctions is under no obligation to make the difference available to the bidder, and may retain the additional proceeds. Love of the Game Auctions is also entitled to publicly disclose the names and locations of all reneging bidders, as well as any aliases or online handles. Bidding in our auction constitutes your agreement to our auction rules. As a bidder, you agree that a non-paying bidder is responsible for any and all losses incurred, plus all fees and/ or commissions related to the subsequent sale of the item(s). Reneging or nonpaying bidders are also responsible for interest charges at the rate of 2% per month for all outstanding balances until paid in full, as well as all legal fees and court costs incurred by Love of the Game Auctions in our efforts to collect their unpaid debt. In other words, if a winning bidder does not pay in full, he/she agrees to be held responsible for the value of the lot, any losses incurred as a result of having to re-sell the lot, plus interest charges of 2% per month on all unpaid balances, plus legal and court fees. HOUSEKEEPING 29. Bidder agrees to indemnify and hold harmless Love of the Game Auctions, its owners, employees, officers, agents, successors, and assigns from any claims, losses, liabilities, damages, or expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) arising out of the bidder’s participation in the auction, alleged bidding errors, or violation of these Terms & Conditions. 30. Create Auction Technologies LLC (‘Create Auction’) provides hosting, software, and platform services for this auction. Create Auction shall receive the same rights, protections, limitations of liability, disclaimers, and indemnifications granted to Love of the Game Auctions under these Terms & Conditions. All references to Love of the Game Auctions’ ‘auction site,’ ‘auction service,’ or ‘auction platform’ shall be deemed to include Create Auction Technologies LLC.
17. Our auction system generates electronic bid confirmations and outbid notices electronically and automatically. Love of the Game Auctions cannot guarantee that you’ll receive the emails or text messages, however. We recommend checking the status of your bids online periodically. 18. Occasionally, on certain high-value items, we will institute a reserve to protect our consignor. Approximately one week prior to the auction closing, we disclose the specific dollar amount of any reserves that have not been met. When we disclose the reserve, the current bid will be set to one increment below the reserve amount, and the next bid will meet the reserve. PLEASE NOTE: The reserve should be treated as a “bidder.” If you choose to leave a max bid that is greater than the reserve, your bid will automatically meet the reserve, and you will become the high bidder at the reserve price. It is our typical policy to disclose whether an item has a reserve, right in the description of that item. If the bidding meets the reserve, the item will sell. We do not permit consignors to add reserves after the auction is underway, and we will not accept a consignment with a reserve unless it is specifically agreed upon prior to the auction. 19. Love of the Game Auctions, its owner or employees are not permitted to bid on any lot in the auction, under any circumstances. Bidders are not bidding against any “house account.” There is no “house account.” 20. Unsold or unpaid lots may be privately sold or re-auctioned at our discretion. Should Love of the Game elect to pay the consignor for an unpaid lot, we take ownership of that item and can re-sell it at our discretion. 21. If, for any reason, our auction is interrupted during bidding, Love of the Game Auctions may elect to extend bidding beyond the stated closing date or time. In the case of a serious outage that we feel impacts bidding, Love of the Game Auctions may elect to take more extreme measures to ensure that bidding is fair and all bidders have had sufficient opportunities to place their bids. Such measures may include stopping all bidding and re-starting from the point of stoppage on a subsequent day, and/or pushing the scheduled auction closing to a later date, or any other remedy that we feel is appropriate. This decision is entirely at the discretion of Love of the Game, and by bidding in our auction, you agree to this. If any bidder experiences a problem bidding, they should contact us at info@loveofthegameauctions.com. PAYMENT AND DELIVERY 22. INVOICES ARE SENT OUT THE MONDAY EVENING FOLLOWING THE CLOSE OF THE AUCTION. Payment must be received on all winning bids within 14 calendar days of notification of items won. This is not negotiable, as it is important to us to pay our consignors as quickly as possible. Notifications and invoices are sent by email, except in the event that a phone bidder has no email address. These methods shall constitute “notification” of winning. It is your responsibility to check your account to see if you are a winning bidder. Any bidder not paid in full within 14 days of notification may have future bidding and consigning privileges revoked, and will be subject to legal action. Additionally, we will publish the full name and location of all reneging bidders in our printed catalog, on our website and on our social media as a reneging bidder, and we will forward your name to other auction houses for informational purposes. Should an account be late with payment more than once, it is our policy to assign a credit limit to that account. Your bidding in our auction constitutes agreement to all these rules and policies, especially this one. Payments by check or money order should be made to Love of the Game Auctions, PO Box 3931, Kingston, NY, 12402. We make every effort to ship as quickly as possible. We generally ship under a “First In, First Out” policy, meaning we ship packages in the order that payment was received, unless there are extenuating circumstances. If you make your payment by PayPal or Zelle, your payment is processed immediately and forwarded to shipping. This does not mean your item will be shipped right away. It means it is “ready to ship,” and is in queue with all the other packages that have been paid for.
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TOPPS 75 TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION AUCTION − CLOSES OCTOBER 31, 2026
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Intro........................................................................6 1948-49...................................................................8 1951.......................................................................10 1952.......................................................................16 1953.......................................................................22 1954.......................................................................24 1955.......................................................................28 1956.......................................................................32 1957.......................................................................38 1958.......................................................................40 1959.......................................................................44 1960.......................................................................48 1961.......................................................................50 1962.......................................................................52
1963.......................................................................54 1964.......................................................................58 1965.......................................................................62 1966.......................................................................64 1967.......................................................................66 1968.......................................................................76 1969.......................................................................82 Rookie Banquet Programs.................................88 1970.......................................................................92 1971.......................................................................98 1972.....................................................................102 1973.....................................................................106 1974 - 80.............................................................112 1981 - 2025.........................................................128
IMPORTANT NOTE: Customers in Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania,Virginia and Washington are subject to the appropriate state sales tax if we do not have a valid resale certificate on file.
AL CRISAFULLI – Auction Director ANDREW ARONSTEIN – Senior Operations Manager SANDY CRISAFULLI – Finance Manager TIM GALLAGHER – Consignment Director SPIKE GLIDDEN – Copywriter STEPHANIE PLOTINO KOWALSKY – Graphic Designer EVELYN MARIE ROSE – Marketing Supervisor CARY SMITH – Inventory Coordinator DAVID HORNISH – Year-by-Year Narratives
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CLOSES OCTOBER 31, 2026
TOPPS 75 th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION AUCTION H ard at the edge of a cluster of large and foreboding buildings in Brooklyn’s ironically named Sunset Park, Topps Chewing Gum, founded in 1938 by Phil, Abe, Ira and Joe Shorin, issued baseball cards, blobby looking tattoos and hundreds of other ephemeral entertainments for years out of a shabby industrial loft BY DAVE HORNISH
young consumers around the country and Topps made so much bub- ble gum over their twenty years in Brooklyn that their offices and man- ufacturing floor were noticeably sticky from the residue. Production eventually moved to Pennsylvania and the packs don’t include gum anymore, but it’s the cards that everybody wants anyway.
located in Bush Terminal. Standing next to the better-known Brooklyn Army Terminal, Topps had moved their production floor and offices into Bush Terminal Building No. 1 from three scattered downtown Brooklyn locations in 1946. Bracketed by the Gowanus Expressway to one side and Upper New York Bay to the other, they made and distributed their products amidst the noxious fumes and unrelenting clatter of an increasingly unsavory neighborhood that belied their always colorful packaging and incessant marketing. It was there Topps manufactured gum, at first aimed at adults before a postwar pivot to their world-famous Bazooka bubble gum. Shortly after their Bush Terminal move-in, they decided to start producing cards and engaged the art service of Solomon & Gel- man (Ben and Woody, respectively) to come up with innovative designs and handle pro- duction. Topps started putting little cards in some penny gum packs and saw business pick up dramatically. Such novelties helped sell their popular small confections to millions of
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COMING SOON
FALL, 2026 PREMIER AUCTION CLOSES DECEMBER 12
1948-49 TOPPS 75 TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION AUCTION
T he first Topps baseball were small postage-stamp sized cards slipped in as singles between the inner and outer wrappers of a one cent piece of bubble gum. Shortly thereafter six-card panels were introduced in a nickel pack format. Commonly known today as Magic Photos, two series of 126 cards, each covering a wide range of subject matter, were issued. The second series included a nineteen card-subset of Baseball Stars that highlighted a handful of contemporary images from the 1948 World Series plus fourteen star-studded cards, all of which depicted Hall-of-Famers. The cards included all-timers like Lou Gehrig, Christy Mathewson, and the recently deceased Babe Ruth. The Baseball Stars subset used slightly muddy black-and-white photographs with images licensed from news and photo services since Topps had no players under contract at the time. There was a twist however, as each card appeared blank until moisture (spit, or water) was applied and a special “developing paper” used to bring the image out. Despite their tiny size, they are grossly overlooked today and historically significant as the Baseball Stars subset contains the first ever Topps baseball cards. Due to the nature of the developing process, the saturation of the images can vary widely. Also, there are variations on the backs of the cards, including the nineteen Baseball Stars, most easily identified by the subset numbering either appearing under the text or rotated ninety degrees to one side.
3. 1948 Topps Hocus Focus Magic Photos One-Cent Unopened Pack and
Developing Wrapper MINIMUM BID: $150
4. 1948 Topps Magic Photo Wax Wrapper MINIMUM BID: $50
2. 1948 Topps Magic Photo #14K Lou Gehrig (HOF) - PSA AUTH MINIMUM BID: $50
1. 1948 Topps Magic Photo #6K Babe Ruth (HOF) - PSA VG-EX 4 MINIMUM BID: $250
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1948-49
TOPPS 75 TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION AUCTION
5. 1948 Topps Magic Photo Collection (16) MINIMUM BID: $100
9. 1948 Topps Magic Photo Hocus Focus Photo Album MINIMUM BID: $100
6. 1948 Topps Magic Photo #11K Honus Wagner (HOF) - PSA FR 1.5 MINIMUM BID: $100
10. 1948 Topps Magic Photo Instruction Card and Developing Papper MINIMUM BID: $50
7. 1948 Topps Magic Photo #13K Ty Cobb (HOF) - PSA AUTH MINIMUM BID: $100
11. 1948 Topps Hocus Focus Retail Advertisement MINIMUM BID: $25
8. c.1948 Topps Unopened Gum Collection (4) MINIMUM BID: $25
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CLOSES OCTOBER 31, 2026
1951 TOPPS 75 TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION AUCTION
I t took a couple of years, but Topps managed to sign up enough ball players to issue an integrated release encompassing five different sets in 1951 called Baseball Candy. While best known for its Red Back and Blue Back cards, Baseball Candy also counts Team, Connie Mack All-Star, and Major-League All- Star cards as part of an intended interlocking whole, with the latter two being die cut and condition sensitive in the extreme. In addition to penny packs that merely included a single Red or Blue Back, nickel packs holding several 2 card panels of each were released. The eleven Connie Mack All Stars were packed with the Red Backs, while eight Major League All Stars came with the Blue Backs in this configuration, along with a Team card. There was no bubble gum to be found in any Baseball Candy packs, merely an appropriate slab of individually wrapped caramel. In addition to a pair of Red Back variations involving Tommy Holmes and Gus Zernial, the nine Team cards can be found with or without the year 1950 appearing alongside each team name. The Reds and Blues were intended as distinct fifty-two card decks, designed to allow a simple baseball game to be played with them. Contractual difficulties and associated legal issues arising with their main competitor Bowman ended up killing Baseball Candy. As a result, the Blue Backs and, especially, the associated Major League All Stars are harder to find than the corresponding Red Backs and Connie Macks as they appear to have been stopped mid-production. The Teams are missing seven squads, and some short prints lurk in the series. Famously, three Major League All Stars (Roberts, Konstanty, and Stanky) were never issued in packs, becoming legendary rarities, with only a half dozen examples of each known today. The true intent of the overarching Baseball Candy brand was likely playability (a later reissue included a paper baseball diamond with partially suitable instructions), but the meaning was muddled in 1951 and remains so to this day.
12. 1951 Topps Red Backs Complete Set w/ Variations (55) MINIMUM BID: $300
15. 1951 Topps Connie Mack All- Stars Lou Gehrig (HOF) - PSA EX- MT 6 MINIMUM BID: $2,500
17. 1951 Topps Connie Mack All-Stars Grover Cleveland Alexander (HOF) - PSA VG-EX 4 MINIMUM BID: $250 16. 1951 Topps Connie Mack All- Stars Babe Ruth (HOF) - GAI EX 5 MINIMUM BID: $1,000
13. 1951 Topps Blue Backs Complete Set (52) MINIMUM BID: $500
14. 1951 Topps Five- Cent Wrapper MINIMUM BID: $50
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1951
TOPPS 75 TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION AUCTION
18. 1951 Topps Red Back Unopened Pack w/Connie Mack All-Stars and Team Cards
As Topps began looking for a stronger foothold in the industry, in December of 1950 it acquired the licenses necessary to produce and sell baseball cards with candy, for the upcoming 1951 season. The 1951 Red Backs were part of the company’s strategy - not exactly baseball cards as we know them today, but a two-player card game, pakaged and sold in a bewildering array of formats. Initially, the “red back”
The bag was designed to be torn open, the panels separated, and the die-cut Connie Mack All-Stars - already among the most condition-sensitive issues in the entire postwar hobby - were intended to be folded into stand-ups. That any of these packages escaped this fate is remarkable; that this one did so intact and has survived the “vintage break” phase of the hobby is close to miraculous. A similar such example sold at public auction for more than $7,500. Public appearances since have been virtually nonexistent. Eventually, Topps used its remaining inventory to separate the cards and issue the “Doubles” packs we see more often today. Many of the surviving “Doubles” packs we see today originated from a 1980s find of a large quantity in the Philadelphia area. The 29-Cent packs appear to have only been issued with Red Back cards, as the Blue Back cards were issued in penny and nickel packs (again with caramel), two-card “Doubles” packs (without caramel), and eight-card cello packs. Presented here is that rare 29-cent artifact, advertised as a “Baseball Card Game.” Its original package and two-staple seal appears intact and original, with some wear at the edges of the header card as well as some age-related wrinkling to the bag itself, though the cards inside appear relatively pristine. For the advanced Topps collector, the unopened specialist, or anyone assembling a run of the company’s first baseball year, this is the sort of item that does not come around on a schedule - our records indicate that it last came around 14 years ago. An exceptional piece of history, one of the most difficult-to-find vintage Topps packs.
game cards were issued in five-cent packs that contained two 2-card panels, a Connie Mack All-Stars or Topps Team card, and a piece of caramel. The packaging was poor, however, with caramel staining cards and reports of children becoming sick from the caramel, which, along with a lawsuit threat from Bowman, resulted in Topps rethinking its packaging. A result of that is likely the most ambitious format: the 29- cent “Baseball Card Game” pack. By a wide margin the rarest of the different 1951 packaging formats to survive intact, the 29-Cent pack included a complete, 52-card Red Back set in its original two-card panel form, along with an instruction sheet and a bonus of Connie Mack All-Stars and Topps Team cards, all sealed in a custom Topps bag. It is difficult to overstate how little of this material survived.
MINIMUM BID: $5,000
19. 1951 Topps Connie Mack All-Stars Mickey Cochrane (HOF) - PSA VG+ 3.5 MINIMUM BID: $100
20. 1951 Topps Connie Mack All-Stars Eddie Collins (HOF) - PSA VG+ 3.5 MINIMUM BID: $200
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CLOSES OCTOBER 31, 2026
TOPPS 75 TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION AUCTION
21. 1951 Topps Connie Mack All-Stars Connie Mack (HOF) - PSA GOOD 2 MINIMUM BID: $100
25. 1951 Topps Connie Mack All-Stars Jimmy Collins (HOF) - PSA GOOD 2 MINIMUM BID: $75
22. 1951 Topps Connie Mack All-Stars Christy Mathewson (HOF) - PSA AUTH MINIMUM BID: $50
26. 1951 Topps Connie Mack All-Stars Walter Johnson (HOF) - PSA GOOD 2 MINIMUM BID: $200
23. 1951 Topps Blue Back Red Wax Wrapper MINIMUM BID: $50
27. 1951 Topps Connie Mack All-Stars Tris Speaker (HOF) MINIMUM BID: $50
28. 1951 Topps Connie Mack All-Stars Honus Wagner (HOF) - PSA VG 3 MINIMUM BID: $150
24. 1951 Topps Blue Back Yellow Wax Wrapper MINIMUM BID: $50
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1951
32. 1951 Topps Red Back Unopened Penny Pack - PSA NM-MT 8 MINIMUM BID: $100
33. 1951 Topps Red Back Empty Display Box MINIMUM BID: $150
29. 1951 Topps Major League All-Stars Yogi Berra (HOF) - PSA VG-EX 4 MINIMUM BID: $1,000
34. 1951 Topps Major League All-Stars George Kell (HOF) - PSA GOOD 2 MINIMUM BID: $250
30. 1951 Topps Major League All-Stars Hoot Evers - PSA AUTH MINIMUM BID: $50
35. 1951 Topps Major League All-Stars Larry Doby (HOF) - SGC A MINIMUM BID: $100
31. 1951 Topps Blue Back Unopened Penny Pack - PSA NM-MT 8 MINIMUM BID: $150
36. 1951 Topps Major League All- Stars Walt Dropo - PSA GOOD 2 MINIMUM BID: $100
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CLOSES OCTOBER 31, 2026
TOPPS 75 TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION AUCTION
45. 1951 Topps Teams Philadelphia Athletics (Dated) - PSA VG-EX 4 MINIMUM BID: $100 44. 1951 Topps Teams New York Giants (Dated) - PSA VG-EX 4 MINIMUM BID: $100 42. 1951 Topps Teams Chicago White Sox (Dated) - PSA VG 3 MINIMUM BID: $100 43. 1951 Topps Teams Cincinnati Reds (Dated) - PSA GOOD 2 MINIMUM BID: $50
37. 1951 Topps Major League All-Stars Ralph Kiner (HOF) - PSA GOOD 2 MINIMUM BID: $750
38. 1951 Topps Major League All-Stars Bob Lemon (HOF) - PSA EX 5 MINIMUM BID: $400
39. 1951 Topps Major League All-Stars Phil Rizzuto (HOF) - PSA VG-EX 4 MINIMUM BID: $1,000
46. 1951 Topps Teams Philadelphia Phillies (Dated) - PSA GOOD 2 MINIMUM BID: $75
40. 1951 Topps Teams Boston Red Sox (Dated) - PSA PR 1 MINIMUM BID: $50
47. 1951 Topps Teams St. Louis Cardinals (Dated) - PSA VG-EX 4 MINIMUM BID: $200
48. 1951 Topps Teams Washington Senators (Dated) - PSA GOOD 2 MINIMUM BID: $50
41. 1951 Topps Teams Brooklyn Dodgers (Dated) - PSA VG-EX 4 MINIMUM BID: $250
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1951
49. 1951 Topps Teams Boston Red Sox (Undated) - PSA VG-EX 4 (MK) MINIMUM BID: $100
54. 1951 Topps Teams New York Giants (Undated) MINIMUM BID: $100
55. 1951 Topps Teams Philadelphia Athletics (Undated) - PSA GOOD 2 MINIMUM BID: $75
50. Withdrawn MINIMUM BID: $--
51. 1951 Topps Teams Brooklyn Dodgers (Undated) - PSA PR 1 MINIMUM BID: $50
56. 1951 Topps Teams Philadelphia Phillies (Undated) - PSA VG-EX 4 MINIMUM BID: $100
52. 1951 Topps Teams Chicago White Sox (Undated) - PSA GOOD+ 2.5 MINIMUM BID: $50
57. 1951 Topps Teams St. Louis Cardinals (Undated) - PSA EX 5 MINIMUM BID: $200
53. 1951 Topps Teams Cincinnati Reds (Undated) - PSA VG 3 MINIMUM BID: $50
58. 1951 Topps Teams Washington Senators (Undated) - PSA GOOD 2 (MK) MINIMUM BID: $50
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CLOSES OCTOBER 31, 2026
1952 TOPPS 75 TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION AUCTION
A fter their stutter steps in 1951, Topps went all-in for 1952 and released a classic 407 card series of color cards that remains among the most popular sets ever issued. Black-and -white photographs were colored in a laborious “Flexichrome” process and the result of all this handiwork was a lengthy series of gorgeous cards, many with subtle hues or jazzy looking backgrounds, produced in a large format Topps called Giant Size. The first 80 cards can be found with black or red backs, with only the latter continuing through the end of the set. The first four series sold well but a fifth, known today as the semi-highs, was produced in far lesser quantities and faltered a bit in the marketplace. Nonetheless, Topps executive Sy Berger, who had helped design the set with Woody Gelman, had to then convince his bosses to issue a final, sixth series (the high numbers as we know them today) which, as hobby lore has it, sold poorly and remain highly coveted by collectors. These high numbers have greatly contributed to the set being considered one of three iconic, foundational sets in the hobby, along with T206 and 1933 Goudey. The ninety-seven high numbers include the second most famous baseball card of all time in #311 Mickey Mantle (a double print) and Jackie Robinson (also double printed, as was 1951 playoff hero Bobby Thomson), along with a hefty dose of Hall-of-Famers, concluding with Eddie Mathews at #407. Berger made hay over the years detailing how he repeatedly tried to sell off a massive excess stock of high numbers before burying them at sea, but that story may or may not be accurate in whole or in part. Additional rarities can be found in the third series (spanning #131-190), where gray-backed cards, incorrectly ascribed to a Canadian release in some quarters, were produced in miniscule quantities and are highly prized today. There are additional variations and anomalies throughout the set, which has been intensely studied for decades, as befits its classic status.
60. 1952 Topps Five-Cent Wax Pack - PSA NM 7 MINIMUM BID: $25,000
59. 1952 Topps Black Back Complete Set w/Page & Sain Variations (82) MINIMUM BID: $500
61. 1952 Topps Print Variations Collection (57) MINIMUM BID: $500
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1952
TOPPS 75 TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION AUCTION
62. 1952 Topps Near- Complete Set w/Page & Sain Variations (408) Along with the T206 and 1933 Goudey sets, the 1952 Topps issue is one of the most desirable, valuable, and timeless sets in the hobby. Ushering in the golden era of collecting, the set was the largest of its time, both in number and in card size. The issue was the first to include color team logos, and the first to include stats from the
63. 1952 Topps #37 Duke Snider (HOF) - Break in Bottom Frame - PSA VG-EX 4 MINIMUM BID: $100
64. 1952 Topps #88 Bob Feller (HOF) - PSA VG 3 MINIMUM BID: $100
previous season as well as the player’s career. Additionally, the set was issued in series, with the second series (#311-407) considered by many to be among the toughest “high numbers” of all the Topps issues. The set included popular and highly sought-after early cards from Willie Mays, Orestes Minoso, Eddie Mathews and, of course, Mickey Mantle. Even today it is considered one of the most beautiful baseball card sets ever issued. Presented here is a near-complete 1952 Topps set, missing just the card of Mickey Mantle for completion. That card is being offered as a single card elsewhere in this auction. Assembled card-by-card by an advanced collector, the set is valuable and desirable in any grade, and despite the depth and breadth of this auction, will be one of its most desirable items. The set includes the famous Joe Page and Johnny Sain variations. A complete condition breakdown of this set is 3% EX with a few better, 14% VG-EX, 29% VG, 33% GOOD, 19% FAIR, 1% POOR with a few trimmed or altered. A breakdown of the set’s key cards is as follows: #1 Pack (PSA VG-EX 4), #11 Rizzuto (PSA GOOD 2), #26 Irvin (G), #33 Spahn (PSA GOOD 2), #36 Hodges (PSA VG 3), #37 Snider (PSA GOOD+ 2.5), #59 Roberts (PSA VG-EX 4), #65 Slaughter (VG), #88 Feller (PSA GOOD 2), #91 Schoendienst (VG-EX), #191 Berra (VG), #195 Minoso (PSA VG-EX 4), #216 Ashburn (PSA VG-EX 4), #243 Doby (PSA VG-EX 4), #246 Kell (PSA VG-EX 4), #261 Mays (SGC GOOD+ 2.5), #268 Lemon (G), #277 Wynn (F), #312 Robinson (SGC GOOD 2), #314 Campanella (PSA VG+ 3.5), #315 Durocher (PSA VG 3), #333 Reese (PSA VG-EX 4), #392 Wilhelm (PSA GOOD 2), #394 Herman (F), #396 Williams (PSA GOOD 2), #400 Dickey (PSA VG 3), #407 Mathews (SGC AUTH). Easily the most important of all postwar baseball card sets, a nearly-complete grouping with a large number of graded cards, missing just one card for completion. 408 cards total.
65. 1952 Topps 146 Frank House - Yellow Tiger Variation - PSA FR 1.5 MINIMUM BID: $250
66. 1952 Topps #146 Frank House - Yellow Tiger Variation - PSA VG-EX+ 4.5 MINIMUM BID: $500
MINIMUM BID: $5,000
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CLOSES OCTOBER 31, 2026
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