1964 Topps didn’t end their season-long recognition of the 1964 All-Star Game being played in New York, they even managed a set after the conclusion of the World Series. Attendees at this year’s banquet, held once again at the Waldorf-Astoria on October 22nd, arrived at their seats to find a shiny foil-wrapped box, emblazoned with a base- ball-filled “6” and stuffed-with oversized cards serving as the de-fac- to program. Thirty-five cards were found within, with an additional one held back until the year’s winner of the J.G. Taylor Spink Minor League Player of the Year Award was announced at the luncheon; this turned out to be Luis Tiant. This final card was then distributed to each of the guests, who could slide it into the box along with a very meta miniature version that actually was a program and bring the whole kit and kaboodle home; a sly little extra as Topps concluded a memorable year. The card set was a masterpiece, as Topps outdid themselves in a year with many notable company highlights. Among this treasure trove were cards for each position’s rookie selection, their respective team’s PR director, five peeks back at past winners, Election Commit- tee members, a small brace of cards that showed the voting process and related activities and even the award itself; one of Joe Garagiola was even included. Production bugaboos didn’t escape the set’s num- bering though. Luis Tiant was no. 34a among the cards but no. 35 in the program!
1965 For 1965 the ban- quet was held at the Americana Hotel, a decidedly less ritzy joint than the Wal- dorf. A rice paper “peek-a-boo” cover was created for the program and Tony Perez and Joe Mor- gan were the mar- quee future Hall-of- Famers among the ten annual selec- tions. This edition features action pho- tos adorning each page, depicting the
516. 1965 Topps Rookie All-Stars Banquet Program MINIMUM BID: $100
past all-Star Rookie Teams and now ubiquitous Election committee, where the addition of Hank Greenberg added some Cooperstown siz- zle; he would return for 1966.
1966 On October 26th Topps held their final rookie banquet, once again at the Americana. The end of this interesting chapter at Topps seems directly associated with the expenses they were in- curring getting their new plant in Duryea, Pennsylvania up and running and buying out Fleer’s player contracts after their Phila- delphia rival saw their initial, al- beit narrow, victory in the F.T.C. case overturned. None of the rookies selected would be im- mortalized in Cooperstown and the season’s slate was one of the more solid of the era, but all good things eventually must end.
517. 1966 Topps Rookie All-Star Banquet Program MINIMUM BID: $100
515. 1964 Topps Rookie All-Stars Banquet Complete Set w/Original Box (35) MINIMUM BID: $200
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