Early Topps Game Cards
 

I just ended up with my 3d set of the 68 Game cards. I first put the set together card by card. Because I like to have a "pack" with each set, I bought a box, which came with another set ( it is hard to find empty boxes or someone selling one without the cards). Then I realized there are two variations to the boxes, hence the 3d set. And there are variant cards too :)

The 68 Game I assume followed up on the 51 game sets, Red and Blue backs. I also put those together card by card initially ( Blues are tougher). I know some folks do panels. I did not attempt that for Blues, but did end up with a paneled Red back set in a "pack" with an actual game board

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Hey, neat stuff, Al. Don't think I've ever seen those '68 cards. Are the variant cards in that set traded players, as in the '51's? Wonder if Sy Berger was waxing nostalgic about Topps' initial set some seventeen years later?

Steve-- as far as I know there are no true variations in the 68 set. The individual cards I posted are all print defects. The Clemente with a botched letter in his name, and the other 3 where the backs either came through or were overprinted on the fronts.

The 2 true variations in the 51 set did involve trades.

Back of 51 pack with game board showing

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Game Cards
 

Very neat Al. For some reason I really like those with the print defect (probably because there not supposed to be that way). Have you ever seen a Brooksie with that type of defect?

Man, those "BATTER UP" boxes make the set even better!

What price does a box of NM 1968 game cards go for if you don't mind me asking? I've always wanted a complete set but haven't had the patience to put one together card by card.

Agreed -- they look great. And those 1951 Topps in the package are awesome. Al has some great stuff in his collection.

Mark, are you the kind of Brooks Robinson collector who's always looking for oddball Brooks material? If so I'll have to keep that in mind.

Brooksie
 

Dave,

Yes; I'm that person who is always looking for oddball stuff of Brooksie. Appreciate you keeping me in mind if you run across any cool items Brooks related. As a matter of fact I'm sure Al has some of those odd pieces I'm looking for, but will not let 'em go...

Dave, unless you're looking for a minty rack-pack set of the '68 game cards, putting a set together is actually fairly fast and easy.
There are only 33 cards in the set, and they're everpresent on eBay, often in groups or partial sets of like 5, 10, 15, 20 cards.
It took us only three or four inexpensive eBay buys to put together almost two complete sets.


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The Topps sets that I collect are 1968-72.

The first Topps cards that I ever bought were those 1968 burlap/wheatina cards. I don't recall which series had the game cards but I did get a number of them and still have them. Probably not more than 10 total and most not in great shape now. I do have a very nice Mantle. He'd faded at the end and was only a single. Killebrew was in his prime and a double.

I love the inserts in those sets and I would like to get the rest of the game cards. I also like the 1969 deckle edge inserts and have a nice assortment of those. I'm not much of a completist when it comes to sets. I never cared to spend much on common players or cards that really don't have much eye appeal. And if they're not 1968-72 then I'm not interested anyway. Collect what you like as they say.

Hi Al,

I had a lot of fun putting together the 68 Game set. And actually playing the game with the cards is a blast still today. I just started the 51 Red Backs and am looking forward to working on that set. Thanks for posting these.

AndyH