Topps Player Tributes

[ALR-bishop]

Over time I have picked up the following Topps player tributes which reproduce on one sheet the player's Topps and or Bowman cards. I think they are kind of neat items, even though I have the actual cards as part of my sets. These are the ones I have so far. Is anyone aware of others ?

[DBesse27]

Those are cool. One question: did ashburn not have a '55 card?

[Cliff Bowman]

Originally Posted by DBesse27

Those are cool. One question: did ashburn not have a '55 card?

No '53 either, he must have been under contract to Bowman those years.

[toppcat]

Aaron and Mays had tributes given to them by Topps while active but I haven't ever seen something issued to the public or small group for those.

[whiteymet]

HI Al:

There is another Ashburn. I know because they used my cards and gave me "credit" on the bottom right.

You can see one listed on ebay here:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/RICHIE-ASHBU...UAAOSwXeJXctSX

Fred

[DBesse27]

Originally Posted by whiteymet

HI Al:

There is another Ashburn. I know because they used my cards and gave me "credit" on the bottom right.

You can see one listed on ebay here:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/RICHIE-ASHBU...UAAOSwXeJXctSX

Fred

Awesome!

[ALR-bishop]

Fred--- that is really cool. How did that come about ?

[whiteymet]

Hi Al:

Sorry for the delayed response.

In answer to your question, I had "helped out" the team on various projects over the years. I had a nice relationship with the now retired VP of Publicity. He is a great guy.

When they were going to honor Whitey he contacted me first to put together a Did you know.... about Ashburn to use in the special program. If memory serves it is printed on the back of the poster I mentioned.

Later when they decided to do the poster he asked me if they could use my cards. I took them in and they had them for a week or two while the photographer took shots.

Later when the team was moving into their new ballpark, there was a ground swell to name the stadium after Ashburn. Of course with naming rights etc. that would be impossible. However they wanted to honor him in some way.

One early suggestion was to have the in stadium restaurant called Ashburn's. They asked if I could decorate it much like Hard Rock Cafe's with rock n roll memorabilia. I answered I had enough Ashburn items for four restaurants.

That idea did not manifest itself, and instead they named an outfield food and entertainment area Ashburn Alley.

I later worked with the sculptor who did statues for the ballpark of Schmidt, Ashburn, Roberts and Carlton. He knew NOTHING about baseball. I had to get him photos of the players, make sure they got in the right era uniforms etc.

Once the ballpark opened, I organized the Phillies library after the move. And for the first two years I filled display and wall cases in the Hall of Fame Club with my Phillies memorabilia and that of other collectors I knew. We switched things out a few times a year.

And later I became a tour guide.

Aren't you sorry you asked???

Fred

[ALR-bishop]

Fred-- that is a great story. Thanks for sharing.

[FireGardy]

Kirby Puckett has one:

[DBesse27]

Originally Posted by ALR-bishop

Fred-- that is a great story. Thanks for sharing.

Awesome!!

[ALR-bishop]

Thanks for posting that Firegardy