NonSports Forum

Net54baseball.com
Welcome to Net54baseball.com. These forums are devoted to both Pre- and Post- war baseball cards and vintage memorabilia, as well as other sports. There is a separate section for Buying, Selling and Trading - the B/S/T area!! If you write anything concerning a person or company your full name needs to be in your post or obtainable from it. . Contact the moderator at leon@net54baseball.com should you have any questions or concerns. When you click on links to eBay on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network. Enjoy!
Net54baseball.com
Net54baseball.com
T206s on eBay
Babe Ruth Cards on eBay
t206 Ty Cobb on eBay
Ty Cobb Cards on eBay
Lou Gehrig Cards on eBay
Baseball T201-T217 on eBay
Baseball E90-E107 on eBay
T205 Cards on eBay
Baseball Postcards on eBay
Goudey Cards on eBay
Baseball Memorabilia on eBay
Baseball Exhibit Cards on eBay
Baseball Strip Cards on eBay
Baseball Baking Cards on eBay
Sporting News Cards on eBay
Play Ball Cards on eBay
Joe DiMaggio Cards on eBay
Mickey Mantle Cards on eBay
Bowman 1951-1955 on eBay
Football Cards on eBay

Go Back   Net54baseball.com Forums > Net54baseball Postwar Sportscard Forums > Postwar Baseball Cards Forum (Pre-1980)

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 01-29-2019, 09:18 AM
BruceinGa BruceinGa is offline
Bruce Fairchild
Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Marietta, Ga
Posts: 753
Default Topps Super

Recently I've noticed the 1970 and 1971 Topps Supers. I looked them up and also see that there was a 1969 Topps Super.
How were these originally distributed? Were they available through mail order or like most other cards, at retail locations?
__________________
Successful transactions with: Double-P-Enterprises, Thromdog, DavidBvintage, Desert Ice Sports, Kurtz Kardz, Cooperstown Sportscards, BBT206 and tenorvox!
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 01-29-2019, 12:32 PM
quitcrab quitcrab is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 1,519
Default

All years sold as packs. 1969 super is far the toughest . The 69s were very limited in distrubtion. 70 and 71 very plentifully and sold all over.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 01-29-2019, 02:35 PM
ALR-bishop ALR-bishop is offline
Al Richter
Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: San Antonio
Posts: 8,947
Default

Even the 69 wrappers are tough. You can easily find the 70 /71 packs, but identifying which is which is hard unless you can identify a specific player in the pack

I think the 69 Supers are one of Topps best efforts

Last edited by ALR-bishop; 01-29-2019 at 02:36 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 01-30-2019, 06:01 AM
BruceinGa BruceinGa is offline
Bruce Fairchild
Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Marietta, Ga
Posts: 753
Default

Thanks for your replies!
__________________
Successful transactions with: Double-P-Enterprises, Thromdog, DavidBvintage, Desert Ice Sports, Kurtz Kardz, Cooperstown Sportscards, BBT206 and tenorvox!
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 01-30-2019, 12:14 PM
brian1961 brian1961 is offline
Member
 
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 1,319
Default

Good afternoon, Bruce. The first major show I attended was the 1972 Midwest Sports Collectors Convention in Troy, Michigan. I had just turned 18. Early on I met a very nice gentleman who worked at Topps. His name was Bill Haber. His his job at Topps was researching and drawing all the cartoons on the backside of the cards. Bill was also a voracious collector.

Well, to help defray some of the costs of his trip, Bill carried a somewhat large satchel that was half-full of gem mint sets of the 1969 Topps Super Baseball. The 66-card sets were in bundles, each tightly wrapped with a two-inch wide sheet of white paper. Living at the time in the suburbs of Chicago, I had never set eyes on these gorgeous cards, nor heard of them. For you see, though I was privileged to know about and buy from Wholesale Cards Company and The Trading Card Company, two fine mail order firms of the time, as extensive as their inventories were, I do not recall either of them carrying the scarce 1969 Topps Supers.

OK, so the kind Mr. Haber let me examine a set. I carefully shuffled through them. As soon as I saw the Mickey Mantle, I think I ever so quietly inhaled, and silently screamed, "SOLD!". I asked him, "How much?"

He said "30 dollars". In my mind, that figure seemed unreasonably high, due to the fact 30 dollars could buy you not one, but two, complete regular sets of Topps gum baseball cards. I quietly told Mr. Haber I thought that was too much. My memory is now hazy as to whether Bill asked for a counter offer, or if he said, "How about 20 dollars?" Whatever---I bought the set for twenty dollars.

Many years later, I sold most of the cards, but as you might imagine, I retained the Mickey Mantle. In time, I submitted this little gem to the Sportscard Guaranty Company for grading. That baby came out a 96 MINT.

Along the way, I discovered why Topps gave these cards the designation, "Super". It was due to their high gloss. Also, I found the cardstock used is a little thicker than regular Topps; however, it is a bit soft, and VERY fragile, being susceptible to fingernail marks! Not that I ever gouged a Super with a fingernail, but I remember seeing evidence of this damage on dealers' tables back in the early-to-mid 70s. One had to be mighty careful when handling these gems, just as one would with a genuine gem. For instance, in the pre-grading days of the late 80s, I made the mistake of purchasing a Mel Stottlemyre listed as Near Mint. "Near Mint" should be just fine, right? WRONG!!! When I got Stot, the front side super sheen of the card looked like the ice surface of a New York Ranger hockey game half-way through the first period! So many little marks---so unlike the pristine specimens dear Mr. Haber sold me that wonderful day in July 1972. I would never buy a Super through the mail again!

I distinctly recall a 1969 Topps Super set description in a Sports Collectors Digest Mr. Mint phone auction ad from the late 80s / early 90s. Alan Rosen let it be known the bulk of the production was destroyed in a fire. I'm sure if you called Topps to verify, not only would they not admit to such a catastrophe, but by now such hobby history from the era is likened to the blurb from the Bugs Bunny cartoon classic, "Hot Cross Bunny", whereby a sign on a prominent building reads, 'The Paul Revere Foundation -- Hardly A Man Is Now Alive"!

---- Brian Powell

Last edited by brian1961; 01-30-2019 at 05:40 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 01-30-2019, 12:46 PM
Griffins Griffins is offline
Anthøny N. ex
Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 1,282
Default

'69 Super pack
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 01-30-2019, 02:50 PM
sflayank sflayank is offline
larry s
larry ser.ota
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: sunrise fl
Posts: 4,693
Default 69 super

I need the box if anyone has
Attached Images
File Type: jpg IMG_00401.jpg (42.8 KB, 162 views)
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 01-30-2019, 02:51 PM
moeson moeson is offline
Howie Schenker
Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: NJ
Posts: 436
Default

The Gelman owned Card Collectors Company was the major supplier of this and other test sets. They did in fact suffer a major fire, making these test sets even scarcer.

I purchased some singles from Bill Haber at one of the first NYC shows. He had them spread across a little table. There was no Mantle, but I did pick up Aaron and Clemente for about a dollar each!
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 01-30-2019, 03:05 PM
brian1961 brian1961 is offline
Member
 
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 1,319
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by moeson View Post
The Gelman owned Card Collectors Company was the major supplier of this and other test sets. They did in fact suffer a major fire, making these test sets even scarcer.

I purchased some singles from Bill Haber at one of the first NYC shows. He had them spread across a little table. There was no Mantle, but I did pick up Aaron and Clemente for about a dollar each!
Thanks, Howie, for your elaboration to the "Topps fire". You make perfect sense; Topps just printed their cards in those days, and only sold to candy wholesalers/dealers. For the exotic test issues, I've heard they were available at an exclusive very few Brooklyn area candy shops, but most of all, to just whom you spoke of---Topps employee and part-time mail order firm owner, Woody Gelman. I had forgotten about Woody and his company. Obviously, fellow Topps employee Bill Haber was able to secure a few items now and then ....

Wow, Roberto and The Hammer for a buck apiece, and I still remember how nice their respective cards looked. That NYC show must have been in 1972 as well, or at least no later than 1973. Anyways, thanks again for chiming in. --- Brian Powell
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 01-30-2019, 03:24 PM
moeson moeson is offline
Howie Schenker
Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: NJ
Posts: 436
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by brian1961 View Post
Thanks, Howie, for your elaboration to the "Topps fire". You make perfect sense; Topps just printed their cards in those days, and only sold to candy wholesalers/dealers. For the exotic test issues, I've heard they were available at an exclusive very few Brooklyn area candy shops, but most of all, to just whom you spoke of---Topps employee and part-time mail order firm owner, Woody Gelman. I had forgotten about Woody and his company. Obviously, fellow Topps employee Bill Haber was able to secure a few items now and then ....

Wow, Roberto and The Hammer for a buck apiece, and I still remember how nice their respective cards looked. That NYC show must have been in 1972 as well, or at least no later than 1973. Anyways, thanks again for chiming in. --- Brian Powell
The show was in 1973 Brian. Bill also had the 1953 style test set, but just those two items.

I bought some 60's lots from Gelman after the fire and many cards bore evidence of fire/smoke damage.
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 01-30-2019, 03:52 PM
JollyElm's Avatar
JollyElm JollyElm is offline
D@rrΣn Hu.ghΣs
Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 7,331
Default

I was a kid who got their photocopied catalogues in the mail, and always remember how they stated some of their cards may have smoke and/or water damage.
__________________
All the cool kids love my YouTube Channel:
Elm's Adventures in Cardboard Land

https://www.youtube.com/@TheJollyElm

Looking to trade? Here's my bucket:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/152396...57685904801706

“I was such a dangerous hitter I even got intentional walks during batting practice.”
Casey Stengel

Spelling "Yastrzemski" correctly without needing to look it up since the 1980s.

Overpaying yesterday is simply underpaying tomorrow.
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 01-30-2019, 04:17 PM
toppcat's Avatar
toppcat toppcat is offline
Dave.Horn.ish
Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 2,800
Default

Yeah, Bill Haber was a source for a lot of test issues that Topps sold on the sly.
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 01-30-2019, 05:05 PM
BruceinGa BruceinGa is offline
Bruce Fairchild
Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Marietta, Ga
Posts: 753
Default

Thanks for sharing your recollections!
Did the fire destroy just 1969's?
__________________
Successful transactions with: Double-P-Enterprises, Thromdog, DavidBvintage, Desert Ice Sports, Kurtz Kardz, Cooperstown Sportscards, BBT206 and tenorvox!
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 01-30-2019, 05:19 PM
moeson moeson is offline
Howie Schenker
Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: NJ
Posts: 436
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by BruceinGa View Post
Thanks for sharing your recollections!
Did the fire destroy just 1969's?
No, unfortunately it destroyed much of their overall inventory including numerous test sets. Their post-fire The Trader Speaks ads reflected the changes from what I recall i.e. test sets no longer offered or sold as damaged.
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 01-31-2019, 06:13 AM
ALBB ALBB is offline
Albert Bee
Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2018
Posts: 1,092
Default supers

I seem to recall also the 71 T greatest moments cards getting smoke/water damage also ??
Reply With Quote
Reply



Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On

Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Topps Super mintacular Postwar Baseball Cards Forum (Pre-1980) 18 08-05-2021 06:23 PM
Why the seeming lack of interest in 1964 Topps Giants, 1971 Topps Super? the 'stache Postwar Baseball Cards Forum (Pre-1980) 14 11-23-2014 05:57 PM


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 05:42 PM.


ebay GSB