1973 Topps BB sheets

[Kevvyg1026]

In going through some images of slit patterns, I noticed that there are different configurations for the various slits. Now, each series had 132 cards, so there were 12 different rows of 11 cards printed twice across the full sheet of 264 cards.

I have an image of a full slit (half-sheet of 132 cards) having 132 different cards while another has 66 diffremnt cards printed 2x on the slit.

This would mean that one print configuartion had identical A & B slits with a pattern of: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L for each slit.

Then, a second sheet configuration would be:
Slit A: A, B, C, D, E, F, A, B, C, D, E, F
Slit B: G, H, I, J, K, L, G, H, I, J, K, L

As an example, for series 1, the header cards are:
A - All time HR leader
B - Sizemore
C - Watson
D - Fingers
E - Hernandez
F - Checklist 1
G - Dodgers team
H - Stanton
I - White
J - Griffin
K - Cubs Coaches
L - Kingman

Here are images of two different slits, plus miscuts of the Dodger team that clearly show it at both the top of a slit and underneath Kingman.

Anyone have knowledge or information about when or why these different sheets exist?

I would guess, but it is only speculation, that the 6x2 configuration would have happened first, and then the 12x1 was put in place when Topps decided to release the cards all at once.

1973B 1 A.jpg

1973_91_alt_slit_config.jpg

1973_91_top_slit.jpg

1973B 1.jpg

[steve B]

I would think the opposite.

With the full sheets being 264,

series = 132+132

All at once = 5x 132. Plus room for 10 half sheets, making 5 more sheets.

[Kevvyg1026]

What I meant was each series had its own sheet of 264 cards. The question is why, at least for the first three series, the sheets exist in 2 different configurations. One config has two different slits, with 66 cards printed twice on one slit and the other slit contains the rest of the 132 cards. The 2nd config has all 132 cards on one slit, with presumably, an identical 2nd slit.

[toppcat]

Originally Posted by Kevvyg1026

What I meant was each series had its own sheet of 264 cards. The question is why, at least for the first three series, the sheets exist in 2 different configurations. One config has two different slits, with 66 cards printed twice on one slit and the other slit contains the rest of the 132 cards. The 2nd config has all 132 cards on one slit, with presumably, an identical 2nd slit.

Maybe you haven't seen all the slits? I tend to agree the 132/132 was for the "All 660" release as the 66/66 seems to mimic prior year's (non-132/132) configurations. Also the first year with only five series since what, 1957? There's many possibilities, including Topps:

1. finding their way
   
2. changing the pattern for the last two sheets for unknown reasons (end of production run, packaging concerns
   
3. random Topp-nuttery

[toppcat]

Originally Posted by Kevvyg1026

What I meant was each series had its own sheet of 264 cards. The question is why, at least for the first three series, the sheets exist in 2 different configurations. One config has two different slits, with 66 cards printed twice on one slit and the other slit contains the rest of the 132 cards. The 2nd config has all 132 cards on one slit, with presumably, an identical 2nd slit.

Maybe you haven't seen all the slits? I tend to agree the 132/132 was for the "All 660" release as the 66/66 seems to mimic prior year's (non-132/132) configurations. Also the first year with only five series since what, 1957? There's many possibilities, including Topps:

1. finding their way
   
2. changing the pattern for the last two sheets for unknown reasons (end of production run, packaging concerns
   
3. random Topps-nuttery

[Kevvyg1026]

It is certainly possible that I haven't seen all the slits. However, I have found miscuts that support both the 6x2 slits and the 12x1 slits were used for the first three series. What I was asking is "does anyone know why or when Topps changed the slit arrangement?". I have not seen that done in any year before.

What I mean is that series 1 had a sheet consisting of two slits, each with 66 cards printed twice and it also had a slit with all 132 cards on it, so I presume the other slit was also a 12x1. Same thing for both series 2 and series 3.

So far, all I have seen is the 6x2 format for series 4&5, but I haven't searched diligently to see if a 12x1 also occurred.

I just found it odd that Topps had two different sheet patterns for at least the first three series