[toppcat]

It has always struck me as odd that there was no specific 1970 Bazooka issue while there were two in 1971.

Bazooka changed their long running format of three card panels for 1968 when they issued a Tipps from The Topps on the back and side panels with two card vertical strips.

In 1969 a format similar to '68 was used but with All Time Greats used instead of current players due the the baseball centennial.

Then in 1970 the All Time Greats were sold again. Why no new set?

In 1971 a traditional 3 card panel set was issued, 36 total and unnumbered. Then, supposedly after the fact a proof set of 48 was issued, NUMBERED and also in panels. Among the groups of panels only in the numbered set, We have McCarver, F. Robinson and Mazeroski; then Jenkins, Kaline, K. Harrelson; then Wills, Seaver, Oliva; and finally Wynn, Richie Allen and Tony Conigliaro. Something about this strikes me as odd as it seems each group of those proof only panels has an anomaly.

Mazeroski's last good season was 1968. Ken Harrelson's last good year was 1969, Seaver had the monster '69 season and Tony Conigliaro had a comeback year in '69 after missing all of 1968 following a horrific beaning and his return generated huge media interest I remember to this day. So one player from each panel in the proof set would have made more sense being issued in 1970 and not 1971.

Therefore, was the 48 card proof set originally planned for 1970?