1974 Topps Information/Images Needed

[deweyinthehall]

Hello -

Working on a 1974 Topps web page and I'm wondering if anyone can help me with these items:

1) What was the deal with those cello-wrapped Fun Packs - did Topps have any part in them or was it completely a 3rd party job?

2) Any photos or memories of the Baseball T-Shirt offered on wax packs would be great.

3) Wax Case - image needed; short of that, do we know how many boxes they contained?

4) Cello Case - same as above

5) Orioles and Tigers Racks - what's the story? I read somewhere where A's racks were issued as well - any photos?

6) Rack box - need an image or just need to confirm if they held 24 packs as usual.

7) Rack Case - Same deal as Wax and Cello cases

8) Grocery Box and Case - images needed; information on how many packs per box and boxes per case.

9) Did Topps print the traded cards on modified sheets like they did in 1976? I have images of all 5 sheets but no tradeds. Or, were they printed separately as with the team checklists? Images as always are great.

10) Heard about a 2-card Fun Pack included in some sort of Halloween bag - different from the cello fun packs? Did they use a standard wax wrapper?

Thanks to all!

[deweyinthehall]

One more item - Does anyone have an image of the back of the grocery pack tray? Subsequent years have ads on them - wondering whether the '74 one has an ad or is blank.

[Cliff Bowman]

Unlike the 1976 Traded cards the 1974 Traded cards were printed on their own sheet like the 1974 Team Checklist cards were. I'll try to find scans or pics of either one. ETA, luckily I had scans of both.

[jmoran19]

That’s a proof sheet. Pretty sure the traded cards were split up like 1976, will post images later, bed ridden as I had total knee replacement this week.

The 2 card cello packs came in Topps fun bags, Fun Bag wax packs also included 2 cards and used the wrappers from baseball and Fb that did not indicate a bonus team checklist. Not 100% sure but guessing once the wax wrappers ran out they switched to cello.

[deweyinthehall]

I always wondered why Topps skipped a year - they didn't repeat the Traded set in 1975, which suggests they didn't think it had been particularly popular or successful. But they brought it back 2 years later in 1976, and then dropped it immediately afterwards. Odd.

[Cliff Bowman]

Originally Posted by jmoran19

That’s a proof sheet. Pretty sure the traded cards were split up like 1976, will post images later, bed ridden as I had total knee replacement this week.

You may very well be right, but I don't recall ever seeing a severely miscut 1974 Traded card showing it borders a regular 1974 card or a 1974 hybrid uncut sheet showing both 1974 regular cards and traded cards.

[deweyinthehall]

First, I hope the knee heals nicely!

On the Fun Packs - I was talking about the West Corp. package, of the sort shown here.

I think you are talking about the larger bag with multiple packs, which I think did have the 2-card wax packs?

I assume the West Corp. packages are not a Topps release in any sense, but that the larger bag with the individual packs was released by Topps?

[JustinD]

The larger fun pack bags were overstock and returned product and packaged multiple ways by Topps. Some had full packs over the years and others had the rainbow wax packs. These were often heavily sold at Halloween for trick or treating.

Growing up in the late 70s and early 80s, I remember getting them from the cool houses. I still have plenty of Close Encounters cards from one year that seemed to be the only cards in the fun packs that Halloween

[jmoran19]

Hmmm, thought I had more related to 1974 Traded. This is all I can find, seems to indicate 44 cards printed 3 times on a 132 card sheet. John

P.S. TY Dewey. First week is rougher than they say ��

[jmoran19]

My wax tray, beat to crap but hey it’s a 1974 wax tray

[jmoran19]

Originally Posted by deweyinthehall

First, I hope the knee heals nicely!

On the Fun Packs - I was talking about the West Corp. package, of the sort shown here.

I think you are talking about the larger bag with multiple packs, which I think did have the 2-card wax packs?

I assume the West Corp. packages are not a Topps release in any sense, but that the larger bag with the individual packs was released by Topps?

Correct, the West Corp packs are not a Topps release

[JustinD]

Originally Posted by jmoran19

My wax tray, beat to crap but hey it’s a 1974 wax tray

Very cool!

I love the tray offers on these.

[butchie_t]

Absolutely freaking cool things that the community has here. I'm loving this particular flashback.

And, thanks to the generosity of a person here, there is an error sheet on the mail in team sets.

DITH - I can scan and send it to you if you'd like. Or maybe you already have a sample of it.

Butch

[deweyinthehall]

I have to ask - does anyone here recall obtaining any of these items from Topps? The ones on the back of the grocery tray?

[jmoran19]

Originally Posted by JustinD

Very cool!

I love the tray offers on these.

I still have one of those ball strike indicators!

[moeson]

1974 Rack Pack 2 box mini case long since opened1974rackbox.jpg