Frank robinson triple crown

[KCRfan1]

That would be his 1966 Topps card.

[profholt82]

Yep, the 66. Sadly, it's not one of Frank's more attractive cards though. I've never been crazy about hatless cards in general.

[ALR-bishop]

SCD lists the issued Topps Punch Out set as a 1967 set, and that may be the year it was issued, but it was likely produced in 1966 given the variation of the Frank Robinson captain card ( one of only 4 captain pose variations in the set ( the others being Clemente, M Alou and Mantle )

[brian1961]

There's a different way of looking at this. To be sure, Frank's '66 Topps is a bummer; he was traded by Cincy and Topps was ill-equipped at this time to create a right proper card with a happy Frank in his new Oriole uniform.

For many years, I've favored the card a company made of a star the following year after a noteworthy season. In essence, this card celebrates the player's achievement, and the brief write-up talks about it. Topps often made sure a superior photo was selected, and presented very well. This was so true of Frank's 1967 Topps card, and Topps gave it the significant number of 100. As you probably know, Topps reserved numbers ending in "00" for the best players of the previous year, with those ending in "50" right behind. There were a few exceptions. I thought the 1966 Sandy Koufax was awful, even for a portrait.

Anyway, I think you'll feel great when you hold a high-grade Topps 1967 Frank Robinson in your hand. Better yet, how about a 1967 Coca-Cola Premium as printed by Dexter Press? This fabulous over-sized piece is the piece de resistance when it comes to Frank's Oriole items. You'll want to use both hands to hold it, but when you see the finest portrait of a radiant Robinson smiling at you, your heart will melt. At that time, all was right with the world and Frank. Coca-Cola issued an All-Star series of each league, with the same picture used of Frank. This happenstance makes the card easier to get, for that particular one is not as scarce, but just as beautiful.

Happy collecting, mate. --- Brian Powell

[ls7plus]

Originally Posted by brian1961

There's a different way of looking at this. To be sure, Frank's '66 Topps is a bummer; he was traded by Cincy and Topps was ill-equipped at this time to create a right proper card with a happy Frank in his new Oriole uniform.

For many years, I've favored the card a company made of a star the following year after a noteworthy season. In essence, this card celebrates the player's achievement, and the brief write-up talks about it. Topps often made sure a superior photo was selected, and presented very well. This was so true of Frank's 1967 Topps card, and Topps gave it the significant number of 100. As you probably know, Topps reserved numbers ending in "00" for the best players of the previous year, with those ending in "50" right behind. There were a few exceptions. I thought the 1966 Sandy Koufax was awful, even for a portrait.

Anyway, I think you'll feel great when you hold a high-grade Topps 1967 Frank Robinson in your hand. Better yet, how about a 1967 Coca-Cola Premium as printed by Dexter Press? This fabulous over-sized piece is the piece de resistance when it comes to Frank's Oriole items. You'll want to use both hands to hold it, but when you see the finest portrait of a radiant Robinson smiling at you, your heart will melt. At that time, all was right with the world and Frank. Coca-Cola issued an All-Star series of each league, with the same picture used of Frank. This happenstance makes the card easier to get, for that particular one is not as scarce, but just as beautiful.

Happy collecting, mate. --- Brian Powell

It works either way for me--'66 or '67. Of course, if you want a really tough one, seek out the '56 Kahn's rookie!

I've got Mickey Mantle's tougher Grape Nuts version of his '62 Post Canadian Cereal, with his 1961 stats on it (54 HR, 128 RBI, .317 BA) and like to think of it as representing and memorializing that terrific year (which was just his third best season, by the way).

Hope your collecting is glorious!

Larry

[brian1961]

Originally Posted by ls7plus

It works either way for me--'66 or '67. Of course, if you want a really tough one, seek out the '56 Kahn's rookie!

I've got Mickey Mantle's tougher Grape Nuts version of his '62 Post Canadian Cereal, with his 1961 stats on it (54 HR, 128 RBI, .317 BA) and like to think of it as representing and memorializing that terrific year (which was just his third best season, by the way).

Hope your collecting is glorious!

Larry

Hi Larry! There's always gonna be a tougher card of a player here and there. I was just trying to stick with 1967 as a celebratory year of Frank's triple crown season. To be sure, a Kahn's from that era is brutally tough, for the leftover cards did not find their way to any of the few dealers back then, it seems. Whereas, by the mid-60s, Wholesale Cards Co. had them available for a price several dollars above a full set of Topps regular cards, which was always a yardstick for me to interpret how valuable an older set was at the time (for me, late 60s / 1970). I have a superb story in my book on immediate post-war regional / food cards of how a collector / dealer stock-piled SETS of an early 60s Kahn's football issue! Enthralling!

You're quite right in citing the Post Cereal as classic examples of paying meaningful tribute to the previous season. Way da go, Larry, that Post Canadian is one tough Mick! Take care. --- Brian Powell

[ls7plus]

Originally Posted by brian1961

Hi Larry! I have a superb story in my book on immediate post-war regional / food cards of how a collector / dealer stock-piled SETS of an early 60s Kahn's football issue! Enthralling!

You're quite right in citing the Post Cereal as classic examples of paying meaningful tribute to the previous season. Way da go, Larry, that Post Canadian is one tough Mick! Take care. --- Brian Powell

Thanks for the kind words, Brian. Send me a link or pm regarding the book if you can. It sounds very interesting!

Highest regards,

Larry

[midmo]

Originally Posted by brian1961

For many years, I've favored the card a company made of a star the following year after a noteworthy season. In essence, this card celebrates the player's achievement, and the brief write-up talks about it.

I'm with Brian, I've always preferred the following year so the stats/stories are reflected on the card (1967 Frank Robinson, 1962 Roger Maris, etc).

[jchcollins]

Originally Posted by brian1961

I thought the 1966 Sandy Koufax was awful, even for a portrait.

I can see why you feel this way, he's not even smiling. For me though, this just happened to be the first "old" (before the term vintage was en vogue) baseball card I ever owned of a Hall of Famer. My mother paid maybe $15 for it at a shop when I was about 11 in 1988. So to me, again just for purely personal nostalgia - this will always be one of the end-all, be-all vintage cards. Luckily they can be had pretty cheaply still today in 2018. I picked up a nice PSA 6 a few years back.

[ksfarmboy]

I look at it like I do World Series Championships. The Orioles won in 1970 but I hate those cards and like the fact that the 71’s have the World Series cards for 1970. That’s why I like the following year cards.

[brian1961]

Originally Posted by ksfarmboy

I look at it like I do World Series Championships. The Orioles won in 1970 but I hate those cards and like the fact that the 71’s have the World Series cards for 1970. That’s why I like the following year cards.

Well said, Clint. --- Brian Powell

[brian1961]

Originally Posted by jchcollins

I can see why you feel this way, he's not even smiling. For me though, this just happened to be the first "old" (before the term vintage was en vogue) baseball card I ever owned of a Hall of Famer. My mother paid maybe $15 for it at a shop when I was about 11 in 1988. So to me, again just for purely personal nostalgia - this will always be one of the end-all, be-all vintage cards. Luckily they can be had pretty cheaply still today in 2018. I picked up a nice PSA 6 a few years back.

That's cool, John. A sentimental, emotional attachment, especially one from your dear mother, will always win out. The 1966 Topps Sandy Koufax isn't bad; I just wish he looked happier. At least he isn't grimacing the way Willie Mays looked in 1961. Much of the time, Say Hey looked spectacular, such as '53, '54 - '56, '58 - '60, '62 - '69. Back to Mr. Koufax, most of the time Sandy's Topps cards looked terrific, as did his Bazooka, Post Cereal, and JELL-O. Some of his best were the Bell Brand, Morrell, and the Dodgers' official postcards.

Have a happy new year, John. All the best. --- Brian Powell