1969 O-Pee-Chee Set Completed

[seanofjapan]

Originally Posted by savedfrommyspokes

Congrats Tom on finishing the 69 set...my only completed OPC set from the 60s.

I have a theory on why Topps stopped their production on this set at 218. A few years back, I picked up a grouping of 1968-70 OPC cards on ebay from a seller in Canada. Included in this several hundred card grouping were some last series 69 Topps (not OPC) cards. What was interesting about these regular 1969 Topps cards is the fact that all of them had at least one and in some cases multiple rough edges, almost identical to a typical OPC cut. Having gone through many 10s of 1000s of 1969s Topps over the years, I do not recall seeing this many OPC type rough edges with the 69 Topps, especially all in one place at one time. It also seemed odd that a Canadian collector would have just a handful of regular issue Topps cards (with an OPC cut) in with all of their other OPC cards.

So, I have always wondered if Topps may have sold uncut sheets of some of the later series 69s to OPC so they could cut up and distribute them in Canada later in the summer as a test to see how the later series would sell. Based on the cutting of the edges and where the cards in this grouping came from, this would not seem out of line. If this was a test, it must of worked well enough as OPC issued a 546 card set in 1970.

I am Canadian and this makes sense to me. When I was collecting in the late 80s/early 90s I remember noticing how all the 1969 Topps card I got locally,, which were from the 3rd series and up, had that rough OPC cut. I thought all 1969 Topps cards were cut like that until I took a trip south of the border and saw ones that were cut straight. So I have a 69 Mantle and Jackson with rough edges still in my collection.

[Rich Klein]

Also -- OPC produced hockey cards in a second (or later 3rd) series when Topps would conclude. If they only had one main printing press (Dave would know better than I would) and Hockey sold better than Baseball, then it would make sense to complete production on baseball and move to better selling hockey cards. I suspect by about 1970 they probably got a 2nd printing press as the sets got larger beginning in 1970.

Regards
Rich

[1963Topps Set]

Originally Posted by seanofjapan

I am Canadian and this makes sense to me. When I was collecting in the late 80s/early 90s I remember noticing how all the 1969 Topps card I got locally,, which were from the 3rd series and up, had that rough OPC cut. I thought all 1969 Topps cards were cut like that until I took a trip south of the border and saw ones that were cut straight. So I have a 69 Mantle and Jackson with rough edges still in my collection.

Can you post scans?

[Tom S.]

Tom, I'm glad to hear that you were able to finish up your 1969 OPC set.

Like savedfrommyspokes, that's my only completed OPC set from the 60's as well (my next closest are the 1965's at 72%).

Best of luck on whatever O-Pee-Chee set you decide to take on next!

[1963Topps Set]

Thanks Tom S. It was actually seeing your post in the Variation thread that planted the seed. I then bought a huge lot of 1969 OPC cards at a VERY reasonable price from an Ebay dealer that left me needing 97 cards. The rest is history!