Red Man

[GeoPoto]

Collecting those who were the first black players to play for one of the MLB teams (or the first black catcher to play in MLB), I think I am missing two cards: The 1954 Minoso and the 1955 Doby.
https://www.net54baseball.com/attach...1&d=1590326149
https://www.net54baseball.com/attach...1&d=1590326156
https://www.net54baseball.com/attach...1&d=1590326164
https://www.net54baseball.com/attach...1&d=1590326241
https://www.net54baseball.com/attach...1&d=1590326253
https://www.net54baseball.com/attach...1&d=1590326261
https://www.net54baseball.com/attach...1&d=1590326277
https://www.net54baseball.com/attach...1&d=1590326286

[darkhorse9]

Can anyone explain why Mickey Mantle never appeared in any Ted Man set?

[Phil68]

Originally Posted by darkhorse9

Can anyone explain why Mickey Mantle never appeared in any Ted Man set?

It is actually nothing more than contractual. Bowman got the jump on Topps in '51 and landed Mickey exclusively. Topps didn't even approach Mays--according to Willie. In '52 both players signed with Topps and Bowman (Mays also signed with Red Man and was given an all new, electric toaster oven!)
Frankly, Mickey Mantle was oblivious to the fierce rivalry between the card companies. In July of '53, Bowman signed Mickey Mantle for some appliances and a cash bonus to be exclusively in their set. They repeated this in '54.
In early '56, Topps bought Bowman and the rest is history.
Interestingly, Sports Illustrated printed a "Topps-Looking" Mantle in 1954 in black and white. They were careful to change it up a bit.
Here's the '54 from Banty Red's "The Mantle Set". It comes in a green back and a blue back.
I think I might make that Sports Illustrated card on vintage stock and hand color it. That might look cool.

[ALR-bishop]

That 54 Mantle is great Phil

[Phil68]

Originally Posted by ALR-bishop

That 54 Mantle is great Phil

Thank you so much! The reverses in The Mantle Set look like this...