1972 Topps question

[bb66]

Fantastic work on that 1972 set. Good luck .

[rats60]

We didn't even have 1st series cards in California when Hodges died. I don't see any way that the 4th series was out in New York before Hodges died. 1st series and maybe 2nd, but not 4th.

[ALBB]

reminds me of another rare signed card -
1970 T rookie card of Herman Hill...and ..forgot the other player

Hill died sometime in 1970 I recall...signed card incredible rare

[Gr8Beldini]

Also, Miguel Fuentes died January, 1970 before his '70 T card came out and Paul Edmunson died February, 1970 before his '70 T card was released.

[Casey2296]

Props on an amazing project Drew, good luck on the set.

[jchcollins]

Interesting thread. I too would be skeptical on Gil Hodges ever seeing a copy of his '72 Topps card.

I've often wondered if anyone had exact ship / release dates for Topps cards back 1973 and earlier when series distribution was still a thing. If so, I've never seen where this was confirmed.

[DFWGrapher]

Thanks everyone for the info and comments. So if the first was in February and they came every 4-5 weeks after, that puts the fourth series as appearing in stores in May, at least a month after his death.

I did a little more digging. Hodges' card mentions the Jim Fregosi trade on the back, indicating the card would have been finalized for printing no earlier than December 10, 1972. Additionally, Pete Hamm is on card #501 with the Twins; the Twins shipped him to the White Sox on February 5, 1972. Therefore it would seem the cards were finalized for printing somewhere between mid-December and mid-February. Series Five was finalized after February 7, 1972 when the White Sox acquired Rich Robertson from the Giants (he was depicted with the Sox) and before March 19, 1972 when the Sox returned him to the Giants.

Of course, finalization and creation and shipping and release dates are all different things. Being in the card industry as a photo editor, I know cards have to be produced, approved, and ready for print typically weeks in advance of their printing and packaging even now. With 1970s technology and communications, I'm sure it would be even longer.

So for me, that's enough to officially declare for project purposes that it's an impossible card.

For anyone who wants to see the set, it's at https://www.dfwgrapher.com/sets/1972-topps-baseball (best viewed via computer rather than phone).