Topps question

Hub

When I was a kid buying cards in the 1970's, it didn't take long to notice that, as a general rule, great players had cards that were numbered ending in "0" and pretty good players had cards numbered ending in a "5". Great players had card numbers ending in "00".

Does anyone know when this started? When it stopped? Anyone else ever notice this?

estang

Yes, I've noticed this. I read an article in a Topps 50-year issue magazine that explained it all. I don't recollect much, but it was the brainchild of some Topps employee. The best players ended in double zeroes and next was single zero. Even players ending in a 5 were better than most commons.

I believe Rod Carew may have had one of the longest strings of zeroes or double zeroes going from 1968 to 1986.

Edited to add: In 1972 he was 695. However, from 1979 to 1986 he was "double zero" tough to beat that one.

Edited to add: George Brett was "double zero" from 1981 to 1990

FavreFan1971

I noticed it too. There also was a thread about Topps and the 666 card.

For football it started in the late 60's when the cards went random # order. But if you look at the 1970 set they followed it to a T.

Sometimes the guy that got '00 really did not deserve it like roman gabriel or Claude Humphrey, Delles Howell. and many more.

I don't know when baseball did this.

HoofHearted

h,

Looking at an old BBC Price Guide, it appears to me that Topps starting doing things with the numbers about 1954. In '54 they had Ted Williams as the #1 and #250 (first and last cards of the set), along with Yogi Berra at #50, a Bob Keegan at 100, Dick Kryhoski at #150 and Larry Jansen was #200. That doesn't seem to follow the major stars in the -00 slots, but with Teddy Ballgame as bookends to the set, that may have been the start. Jackie Robinson was #1 in the '53 set, but that was about the highlight of that set's key numbers.

In '55 then, there were the following cards:

001 Dusty Rhodes
050 Jackie Robinson
100 Monte Irvin
150 Mike Higgins (Mgr)
200 Jackie Jensen
210 Duke Snider (last card of set)

I definitely remember sorting my cards into sets in the '60s and noticing the sequencing of the stars and minor stars. I liked the idea...

hh

cavalier

from what I understand the 54 Ted WIlliams was done to rub Bowman's nose in the fact that Topps had Ted Williams under contract and Bowman didn't -- remember Topps had the 54 Bowman Williams pulled from production

Also you can google it - but over the last few years whoever had card #666 was usually a Yankee nemesis

LWMM

I noticed it too, when looking at an 84 Topps Checklist:
100 Reggie Jackson
200 Andre Dawson
300 Pete Rose
400 Cal Ripken AS
500 George Brett
600 Rod Carew
700 Mike Schmidt

fiveniner

1959 1 frick,10 Mantle 20 Snider30 Fox,40 Spahn, 50 Mays,60 Turley Cy Young 58,70 Kuenn,80 Minoso,90 Skowron,100 Cerv 38 HR in 58,
150, Musial,180 Berra,200 Giles NL PRES,300 Ashburn,350 Banks,380 AARON,390 Cepeda,400 Jensen, 410 Pierce,420 Colavito,430 Ford,440 Burdette, 450 Mathews,460 Friend,470 Musial 3000 Hit,480 Schoendist,490 Thomas,500 Wertz.All Great performers at that time others unlisted with 0s were guys like Witt 110 1 year wonder in 58,370 Hodges possible HOFer,340 Sievers HR leader.Other 0s and 5 included players who performed very well in 58.