Rare Test Issues, Inserts, and Misc Thread

frankhardy

The 1985 Topps Minis thread got me to thinking about rare inserts, test issues, and misc card sets. I thought it would be interesting to start a thread discussing them and even showcasing them. Most of you know that the main part of my collection is Cardinals team sets. After completing all regular vintage and modern Topps, Bowman, Fleer, Donruss, Upper Deck, and Score, I started branching out and trying to get into some of the rare inserts and test issues. I mainly stick with Topps, but have went after other rewarding chases like Post, Jello, and Red Man.

Some of the inserts, non base sets, and parallel sets were very easy like the 1968 Topps game, the 1969 Topps Deckle Edge, and the 1986 - 1990 Topps Minis. Some have been very, very difficult to find like the 1951 Topps Team Cardinals, 1969 Topps Supers, 1971 Topps Greatest Moments (especially the Brock), 1974 Topps Deckle Edge, 1988 Topps Cloth, and the 1991 Topps Desert Shield. Then, there are some that I will probably never even see, much less own, like the 1955 and 1956 Topps Hocus Focus Harvey Haddix, 1967 Topps Stand Ups Cepeda and McCarver, and the 1968 Topps 3 D Curt Flood.

It has been fun, but I realize that the chase for some of these will be never ending. Just for the heck of it, here is a list (unless I miss some) of the those type of cards that I have completed for my Cardinals team sets -

Topps

1951 Topps Team
1955 Topps Double Headers
1958 Topps Bazooka Felt Emblems
1961 Topps Magic Rub Offs
1961 Topps Stamps
1962 Topps Stamps
1962 Topps Bucks
1963 Topps Peel Offs
1964 Topps Stand Ups
1964 Topps Coins
1965 Topps Embossed
1965 Topps Transfers
1966 Topps Rub Offs
1967 Topps Pin Ups
1967 Topps Posters
1968 Topps Game
1969 Topps Team Posters
1969 Topps Deckle Edge
1969 Topps Decals
1969 Topps Supers
1970 Topps Story Booklets
1970 Topps Posters
1970 Topps Supers
1971 Topps Supers
1971 Topps Coins
1971 Topps Greatest Moments
1972 Topps Posters
1973 Topps Candy Lids
1974 Topps Stamps
1974 Topps Deckle Edge
1975 Topps Minis
1977 Topps Cloth
1979 Topps Comics
1980 Topps Super
1981 Topps Scratchoffs
1981 Topps Stickers
1982 Topps Stickers
1983 Topps Stickers
1984 Topps Stickers
1984 Topps Ruboffs
1985 Topps Minis
1985 Topps Stickers
1985 Topps Ruboffs
1985 Topps 3D
1986 Topps Minis
1986 Topps Stickers
1986 Topps Gallery
1986 Topps Tatoos
1986 Topps 3D
1987 Topps Minis
1987 Topps Gallery
1987 Topps Coins
1988 Topps Cloth
1988 Topps Minis
1988 Topps Mini UK
1988 Topps Stickers
1988 Topps Gallery
1988 Topps Coins
1988 Topps Big
1989 Topps Mini
1989 Topps Stickers
1990 Topps Mini
1991 Topps Micro
1991 Topps Desert Shield
1992 Topps Gold
1992 Topps Micro
1992 Topps Kids
1993 Topps Micro
1993 Topps Gold
1995 Topps Cyber Stats
All Topps Glossy Send Ins and Glossy All Stars


Other

1952 Berk Ross
1952 Red Man
1953 Red Man
1954 Red Man
1955 Red Man
1961 Post
1962 Post
1963 Post
1963 Jello
1970 Kellogg's
1971 Kellogg's
1972 Kellogg's
1973 Kellogg's
1974 Kellogg's
1975 Kellogg's
1976 Kellogg's
1977 Kellogg's
1978 Kellogg's
1979 Kellogg's
1980 Kellogg's
1981 Kellogg's
1982 Kellogg's
1983 Kellogg's


Anyway, that's what I have, not that you needed to know or anything, I just had the urge to type up a list. I just thought it would be interesting to start a thread. Feel free to discuss and/or post pictures. I'm not even sure if there are very many that find these cards interesting. I know I do.

xbaggypants

Are 1987 Topps Minis really scare? I have about 300 that I would like to get rid of.

Ryan

frankhardy

<< <i>Are 1987 Topps Minis really scare? I have about 300 that I would like to get rid of.

Ryan >>



No they are easy. That set would fall under the "Misc" category. I guess I should have been more clear on that. Sorry.

11235813

There are several other Topps test issues which may have Cardinals which you might be interested in:

1968 Topps poster (Cepeda, McCarver)
1970 Topps Candy Lids (McCarver)
1970 Cloth Sticker (very rare, only one of each specimen known, I've got the McCovey)
1972 Cloth Sticker
1973 Topps Comics
1973 Topps Pinups
1974 Topps Puzzle (Gibson)

There are also the OPC & Topps Venezuelan sets to consider...

frankhardy

<< <i>There are several other Topps test issues which may have Cardinals which you might be interested in:

1968 Topps poster (Cepeda, McCarver)
1970 Topps Candy Lids (McCarver)
1970 Cloth Sticker (very rare, only one of each specimen known, I've got the McCovey)
1972 Cloth Sticker
1973 Topps Comics
1973 Topps Pinups
1974 Topps Puzzle (Gibson)

There are also the OPC & Topps Venezuelan sets to consider... >>



I made a mistake. I said 1967 Topps Poster. You are right. It is 1968 and I do have Cepeda and McCarver. The rest of those (that have Cardinals players) are on my "want" list. Those are some rare ones. If I am wrong, please correct me, but I don't think that there are any Cardinals players in the 70 or 72 Cloth Stickers. There is a Gibson Puzzle on Ebay right now. It is a little out of my range at $225 buy it now. The 70 Candy Lids, 73 Comics, and 73 Pinups are very, very scarce. The OPC and Venezuelan are on my "to do" list, but it will be a while before I start those.

ripkenintheminors

If minor league card sets are allowed then this is my #1 candidate:

LINK

baseballfanatic

There are also several Cardinals on the 1969 Topps 4 in 1's

bobsbbcards

<< <i>If I am wrong, please correct me, but I don't think that there are any Cardinals players in the 70 or 72 Cloth Stickers. >>



1970 Topps Cloth Stickers - Rich Nye and Vic Davalillo (undiscovered)
1972 Topps Cloth Stickers - Art Shamsky and Marty Martinez

QUITCRAB

How about the 68 topps action sticker panels-one of my favorite sets-Brock Cepeda and Gibson..maybe McCarver....Scott

bobsbbcards

ajw

You're such a show off, Bob.

(and we're all glad that you are!)

bobsbbcards

<< <i>You're such a show off, Bob.

(and we're all glad that you are!) >>

jimq112

Also there's the various fleer/laughlin world series cards, they're not that hard to get but they do celebrate the best years your team has had!

frankhardy

<< <i>

<< <i>If I am wrong, please correct me, but I don't think that there are any Cardinals players in the 70 or 72 Cloth Stickers. >>



1970 Topps Cloth Stickers - Rich Nye and Vic Davalillo (undiscovered)
1972 Topps Cloth Stickers - Art Shamsky and Marty Martinez >>



Ouch! That hurts!




Bob,

That's the first time I've seen those 67 Standups. Nice.

smtjoy

1968 Topps All Star Sticker Panel- Cepeda

Bigstep

Was the 85 Topps 3D of Sutter in a Braves uni ?

frankhardy

Nope, he is in a Cardinals uniform. I forgot about those. I have the 85 and 86 3d's. Plus, the 85 and 86 Topps Supers. Time to update that list.

I still need those All Star Stickers from 1968. Those are pretty tough as well.

speeder

Lets not forget about the very tough 1972 candy lids (square proofs & round tab lids)

I`m not certain, but i would think there would be a Cardinal in there somewhere ?

Bobby, do you know of any ?

Lee

bobsbbcards

<< <i>Lets not forget about the very tough 1972 candy lids (square proofs & round tab lids)

I`m not certain, but i would think there would be a Cardinal in there somewhere ?

Bobby, do you know of any ?

Lee >>


Could be....

frankhardy

This is now the "Hey, Bob, why don't you torture Shane by showing off some rare things that he wish he had" thread! Just kidding.

speeder

Shane,

I know your just kidding,,, but just remember (everyone) my buddy, Mr. Fisk, spent hard earned "serious" money to obtain these items.

Please enjoy what he has to offer. Just remember, like me, like you,, we all like to to show our collections. And i`ve never ever heard Bob degrade someones thread or collection.

He`s an OHIO boy,, like me,, he ain`t always right,,,,, but he`s seldom ever wrong

Your friend, Lee

frankhardy

Oh, believe me, I know. Those cards are not cheap. I love it when he shows them off. I would do the same thing (probably even more). Please know, that I was just kidding around. Those are some awesome cards.

frankhardy

I have purchased a 1971 Topps Tatoos sheet #15 with Bob Gibson and the Cardinals logo. All I need now it to come across sheet #10 with Joe Torre. Does anybody out there know where I can get one?

1951WheatiesPremium

Probably my favorite card in my entire collection. Between PSA and SGC combined there's only 82 graded copies of the Mick. I'm always on the lookout for a copy of the Bob Feller, Phil Rizzuto and Jack Kramer cards.

This is from the 1951 Wheaties Premium Photo set. There are 12 'known' cards to the set and it is just about the most mysterious test issue/type card set I have ever encountered. They're black and white, 5x7 and have a beautiful, high gloss finish. The set features 9 baseball players (8 of them HoFers), Ben Hogan, Jack Kramer and a figure skater from the 1940-50 era named Betty Schalow. As for rare, it's hard to say for sure but PSA has graded only 179 cards from the set, with 70 of them being Mickey Mantle.

Of the 12 cards, the rarest seem to be Jack Kramer (0 graded copies), Ben Hogan (1 graded copy) and Phil Rizzuto (1 graded copy). Ungraded copies surface from time to time at card shows, on auction sites and eBay.

A personal fave...

Stone193

Really nice.

Very pricey card also.

I do have 2 Mantle premium photos; 1964 Phillies Cigar and a Rawlings.

Thanx for sharing.