1981 coke variations

sschauer513

Does anyone know about the number variations for 1981 Coke set. I know of 2 - Pete Rose as 8 normal or #2 and Nolan Ryan as 9 normal or #1 are there anymore was it a proof/promo of 2 cards?

Here are the Rose variation the #2 is very scarce-

BunchOBull

Starting from January 1981, the Coca-Cola sought authorization from baseball players for inclusion in the Topps Coca-Cola Team series, which would feature 524 major league players, 36 of whom would later be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Nolan Ryan had been at the top of his game throughout the decade, and was even considered to be the game's greatest player at the time. He had appeared on advertisements for a number of other products such as chewing gum, Sunflower seeds and watches. Unsurprisingly, Coca-Cola asked for Ryan's permission to have his picture on a baseball card. According to an October 12, 1981, issue of The Sporting News, Ryan did not give his consent to appear on the Coca-Cola baseball card. In response to the authorization request letter sent by John Gruber, a Houston sportswriter hired by the Coca-Cola to seek Ryan's permission, Ryan wrote that he "did not care to have his picture on such a highly caffeinated product." He threatened to seek legal action against Coca-Cola if they went ahead and created his baseball card.

The reasons for Ryan's strong negative reaction to the Coca-Cola's request have been the subject of much speculation. The most commonly told account is that Ryan rejected the deal because he did not want young baseball fans to purchase the Coca-Cola packs for his baseball card. Ryan held high respect for many of his fans, most particularly his young fans. His granddaughter, Blair, remarked that "he loved children. He wanted to teach kids good sportsmanship. When it came time for that card to come out, it wasn't that he wasn't paid. He didn't want kids to have to buy caffeine to get his card."


edited add:

The short of it, Rose #2 and Ryan #1 were proofs originally sent out to pitch the set.

CubsFan41

Good info.

GeoffEighinger

I'm pretty sure Keith Hernandez had some 1981 coke variations of his own.

ddfamf

I dunno about 1981, but Darryl Strawberry and Dwight Gooden are well-known for their "coke" variations also...

AUPT

I'm not sure I buy that story about Ryan and Coke; after all, he DOES appear in the regular-issue version of the Astros team set.

5714Ks

<< <i>Starting from January 1981, the Coca-Cola sought authorization from baseball players for inclusion in the Topps Coca-Cola Team series, which would feature 524 major league players, 36 of whom would later be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Nolan Ryan had been at the top of his game throughout the decade, and was even considered to be the game's greatest player at the time. He had appeared on advertisements for a number of other products such as chewing gum, Sunflower seeds and watches. Unsurprisingly, Coca-Cola asked for Ryan's permission to have his picture on a baseball card. According to an October 12, 1981, issue of The Sporting News, Ryan did not give his consent to appear on the Coca-Cola baseball card. In response to the authorization request letter sent by John Gruber, a Houston sportswriter hired by the Coca-Cola to seek Ryan's permission, Ryan wrote that he "did not care to have his picture on such a highly caffeinated product." He threatened to seek legal action against Coca-Cola if they went ahead and created his baseball card.

The reasons for Ryan's strong negative reaction to the Coca-Cola's request have been the subject of much speculation. The most commonly told account is that Ryan rejected the deal because he did not want young baseball fans to purchase the Coca-Cola packs for his baseball card. Ryan held high respect for many of his fans, most particularly his young fans. His granddaughter, Blair, remarked that "he loved children. He wanted to teach kids good sportsmanship. When it came time for that card to come out, it wasn't that he wasn't paid. He didn't want kids to have to buy caffeine to get his card."


edited add:

The short of it, Rose #2 and Ryan #1 were proofs originally sent out to pitch the set. >>



Grandaughter Blair?
Reid has a son and two daughters named Victoria and Ella.
Reese has two daughters named Caroline and Julia.
Wendy has a son.

The oldest grandchild is probably 7 or 8 by now. It's strange someone would interview an 8 year old about a 1981 Coke card. Ryan has been the spokesperson for Miller Lite, Advil, and Whataburger to name a few. Seems highly unlikely he would take such a Wagner-like stance on Coke printing baseball cards for kids.

hhmag70

<< <i>

<< <i>Starting from January 1981, the Coca-Cola sought authorization from baseball players for inclusion in the Topps Coca-Cola Team series, which would feature 524 major league players, 36 of whom would later be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Nolan Ryan had been at the top of his game throughout the decade, and was even considered to be the game's greatest player at the time. He had appeared on advertisements for a number of other products such as chewing gum, Sunflower seeds and watches. Unsurprisingly, Coca-Cola asked for Ryan's permission to have his picture on a baseball card. According to an October 12, 1981, issue of The Sporting News, Ryan did not give his consent to appear on the Coca-Cola baseball card. In response to the authorization request letter sent by John Gruber, a Houston sportswriter hired by the Coca-Cola to seek Ryan's permission, Ryan wrote that he "did not care to have his picture on such a highly caffeinated product." He threatened to seek legal action against Coca-Cola if they went ahead and created his baseball card.

The reasons for Ryan's strong negative reaction to the Coca-Cola's request have been the subject of much speculation. The most commonly told account is that Ryan rejected the deal because he did not want young baseball fans to purchase the Coca-Cola packs for his baseball card. Ryan held high respect for many of his fans, most particularly his young fans. His granddaughter, Blair, remarked that "he loved children. He wanted to teach kids good sportsmanship. When it came time for that card to come out, it wasn't that he wasn't paid. He didn't want kids to have to buy caffeine to get his card."


edited add:

The short of it, Rose #2 and Ryan #1 were proofs originally sent out to pitch the set. >>




Reid has a son and two daughters named Victoria and Ella.
Reese has two daughters named Caroline and Julia.
Wendy has a son.

The oldest grandchild is probably 7 or 8 by now. It's strange someone would interview an 8 year old about a 1981 Coke card. Ryan has been the spokesperson for Miller Lite, Advil, and Whataburger to name a few. Seems highly unlikely he would take such a Wagner-like stance on Coke printing baseball cards for kids. >>



Thank god he was ok with the healthy chewing gum Topps put in the packs of cards.

billwaltonsbeard

<< <i>I'm pretty sure Keith Hernandez had some 1981 coke variations of his own. >>



Nice game, pretty boy

swartz1

+1

Kramer...