Does anyone know??

Stingray

Not including the 56 Topps set, what was the first Topps baseball to use a game action shot on it for a player card. No playoff or Worls Series card either.

Dboneesq

From what I read, I believe the small black and white photos on the '54 cards were game action shots.

fkw

there are a few in the 1948 R714-27 set ie "Boudreau scoring", Babe Ruth, etc. etc.

1954

I always thought it was the Pee Wee Reese card from 1953 Bowman Color

Stingray

I really meant for Topps, just the first card of a player on thier own card as the main picture.

georgebailey2

With regard to the 53 Reese, I am pretty confident that is a posed photo.

54 Topps - I would say posed although they may have snuck an actual game action photo in there.

Someone would need to scour the Topps Book. I know the 69 AS cards had b&w photos behind the head-shot photos. For some reason, I feel they may have snuck one in on a regular card that year. Might need to check 1970, also. 1971 was clearly the first year to incorporate game action as the primary photo on the primary card. In 72, they had the classic "In Action" cards, although, Norm Cash and possibly Bob Kennedy snuck in there on there cards.

The 64 Giants set has action photos on the back.

jeffcbay

It almost has to be 1971 Topps, but I could be wrong. Very interesting topic!

jeffcbay

Here's a cool website with front and back scans of every Topps card: Topps Archives

bishop

I think fwk is correct. The first Topps baseball set of 19 was a subset of it's 1948 Magic Photo issue. And there are several action shots. I have the set and can post some scans later

The above site starts with the 1952 set. Topps also had 5 baseball specific sets in 1951

bishop

TheMick6

Off the top of my head I'd have to go with 71 Topps also.

bishop

This ended up on a 1959 card. There were several like it

Stingray

<< <i>This ended up on a 1959 card. There were several like it

>>



On a 59 Topps card?? Was it a World Series card? I was just wondering about a the first regular card of a person that was an action shot, no subset cards. The 48s were not current players??

stown

Interesting topic, never really thought about it before.

The above photo of Musial is from the "Baseball Thrills" subset honoring his 3,000th hit.

Using your exemptions, I would guess '71 as well. There may be an in-game closeup portrait shot before then but none come to mind.

jeffcbay

So as far as base Topps player cards where the primary photo is a game action shot... in chronological order, the 1971 Topps #5 Thurman Munson card is the first one ever.

orioles93

The 1948 bowman Rizzuto is an action shot of him running

georgebailey2

<< <i>The 1948 bowman Rizzuto is an action shot of him running >>



The tree in background and closeness of shot suggests a posed photo. May potentially be a spring training game photo but my bet is posed.

jeffcbay

(Topps only)