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Sunday, January 31, 2016

1953 Topps #1 Jackie Robinson and the First Topps Cartoon

To mark the anniversary of Jackie Robinson birth on January 31, 1919 We are going to take a look at the opening card of the 1953 Set.

1953 Topps #1 Jackie Robinson

We previously covered this card in 2013 and it now serves as the anchor posting for our Jackie Robinson HOF Index. That posting is largely a price guide for the card.

Today I want to take a look at the back of the card.

Cartoons first appear on the backs of cards in 1953. As the resident of the #1 slot in the set Jackie Robinson also has the honor of being the face of Topps first -toon. Ok this isn't in the same stratosphere of the Hall of Famers other accomplishments, but it is of interest to the card collector in me.

The first -toon is an interesting one, I doubt I would have even noticed it on a less noteworthy players card, but Jackie Robinson will make sure I look.

When I read the card I questioned the veracity of the information in the text. It specified that the original Home Plate was made of iron.

Fortunately in the 21st century via the magic of Twitter we can go right to baseball historians who have done much research around such topics.  Here is the question I posed to the MLB official Historian John Thorn.


1953 Topps #1 Jackie Robinson #1 (b-side)

Soon afterward John Thorn replied!

And he filled in some details. Yes the Plate was originally Iron, and he added some bonus info.

That is a lot of critical historical info in under 140 characters. 

It doesn't end there. One of Thorn's followers fleshed out some details on Home Plate. Those details  were then further elaborated on by John Thorn.


 So there we have the reasons for why we call the base Home Plate and the chronology of from the 1845 disc shape to the present shape.

Topps #1
We have recently been obsessed with #1 Cards. This posting will be a second entry for 1953T #1, which to me is the greatest of all the Topps #1 cards.

Sources and Links
Jackie Robinson HoF Index
Topps #1 Club
Our Game John Thorn
Twitter John Thorn
Twitter Peter Alexis

Wednesday, January 27, 2016

1982 Topps #1 Steve Carlton Record Breaker

A few nights ago we ran a column on the Derek Jeter 2015 Topps #1 card and how it compares with the companies other opening cards.

1982 Topps #1 Steve Carlton Highlight NL Strikeout Record

I classified all the #1s in relation to the Jeter card. The judging was very subjective, and this is one of the cards that I determined was better than 2015T Jeter. Lefty got the nod because he is one of my favorite players from when I was a kid and was the Ace for the Phillies first World Championship team in 1980.

Your results may vary - if you don't like it, write your own blog.

Steve Carlton broke Bob Gibson's NL Career Strikeout mark on Septemember 21st 1981 in a 1-0 loss to the Montreal Expos. The tying K took place in the 2nd inning against Montreal Third Baseman Larry Parrish. The following inning Carlton struck out Hall of Famer Andre Dawson with the Record Breaker.

The OCD collector in me would like to point out that the above Photo of Steve Carlton shows Lefty in the Phillies Home Whites. This means that the picture was NOT taken at the game in which Carlton broke Gibson's records.

Flip
1982 Topps #1 Steve Carlton Highlight NL Strikeout Record (b-side)

The back of the card contains some info on the game without noting that the Phillies lost that day. The L was not on Carlton who pitched 10 shutout innings. The game was in the 17th inning when Dawson recorded a bases loaded single to give the Expos the victory.

An incredible dozen different players were penciled in the Number nine spot for the Phillies that day including Rookie Ryne Sandberg who entered the game as a pinch runner.

The text also mentions the previous record holder Bob Gibson who was honored by Topps with a Highlight Card in 1975 commemorating his 3000th strikeout.

Sources and Links
Topps #1 Club Index
Phungo Steve Carlton HOF Index
baseball-ref

Tuesday, January 26, 2016

Abe Vigoda 1921-2016

It makes me happy that Abe Vigoda lived long enough to make it into the Topps Allen & Ginter's collection.

2013 Topps Allen & Ginter's #176 Abe Vigoda

Of course it took them eight releases to get around to publishing the card of the cult icon. In addition to this base version of the card there are Relic and Autographed cards as well as A&Gs several parallels.

 2013 Topps Allen & Ginter's #176 Abe Vigoda (b-side)

The text on the back has Vigoda's standard Bio mentioning the Godfather and Barney Miller. Bonus points for noting the Fish spinoff, however a "Boo" for ignoring is late nite tv cult status.

Frankaset
2013 Topps Allen & Ginter's Frankenset #171-179

I have never built an A&G set, but I do pick up a few packs or perhaps a blaster each year. From these purchases and fervent dime box procurement I have built a near complete Frankenset. I am happy to report that Fish is presently holding down the #176 slot in the Phungo AnG Binder - right next to a 2006 Miguel Cabrera Card. 

On Stage
In additon to his TV and Film work Abe Vigoda was also a busy theater actor.  In 1972 he apprently played Abraham Lincoln in something called "Tough to Get Help"

Tough to Get Help Bio of Abe Vigoda (1972)

Interesting to see Abe Vigoda's bio as he was just coming off of his Godfather performance. Cool to see him mentioned with Jimmy Durante as part of "the halcyon days of comedy"

Card related Abe Vigoda Postings and Memorials 
Baseball Card Breakdown (1933 Goudey Custom)

Sources and Links
Playbill Vault

Monday, January 25, 2016

Topps mum on 2016 #1 and Where does the Derek Jeter 2015T #1 rank

Topps recently released their 2016 Series 1 checker....without card numbers. Doesn't sound like much of a checklist, but I do understand the attraction to withholding the info until the date of release. Bryce Harper who is this years cover boy and has already sat at #1 is a legit candidate as are Mike Trout, Matt Harvey and possibly a Kansas City Royal. 

2015 Topps #1
When 2015 Topps was released last year there was some discussion on the choice of Derek Jeter for the #1 Slot on the checker.

2015 Topps Chrome #1 Derek Jeter

Those unhappy with Jeter at #1 were mainly concerned that a retired player took the top spot in the set. In my opinion this is boloney. I think those that didn't like the Captain at number one were Jeter/Yankees Haters.

Retired players have been part of Topps sets for years - Mickey Mantle occupied the #7 slot on a half dozen sets between 2006 and 2012. George Brett has a 1994 card after announcing his retirement the previous September, Roberto Clemente was issued a card in 1973 Topps following his death in a plane crash the previous year. In 2000 Hank Aaron occupied his uniform number (#44)

In my opinion this is a great card. It captures a moment that every baseball fan knows. It is a career moment rather than a big postseason play.The picture has action, excitement and emotion. The 2015 design is a good one - throughout the set it helps show of a photo without detracting from the shot.

Just for the sake of accuracy I would like to note that the above card is from 2015 Chrome. Jeter occupied the #1 slot in both sets last year


2015 Topps Chrome #1 Derek Jeter (b-side)

Check the upper right of the card and yes it is card #1, also note the Chrome designation



Where does the Jeter #1 Card Rank
I am a little surprised that Derek Jeter has never* appeared as Card #1 in Topps, he has been the last card and been the subject of a noteworthy variation but never #1. 

We took a look at the history of Topps #1 and broke down the cards to figure out which cards we liked best. Charted below are the results - For each card I list the subject Jeter is competing with, and then two columns Jeter and Field. If I felt that this years card was better, The Jeter column gets noted, otherwise the Field Column is labelled the winner.


Subject
Jeter
Field


Subject
Jeter
Field
2014
Mike Trout
Jeter


2006
A-Rod
Jeter

2013
Bryce Harper
Jeter


2005
A-Rod

Field
2012
Ryan Braun
Jeter


2004
Jim Thome
Jeter

2011
Ryan Braun
Jeter


2003
A-Rod
Jeter

2010
Prince Fielder
Jeter


2002
Pedro
Jeter

2009
A-Rod
Jeter


2001
Cal Ripken

Field
2008
A-Rod
Jeter


2000
McGwire
Jeter

2007
John Lackey
Jeter















1999
Clemens
Jeter


1989
George Bell RB
Jeter

1998
Tony Gwynn
Jeter


1988
Vince Coleman RB
Jeter 

1997
Barry Bonds
Jeter


1987
Roger Clemens RB

Field
1996
Gwynn Sub
Jeter


1986
Pete Rose

Field
1995
Frank Thomas

Field

1985
Carlton Fisk RB

Field
1994

Field

1984

Field
1993
Robin Yount

Field

1983
Tony Armas RB
Jeter

1992

Field

1982
Steve Carlton RB

Field
1991
Nolan Ryan

Field

1981
LL BA Brett Buckner

Field
1990
Nolan Ryan

Field

1980
HL 3000 Hits Brock Yaz

Field









1979
LL BA Carew D Parker
Jeter


1969
LL BA Yaz Cater Oliva
Jeter

1978
RB Lou Brock SB Car

Field

1968
LL BA Clemente 

Field
1977
LL BA Brett Madlock
Jeter


1967
WSC Robinson Robinson

Field
1976

Field

1966
Willie Mays

Field
1975

Field

1965
LL BA Oliva B Robinson

Field
1974

Field

1964
LL ERA Koufax

Field
1973

Field

1963
LL BA NL

Field
1972
WSC Pirates

Field

1962
Roger Maris

Field
1971
WSC Orioles

Field

1961

Field
1970
WSC Mets

Field

1960
Early Wynn
Jeter










1959
Ford Frick
Jeter


1955
Dusty Rhodes
Jeter

1958
Ted Williams

Field

1954
Ted Williams

Field
1957
Ted Williams

Field

1953

Field
1956
William Harridge
Jeter


1952
Andy Pafko

Field


There are nine grey blocks that I felt were debatable, A good argument could get me to switch my allegiance on any of those columns.

For the life of me I have no idea what I was doing with the yellow blocks.

2015 marks the 64th edition of Topps. Of the 63 previous I felt as the the Derek Jeter #1 Card was better than 27 of them. The field took the remaining 36. HOWEVER, if you were to give Jeter all 6 of his borderline that would elevate this years card to 33 Wins versus 30 for the field.

That puts 2015 Topps #1 Derek Jeter pretty close to the middle of the 63 #1 Cards all time.

The Green Blocks are links to postings on the specified card. See "Topps #1 Project" below for additional info. 

Topps 2005 #1
In 2005 the top spot was occupied by Alex Rodriguez - Above I mentioned that Derek Jeter has never been Card #1, this is mostly true, I am pretty sure he has a guest cameo on the 2005 Alex Rodriguez Card

I am curious on feedback on any of the lists, a lot of these cards you may be familiar with, for others I would suggest going to the Topps Baseball Card Database

Topps #1 Project
We have an index of the Topps #1 cards here. Just another of the many features that we plan on starting for 2016, who knows how far we will get into the project. Also cards listed in green link to a posting discussing the specific #1 card. Some of these cards are from past columns. Hopefully the future will have additional posts. 

Derek Jeter vs other #1 Polls
Shortly after I posted this column I started running Polls to see which card folks preferred Jeter or another #1. Hopefully this will give us a picture of where the 2015 #1 card ranks. The results of these polls are below:

2016 Mike Trout 4: 2015 Jeter 3 (2016 01 28)
1982 Steve Carlton 8: 2015 Jeter 1 (2016 01 27)


Sources, Links and Updates
Phungo Topps #1 Index
Phungo 2015 Topps Index
Lawrence Jounal World
A Cardboard Problem
Cardboard Connection
Baseball Card Database

Update: 2016 01 31 - added Derek Jeter vs other #1 Polls section