Topps Topics: Studies in Uncut Sheet Arrays - 1961 to 1964

 

Presenting part three of an ongoing series examining the use of short prints and double prints by Topps in their vintage era; part one can be found HERE and part two HERE. Today Mark Pekrul is looking at the 1961 to 1964 press sheets for the annual Topps Baseball sets. Mark, who posts as “deweyinthehall” on Net54 Baseball  has dug into these along with a couple of other stalwarts over there and worked to reconstruct most of the print arrays for all Topps Baseball series from roughly 1955 to 1970 (1971 and 1972 are mostly known but will be covered here nonetheless).  This work has essentially been compiled independently of anything I’ve posted previously. Mark maintains a website that covers Topps Baseball sets from 1965 to 1994 in some commendable depth as well,  CLICK HERE to be transported.

As a reminder, from 1957 through 1995, all Topps standard-sized (i.e. 2.5 x 3.5 inches) sets (baseball, football, hockey, basketball and non-sports) were printed on sheets containing two large blocks of cards, 11x12 cards each.  This created groups of 132 cards each, in many cases giving us complete set counts which are very recognizable today – 132, 264, 396, 528, 660 and 792.  Some early hockey and football sets, as well as many non-sports sets, had only 66 cards – exactly half of 132.

Therefore, when we hear the term “uncut sheet” today, we typically think of a roughly 2' x 4'array of 132 cards. However, a full standard-sized uncut sheet was twice as large, and had 2 groupings of 132 cards (as above).  The outside margins were white (even for sets with colored borders, such as 1971 or 1962) and contained various notations including positioning and cutting guides and other errata.  They eventually even featured commodity codes, just like Topps used for cases, boxes and packs.

Down the middle ran a thick white space called the “gutter” – full sheets were sliced down the gutter before each half-sheet, or ‘slit’, was then fed into a cutter. 

Each slit contained 12 rows of 11 cards.   For ease of reference, we can label the rows A-L and columns 1-11. Any card position can then be designated as A-1 (far upper left), L-11 (bottom right), and so forth, as shown below.

             SLIT A                                                                      SLIT B

Let's dive in...

1961 Topps Baseball – 587 Total Cards in Set

In 1961, things got a little more complex.  For the first time, Topps included checklists as numbered cards in its main set.  The first series checklist was typically double printed with series 1, and every series included a checklist from the next series to whet the kids’ appetites for the next spate of new cards.   Except the last series…but that should be obvious.   Topps also chose 1961 to introduce League Leader and World Series cards.   Why they decided to lessen the overall number of individual player cards from the previous year at the same time as the leagues were expanding is hard to understand.  

While we’re on the subject of checklists, from 1961 through 1966 the checklist cards did not reflect each series correctly.  In these years, the series 1 checklist only listed cards 1-88.  The series 2 checklist listed cards 89-176, series 3 was 177-264, series 4 was 265-352, series 5 was 353-429, series 6 was 430-506, and series 7 was 507 to the last card in the set regardless of the number.  In 1967, Topps began having each checklist accurately reflect those cards in the series the checklist represented.  (NOTE-this has been covered here in the past to some degree, click HERE for a ton of info on how Topps lagged their checklists over they years.)

Why did they do this from 1961-1966?  It probably was another attempt to tease kids to be sure to keep buying packs as the year went on, although with the checklist for the next series already included in the previous one, it is hard to tell what else, exactly, they hoped to achieve.  What this arrangement did create was the belief, occasionally, that each series really did contain only those cards listed on the checklists.  Some folks did have the notion that series 1 only include cards 1-88, for example, and that the series 7 ‘high numbers’ began at card 507 instead of 523 or some other number.  This can even be seen in some price guides over the years. 

Anyway, back to our regular programming. 

Series 1: 1-109, 109 different cards plus an extra 1^st series checklist

Series 2: 110-196, 87 different cards plus a repeated series 2 checklist from series 1

Series 3: 197-283, 87 different cards plus a repeated series 3 checklist from series 2

Series 4: 284-370, 87 different cards plus a repeated series 4 checklist from series 3

Series 5: 371-446, 76 different cards plus a repeated series 5 checklist from series 4

Series 6: 447-522, 76 different cards plus a repeated series 6 checklist from series 5

Series 7: 523-587, 65 different cards plus a repeated series 7 checklist from series 6

The series 7 checklist lists the final card in the set, Warren Spahn All Star, as #587.  However, the card itself was erroneously printed as #589.  This gave rise for a time to the misperception that cards 587 and 588 “do not exist”, meaning they were supposed to be printed but for some reason never were, a la 1958’s Ed Bouchee.  But, 1961 series 7 was never meant to be anything more than a standard 65 card series, plus the repeated checklist. 

For series 1, research has reconstructed a single slit which features a row pattern of A. B, C, D, E, F, G, A, B, H, I, J.  This is enough to let us know that 22 of the total 44 series 1 over-printed cards are in rows A and B.  Without knowing the arrangement of the other slit, we cannot be sure of the other 22.

                                             

 

The row A and B over-prints are:

A

Stu Miller (72)

Alex Grammas (64)

Jerry Staley (90)

Moe Thacker (12)

A.L. Pitching Leaders (48)

Al Pilarcik (62)

Harvey Haddix (100)

Jim Grant (18)

Lenny Green (4)

Bob Bruce (83)

Roger Maris (2)

 

B

Ron Piche (61)

Richie Ashburn (88)

Ted Kluszewski (65)

Wynn Hawkins (34)

Whitey Herzog (106)

A.L. ERA Leaders (46)

Ken Johnson (24)

Jim Davenport (55)

Curt Simmons (11)

Brooks Robinson (10)

Ruben Amaro (103)

 

Series 2-4 feature the standard 88-card pattern.

Series 5 and 6 feature seven 11-card rows – a number not previously utilized and one which creates its own problems that can only be resolved by even more differences in print quantities per series.

In a series with seven rows (a prominent feature in later years), each will appear three times, forcing Topps to print three one extra time to achieve the 24 total row requirement.  All 77 cards (including that pesky extra checklist) will appear three times, and 33 will appear four times.  Over the years, the 44 cards printed just three times have come to be referred to as short-prints.  Being something of a curmudgeon, I don’t think this is the correct way to consider them.  I don’t believe any cards can properly be considered to be short-printed when they make up the majority of the cards in the series.  In a 77-card series, I think it’s more accurate to say that the 33 are overprints.  By planting this flag, I know I am running against many years of entrenched hobby thought, but I will stick to my guns.  Every 77-card series features 33 over-prints.

Having said this, we do not have any images, original or reconstructs, of any 1961 series 5 or 6 slits, so we do not know the row arrangements, hence we do not know with any certainty which cards were overprinted (eBay card counts can help get us there, but they are not definitive). 

Series 7 used the typical 66-card pattern.

 

1962 Topps Baseball – 598 Total Cards in Set

Series 1: 1-109, 109 different cards plus an extra 1^st series checklist

Series 2: 110-196, 87 different cards plus a repeated series 2 checklist from series 1

Series 3: 197-283, 87 different cards plus a repeated series 3 checklist from series 2

Series 4: 284-370, 87 different cards plus a repeated series 4 checklist from series 3

Series 5: 371-446, 76 different cards plus a repeated series 5 checklist from series 4

Series 6: 447-522, 76 different cards plus a repeated series 6 checklist from series 5

Series 7: 523-598, 76 different cards plus a repeated series 7 checklist from series 6

Topps expanded its set size slightly in 1962 by adding one more row of 11 cards to series 6.  It seems they had reason to expand the sizes of their sets to an even greater degree, considering that between 1961 and 1962, four expansion clubs were added by MLB, upping the total player count by about 100.  However, a Topps set wouldn’t crack 600 cards until 1967 (and then only by 9 cards) and they wouldn’t break the 700-card barrier until 1970 after four MORE clubs were added in 1969!

One series 1 slit has been reconstructed and its row patter is A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, A, B.  Therefore, while the pattern may be different from the known 1961 series 1 slit, the over-printed rows are the same, A and B. 

22 of the total 44 over-prints from 1962 series 1 are:

A

N.L. Win Leaders (58)

Tony Cloninger (63)

N.L. Batting Leaders (52)

Barney Schultz (89)

A.L. Home Run Leaders (53)

Carl Sawatski (106)

Carroll Hardy (101)

N.L. Strikeout Leaders (60)

Jack Baldschun (46)

N.L. Home Run Leaders (54)

Mike Rourke (87)

 

B

Cuno Barragon (66)

Dick LeMay (71)

Howie Bedell (76)

Phil Ortega (69)

Cliff Cook (41)

Tom Tresh (31)

Boog Powell (99)

Darrell Johnson (16)

Ted Savage (104)

Ray Washburn (19)

Series 2 Checklist (98)

 

Series 2-4 were arranged in the standard 88-card pattern.

Series 5-7 each feature 33 over-printed cards (there – I said it again!), but with one exception we don’t now know any of the row patterns.  The exception is that one series 6 slit has been reconstructed, and shows a pattern of A, B, C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C, F, G.  Even here, without knowing what the other slit looks like we cannot say for sure which cards were over-printed, other than to assume they aren’t likely to be from rows D or E, which only appear twice on the known slit. 

 

1963 Topps Baseball – 576 Total Cards in Set

 Series 1: 1-109, 109 different cards plus an extra 1^st series checklist

Series 2: 110-196, 87 different cards plus a repeated series 2 checklist from series 1

Series 3: 197-283, 87 different cards plus a repeated series 3 checklist from series 2

Series 4: 284-370, 87 different cards plus a repeated series 4 checklist from series 3

Series 5: 371-446, 76 different cards plus a repeated series 5 checklist from series 4

Series 6: 447-511, 65 different cards plus a repeated series 6 checklist from series 5

Series 7: 512-576, 65 different cards plus a repeated series 7 checklist from series 6

For 1963, we have a full image of one series 1 slit and a partial image of the other:

First of all, 1963 sheets and slits can make your eyes hurt because of the way the cards are flipped this way and that – a by product of the design used that year with a single colored bar at the bottom of card front – except for the checklists and 4-player rookie cards(!).

Nevertheless, from these images we know that the 44 over-printed cards from series 1 are:

A

Series 1 Checklist (79)

Ray Moore (26)

Tony Gonzalez (32)

Jim Umbricht (99)

Joe Gibbin (101)

George Thomas (98)

Dal Maxvill (49)

A.L. Home Run Leaders (4)

Ron Hansen (88)

Ed Lopat (23)

Phillies Team Card (13)

 

B

Curt Simmons (22)

Ryne Duren (17)

Bob Bruce (24)

Jim Gilliam (80)

Terry Fox (44)

Rookie Stars (29)

Pete Burnside (19)

Charley Maxwell (86)

Reds Team Card (63)

Jim O’Toole (50)

Joe Cunningham (100)

 

I

Birdie Tebbetts (48)

Series 1 Checklist (79)

Angels Team Card (39)

Ken Hubbs (15)

Lou Clinton (96)

Rookie Stars (54)

Veteran Masters (43)

Charlie Lau (41)

Elston Howard (60)

Bob Veale (87)

Cal Koonce (31)

J

Stan Williams (42)

Chuck Essegian (103)

A.L. ERA Leaders (6)

Bobby Bragan (73)

Bob Schmidt (94)

Bob Bolin (106)

Bill Virdon (55)

Bo Belinsky (33)

Tommie Aaron (46)

Jim Hickman (107)

Series 2 Checklist (102)

 

Series 2-4 were formatted in the typical 88-card pattern.  

For series 5, we have been able to reconstruct one of the slits.  The row pattern presented is A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, A, B, C, D.  We can speculate with some assurance that rows E and F were not over-printed, but without the other slit we do not know for sure.

                                              

Series 6 and 7 featured the standard 66-card pattern.

1964 Topps Baseball – 587 Total Cards in Set

Series 1: 1-109, 109 different cards plus an extra 1^st series checklist

Series 2: 110-196, 87 different cards plus a repeated series 2 checklist from series 1

Series 3: 197-283, 87 different cards plus a repeated series 3 checklist from series 2

Series 4: 284-370, 87 different cards plus a repeated series 4 checklist from series 3

Series 5: 371-446, 76 different cards plus a repeated series 5 checklist from series 4

Series 6: 447-522, 76 different cards plus a repeated series 6 checklist from series 5

Series 7: 523-587, 65 different cards plus a repeated series 7 checklist from series 6

For series 1, we actually have an image of a full sheet – the oldest known such image:

This allows us to know the row patterns on each slit:

Slit A: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, A, B

Slit B: C, D, H, I, J, A, B, C, D, E, F, G

And to therefore identify with certainty the 44 cards in rows A, B, C and D which were overprinted:

A

Dave Nicholson (31)

Willie Davis (68)

Jim Wynn (38)

Hank Aguirre (39)

Billy O’Dell (18)

George Altman (95)

Felipe Alou (65)

Chuck Hinton (52)

Woody Held (105)

Moe Drabowsky (42)

Milt Pappas (45)

 

B

Willie Kirkland (17)

Earl Battey (90)

Carl Sawatski (24)

Jim Fregosi (97)

Mets Team Card (27)

Jerry Adair (22)

Elston Howard (100)

Giants Rookie Stars (47)

Ron Perranoski (30)

Gus Triandos (83)

Art Mahaffey (104)

 

C

Leo Cardenas (72)

Mickey Mantle (50)

Jim Davenport (82)

Boog Powell (89)

Angel Backstops (61)

N.L. Strikeout Leaders (5)

N.L. RBI Leaders (11)

John Boozer (16)

Steve Ridzik (92)

Jim Perry (34)

Friendly Foes (41)

 

D

Reds Rookie Stars (33)

Gino Cimoli (26)

Dodgers Rookie Stars (14)

Eddie Fisher (66)

Cardinals Team Card (87)

Sam Mele (54)

Rusty Staub (109)

Carl Willey (84)

White Sox Rookie Stars (107)

Bob Friend (20)

Series 1 Checklist (76)

  

Series 2-4 were arranged in the typical 88-card pattern. 

For the 77-card series 5, we have a composite image (made up of two partials) of what appears to be slit B.  An examination of card counts at eBay has allowed us to be all but certain that the 33 cards over-printed by 33% are:

A

Ron Santo (375)

Jim Umbricht (389)

Chuck Cottier (397)

Dennis Bennett (396)

Ken McBride (405)

Sam McDowell (391)

George Alusik (431)

Bob Miller (394)

Johnny Keane (413)

Bill Skowron (445)

Jim Pagliaroni (392)

 

B

Ed Bailey (437)

Dave Morehead (376)

Don Nottebart (434)

Bob Duliba (441)

Jackie Brandt (399)

Jim Maloney (420)

Norm Cash (425)

Tony Martinez (404)

Camilo Carreon (421)

Charlie Neal (436)

Orioles Rookie Stars (418)

 

E

Juan Pizarro (430)

Reds Team Card (403)

Tony Kubek (415)

Ken Harrelson (419)

Bob Bolin (374)

Jack Fisher (422)

Lee Maye (416)

Curt Simmons (385)

Bob Skinner (377)

Casey Teaches (393)

Wes Stock (382)

 

Both series 6 slits have been reconstructed.  The identified row patterns are slit A: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C, D, E and slit B: D, E, F, G, A, B, C, D, E, F, G, A.  Hence, the over-printed cards are:

A

Frank Baumann (452)

White Sox Team Card (496)

Ralph Terry (458)

Ted Bowsfield (447)

Fred Valentine (453)

Jesse Gonder (457)

Tommie Aaron (454)

Joeff Long (497)

Bob Purkey (480)

Joe Amalfitano (451)

Lou Jackson (511)

 

D

Angels Rookie Stars (502)

Bob Aspromonte (467)

Red Sox Rookie Stars (459)

Cookie Rojas (448)

Don Lee (493)

Jim Bouton (470)

Diego Segui (508)

Tom Haller (485)

Bob Gibson (460)

Yankees Rookie Stars (488)

Twins Rookie Stars (516)

 

E

Cardinals Rookie Stars (479)

Bobby Bragan (506)

Claude Raymond (504)

Al Jackson (494)

Cubs Rookie Stars (469)

Deron Johnson (449)

Indians Rookie Stars (499)

Dick Howser (478)

Charlie Smith (519)

John Edwards (507)

Dodgers Rookie Stars (456)

 

Series 7 is arranged in the typical 66-card pattern.

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Next time out Mark will be discussing arrays from 1965-1969, which will get into the super popular high numbers from 1966 and 1967.