Topps Topics: Studies in Uncut Sheet Arrays - The Update

 

Tday we recap and update Mark Pekrul's six part series covering the Topps vintage uncut sheet arrays that examined the use of short prints and double prints by Topps in their vintage era. Part one can be found HERE, part two HERE, part three HERE, part four HERE, part five HERE, and part six HERE. This work was 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 some of the analysis relied upon recreations of sheets from various partial snippets and miscuts of varying degree, a few years are really works in progress. As such, some updating is necessary. I'll cross-post links and updates for the affected years in the prior posts as needed later today.

FROM 1961-1964:

Entries on 1961 series 5 and 6 completely updated: 

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 later years, Topps would develop a fairly standard way in which to format 77-card series, but initially things were a little crazy.

 We are fortunate to have images of both 1961 series 5 slits:

           

These establish the following row patterns:

Slit A: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C, D, G

Slit B: E, A, B, C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C, D

Cards in rows E and G are printed in ¾ the amount of cards in rows A, B, C and D.  These short-prints are:

E:

Hank Aaron (415)

Jack Chesbro Baseball Thrills (407)

Larry Sherry (412)

Braves Team Photo (463) [error – card number should be 426]

Dick Bertell (441)

Cliff Cook (399)

Eddie Yost (413)

Lou Gehrig Baseball Thrills (405)

Vern Law (400)

Bob Hendley (372)

Ralph Terry (389)

 

G:

Ken Boyer (375)

Dick Howser (416)

Ken Walters (394)

Walter Johnson Baseball Thrills (409)

Yogi Berra (425)

Bob Aspromonte (396)

Tom Borland (419)

Babe Ruth Baseball Thrills (401)

Mike Roarke (376)

Dick Ellsworth (427)

Frisco First Liners (383)

 

Only appearing two times, cards in row F are short-printed by ½ compared to cards from A, B, C and D:

F:

Ray Barker (428)

Charlie Neal (423)

Christy Mathewson Baseball Thrills (408)

Ty Cline (421)

Bill Mazeroski (430)

Juan Marichal (417)

5^th Series Checklist (361)

Bill Skowron (371)

Bob “Hawk” Taylor (446)

Don Larsen Baseball Thrills (402)

Jim Maloney (436)

 Reconstructions of each series 6 slit demonstrates the exact same row patterns as with series 5, and the exact same number and variety of short-prints. 

Those cards printed in ¾ the amount of the majority are:

E:

Jim Pagliaroni (519)

Ernie Banks MVP (485)

Harvey Kuenn (500)

Andy Carey (518)

Red Schoendienst (505)

Elston Howard (495)

Indians Team Card (467)

Hank Aaron MVP (484)

Jack Fisher (463)

Dick Farrell (522)

Johnny James (457)

 

G:

Phil Rizzuto MVP (471)

Joe Morgan (511)

Jim Bunning (490)

Ken MacKenzie (496)

Smoky Burgess (461)

Gil Hodges (460)

Willie Mays MVP (482)

Art Ditmar (510)

Jim Lemon (450)

Willie Tasby (458)

John DeMerit (501)

 

As in the 5^th series, the cards in row F appear at 50% the rate of the majority:

F:

Joe Cunningham (520)

Jackie Brandt (515)

Tom Cheney (494)

Series 7 Checklist (516)

Yogi Berra MVP (472)

Roy McMillan (465)

Ray Herbert (498)

Leroy Thomas (464)

Bob Will (512)

Walt Dropo (489)

Roy Campanella MVP (480)

  

Entries on 1962 series 5 and 6 updated:

Series 5-7 each contain 77 cards, but we don’t have enough information to know whether they continue the odd formatting from 1961 or not.   One slit from series 6 has been reconstructed, which displays the following row pattern:

A, B, C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C, F, G

This is different from 1961 but doesn’t offer enough information to make any firm assessment of what the other slit looked like or what cards may have been over- or short-printed.   

 

Entry on 1963 series 5 update:

For series 5, we have been able to reconstruct one of the slits.  77-card series were still apparently flummoxing Topps because this slit shows a row pattern of:

A, B, C, A, D, E, F, G, A, B, C, A

That’s 4 times for row A, 2 each for rows B and C, and only one time each for D, E, F and G.  This sets up no end of short- and over-printing possibilities, but until the appearance of the other slit can be determined, we don’t yet have enough to go on. 

 

  

1964 series 5 introduction update:

For the 77-card series 5, we have a composite image (made up of two partials) of one of the slits.  It presents a much more orderly arrangement than previous 77-card slit layouts:

A, B, C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C, D, E

An examination of card counts at eBay has allowed us to be all but certain that 33 cards (three rows) were over-printed by 33%:

1964 series 6 introduction update:

Both series 6 slits have been reconstructed.  The identified row patterns are:

A: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C, D, E

B: D, E, F, G, A, B, C, D, E, F, G, A

This creates a scenario in which three rows are over-printed (four times each) compared to the other four (three times each).  Though specific row arrangements occasionally vary, this pattern of 4x/3x with three rows over-printed continues in subsequent Topps 77-card series, and all but certainly applies to series 5 of this 1964 set. 

1967 Series 6 introduction update:

Recently, an image of a full series 6 sheet appeared on eBay.  This confirms the following row pattern:

Slit A: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C, D, E

Slit B: C, D, F, G, A, B, C, D, E, F, G, A

Cards in rows A, C and D were over-printed:

 

From the 1969 series 4 introduction update:

For the first time since 1961 (perhaps 1962 and/or 1963 as well), a Topps series contains short-printed cards.  Rows D, E and I appear only twice each across a full sheet, while the other rows make 3 appearances each.  D, E and I are therefore short-prints.

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There could be more updates down the road.  Stay tuned!