TCMA past and present...

[DaClyde]

Originally Posted by TCMA

Well, Topps had a license from MLB and TCMA did not, which is why they filed a lawsuit against TCMA in 1975/76 when the SSPC set was released.

Deals with the Minor League teams were reached individually. This generally consisted of providing the teams with half the print run of their team's card sets so they could be given away or sold at the games.

Thank you for the response! What about the historical sets? Did Topps just look the other way because they weren't producing anything similar or was there some sort of exemption related to producing sets using the images older than a certain date? I don't recall ever seeing any airbrushing or hiding of team emblems on hats and jerseys for any of the various team sets and all time greats sets.

And on a slightly different topic, what led to TCMA producing the one team set in 1985 for the Tigres de Mexico? Where there any plans to do more Mexican sets?

[Rich Klein]

i wonder if that was because of the active player issue. After all in 1975, with a couple of exceptions, who cared about usage of a 1930's player in any sets.

But the MLBPA sure cared about the active players

Rich

[DaClyde]

Originally Posted by Rich Klein

i wonder if that was because of the active player issue. After all in 1975, with a couple of exceptions, who cared about usage of a 1930's player in any sets.

But the MLBPA sure cared about the active players

Rich

You're probably right, especially given that upon retirement, players basically were out of the MLBPA and thus their likenesses were no longer the concern of the MLBPA.

[TCMA]

Originally Posted by DaClyde

Thank you for the response! What about the historical sets? Did Topps just look the other way because they weren't producing anything similar

Correct, Topps really didn't seem to care until SSPC directly challenged them.

[TCMA]

Originally Posted by DaClyde

And on a slightly different topic, what led to TCMA producing the one team set in 1985 for the Tigres de Mexico? Where there any plans to do more Mexican sets?

We were asked by the team to do it . That was the only Mexican set IIRC but there were Japanese sets.

[PSACJ]

Here is a 1972 TCMA (1915) Cracker Jack Set still in its original bag. I have this as part of my my 1915 Master Cracker Jack collection. I also have "Bullet Joe Wood and Harry Hooper autographed PSA DNA 9 of these cards in my collection as well. They are super cool!!!

[TCMA]

Originally Posted by PSACJ

Here is a 1972 TCMA (1915) Cracker Jack Set still in its original bag. I have this as part of my my 1915 Master Cracker Jack collection. I also have "Bullet Joe Wood and Harry Hooper autographed PSA DNA 9 of these cards in my collection as well. They are super cool!!!

Very nice . You know, I bet there are still some of those floating around Baseball Nostalgia in Cooperstown. I know for a fact there are still several reprint sets there from the early days.

Lately I've been trying to get my hands on one of the uncut sheets of the Cracker Jack reprint cards but no luck.

[TCMA]

This one:

[AustinMike]

Hey Mike and Andrew,

I won a set of Yankees photos from the recent Huggins & Scott auction. They were produced by SCFC. I didn't know anything about them. Today I got curious and did a little research on the 'net. I found out SCFC stands for Sport Cards for Collectors and it was a precursor to TCMA. When I saw that, I thought of you guys and this thread. (Looking back in the thread, I see SCFC was mentioned early on by Steve Mitchell.)

The set is comprised of 99 4X5 photos. Numbers 1-36 are 1970, 37-58 are 1969, 59-87 are 1968, and 88-99 are 1967.

So, I assume the photos were made in 1970. Is that correct? Also, do you know why you went back and made photos for previous years? And why the odd number of photos per year - 36 for 1970, 22 for 1969, 29 for 1968, and 12 for 1967? Also, why was Mantle included in the 1970 grouping as a coach, but not included in the 1967 or 1968 groupings as a player? Why was F. Peterson included in the '68 grouping twice? In essence, can you shed any light on the thought process that went into the years that were produced and the player selection for each year?

Like many others have said, thanks for all TCMA has done for the hobby!

[darkhorse9]

I've got a question regarding the Yankees yearbook and the "Phillies Way" books that were produced by SSPC.

Were these different since they were technically books and the cards were just inserts, or did these fall under the same copyright that Topps was trying to enforce?

It's always interested me on whether the method of distribution affected the licensing of cards. Since Post and Hostess in the past weren't selling cards, but rather using cards as packaging, was this a different legal territory?

[TCMA]

Originally Posted by AustinMike

Hey Mike and Andrew,

I won a set of Yankees photos from the recent Huggins & Scott auction. They were produced by SCFC. I didn't know anything about them. Today I got curious and did a little research on the 'net. I found out SCFC stands for Sport Cards for Collectors and it was a precursor to TCMA

Yes, that is correct . SCFC goes back to the late 60's and was my father and his Uncle, Myron Aronstein. From what my father says SCFC was really just a way for him to make extra money to support his collecting. Then, when things started to evolve he met Tom Collier and formed TCMA, buying out Collier within the first year or two of the partnership. I will have to get more details from the source, considering this all happened almost ten years before I was born!

Those photos are interesting, I don't think I've ever seen them before. To be honest I thought SCFC had only done the art cards that were drawn by my father's Uncle (and some by his Aunt). Will talk to my father this evening and let you know. This has me curious now as well. He just flew in from Cuba today and I think he came back with some cards .

[AustinMike]

Thanks for your quick response. I look forward to hearing what your dad has to say about the set. I've attached a flier for the photos. The flier was included in the auction.

[DaClyde]

I'm thinking these are the glossy photos, usually with facsimile autographs in blue, the team gave out in response to fan mail from the late 1960s to about 1990.

[AustinMike]

Originally Posted by DaClyde

I'm thinking these are the glossy photos, usually with facsimile autographs in blue, the team gave out in response to fan mail from the late 1960s to about 1990.

Jason, those are some examples of photos given out by the team over the years. I've got some from probably '65 (based on some of the players, e.g., Gil Blanco) that are approx. 3.5" by 6.5" with black facsimile autos, some from probably late '60s that are the same size but with printed names in bottom white border, some 4" by 6" with printed names in bottom from the '70s, some from probably the '80s that are 4 by 6 with blue facsimile autos (like yours), some 8 by 10s from '79 with printed names at bottom, and recently got some 8 by 10s from probably '76 with 2 photos on the page and printed names on left, with a similar one from probably '81. Unfortunately, I don't have many of any of them.

The SCFC photos from '70 are 4 by 6. Some have black facsimile auto, some don't. I've attached some examples of them.

[DaClyde]

Andrew, any chance you could shed some light on this set, and the different versions that may exist? It is my understanding that the set was created for the Bob Feller Museum. The complete set versions I have (including one that is autographed), was printed on heavy, brown card stock. The other, is printed on the more common white used by TCMA for almost everything. Were these printed by TCMA, and is the white card another one of those random cards that got reprinted for the collectors kits in the 1980s?

[mrmopar]

When I first was introduced to baseball cards, TCMA and Renata Galasso were a few of the places I mail ordered things from. Paul Marchant was another I remember buying from. I think I generally got my sets from Paul and Renata and the other stuff from TCMA. Aside from a rare trip to Pacific Trading Cards and a couple other small shops in seattle that I would later discover (Paperback Exchange and Golden Age Collectibles), everything was mail order.

I remember getting the TCMA catalogs for a while and wish I had kept more. I don't know what happened to all of the card magazines/catalogs I had, but suspect my dad tossed them (no cards were tossed luckily). I only have 2-3 floating around. I ordered a number of the collector sets as well, including the All Times Greats postcard set and the 1951 Giants among others. That is really what got me loving oddball sets and I have purchased many different TCMA sets over the years. Looking back at old catalogs, I wonder why I didn't buy more as the prices seemed cheap, but then again I was just a kid with no income!

I would love to see more posts and photos from TCMA! Thanks gentlemen.

[DaClyde]

Originally Posted by Seiklis

Welcome to the board. The TCMA minor league cards have really bailed me out of over the years in my Indians streak, letting me get players that otherwise wouldn't exist.

The Japanese set was especially helpful as you just so happened to print it in 1979, the one year little used Red Sox and Indians LOOGY Rick Kreuger pitched in Japan which created his one and only card

Rick Kreuger actually has at least three cards. However the other two, a team issue from Pawtucket in 1977 and a Japanese baseball game card from Takara in 1979, are likely a lot more difficult to track down.

[pawpawdiv9]

Originally Posted by TCMA

Was that in the early to mid 80's? If they are the kits I'm thinking of those were done by us through a company called CMC, or Collectors Marketing Corp. Located in Manhattan on 27th Street and 12th Ave. Incidentally, this was also the building where George Matesky "The Mad Bomber" stored his explosives.

Sorry for the late reply...i just looked ans YES INDEED thats what is was.
Its still in the blue binder that has the gold striping and lettering.

[DaClyde]

I just put together a blog post on the TCMA reprint cards that were produced for the various collecting kits and grab bags one used to see in the late 1980s. Would anyone care to give it a once over and point out anything blatantly wrong with it?

http://clydes-stalecards.blogspot.co...ollectors.html

My assumption/conclusion about the MLB logo on the backs of cards led to a lot more possible reprints than I originally thought were out there. Expert insight would be greatly appreciated by the more knowledgeable TCMA enthusiasts here.

[Minor Leaguer]

Just saying hello. I'm Chris. As my collection focus is first cards of players from my birth year of 1969 to about 1991, (I call it Reggie to Chipper, lol), TCMA minor league cards are very prominent in my collection. They are very hard to find in high-grade condition, if even at all. I'm enjoying the thrill of the chase. I think they are great cards and just wanted to say thanks!

[DaClyde]

Over on TradingCardDB.com, someone just posted asking for help identifying this card:



I did not realize TCMA had issued any collegiate sets. Was this the only one, and does anyone have any idea where I might be able to find the rest of the checklist?

[TCMA]

Originally Posted by DaClyde

I did not realize TCMA had issued any collegiate sets. Was this the only one, and does anyone have any idea where I might be able to find the rest of the checklist?

This is a funny story actually. From what my father tells me the team called him up and asked if he could do the cards, to which he agreed and offered to do them as a favor to the team. They sent him a team jacket as a thank-you though he wasn't expecting anything at all in return. That's typical of my dad.

[Leon]

Originally Posted by TCMA

This is a funny story actually. From what my father tells me the team called him up and asked if he could do the cards, to which he agreed and offered to do them as a favor to the team. They sent him a team jacket as a thank-you though he wasn't expecting anything at all in return. That's typical of my dad.

Very nice thing for your dad to do!!

[joeadcock]

Originally Posted by TCMA

This is a funny story actually. From what my father tells me the team called him up and asked if he could do the cards, to which he agreed and offered to do them as a favor to the team. They sent him a team jacket as a thank-you though he wasn't expecting anything at all in return. That's typical of my dad.

And I am glad you dad picked this particular team:
"IT'S ALL ABOUT THE U", as we hurricane alumni say

[TCMA]

Thought you guys might enjoy this article I just came across from 1983/1984. Not sure of the publication but I'm thinking it's a local paper:










[url=https://flic.kr/p/AzNP71]

[brian1961]

I enjoyed the article. Thanks for posting it. Your father looks just as I remember him at the Midwest Show at Troy, Michigan in July of '72.

Be that as it may, I would sure appreciate it if you would pump your Bronx-born father for any information and memories he may still have of the local 1953-55 Stahl-Meyer Franks baseball cards, as well as the hot dogs themselves. How much did they cost at the Polo Grounds?

---Brian Powell

[Leon]

Originally Posted by brian1961

I enjoyed the article. Thanks for posting it. Your father looks just as I remember him at the Midwest Show at Troy, Michigan in July of '72.

Be that as it may, I would sure appreciate it if you would pump your Bronx-born father for any information and memories he may still have of the local 1953-55 Stahl-Meyer Franks baseball cards, as well as the hot dogs themselves. How much did they cost at the Polo Grounds?

---Brian Powell

Enjoyed the article a lot too. I think I have some very original and early corrspondance and will try to post some soon. Thanks for sharing.

[cubsfn01]

I have found this thread to be fascinating. I can't imagine finding negatives and starting my own card company! I am collecting cards of players who went to high school in my home state of Indiana. I found out there is a guy named Bob Kahle, who played eight games for Boston and went to Morton High School in my home town of Richmond, Indiana. Imagine my surprise when he shows up in the 1972 1930's set! Does anyone know of a good place to find one? Sadly, my normal sources seem to be lacking.

[TCMA]

Originally Posted by cubsfn01

I found out there is a guy named Bob Kahle, who played eight games for Boston and went to Morton High School in my home town of Richmond, Indiana. Imagine my surprise when he shows up in the 1972 1930's set! Does anyone know of a good place to find one? Sadly, my normal sources seem to be lacking.

Bob Kahle is card #451 according to the Standard Catalog. I would try contacting Pete or Bruce at Baseball Nostalgia in Cooperstown 607 547 6051. They may have one for you .

[TCMA]

Originally Posted by brian1961

I enjoyed the article. Thanks for posting it. Your father looks just as I remember him at the Midwest Show at Troy, Michigan in July of '72.

Be that as it may, I would sure appreciate it if you would pump your Bronx-born father for any information and memories he may still have of the local 1953-55 Stahl-Meyer Franks baseball cards, as well as the hot dogs themselves. How much did they cost at the Polo Grounds?

---Brian Powell

Brian, I will absolutely ask my father when we are together this week for the holidays .

[brian1961]

Thank you, sir. You've made my day. It is a rare opportunity to encounter someone who might know some things about Stahl-Meyers, cards and the frankfurters themselves.

Some questions I had were:

How much was a Stahl-Meyer Frankfurter at the Polo Grounds?

Were they any good? What was their reputation?

Compared to other hot dogs sold at the Polo Grounds, how did Stahl-Meyer rate?

What grocery stores carried the Stahl-Meyer Frankfurters?

Were they expensive, as compared with other brands such as Armour or Hygrades? How expensive?

Did you personally collect the Stahl-Meyer baseball cards?

Do you recall any friends and acquaintances who collected them?

How did one find out about the Stahl-Meyer baseball card promotion?

Were there any TV commercials or newspaper ads that you remember?

The sets were small; nine cards in 53, 12 in 54 & 55. Were all the cards issued at once, or was a different player for each team issued periodically?

Here's a good one. Do you remember what you and your chums used to do with the Stahl-Meyer cards you got?

Well, at least this isn't 20 questions, though I'm just getting warmed up. Since the subject could be considered a little daunting (well, what does he want to know????????????) Just thought I'd chime in with a few savory questions on the matter. Thanks most awfully again. ---Brian Powell

[brian1961]

Hello, Andrew Aronstein. Were you ever able to have a chat with your Dad about Stahl-Meyer Franks baseball cards? Recall my frantic pleas and the "simple" (*!?) questions I gave you to give him to guide his mind? LOL ---Brian Powell

[jason.1969]

Hello and welcome, TCMA! I remember as a kid in 5th or 6th grade getting this set at a card show.

I can honestly say it was what spurred the love for baseball history and the older players that I still hold today.

[jsq]

that is a nice looking set you are showing. do you recall the name of the set? so it can be located on ebay?

thanks,
jsq

Originally Posted by jason.1969

Hello and welcome, TCMA! I remember as a kid in 5th or 6th grade getting this set at a card show.

I can honestly say it was what spurred the love for baseball history and the older players that I still hold today.

[jason.1969]

I think it is called Stars of the 1950s and will name either TCMA or Renata Galasso as the maker. There are equally nice versions for other decades as well that match and extend the series, though I recall some eventually deviate from this style, moving to color or changing the card design.

Of course, there are definitely greater N54 authorities on the subject than myself, especially now!

[TCMA]

Originally Posted by jason.1969

Hello and welcome, TCMA! I remember as a kid in 5th or 6th grade getting this set at a card show.

I can honestly say it was what spurred the love for baseball history and the older players that I still hold today.

Great cards! Those are known as "Galasso Greats" and there were six series of 45 cards each. TCMA printed them for Galasso to distribute. Some good info here:

http://fleersticker.blogspot.com/200...a-galasso.html

[TCMA]

Originally Posted by brian1961

Hello, Andrew Aronstein. Were you ever able to have a chat with your Dad about Stahl-Meyer Franks baseball cards? Recall my frantic pleas and the "simple" (*!?) questions I gave you to give him to guide his mind? LOL ---Brian Powell

Wish I had more info for you but my father says he only bought Kosher franks . I will prod him for more info about the cards though. We talked about them briefly but I need to follow up with him on those.

[brian1961]

Hello Andrew. I completely understand regarding your Dad only eating Kosher. Thank you for your determination to follow up on this plea of mine. Again, note my questions from several days ago, with an obvious disregard for the quality and taste of the frankfurters themselves. I am very moved for you and your father's willingness to try to enlighten me on these rare, beautiful baseball cards from 1953-55.

Wishing you the very best during the eight days of Chanukah! --Brian Powell

[DaClyde]

Hello, Andrew. I have another possible TCMA question for you. Did TCMA have anything to do with the Sports Photo Association 3" pin back buttons that were issued starting in 1978? I recently posted about the set on my blog as I attempted to compile the checklist, and someone commented that TCMA had supplied photos for Fleer's 1981 baseball set. Lots of those photos also appear on SPA buttons from the same time period.

Admittedly I haven't really done much research on this subject, I've just been trying to compile the checklist for the set. But if you (or anyone else here) could shine any light on this I would greatly appreciate it.

[TCMA]

Originally Posted by DaClyde

Hello, Andrew. I have another possible TCMA question for you. Did TCMA have anything to do with the Sports Photo Association 3" pin back buttons that were issued starting in 1978? I recently posted about the set on my blog as I attempted to compile the checklist, and someone commented that TCMA had supplied photos for Fleer's 1981 baseball set. Lots of those photos also appear on SPA buttons from the same time period.

Admittedly I haven't really done much research on this subject, I've just been trying to compile the checklist for the set. But if you (or anyone else here) could shine any light on this I would greatly appreciate it.

Hi Jason, that would definitely be a question for my father. I'll check in with him tonight and see what he remembers regarding those .

[TCMA]

Originally Posted by DaClyde

Hello, Andrew. I have another possible TCMA question for you. Did TCMA have anything to do with the Sports Photo Association 3" pin back buttons that were issued starting in 1978? I recently posted about the set on my blog as I attempted to compile the checklist, and someone commented that TCMA had supplied photos for Fleer's 1981 baseball set. Lots of those photos also appear on SPA buttons from the same time period.

Admittedly I haven't really done much research on this subject, I've just been trying to compile the checklist for the set. But if you (or anyone else here) could shine any light on this I would greatly appreciate it.

Jason, I just looked at your blog post and read the comment at the bottom. My gut tells me TCMA was not involved with these but I will dig deeper. Regarding the comment at the bottom, it's true that TCMA was the exclusive distributor for Donruss in 1981. Those buttons may have been advertised in Baseball Quarterly and sold through TCMA but that does not necessarily mean TCMA helped produce them. Will get back to you this evening .

[DaClyde]

Originally Posted by TCMA

Jason, I just looked at your blog post and read the comment at the bottom. My gut tells me TCMA was not involved with these but I will dig deeper. Regarding the comment at the bottom, it's true that TCMA was the exclusive distributor for Donruss in 1981. Those buttons may have been advertised in Baseball Quarterly and sold through TCMA but that does not necessarily mean TCMA helped produce them. Will get back to you this evening .

Thank you, sir!

[TCMA]

Originally Posted by DaClyde

Hello, Andrew. I have another possible TCMA question for you. Did TCMA have anything to do with the Sports Photo Association 3" pin back buttons that were issued starting in 1978? I recently posted about the set on my blog as I attempted to compile the checklist, and someone commented that TCMA had supplied photos for Fleer's 1981 baseball set. Lots of those photos also appear on SPA buttons from the same time period.

Admittedly I haven't really done much research on this subject, I've just been trying to compile the checklist for the set. But if you (or anyone else here) could shine any light on this I would greatly appreciate it.

Ok, spoke to father about this. Bottom line is he just doesn't remember . I think we can figure it out with a bit more research though. The Monte Irvin image shown in your blog post was in-fact a TCMA image so it'd be hard to believe TCMA would be selling these via mail order if the manufacturer of the buttons was stealing their photos. Do we have verification the buttons were being sold through a TCMA publication?

[TCMA]

Just found this advertisement for the Super Star Photo Buttons. So, yes TCMA did in-fact offer them. They could be completely separate from the Hall of Fame buttons however. I'll send this to my father and I bet it will jog his memory:

[Leon]

Originally Posted by TCMA

Just found this advertisement for the Super Star Photo Buttons. So, yes TCMA did in-fact offer them. They could be completely separate from the Hall of Fame buttons however. I'll send this to my father and I bet it will jog his memory:

Some of this stuff would make for a great trivia game!!

[Mark17]

Hi Mike,
You probably don't remember me, but back in the day (somewhere between 1983 and 1987) I sold you a few pallets of commons and 2 cent star cards. Probably close to 2 million cards. You were SUPER to deal with, that's what I remember best. Later I worked the same type of deal with another guy there, his name was Frank Fortunato or something like that, and he was also great to work with. The third large deal like that, however, was with Larry Greenwald, and it got off to a rocky start, until you or Fortunato talked with me and told me not to worry... and I don't know what happened behind the scenes but all was smooth after that.

I'm glad you're still around and that I got a chance to thank you again for being one of the really good guys in this hobby!

-Mark Satterstrom (partner of Carson Ritchey)

[TCMA]

Hey guys, I finally got around to starting up a proper facebook page for TCMA Ltd. Come check us out at the following link :

https://www.facebook.com/tcmaltd

[Exhibitman]

Fished this out of a box at the National; really brought back memories of my ten year old collecting self.

[TCMA]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

Fished this out of a box at the National; really brought back memories of my ten year old collecting self.

Nice! I spotted some TCMA cards here and there but I'm still trying to track down ONE card to complete my "The 1930's" set. Card #481 Dutch Leonard.

[mrmopar]

I envy you to have access to all that cool stuff. I enjoyed the page too.

Originally Posted by TCMA

Hey guys, I finally got around to starting up a proper facebook page for TCMA Ltd. Come check us out at the following link :

https://www.facebook.com/tcmaltd