Inserts in Packs???
 

When did inserts start being included inside card packs???

(Not including gum, of course...:)...)...

I'm thinking more along the lines of stickers, decals, team logos and stuff like that???

Earliest I can think of is the '61 Topps stamps.

1957 Bazooka Contest cards.

Were the 1939 Play Ball cards with the stamped backs inserted into packs or given out at the store?
https://img.comc.com/i/Baseball/1939...zoom&side=back

Once upon a time baseball cards WERE the inserts.

The first true inserts were the All Star cards randomly inserted in 1986 Fleer packs. The inserts from the 60s and early 70s were in every pack.

Thanks guys.
Good info. as usual.

+1

First insert cards with odds on the pack. 1993 Finest? Did 1990 and 1991 Upper Deck have those?

Didn't Upper Deck hockey in 1991-92 have a random Gretzky hologram? I also think Procards hockey the same year had a couple of draft pick inserts (Scott Niedermayer and...??). Not sure if the odds were on the packs though.

Tom C

I think the first insert in packs has been answered BUT
 

1992 topps gold was the first Parallel set. 1 gold card per box 792 cards in a set( talk about a monster) hey you got 5 gold if you bought a vending machine box.

If I remember correctly the unofficial odds for 1992 Topps Gold were 1:36 packs.

That is correct good sir . One in a box or every 36 packs.

1991 ud
 

1991 Upper Deck had Hank Aaron and Nolan Ryan autographed cards inserts.

Autographed inserts
 

90 UD High series had Reggie Heros and 2500 Reggie autos. By 1995 first set with an Autograph in every pack was Upper Deck Be a player Hockey.

1996 edge advantage had the first football 🏈 relics .

1960 Fleer I believe.

I've always wondered why, back in the day, baseball card packs had to include gum, or 'something of value' as opposed to being just sold for the cards themselves, as is the case today. Maybe Topps had the exclusive right to sell cards with gum, but is there any reason why in 1963 Fleer couldn't have issued their cards in packs by themselves, instead of having to add a cookie?

interesting question Gary
 

anyone have an answer??

Not really an insert, but didn't w517s have some random cards with stripes that could be exchanged for some prize?

I've seen them with the stripes but am not sure what the prizes were or anything.

The gum was the "product" that you were buying.

The cards were the inserts.

For idiots like us who put sets together, it was an ingenious way to sell more gum, even if you didn't like to blow bubbles.

Can you think of a better way to sell 407 pieces of gum instead of just a few? (1952 Topps) 1 cent packs -- Bingo

Probably the first insert and unfortunately no longer mine. Coincidentally it was also my biggest win on ebay, from another member's dad, (RIP).....
It might also be the most expensive item sold on our BST in a live auction, before there were live auctions :)....

How about the 1957 Topps Lucky Penny, not exactly common but I would still consider it an insert.

Owen

Interesting comments from all.
I think the contest cards that were included in packs could be considered an insert.
But, I'm sort of with Toppcat on this one.
Seems the 1960 Fleer packs were the first ones where actual decals/logos/stickers were included in all the packs.
There was nothing to mail in or whatever to claim a prize like some of the others packs.
Good information from everyone.