Taking the Mound Today, Sherlock Holmes...
 

Haven't you always wondered what news story the players were breaking out of in the 1961 Topps High Numbers All-Star cards???

Perhaps, we can zero in on it (assuming it's not already known).

What I can fathom:

1. The assumption is the player is indeed breaking through a copy of 'The Sporting News.'

2. The player's name replaces the actual bold print headline. It stands to reason that there was a person's name included there, because...

3. The subhead begins "Grabs Reins i(n?) (...........)er Shakeup"

4. The image on the left side seems to be a silhouette of a baseball player, due to his hat. The image to the right seems to be an executive type in a suit.

5. At bottom, the illustration includes a pair of cleats and stirrup socks.

6. The second subhead at left seems to begin with the word "Bruin(s?)," so it is most likely referring to a team nicknamed the Bruins (plus, you can see that it is followed by a space and a capital letter). A check of the English language shows there are basically no other words it could be. Under it, it could very well say "Bidding" (but "Bidding War" it is most likely not). Of note, the column widths are very narrow, so these subheads would be very shortly worded.

7. Underneath where the "Bruin(s?)" things appears, it seems to start with the word "Pirates."


Attachment 525127


That's it. Does anyone have the detective chops to discover what actual article/cover these guys are breaking out of?? We're counting on you!!

If it says Bruins, my guess is it's Cubs related in some way.

The cartoon could be attributed to Bill Gallo who penned for the NY Daily News. Since Topps was based in Brooklyn at the time could be a good fit there. And the article itself would probably be from the 1960 season for the cards to be printed in 1961...

October 19,1960 Sporting News
 

That sure looks like the page they used. But they obviously altered it to some extent. The words "Mere" and "Grab" do no line up the same on the cards as they do on the actual Sporting news headline. That is cool though that they may have used an actual Sporting News for the cards. And the timing is perfect, an October 1960 edition used for the 1961 cards. Wow! Good catch bobw!

After finding it....I had no luck in finding the one used for the 1970 Topps All Stars.... :-(

And the inaugural 'Basil' Award goes to bobw...

Attachment 525166

Well done, indeed!!!!! Very freaking cool.

“Mediocrity knows nothing higher than itself; but talent instantly recognizes Sporting News covers.”
(A bit of a paraphrasing)
- Arthur Conan Doyle, The Valley of Fear

61 as
 

Wow, thats some great research to dig that up !

AS newspaper
 

and the 1970 Topps AS cards also have some mumbo jumbo headliners in the background

Great post. Need more like it

Nice work, bobw!

Great work
 

These types of threads are great. I like learning some background on these vintage cards. Great work.

I found the 1970 headline - it's just not from the first page, but on p.47 of the 1970-1-24 issue.

I tried to attach the file but it was 20 times the size limit so whatever. Anyhow, the picture of Pete Rose hides that it's actually two different headlines: "Forfeit Overruled But Sharks Win Anyway, 3-1" and "Winter Champs Plan On Caribbean
Series"

This link probably won't work.

https://paperofrecord.hypernet.ca/pa...CurrentBlock=1

AS card
 

Wow, you tracked it down ! nice digging

Wow great work! That is so cool that you found it.