Topps Trivia for a Saturday Morning
 

My trip through Topps sets made me curious about something.

From 1952 through 2005 (more than half of which was 1980 or before which is why I placed this in this forum) nearly every Topps base set contained AT LEAST 1 Hall of Fame rookie card OR 1 Hall of Fame final card (i.e. in 1977, they featured both Andre Dawson and Brooks Robinson).

Question - name the only 2 sets from 1952 through 2005 which contained neither a Hall of Fame rookie or Hall of Fame final card (try to do it from memory!).

I used 2005 as the cut-off because after that, no rookies are eligible yet.

Complete guess 1966 and 1984.

I have no idea what the answer is, but isn't 1966 the last year Sandy Koufax had a Topps card?

I'm going to go modern on this one, though I admit that I'm probably missing one of the obvious, modern HOF inductees that I just cannot bring to the forefront of my mind right now: 2002 and 2004.

I was thinking 1970 Topps.

1953
I think 1970 is also right but not sure about last card.

1970 is one (although there's an outside chance Munson will get in one day, I suppose).

1966 has the rookies of Palmer, Jenkins and Sutton and the final of Koufax.

1984 has the finals of Jenkins and Palmer.

2002 - First of Mauer and last of Gwynn.

2004 - Last of Edgar Martinez.

1953 - Last of Johnny Mize

One more to go....

1994?

Final cards of Ryan, Brett and Yount

Last try 1999. Although Sabathia will make it.

We have a winner!

Yeah - C.C. will get in.

Can't promise you cash and prizes, but at least you have the admiration of your fellows.

It took enough guesses that I am not very impressed lol. 53T is also Paige last card I realize.

What year had 6 different HOF rookies? Not all Topps.

I've been thinking about this one - hint?

When you say "not all Topps" this means none were Topps or that some were and some weren't?

If so, can you say if we're talking about the Bowman years or the 1980s?

I think three of the six were not on a Topps card that year, if I recall correctly. Bowman era.

You have me stumped - after thinking about it for some time, I finally cheated and consulted a Beckett - I still can't guess what year you're talking about.

1991
Chiipper Jones
Ivan Rodriguez
Jeff Bagwell
Jim Thome
Mike Mussina
Pedro Martinez

...

Arghh! You said Bowman era and I thought of '51-55!

That Jim Thome rookie card is hilarious in the same way that the Jason Giambi RC is hilarious.