Quote:
Originally Posted by Rich Klein
Remember in those days, Topps was producing cards for the "kid" audience and they figured if they guy had retired, the kids would not want him anymore.
Obviously, on an historical basis -- this was a mistake BUT when you think your target audience is 10 year old boys -- these omissions make sense
Players such as Richardson and Koufax announced their retirement, so why publish a card of them. In fact the only reason we have a 69 Mantle was because it was presumed he would play one more season in 69. He retired in March,,,, so Topps just added a line to the card.
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D'oh!! I was thinking of the same point, Rich. Thanks for beating me to it. I'll bet it wasn't until sometime in the 1980's that Topps realized it had somehow acquired an adult market. There must be quite a few other star players in the postwar era who had no Topps card in the year following their retirements. The company simple figured those guys dropped off the edge of the flat earth when they hung it up.
