Quote:
Originally Posted by bb66
I decided to look at the backs of the 1966 Topps High-Numbered cards for any interesting dates or clues to production deadlines or anything else. Opening day that year was April 12.Several players were mentioned with late April dates:#529-Elia optioned April 29th,#531-Cunningham released April 25th,& #559-Pena optioned April 28th.Four players(cards)were mentioned for changes in the month of May-#561,584,589,&597.These four-Coleman,Fernandez,Klimchock,&Salmon were either sold,optioned,or released.Two other players were interesting because exact May dates were listed. These were the latest two dates specifically listed on 1966 high-number cards.Card #539-Astros Rookie Stars lists Carroll Sembera as being optioned to Oklahoma City May 9,1966.Card #544-Cards Rookie Stars has George Kernek optioned to Tulsa on May 9,1966.
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Text on the reverse was easier to change than pictures but reverses were printed first so I would think the print dates were somewhat close to the May dates for the high numbers. I would say July is the most likely print month for those as you had to get everything composed, proofed, printed, delivered to Topps, cut and packaged, sold to the jobbers and direct accounts then shipped in time for an August rollout. I think in the mid 60's the series still fanned out from Duryea and possibly a couple of other distribution centers, so a slightly slow roll out nationwide.