Hi,
I began collecting with 1967 Topps football, so 1968 Topps were my first baseball cards. There are actually 7 teams that have no team card in the set- the Red Sox, Cubs, Indians, Astros, Yankees, Giants, and Senators. There are no team cards at all in the 1st series, with the Twins and Dodgers showing up in the 2nd series, and there are just 4 team cards total in the first 3 series. Starting at #308 (Pirates) in the 4th series Topps picked up the pace issuing 9 team cards through #574 (Reds).
As to why Topps skipped 7 teams, I have no idea. Dave Hornish's information regarding the Astros' legal issues shed light on that situation, but for the other 6 teams there has been no explanation that I have ever heard.
Regarding the Astros cards and airbrushing- I wondered about this for years, but the legal problem seems to hold the answer. There may also have been an issue with their owner regarding copyright, but I am not sure. The problem exists only for all 1968 cards and the first 3 series in 1969- (although the 1965 cards are also mostly airbrushed, the reason was the name and uniform change from Colt 45s to Astros that year. 1966 & 1967cards are normal). Beginning with the 4th series in '69 the Astros cards were no longer airbrushed. I still remember buying my first packs of 4th series and staring at Jim Wynn & Larry Dierker in shock since the pictures were not altered. "Houston" rather than "Astros" remained on the front of the cards for the rest of the set, but on their rookie card #499 it says "Astros' Rookies" on the back rather than "Houston". Also, 1969 was the only year after 1955 that Topps issued no team cards at all- until the early 1980s.
The Athletics moved to Oakland in 1968 so all of the KC photos were altered. Topps did not get any new '68 photos from Spring Training with Oakland's new uniforms for some of the higher series cards like they had done before with some other teams involved with expansion or moves. However, like the '68 Athletics, the 1966 Angels cards (switching from LA to California) also had no new CA logo pictures that year. If you look closely though, you will notice that the 1968 cards of Jim Gosger and Phil Roof show a reflection of the KC logo on the bills of their batting helmets. Also, the team card is not altered at all- it is the 1967 Athletics team photo.
One last note about '68 team cards- the Braves team name should have been printed in lavender and not blue to match the rest of the set's grahics. All the other 12 teams have their names in the correct colors, but not the Braves.
Thanks for reading, and if anyone ever finds out why Topps skipped these team cards Please let us know.
Jeff
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