1968 Milton Bradley

[ALR-bishop]

Anyone collect the baseball subset of these ? The SCD checklist has 131. Someone on CU mentioned that sheets usually had 132 cards and speculated there may have been an instruction card on the sheet for the game. Can anyone verify such a card ?

[paul]

I started a thread on these awhile back. I'm still not convinced you can say for sure whether a card is from the Milton Bradley set. Their backs are supposed to be lighter, but I have several regular 68 Topps cards of players that aren't in the Milton Bradley set that are just as light as the Milton Bradley cards. So I just don't see how you can tell whether a card is from the Milton Bradley set or from a light-backed print run, unless you actually pulled it out of a Milton Bradley game.

[ALR-bishop]

Paul---I understand what you are saying. I also have seen cards with different backs being sold as MBs that are not in the SCD checklist. I think PSA grades MBs now but I am not a graded collector, so I just look for MBs that are in the checklist ( I mentioned 131 above but that is the number of all the game cards, I think there are only 76 baseball cards).

I think I have all but 10 of the commons but as you point out, I guess there is no way to be sure but by buying an unopened game set. But one of those went for around $ 5 K some time back

[Cliff Bowman]

According to a Heritage Auction Galleries listing, there are 76 1968 Topps Baseball Cards, 33 1967 Topps Football Cards, 22 1965 Topps Hot Rod Cards, and one instruction card. Unfortunately, no picture of the instruction card. I have been trying for a while to get the five Cubs in the set, and while I have been able to find multiple copies of Hartenstein, Hundley, Savage, and Stoneman, I can't find any of #60 Ken Holtzman. The only one I have ever seen was in an auction for a complete box set that was opened up.

[Exhibitman]

Well, since the sets are boxed and known it is clear that any card not in the boxed set isn't an MB card, but Topps definitely used the MB-type card stock for some regular cards. I have a 1968 White Sox team card that is the same stock as an MB card I have. When the two are placed side by side with other 1968s they stick out. Perhaps there should be a premium or other differentiation as to these MB stock cards, like the 1954 or 1956 stock variations?

[hcv123]

I have a complete boxed set with cards still sealed in plastic in original tray. $5k delivered. PM me for photos if interested. Thanks.

-Howard

[ALR-bishop]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

Well, since the sets are boxed and known it is clear that any card not in the boxed set isn't an MB card, but Topps definitely used the MB-type card stock for some regular cards. I have a 1968 White Sox team card that is the same stock as an MB card I have. When the two are placed side by side with other 1968s they stick out. Perhaps there should be a premium or other differentiation as to these MB stock cards, like the 1954 or 1956 stock variations?

Good point. I wonder if all cards exist that way or just some sheets. Also, what does sun/light exposure do to the backs / Are the stocks a lot different ?

[ALR-bishop]

Originally Posted by hcv123

I have a complete boxed set with cards still sealed in plastic in original tray. $5k delivered. PM me for photos if interested. Thanks.

-Howard

I will settle for completing the baseball set...need about 10 still. Did you get yours in the Heritage auction ?

[hcv123]

Originally Posted by ALR-bishop

I will settle for completing the baseball set...need about 10 still. Did you get yours in the Heritage auction ?

Huggins and Scott

[Exhibitman]

Originally Posted by ALR-bishop

Good point. I wonder if all cards exist that way or just some sheets. Also, what does sun/light exposure do to the backs / Are the stocks a lot different ?

To me, normal 1968 stock looks creamy in the unprinted areas and school bus yellow in the yellow areas. The pseudo-MB card I have is really white in the plain areas and lemon yellow in the others. That's the best I can describe it. I will try to remember to pull the MB card, the other card and a regular card and scan all three side by side.

[toppcat]

Doesn't help but I love this pic:

[steve B]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

To me, normal 1968 stock looks creamy in the unprinted areas and school bus yellow in the yellow areas. The pseudo-MB card I have is really white in the plain areas and lemon yellow in the others. That's the best I can describe it. I will try to remember to pull the MB card, the other card and a regular card and scan all three side by side.

That stock difference exists for at least 1968 till the change to gray stock in 1971. I haven't had enough cards from those years to go through to get an idea if either is harder to find or if it's all series. It may go back before 1968, but I'm not certain of that right now.

Steve B

[Exhibitman]

The WS team and the Oliver are printed on the same stock. The Hodges are regular stock and OPC, for comparison.