1958-62 Topps All-star cards

[geosluggo]

I love the all-star subsets from 1958 to 1962. From 1959 to 1961 they are in the tough high-number series and inevitably some the last cards I acquired when completing those sets. Only four players appear in all five of those subsets: Mantle, Mays and Aaron of course. And Luis Aparicio. (Roy McMillan of all people broke Ernie Banks' streak in 1962)

These had to be popular cards so I wonder why Topps discontinued them from 1963-67, then resumed from 1968-70. I'd also love to know the sponsorship backstory -- Sport Magazine in 1958 and 1960, the Sporting News all the other years.

[G1911]

Don’t know much about the background and sponsorship, but love these cards. The star backdrop on the 58s are my favorite of all the Topps subsets. The 58’s were cheap to put together, Mantle and Musial go for very little with those massive print runs, and Mays/Aaron/Williams are easy too. I wish the 61’s were as easy to complete!

[mr2686]

I really like the design on the 61 and 69 All-Star cards. Liked them as a kid, and still like them.

[jfkheat]

I did all of the 60s AS sets. I just bought my first two 58s
James

[brob28]

I love the subsets, '60 and '61 my favorites, '58 close behind. The one design I really don't care too much for is '62. Got to throw in some cards here.

[JollyElm]

Amen to what everyone else is saying!! Love the All Star cards from those years, especially the tough high numbers, and prefer most of them to the players' regular cards from the same sets. The 58's in particular are things of beauty.

[geosluggo]

Originally Posted by brob28

I love the subsets, '60 and '61 my favorites, '58 close behind. The one design I really don't care too much for is '62. Got to throw in some cards here.

Those are some nice cards. I think the '61s were the toughest to acquire and the nicest looking. Agree with you on the '62 All-Stars -- design was too much like the base cards.

[mickey7mantle7]

Not only is this an All Star card, but it's one if my favorite Mantle cards hands down.

[commishbob]

One of my favorite cards. I love all these All Star subsets but the '58 is special to me. It's the first one I recall seeing as a kid.

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[Exhibitman]

Don't forget the 1974s:



I like the 1969s best of all:



I am pleased that All Star cards have been revived in the modern context even as inserts (I know, ewww, gross):

[FourStrikes]

1958's are awesome, the 1961's too...

.

[geosluggo]

[QUOTE=Exhibitman;1776990]I am pleased that All Star cards have been revived in the modern context even as inserts (I know, ewww, gross):


Venus de Mattingly

[dodgerfanjohn]

The modern versions in Heritage also:

[Lueth2048]

Originally Posted by commishbob

One of my favorite cards. I love all these All Star subsets but the '58 is special to me. It's the first one I recall seeing as a kid.

Attachment 315899

Back in the 70s I ordered cards from a guy in Illinois and twice he sent me one of these Mantle cards as a bonus.

[JollyElm]

Not expecting very high grades, but in Bobby's latest group submission I've included 5 Mantle All Star cards from the years talked about in this thread -- 1958 (2), 1959, 1960 and 1961.

[geosluggo]

[QUOTE=dodgerfanjohn;1777074]

I don't care for the base card design for the 1960 Topps set, but the All Star cards that year are very cool -- the big "60," the black shadow behind the cut-out photos, the write-up and cartoon on back. Plus the mystique/difficulty of the high numbers. As a kid collecting in the '70s, my friends and I had a fair amount of 1950s and '60s cards but I don't think I ever laid eyes on an actual 1960 or 1961 All Star card, or many of the other high numbers, until much later.

[brob28]

I agree George, I have no interest in collecting the '60 set, but I do have the All-star subset complete. The '60 set is my favorite, followed by '61 and than '69 (good call Adam).