1951 Blue Back panels

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Posted By: Todd Schultz

Does anybody collect these or have any to share? These are far scarcer than the red back panels, and I have not seen one on ebay for more than two years, although I don't check religiously. The PSA pop report appears to have nearly tripled in the last 18 months, so someone must have found some or got around to having them graded. Still, less than 50 total, and no better at SGC.
Here's mine:

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Posted By: Dave Hornish

sweet.....

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Posted By: Paul S

Love the panels there, Todd. Back when I was collecting them I would buy cards whose player names I recognized, and the blues are comparatively bereft of stars. Hence, I have a couple dozen redbacks but just these 3 blues. Wish I had more now. The sets don't seem all that popular with collectors but I really like them. Nice and glossy too when found in better condition.

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Posted By: Al

I was able to put together all 5 of the 1951 Topps "sets", including the blue backs, but it was done years ago, pre e bay, at shows in my younger days. Also ended up with red and blue back unopened packs, one of the red ( as opposed to green) wrappers, and a unopened "rack pack" that has a set of red backs in it with a game board and a couple of either 51 Current or Connie Mack All Stars in it.

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Posted By: Anthony

Al- All 5 sets? you completed the current all stars as well?

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Posted By: peter chao

How were the blue backs packaged? I know they didn't come with gum. So what were they sold with? Also, did they come 2 to a pack. Were they attached to each other? If not, what were they attached to?

Peter C.

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Posted By: Anthony

Peter-
Red and Blue backs were issued in a variety of ways. The blue backs came in 2 card packs, detached, with either a green (more common) or red (very, very tough) wrapper.
I assume they also came plastic wrapped in panels with a game board and Connie Mack cards like the RedBacks did, and/or with caramel in the long wrapper.
BTW, since they were issued with caramel, are '51 Topps the last of the E cards

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Posted By: leon

You know you are addicted when you don't even know why you have certain cards

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Posted By: Red

1971 Milk Duds would be a caramel issue as well as the mid-70's Sugar Daddy cards.

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Posted By: Anthony

opps, Red, you're right, of course.

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Posted By: Al

Anthony---I have 8 of the 11 Current All Stars. Since I think the other 3 were never really issued, I cheat and say my set is complete at 8. When those 2, I think Konstany and Roberts, came up on ebay I was planning to bid on the 2nd one but fortunately it sold off line

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Posted By: Jimi

I don't have a panel, but I have an unopened pack. You don't see these around much either.



Jimi

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Posted By: Paul S

Thanks Jimi. I always enjoy seeing this kind of stuff.

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Posted By: Todd Schultz

How can you not rip, or at least carefuly open that pack to see what's inside?

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Posted By: Bob

Neat pack Jimi!

If he scanned the other side, we'd all see which card is inside. I have a '51 Red Back pack containing Duke Snider. Very easy to read through the wrapper.

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Posted By: Jimi

I'll share the scan later after work of the back side. If I remember correctly, the cards are positioned in the pack so that you can only see the backs. I could be wrong though.

I've been thinking of selling the pack, but I really need a value before doing so. Any ideas of its worth? I have found prices on red backs (duh!), but not on blue back packs. I did find a dealer BUYING packs from innocent collectors for $75, but that seemed VERY low to me.

Any help is appreciated!



Jimi

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Posted By: dennis

wasn't there a large find of unopened packs of the red backs in the early 1980's.isn't that why they are so much more common? anyone remember the details???

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Posted By: Marc S.

I don't rememeber all the details -- but there have been at least two or three complete unopened boxes of Red Backs to hit the auction circuit over the past few years. I don't know how many boxes were discovered -- I would say a dozen or two. Many were broken -- and it is the spider-wrinkles from the factory that is one of the toughest issues in finding the Red Backs in top grade.

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Posted By: Jimi

Jimi

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Posted By: Paul S

Okay Jimi, I'm with Todd. Now you have to steam it open to appease the rest of us (kidding of course...bummer )

*edit to say: re scarcity of the blues -- I think they just never sold as well, or weren't kept around by those who bought them, because they were so lacking in the calibre of the players as compared to the reds.

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Posted By: Jimi

All this talk about 51 Blue Backs made me see what I could get for the pack, so it's listed on Ebay now. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=130157650026&ssPageName=STRK:MESE:IT&ih=003


Jimi

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Posted By: Paul S

Jimi, I put it on my Ebay watchlist. Good luck with the auction.

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Posted By: Jimi

It's already hit the $200 plateau. My reserve is $250 if anyone cares. I hate to see it go, but funds are tight right now anyway. Those panels look sweet though. What are the panels going for these days?

Jimi

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Posted By: Todd Schultz

I believe the Red Back panels go for about $100 in 8/88 for commons, twice that for a basic HOF. I paid about $100 a couple years ago for this one:

The Blue Back panels seldom if ever come up for sale. I bought mine several years ago when it was misidentified for $200--the only bid, made with about 2 minutes to go when I simply happened upon it (i.e. no snipe). I would not sell it for less than $2000 today.