Topps Presentation sets?

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Posted By: Paul Grubor

Does anybody know when these sets were issued? I bought a 1963 Topps presentation set about 15 years ago. The set came in a box with I believe 6 smaller boxes that held about 100 cards each. The boxes were brownish in color and I was told by the seller that the set was Joe Adcock's. Anyway, I'd like to know the history of these sets...what year, who got them, why did they get them..etc...

Thanks,

Paul

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Posted By: Marc S.

It was 1959 to 1963. I thought it was primarily for Topps employees and special customers/friends.

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Posted By: dennis

i always thought they gave them to employees at an annual dinner banquet.

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Posted By: Dave Hornish

Presentation sets were used for various purposes. I have heard (not confirmed, but heard) they:

1) Were printed with a glossier finish

2) Have better centering than normal and

3) Were cut differently than the regular issue cards.

I have always thought Topps ended projects like this and the Rookie Banquet programs in the mid 60's to conserve funds in years bookending the move to Duryea (1965) but it's just a hunch. Once they had the Duryea plant, they started experimenting with test issues as well.

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Posted By: Paul Grubor

I also heard that sets were given to players for the right to appear on a card. Is this true? I'm wondering how Joe Adcock got a set and if it was a gift from Topps for allowing his photo to appear on a trading card.

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Posted By: Dave Hornish

I read an article once where Sy Berger mentioned he personally gave a set to Willie Mays. I'm not sure every player got one because there would be a lot more of these floating around I think if it were true. Production of these in each year must have been fairly limited. These do not come up that often.

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Posted By: dennis

paul,funny/odd that it was from joe adcock, as he did not have a topps card from 1964 thru 1966 (when he was an active player) for some reason, but did have one in 1967 as a manager. also he is the short print in the 1963 fleer set so maybe there is something to this?

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Posted By: Paul Grubor

He does have a 1963 Topps card #170. Also, When I had my store Harvey Kuehn Jr used to stop by once in a while to buy bat holders. His dad Harvey Sr was given a 1962 Topps presentation set. So, did other players receive the set? Jr. told me his dad was given a choice (by Topps) between the set and other minor merchandise.

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Posted By: boxingcardman

My recollection is that Topps used to give the players a catalog of stuff they could use their card commissions to buy. I wonder if the sets were in there?

Sic Gorgiamus Allos Subjectatos Nunc

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Posted By: Paul Grubor

You're right, Harvey Jr did mention a catalog with other novelties and his dad picked the set. Now, how many other players received sets? When I got the 63 set PSA did not exist. The cards were still in the original 6 boxes within 1 big box. I still have the boxes but the set is long gone. I also remember the first few cards and last few were corner dinged because of the TIGHT squeeze to get them into the smaller boxes.

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Posted By: Jeff Shepherd

I believe Topps offered either cash ($125.00 at that point?) or items from a catalog for granting them permission to use your likeness on a card. I have a catalog somewhere - reminiscent of a smaller Sears catalog. TV's, vacuums, kitchenware, etc. The Topps presentation sets may have been an option as well, which might explain their rarity - $125.00 was decent scratch back then. Although I can't see it being either/or.

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Posted By: Robert Dimand

SGC labeled them separate from the standard 1963's, have never seen PSA do that. Not sure SGC still does it, these slabs are more than 10 years old

[goldenhawk]

I have a presentation set but i dont have the boxes.I would like to purchase the boxes.