1955/56 Topps Hocus Focus Series of 23

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Posted By: Dave Hornish

OK, it is amazing to me this checklist is still incomplete. I don't have a 2008 Standard Catalog but the 2007 shows the following numbers as unknown:

11, 17, 19, 22, 23

In 2003 Bob Lemke published an update in SCD that listed three heretofore unknown cards:

#2 Gehrig
#4 Lopat
#10 Rosen

I had speculated years earlier that #2 could have been an old timer and that was confirmed by Lemke's article. I also surmised a run of the cards from #3 (Groat) to at least #18 might follow the players as issued in the series of 18 and the finding of #'s 4 and 10 in the series of 23 supported my theory, at least in part.

The pattern may extend to #19, which may or may not be Spook Jacobs but because Card #20 in the series of 23 would correspond to #18 in the series of 18 and it does not (It is Karl Spooner whereas the shorter series of 18 ends with Mel Parnell) so Jacobs may not be the correct name to fill the hole in the checklist.

Following my logic, #11 is likely Mayo Smith and #17 is likely Hal Smith. That leaves #'s 22 and 23. Does anyone know of these or any of the other unconfirmed numbers? Could the last 2 cards also be old timers? These are rare but not impossible cards so the answer is out there.

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Posted By: Glen V

Can't help you with who the unknowns might be, but I remember a board member selling around 5 of these in 2003. Included were #2, 4, & 10, which were at that time uncatalogued in the '03 SCD. I bought one of the known cards at the time. I might still be able to dig up who the seller was, if you'd be interested. Maybe they have more info...

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Posted By: Dave Hornish

Aha-I suspect your seller was the source of Lemke's information. If you have the details, I may contact the seller.

Thanks!

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Posted By: Al

Although I was able to complete the 56 set, the only 55s I have so far are 4, 16 and 21

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Posted By: Dave Hornish

The series of 23 is really tough. It seems to have only been sold in penny packs, whereas the series of 18 was sold in 4 card strips in 5 cent packs. The mystery cards in the longer series show how tough the penny pack cards are.Series of 18 cards should have at least one perforate side. The big question is, are the series of 23 cards as tough as the regular issue 1951 Major League All Stars?

Here is my lone type example, from the series of 18:

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Posted By: Al

David....from my perspective the 55 Hocus Focus set is tougher thatn the 51 Current All Stars, at least if you exclude the 3 unissued specimens. I was able to put that set together fairly easily, it was just a matter of expense. I have not even been able to find the 55HFs

They really are ugly too

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Posted By: Dave Hornish

There is a discussion on these over on the non-sports board. Does anyone have scans of overall card numbers above #96?

http://tinyurl.com/35g2cf

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Posted By: Dave Hornish

Ah, my son's summer baseball season is finally over and I have three whole weeks to kill.....Just seeing if anyone has found #'s above 96 in the "Series of 23" since this thread ended.

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Posted By: Randy Trierweiler

I'd love to see a Haddix from this set. Anybody have one? Randy

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Posted By: Al

I only have a couple of the 55s (one is Robinson) but I have the 56 set done, including Haddix. I actually have an extra Haddix after upgrading it on ebay sometime back. I can send you a "color" copy of both if you want to see them. The one I got on the upgrade is pretty good, but the first one is not well developed

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Posted By: Dave Hornish

I have read you can still develop these further to sharpen a poorly developed image but trying it on a non sport common first would be a good idea.

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Posted By: Glen V

Lew has a nice group of Hocus Focus cards in his upcoming auction - 12 '56s plus a '55: http://www.oldjudge.com/auction/topps-bowman/196/

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Posted By: Dave Hornish

Nice lot!

FYI, based upon some Non Sport speculation, the 121 card series count could be wrong for the larger cards. There still seems to be no #'s found above #96. Maybe parts of the set were unissued after sales fell flat. I can't imagine these small cards being very popular. Some of the missing numbers may not exist as maybe a final run did not make it to print? Not unprecedented in '56, the baseball pins were to have numbered 90 but only 60 were issued.

I am registered with Lipset but can't see the auction. Is it up yet for the general public?