Missing Card Question

[ALR-bishop]

Great list Jeff. Starting in the later 60s my understanding is that individual contracts gave way to Marvin Miller and the Players Association contract. I wonder if being missing could in some cases have been a matter of individual preference and in others just Topps miscues.

[Rich Klein]

There are plenty more: Here are a couple I remember

Chris Short has no cards until 1967

Rich Reichardt missed cards in 1972 and 73

Bouton is an interesting case as no one knew he would make the Pilots in 69 and then was a middle reliever for the Astros going into 1970. Belileve it or not, Ball 4 had nothng to do with his not having a card to end his career.

Rich

[Bob Lemke]

I've got a nice image of Marshall Bridges and some nice later Bouton photos (all original Topps shots) that should eventually find their way onto my custom Topps-style cards.

[savedfrommyspokes]

Since it seems that Topps goal each issue (year) was to include and preview players on each team for the upcoming season (whenever possible), it is interesting that some years players were posthumously included in a new set. Some that come to mind are:
1964-Ken Hubbs
1964-Jim Umbricht
1973-Roberto Clemente
1975-Don Wilson
1977-Mike Miley
1977-Danny Frisella
1980-Thurman Munson (Yankee team card)

Several of these players passed away either in Dec or Jan (the year of their last card), so it was likely too late to pull the card as the issue was well into the production stages

[brewing]

I believe these missing cards are one portion that could make Topps Archives releases hot items.

The 1953 and 1954 Archives produced during the junk wax era are worth little today. Lacking the funds for the actual sets, i treasure my 1952, 53, and 54 reprints/Archives. I feel they really missed the mark on the "missing cards" in those sets. Black and white photos for the 1953's look horrible.

They could correct those and other errors in a future Archives release.

My idea is for a 1955 release along with some of the missing cards done properly (era correct photos, the card should look like it belonged in the set), and they could include proper solo rookie cards. A 1967 Tom Seaver should look like other solo releases from that set, not the bastardized version they have put out in previous Archives sets. The missing cards could be inserts along with numbered autographed rarities. The high numbered 1955 cards could be short prints.

There are several bloggers that make great versions of missing cards. Bob Lemke as he previously mentioned (also sells copies of his creations, thanks to him I own a 1967 Koufax). The blogs "Cards That Never Were" and "Uncle Doc's Closet" make incredible versions of missing cards.

[Rich Klein]

Back when I was at Beckett (and we would do that every few years or so) s to do pictures of cards that never were.

I think one of the weirdest was the lack of a 1993 George Howard Brett Donruss card. 1982 Ryne Sandberg should have been made as well.

Plenty more where those came from

Rich

[ALR-bishop]

This one appeared on an early checklist on card 44, the Washington team card but appears blank on latter checklists in the set. Compliments of Mr Lemke. One of my favorite cards that never were: