Topps Rookie Banquets

[Zach Wheat]

Al,

Neat stuff. Have you seen and of the '64 boxed sets available? Thanks for sharing.

Z Wheat

[JollyElm]

Cool stuff, Al!!!

[Samsdaddy]

Very cool stuff Al. This is new to me as well.

The all star trophy cards of the 1960s and early 70s were some of my favorite baseball cards, regardless who was on them.

[ALR-bishop]

The full boxed 64 Banquet sets do not show up very often. The individual cards show up from time to time on ebay. I think PSA or someone grades them. Below is a link to sales of some in REA.

I would guess the players got trophies but they may have been cheap ones, otherwise you would think some of them would have shown up in auctions somewhere



http://www.robertedwardauctions.com/.../2012/692.html
http://robertedwardauctions.com/auction/2010/953.html

[MattyC]

Al, thanks for an awesome post! Ever since I saw my first "cup" cards (for me it was the Murray, the 64 Rose, and of course 1987 Topps), I was a huge fan of these cards. When I got into graded cards, I even started amassing every one Topps did-- but it grew too large of a project. The top hat trophy has so much flavor.

[toppcat]

I have some details on the banquet programs on my blog: http://toppsarchives.blogspot.com/se...uet%20Programs

The 1964 set also came with a program but it was issued separately (probably on the table at each seat) and meant to be inserted into the box with the cards (it is a smaller program).

Topps issued programs after 1966 but the format changed and it was essentially printed on 11 x 17 paper and folded to make a four page program from what I know if it. This truncated style went on for years.

Basically, once the players union got stronger with Marvin Miller in command he tried to freeze Topps out by offering a blanket deal to Fleer in 1966, which they turned down. Topps subsequently purchased Fleer's player contracts (they had over 4000 non exclusive ones, although Topps had more) in 1966 and I imagine their payout for same ($395K), the extra royalties for new sets and other expenses related to defending an FTC complaint that came down in 1965 made Topps pare back on things like the banquet programs.

The programs are great, I only have two plus the 64 box and a sample card from that year. The 64 boxed set is really going up in value-they could be had for about $2K a few years ago. I think the 64 banquet set is one of the nicest things Topps ever produced.

If anyone has programs to sell, I might be interested.

Here is a picture form the 1966 banquet:



The trophies did indeed exist and I suspect they were made of the same material as other trophies of the era that were given out to high school players and the like. here is a look at the trophies, from 1961:

[geor952]

Dave--this is great! You answered my question and provided proof. Thank you.

[ALR-bishop]

Thanks to Bob Lemke I was able to get this program from 1978. Topps had the rookie banquet dinners every year from 1959 to at least 2004. I have not seen any after 2004. Can anyone confirm they continued after that date ?

I have them from 1959 to 1966, then nothing until 1978, and then a run from 1980 to 2004 ( missing 1983 and 2003). Does anyone have one from the years I am missing ?

[Neal]

Since I wasn't truly aware of this forum at the time of the OP, I obviously missed it ...... great read, Al!

Thanks for sharing!