Topps Rookie Banquets

[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.

[MattyC]

Holy Cow. Somebody help me get one of those trophies for my desk. That is fresh to death. I gotta get one.

[toppcat]

Originally Posted by MattyC

Holy Cow. Somebody help me get one of those trophies for my desk. That is fresh to death. I gotta get one.

Fresh to death-never heard that before but that's a great phrase!

FYI, left to right at the 66 banquet: Bill Shea, Joel Shorin, Joe Garagiola, Sy Berger. Then Don Schwall (maybe not?) and Billy Williams in the 1961 photo.

I think there is a trophy in the Topps box under the program in front of Shea. You guys want the trophy but I want that box......actually I want a trophy too!

[Samsdaddy]

Awesome thread. Learning so much here. It is cool that Topps actually did issue the trophy's to the All-Star rookies.

Thank you Dave and Al.

[ALR-bishop]

Thanks for posting Dave, we have discussed these before. I sure would like to run down one of the 64 paper inserts and one of the post 66 paper programs. Have not seen one. And since many players at some point sell their stuff I am surprised the trophies have not shown up on the market, maybe some have.

Dave-- do you know when the Banquets ended ?

[frankhardy]

Great thread. I love these test issue and oddball threads. I actually have the cards that feature Julian Javier and Fred Whitfield for my Cardinals team sets. They were not easy to come by. I looked for a very long time. I didn't know about the programs. Those are neat.

[toppcat]

Originally Posted by ALR-bishop

Thanks for posting Dave, we have discussed these before. I sure would like to run down one of the 64 paper inserts and one of the post 66 paper programs. Have not seen one. And since many players at some point sell their stuff I am surprised the trophies have not shown up on the market, maybe some have.

Dave-- do you know when the Banquets ended ?

I think the later programs are tougher since they were not as special and not really intended as keepsakes so many must have been tossed. I think they went with this 4 page format at least into the 1980's; I used to have a scan of a program from 1984 but can't locate it-it may have died with a hard drive crash many years ago. I am not even sure they kept the banquet format going forward from 1967 or where to programs were issued then on but locating a later program would help answer that obviously.

It seems like it's just a press release now when they name the rookie team.