1975 Topps Mini's Distribution

[Zach Wheat]

Originally Posted by brewing

I didn't collect until 1980 but in Michigan where I grew up it was rare to see any cards in the neighborhood that had regular size. To me 1975 mini is normal.


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My memories are the same as Brent. To me, the mini's seemed "normal". I think I have more '75 mini's than the regular size cards.

Z Wheat

[darkhorse9]

I can say 100 percent that they were distributed in Southwest Michigan. I bought them there on vacation. They were not in Nebraska where I lived, however.

I thought they were a bit weird. But today that's the set I have. I don't own the standard sized set, just a mini set.

How do those who own the mini set display them in binders. I found some crappy sheets that hold them but didn't like the plastic content so I switched them to a standard 9-pocket.

[mybestbretts]

I can tell you I live in the greater Kansas City area and we didn't have them.
Didn't see them except at a show or in a magazine ad.

[Rickyy]

Yes..they did have them out here in N calif.... I thought I was buying regular cards when I bought a whole wax pack box at 7-11 here in San Jose....imagine my shock when I busted them out! :O I was so confused as I bought a regular size rack pack to start putting together a week earlier... -_-

[71buc]

I live south of Seattle the minis were all that were available here that year.

[steve B]

minis were briefly available in western Mass. The store I went to in Dalton probably had a box or two. I had about one packs worth when I found out what they were a coupe years later

Steve B

[Harliduck]

Originally Posted by 71buc

I live south of Seattle the minis were all that were available here that year.

Another Seattle guy...only Mini's. I didn't see a regular sized card until the mid 80's while visiting Michael Kramers shop in Lynnwood (Pacific Trading Cards) and was shocked. I had no idea regular sized cards existed. They still look strange to me today.

[brian1961]

The late Charles Conlon assuredly must be mentioned in this thread. As reported, Topps test-marketed the 1975 Minis in Michigan. A native to Michigan, collector - dealer Charles Conlon, once he got wind Topps was indeed test-marketing the Minis in his home state, proceeded to become a silent but deadly, un-stark raving maniac of a hoarder / investor of these. He went absolute nutzo with the Michigan Minis, surely spoiling any valid test results for Topps. Whatever Topps issued in Michigan, you can best be sure Charles scoured any area he thought might have them.

Ever the poker player, once Mr. Conlon cornered the Minis market, most collectors had to come to him to purchase them. Naturally, he never let on the extent of his holdings. He would relate in his frequent SCD ads, in such words, I only have a limited supply, they're running out, buy while you still can, etc. Seems to me he was selling them for about $400 a wax box. Considering what he paid for them, he must have raked in huge piles of dough from glad buyers.

Even at the time of his relatively early death in about 2008, he still had a truckload of '75 Topps Minis. Lest you think I'm pitching you hypo-hyperbole, find one of Robert Edward Auction's then once a year-catologs of about 2009 -2011. The Conlon family chose them to auction off Charles's vast collection, including what "few" cases he STILL had of the 1975 Topps Minis. Moreover, the prices those remaining cases fetched in the REA auction were STILL very, very high, which thoroughly surprised me. Maybe it shouldn't have, but it did.....

Enough said of the small Topps. And no, I did not buy any MINIs from ol' Charlie. --Brian Powell

[bobsbbcards]

Originally Posted by darkhorse9

How do those who own the mini set display them in binders.

If you put the cards in penny sleeves before putting them in standard 9-pocket sheets, it works pretty well.