1961 Key Chain Insert

[Bob Lemke]

The Standard Catalog of Baseball Cards lists the set with a checklist of 69 pieces . . . with no Brooks Robinson.

[Mark70Z]

Originally Posted by Bob Lemke

The Standard Catalog of Baseball Cards lists the set with a checklist of 69 pieces . . . with no Brooks Robinson.

Bob,

No Brooks?!? The one that I pictured (below) has a Brooks included w/in the auction; do you think it's real and not listed in the Catalog?

Regards,

Mark

[Bob Lemke]

I'm not sure the ones in your picture are from the same issue as those the catalogs identifies as 1961 Baseball Key Chains. The cataloged set does not have team names at the top.

[Mark70Z]

Originally Posted by Bob Lemke

I'm not sure the ones in your picture are from the same issue as those the catalogs identifies as 1961 Baseball Key Chains. The cataloged set does not have team names at the top.

Bob,

Great eye; I didn't even notice that the one's listed in the auction have the team name on top of the player photo and the '61 Baseball Key Chains do not have the team name on top. They sure do look very similar though; maybe issued at a later time frame?

Do we know who produced these trinkets?

[Harford20]

I would never think to contradict Bob Lemke, but my experience with these 1961 Keychain players varies. I have approx 6 different ones, and have had as many as 10 different stars/HOF players. Players like Ruth and Maris have no team name as the top as noted by Bob. Others, like Gehrig, Dean, Williams, Clemente all do have team names or parts of team names (I.e. Cards for Dean). All of the ones I have, with only a single exception, came in the plastic holders (all 9 with gold chains only BTW). The paper and printing on each is nearly identical, the sizes vary based on how much stuck out of the plastic holder.

I have had 6 graded by PSA and 2 by SGC. All have been documented as 1961 Keychain players. The players in the photo in this thread look good to me. Also, I have seen a few that were uncataloged so that might be the case with Brooks.

Dave

[Bestdj777]

Originally Posted by Harford20

All of the ones I have, with only a single exception, came in the plastic holders (all 9 with gold chains only BTW).

Thanks! Now I have to find someone with a gold chain for sale...

[steve B]

The silver chain looks like a fairly high quality version of that chain. Not every company put their name on the connector. The same company would have made the chains in chrome and brass, and maybe a few other finishes.

I don't have any of these so I can't compare the chains, but if you look on Ebay for "1960's keychain" there's a bunch with brass chains. Most look to be around $10 And if you go to flea markets you might find one for under a buck.

Or, if it just has to be a brass chain but not necessarily an old one, that sort of chain is still made as the pullchain for lights. I picked up some at the local hardware store for I think $2-3 for three feet. If your local doesn't have it I probably have a bit of it somewhere with the right "Patina" that I could just send.

If someone has a good pic of the original chain I might even have an exact match, the same chain manufacturer probably made chains for nearly everyone. Keychain places, lamp places, Somehow I think there's somewhere else that stuff was used but it's not coming to mind.

Steve B