Ode to Post-war Football Oddball Sets

[LuckyLarry]

1962 Topps "football bucks" 48 cards in the set, these are the eight I have so far. These seem like the easiest of the '60s inserts, and there are always plenty available on eBay.
1964 Topps: "Pennant Stickers" (24) difficult to obtain.
1965 Topps "Tall-Boys": "rub-offs" (36) difficult to obtain.
1966 Topps: "Funny Rings" (24) easier but expensive and kind of weird.
1967 Topps: "Comic Pennants" don't appear to tough.
1968 Topps: "Stand-Ups" don't appear to be tough.
1969 Topps: "4-in-1" cards and albums easy to complete.

[nearmint]

1961 Topps "flocked" Stickers wax pack insert. These came with lettered tabs which can be peeled off, and I think each sticker came with two different letters. Does anyone know what the letters mean? 48 different stickers in the set (I guess the master set would be 96 stickers) and it looks like I have 19 different.

I think the letters were just for kids to peel off and make words, Larry--most often their names, I suppose. There is no Q and no X. 12 of the stickers--9 AFL and 3 college--were paired with 2 different letters. So the base set contains 48 stickers, and the master set contains 60.

A bit of trivia: among the stickers of the pro teams, the Chargers stickers are the only ones that don't include the name of the city. The Chargers moved from LA to San Diego in 1961, so at the time the stickers were designed, perhaps Topps wasn't sure where the Chargers would be?

[defpotec]

I've been lurking on this board for a few months. Finally had to post because I have a soft spot for oddball football, specifically rookie and prerookie HOF oddball items.

I'm a product of the junk wax era but even as a kid got into vintage football because I loved the history and the low cost compared to baseball. I rediscovered the hobby a couple years ago after a 20-year hiatus. My first task was picking up Staubach, Dorsett, and Randy White rookies since mine were stolen as a kid. (I mowed several lawns and saved my allowance for weeks to get that Staubach.) I quickly acquired a taste for oddball items since many are downright cheap compared to regular issues. My favorite oddball sets and cards that haven't been mentioned yet...

1948 Topps Magic Photos: three rookie-year HOF cards. The misspelled Bednarik is my favorite. I actually like the small size.

1961 Packers Lake to Lake: three HOF prerookies and one rookie-year card. I actually like the simple look. However, except for Adderley, the key cards are prohibitively expensive unless in poor condition. I only have the Adderley.

1964 Wheaties Stamps: three HOF rookies. I really like the simple design with the autos. Also very reasonably priced.

1966 American Oil Stamps: two HOF rookies. I actually kind of love these, though I imagine I don't have much company. The Sayers is a favorite in my collection. I have a single and a couple complete panels. (Not the $1 winner one with Wayne Walker, though.) The Ditka, however, is impossible. I've never seen one. Might be my white whale.

1972 Sunoco Stamps: my absolute favorite oddball set, and maybe my all-time favorite set period. I'm surprised no one mentioned it yet. Nine HOF rookies and seven prerookies. I lucked into a cheap Langer update stamp with the tab attached as a BIN on eBay a couple years ago. Another favorite in my collection is the Riggins. Not only does it show Riggo in action, but that's Curley Culp chasing him down. A rookie and prerookie on the same stamp.

[TanksAndSpartans]

Welcome to the board! I'd love to see some scans of the cards you mentioned.

[defpotec]

Let's see if this works...

The 1948 Bednarik. Centered nicely, unlike my Connor and Walker.

[defpotec]

The 1972 Langer update stamp with tab attached and Riggins with Culp cameo. The Langer is OC but still a favorite.

[TanksAndSpartans]

Very nice - I always thought Bednarik would be a great player to do a player set - I can't think of anyone who has cards in more vintage sets. I wonder if they made up the "Chas" - I don't recall seeing that anyplace else.