Why no "In Memoriam" Cards?

[Rich Klein]

Paging Dave Hornish who can probably provide the data much better than I can since I'm going from memory of reading things Topps talked about.

But I suspect the reason there were no In Memoriam cards for some of those people mentioned was because Topps always believed their audience was kids and as such were interested in the now instead of the "then"

I can even say not just In Memoriam but retirement cards of our better known players would have been a great idea looking back over the years

A quick and far from comprehensive list of players I would have liked to see "retirement cards" for include

Willie Mays
Roger Maris
Eddie Mathews
Hank Aaron
Stan Musial
Jackie Robinson

etc etc etc

Regards
Rich

[scmavl]

A Clemente memorial card should've happened. There was ample time and everything.

[JustinD]

Originally Posted by scmavl

A Clemente memorial card should've happened. There was ample time and everything.

This thread made me think of a blog I read during the heyday of baseball card blogs about a decade ago. Not a person I know, but I remembered this writer created a series of custom cards on this subject. Glad he's still writing, not many are.

http://whentoppshadballs.blogspot.co.../In%20Memoriam

[slinger23]

Topps did honor Cory Lidle in the 2006 Topps Update release. Picture taken from eBay.

[deweyinthehall]

That Clemente mock-up should've been card 660 that year - with apologies to Fred Scherman.

Yes - the WTHBB site is still up and something I check almost every day!

[brian1961]

JustinD -- Thanks for posting the 1973 Topps Roberto Clemente # 660 SHOULD HAVE BEEN. The card would have been dignified and appropriate.

I don't know how, but someone should send this mock-up to Topps, to be used as a 50 years ago tribute. Just wishful thinking ...

--- Brian Powell

[Gary Dunaier]

Originally Posted by Rich Klein

I can even say not just In Memoriam but retirement cards of our better known players would have been a great idea looking back over the years

Topps could have started with their very first set by issuing a card for Joe DiMaggio in their 1952 set.

The 1969 Mickey Mantle turned into one when Topps added a line on the back noting that he had announced his retirement.

[frankhardy]

Albert Pujols and Yadier Molina both have "retirement" cards in this year's 2023 Topps. Fittingly, they are #4 and #5 in the set

[skil55voy]

I believe that Walt Bond was still an active player when he passed in December of 1967. I didn't see him on the list.

[Rich Klein]

Originally Posted by skil55voy

I believe that Walt Bond was still an active player when he passed in December of 1967. I didn't see him on the list.

Walt Bond had a 1967 card when he was still living. 2nd series from my memory but I could be off by a series.

He passed late in the season and thus no 1968 card was produced for him.

Rich

[Cliff Bowman]

Topps printed a proof card of a 1977 Danny Thompson but pulled it when he died December 16, 1976. There is only one proof sheet known with the card and the sheet also has the only known 1977 Jerry Grote when he “retired” after the 1976 season with the Mets.

[toppcat]

Short answer: I dunno.

Long answer: The info on how long a player needed to be on a ML roster before getting a Topps card is pretty inconsistent over they years and Topps obviously had workarounds for Rookie Star multi-player cards and the like. So a requirement a player be on a ML roster for 30 days or after a certain date (as per past practice) seemingly didn't apply to Hubbs. (Or Roy Campanella in 1959) so I have to think it's possible a special arrangement was in place.

Hubbs is in the highs (7th series ), so it seems odd he wasn't pulled as he died in February, seemingly well before that series was plotted out as they had time to add the In Memoriam and write specifics on the reverse.

Umbricht maybe caught them off guard and they only had time to correct text on the reverse, which must have been close to when the fronts were printed (backs were printed first but front art likely locked in), just after his death date, so the 4th series seems to have been an April production. Consistency with Topps was always squirrely but maybe someone realized internally they should do more for Hubbs after Umbricht's death.

1969 Mantle, while not a death as he retired on 3/1/69 IIRC, so too late to pull his card in '69. That makes me think the 5th series was already locked in by his retirement date. Topps stared production earlier and earlier every year it seems but some of this stuff doesn't line up.