Brooks Robinson and the Baltimore Orioles

[Chstrite]

Day 339 – 4 December 2024
Today’s odd ball set is the 1968 Atlantic Oil Play Ball Contest Cards. The cards were issued in two-card panels, where were split or torn apart to become a standard size card. The card came in two versions; Game Rules on Back and Play Ball Back. Some players would include a prize of money ($5, $10 and up to $2,500) depicted on the back, which I have not seen. Bill Freehan apparently was the $2,500 card. The AL included a red card and the NL on a blue card; 25 each. The cards are hard to find high graded due to the perforation. I have both sets minus the George Scott Rules on Back. I have looked for this card for years. Below is the Red AL sets minus Scott Rules Back and Blue NL sets. My PSA 6 Rules on Back of Brooks is graded pretty high with 3 graded higher; the Play Ball Back PSA 3 appears to be low graded but there are only 5 graded higher.

[BaltOrioles]

Originally Posted by Chstrite

Day 339 – 4 December 2024
Today’s odd ball set is the 1968 Atlantic Oil Play Ball Contest Cards. The cards were issued in two-card panels, where were split or torn apart to become a standard size card. The card came in two versions; Game Rules on Back and Play Ball Back. Some players would include a prize of money ($5, $10 and up to $2,500) depicted on the back, which I have not seen. Bill Freehan apparently was the $2,500 card. The AL included a red card and the NL on a blue card; 25 each. The cards are hard to find high graded due to the perforation.

Charlie,

You're right, this is a very challenging set for condition. You know me. I like variations. The set actually comes with variations for both backs. The names on the front are either black or gray. I've shown the Brooks cards as examples. Putting together my Orioles set, I didn't notice either color to be harder than the other.

1968 Atlantic Oil Play Ball Game #1 - Copy.JPG

The Boog Powell has an additional variation. The Powell with the gray name is cropped differently on front. Less sky at the top.

1968 Atlantic Oil Play Ball Game #2 - Copy.JPG


Lastly, Andy Etchebarren of the Orioles was one of the winner cards ($5). I've never seen one, but have heard a few are out there.

[Chstrite]

Alan, thanks for sharing. Will have to look at all mine for variations. Wish I could find the Scott one to complete my set.

[Chstrite]

Day 340 – 5 December 2024
Today’s odd ball set is the 1966 Topps Rub Offs. This set includes 120 cards consisting of 100 players and 20 team pennants. Each card measures 2 1/16 in x 3 in. The card reflects the players headshot in color with his name, position and team. The set includes plenty of HoF’ers including Brooks. I am showing the set along with my highest graded PSA 10 Brooks card that goes with my PSA Master Set of Brooks Robinson.

[quitcrab]

That’s really nice ! Hard to find well centered.
Scott

[Chstrite]

Day 341 – 6 December 2024
Today’s odd ball set is the 1964 Wheaties Stamp. The set includes 50 players that mostly appeared in the 1963 All Star game. Some did not appear in the game while others appearing in the game are not featured in the set. Many (44) of the cards match the 1963 Topps Card. The stamps could be affixed in an album. The album included a blank slot for the stamp and a brief biography of the player. The stamp measures 2 9/16 in x 2 ¾ in. To receive the stamp you would send 50 cents with a Wheaties Box Top to General Mills. The players appear individually or on a 9 player panel. Below includes my album, envelope the album was received in, the stamp set, my PSA 9 Brooks Robinson Stamp and PSA 2 Panel.

[Chstrite]

Day 342 – 7 December 2024
Today’s odd ball set is one of my favorites. The 1964 Topps Stand Up set includes 77 player cards measuring 2 ½ in x 3 ½ in. The blank backed and unnumbered cards were the first since All Star sets of 1951 to be die-cut. Each card features a full action pose of a player set against a yellow and green background (top half yellow and bearing folding instructions; when the figure is “punched out” and stood upright). 22 of the players were single printed making them more difficult to find. Carl Yastrzemski was the most difficult to find for me. Below, I am showing you my complete set along with my highest graded PSA 9 Brooks Robinson belonging to my PSA Master Set.

Don’tforget today marks the 83d anniversary of the horrible attack on Pearl Harbor where we lost so many brave men and women.