1969 & 1971 Bazooka

[toppcat]

It has always struck me as odd that there was no specific 1970 Bazooka issue while there were two in 1971.

Bazooka changed their long running format of three card panels for 1968 when they issued a Tipps from The Topps on the back and side panels with two card vertical strips.

In 1969 a format similar to '68 was used but with All Time Greats used instead of current players due the the baseball centennial.

Then in 1970 the All Time Greats were sold again. Why no new set?

In 1971 a traditional 3 card panel set was issued, 36 total and unnumbered. Then, supposedly after the fact a proof set of 48 was issued, NUMBERED and also in panels. Among the groups of panels only in the numbered set, We have McCarver, F. Robinson and Mazeroski; then Jenkins, Kaline, K. Harrelson; then Wills, Seaver, Oliva; and finally Wynn, Richie Allen and Tony Conigliaro. Something about this strikes me as odd as it seems each group of those proof only panels has an anomaly.

Mazeroski's last good season was 1968. Ken Harrelson's last good year was 1969, Seaver had the monster '69 season and Tony Conigliaro had a comeback year in '69 after missing all of 1968 following a horrific beaning and his return generated huge media interest I remember to this day. So one player from each panel in the proof set would have made more sense being issued in 1970 and not 1971.

Therefore, was the 48 card proof set originally planned for 1970?

[hcv123]

Anyone have any idea where this set was first classified as "1971"? I have an uncut sheet of the 71 numbered which includes 1 box - would there be anything printed on it that might indicate the year?

[toppcat]

If there's any luck at all, the box should have a code that looks something like this: 0-343-84-01-1 where the rightmost digit indicates the last digit of the year issued. It may not be on a proof though.

[paul]

In support of your theory, I believe Dick Allen's numbered card lists him with the Cardinals, not the Dodgers. But I need to double check mine to confirm.

[toppcat]

I don't have any of these, so can't tell who is with what team. I should check VCP for pix.

[cardinalcollector]

Hi Guys, good post Dave.

I can't post a scan right now, but I can assure you that Dick Allen is a Cardinal in this set. A very tough one too.

Randy

[HRBAKER]

Ditto,
Dick is a Redbird.
Jeff

[toppcat]

From baseball-reference.com re Richie Allen:

October 7, 1969: Traded by the Philadelphia Phillies with Jerry Johnson and Cookie Rojas to the St. Louis Cardinals for Byron Browne, Curt Flood, Joe Hoerner and Tim McCarver. Curt Flood refused to report to his new team. The St. Louis Cardinals sent Willie Montanez (April 8, 1970) and Jim Browning (minors) (August 30, 1970) to the Philadelphia Phillies to complete the trade.

October 5, 1970: Traded by the St. Louis Cardinals to the Los Angeles Dodgers for Ted Sizemore and Bob Stinson.