1972 T0PPS test set of 1953 reprints

[ALR-bishop]

Rosen is really Fridley
McCullough is really Janowicz
Furlllo is really Antonello

It is not unusual to have a wrongly identified player or two in the older Topps base sets, but 3 of 8 must be the record

[egri]

Originally Posted by ALR-bishop

Rosen is really Fridley
McCullough is really Janowicz
Furlllo is really Antonello

It is not unusual to have a wrongly identified player or two in the older Topps base sets, but 3 of 8 must be the record

What surprises me is those three are correctly identified in the original 1953 set. There was one mistake in the original set (Pete Runnels' card features a portrait of Don Johnson).

[mrmopar]

I have the Furillo/Antonello only. Would have liked to add Jackie and maybe Paige, but never got around to it and now it will cost me dearly.

[Volod]

Originally Posted by egri

What surprises me is those three are correctly identified in the original 1953 set. There was one mistake in the original set (Pete Runnels' card features a portrait of Don Johnson).

What doesn't surprise me about this mini-puzzle is that Furillo and McCullough were actually not on cards in the 1953 Topps set.
If we are speculating about the reason for the three misidentifications, how about: Topps lined up eight former players to make a public appearance in conjunction with the anniversary of the '53 set's publication, and assigned some flunky to find their cards in the set to use as ad material. That guy finally realized that Furillo and McCullough were not in the set and he could not, for some reason, come up with a Rosen card, so he simply substituted cards of other players in the same uniforms, hoping no one would notice. Slipshod indifference seems like a more plausible cause to me than a bumbling attempt to upgrade.

[MCoxon]

Right now, the set has a total PSA pop of 294 (across all 8 cards); if there were 300 sets, there would be 2400 total; not sure how that number of cards graded out of a total set run compares to other sets, but given its a scarce issue, my guess is 300 sets might be close.

Interesting populations

1973 Topps Reprints
Paige: pop 45
Robinson: pop 49


1953 Topps set
Paige: pop 2215
Robinson: pop 1743

[ALR-bishop]

Steve--- interesting theory. If only 300 were really made that would seem to be more consistent with use at an event than a test release. The event could have been the annual Rookie Banquet and or some kind of 20 year commemoration of the 53 set

[moeson]

Don't forget that the Card Collector's Company fire likely destroyed some of the 300 sets. Many Topps test sets became much scarcer after that terrible fire.

[Gmrson]

I had read in a hobby publication many years ago that a Topps exec made this set up for their sons birthday party...for what that's worth.