My 1956 Topps Project

[Eric72]

I wanted to start a project to give my collecting a bit of focus. Ultimately, I decided upon the 1956 Topps Baseball set. Some of things that drew me to this particular set are:

- Player Selection: roughly one of every ten cards is a Hall of Famer
- Oversized Cards: simply put, they’re different than modern cards in many ways, including size
- Horizontal Format: this aspect pairs well with the use of two images front
- Overall Design: I find everything about these mid-50s cards to be aesthetically pleasing, from the large portrait, to the action shots, to the cartoons on the back. Collect what you like and like what you collect, right?

Another very appealing thing about this set (to me) is that it’s challenging, but attainable. Not so easy that I’d finish it immediately - and - not so tough that I’d lose interest over a long haul. Additionally, there are variations, such as white/grey backs and the different team cards. This will give me the option to go further once I’ve completed a “basic” set.

I figure it will take about a year or two to complete. Along the way, I’ll post my progress here. Feel free to comment if you’d like. Just remember, we all collect differently. The cards I’m getting for this set won’t be super high grade “blazers” meant to induce envy, nor will they be beaters with huge chunks of missing cardboard. Not that there’s anything wrong with those cards. They’re just not for me.

[Eric72]

Figured I'd start this off with Richie Ashburn. I got this as a Net54 Secret Santa gift a couple years ago.

As a lifelong Phillies fan, I have a ton of memories that involve Whitey. After his playing career, he found his way to the announcer's booth. Growing up, I listened to him tell many a story during Phillies games. The most remarkable was the one he often told about hitting the same person with two foul balls during the same at-bat.

[Bigdaddy]

Sounds like the '56 set I just recently finished. Really enjoyed putting it together and it took a couple of years.

The cards are beautiful and look great together in the binder where I have them.

Good luck and enjoy the ride.

[tschock]

I'd recommend getting the Mantle first or at least early, if you don't already have it. That way if things go south or you get bored or stop for whatever reason, you have the Mantle. Also it makes the ride a little smoother (and easier?) without that constant nagging of "I still need to get the Mantle" as your gathering the rest of the cards.

[Eric72]

Originally Posted by tschock

I'd recommend getting the Mantle first or at least early, if you don't already have it. That way if things go south or you get bored or stop for whatever reason, you have the Mantle. Also it makes the ride a little smoother (and easier?) without that constant nagging of "I still need to get the Mantle" as your gathering the rest of the cards.

As luck would have it, I actually got the Mantle first. I picked up this SGC 55/4.5 from Huggins & Scott in 2016. Having the Mantle already made the decision to build this set a fairly easy one.

[1963Topps Set]

What about the checklist cards? There are two and I found them VERY easy to get and VERY affordable.

I actually completed this set on March 8, 2009 when I added Phil Rizzuto. Good luck on your quest, this is my favorite set.

[Eric72]

As promised, here are a couple more cards from that initial BST purchase.

I really like the background of the Jim Owens' card. Simple, clean, elegant image of an old ballpark.

As for Stan Lopata, there's a bit more going on in his action pose. It looks less like a staged image and more like in-game action.

Additionally, and very interestingly, Topps shortened the team name to "Phils" on the front of Lopata's card. For the position/team name, the font size is also quite different between the two cards.

[Eric72]

Here's a cool error that is presumably uncorrected. The back of card #220, Del Ennis, has the typical trio of cartoons. On one of these, Topps spelled "Del" without the D.

[Eric72]

And, here's the front of the Ennis card. That simple wooden outfield fence is a nice touch.

[Eric72]

By comparison, the fence in the background of this card image is anything but simple. I tried to compare it to photos of the outfield fence at Shibe Park; however, could not match it up. I do see the same scoreboard outline (or is it a building?) on the 1952 Bowman Richie Ashburn, though. So, it seems possible Topps drew from the Phillies real-life home park for this background. If anyone has additional info, I'd love to hear it.

Another thing I enjoy about this card is the registration issue, most easily noticed in the black text and signature. I realize this would bother some collectors. However, on this example, I actually rather like it,

[detroitbaseball]

Originally Posted by Eric72

By comparison, the fence in the background of this card image is anything but simple. I tried to compare it to photos of the outfield fence at Shibe Park; however, could not match it up. I do see the same scoreboard outline (or is it a building?) on the 1952 Bowman Richie Ashburn, though. So, it seems possible Topps drew from the Phillies real-life home park for this background. If anyone has additional info, I'd love to hear it.

The background in the 1956 Topps Jack Meyer is the Polo Grounds in New York.

[Eric72]

My last two cards from that initial BST pickup are pictured here.

The Andy Seminick has a classic catcher's image, wherein Seminick is ripping off his mask to track an infield pop-up. Though this is likely a staged pose, it undoubtedly sparked the imagination of many kids back in the 50's. With the stands visible in the background, this certainly gives the illusion of an in-game play.

On the other hand, this Bobby Morgan has an image that was likely taken from an actual game action photograph. The card appears to depict a close play at second base, with the umpire visible. The runner sliding into the bag could very well be Hank Thompson of the Giants; however, this is just speculation on my part.

[1963Topps Set]

Poor Jack Meyer, killed by a heart attack in 1967...only 34...

[Eric72]

A smiling Herman Wehmeier graces the front of this 1956 Topps card. A bit of a journeyman, Wehmeier would only play 3 games for the Phillies that year. He went on to have a decent season for the St. Louis Cardinals, going 12-9 with two shutouts across 34 games.

Wehmeier led the National League a few times in several categories during his 13 year career. Unfortunately, these were categories in which one does not typically wish to be a league leader: Walks surrendered three times; wild pitches twice; and Earned Runs allowed once.

Additionally, in 1952, he hit more batters than any other NL pitcher. Given his apparent lack of control, this is not surprising.

[Eric72]

What’s in a name?

Upon first seeing this card, acquired in my second BST purchase, I wondered about the team name. The Washington Nationals sounded odd to me, especially considering the fact they played in the American League. Guess I wasn’t the only one.

“The team officially changed its name to Senators in 1956, prompted by Charlie Brotman, who at the time was the newly hired stadium announcer for Washington’s major league ball club.” (John Kelly, Washington Post, June 11, 2016)

The card itself yielded a few other interesting details. For starters, unlike the Giants team card, the players here are listed in same order which they appear.

Carlos Paula, first man to break the color line for the Washington Senators, is shown (and listed) at far right of the front row. In the second row, at far left, the man in the plain shirt is almost certainly Trainer George Lentz. And the man at far right of the back row is more than likely Juan Delis, who played all 54 of his Major League games for Washington in 1955.

Another thing that caught my eye was the scoreboard behind the team. It appears to be set up correctly for a home game against Detroit. For you Net54 sleuths out there, is this an image from Griffith Stadium, or was it creative license taken by an artist in the mid-50s?

Lastly, there are three people seated in the front. According to the card, these are the batboys. It might just be my imagination or the artist at work; however, the one in the middle (Hoover) looks bigger than most of the players. If nothing else, he is definitely the largest batboy I’ve ever seen.

[Eric72]

Several things about this Jim Greengrass card interest me.

The first, and perhaps most obvious, is the outfield wall. It serves as a beautiful visual reminder of the way ballparks once looked. Although the advertisements had a practical purpose, helping to sells goods and services during the era, they now hold a certain nostalgic charm.

There is also the fact that Greengrass appears to be crashing into that outfield wall. The image certainly captures a moment in time that is filled with tension, action, and excitement.

Lastly, it is notable that the back of Greengrass' uniform jersey bears no number. The Phillies had acquired him during the 1955 season, giving the Topps creative team ample time to assign a jersey number (10 or 23...he wore both in Philadelphia) to this image.

No matter, though. Taken as whole, this card is a beautiful example of the artistry Topps brought to its 1956 baseball set.

[geosluggo]

This was an enjoyable set to put together -- I love the design and the combination of portrait and action photos. I started with about 30 cards and completed it in a few months about three years ago. Depending on how condition-sensitive you are, it can be a relatively affordable set to put together as the only significant rookie card is Luis Aparicio. I have always loved studying the action photos, including the same shot used for the Gail Harris and Jim Wilson cards. I'm guessing the first baseman really is Harris but doubt the runner is Wilson.

[Gr8Beldini]

Originally Posted by geosluggo

This was an enjoyable set to put together -- I love the design and the combination of portrait and action photos. I started with about 30 cards and completed it in a few months about three years ago. Depending on how condition-sensitive you are, it can be a relatively affordable set to put together as the only significant rookie card is Luis Aparicio. I have always loved studying the action photos, including the same shot used for the Gail Harris and Jim Wilson cards. I'm guessing the first baseman really is Harris but doubt the runner is Wilson.

Pretty cool. I never noticed that. I did however notice recently that the background photo used in both the Yogi Berra and Gene Woodling cards are the same.

[Eric72]

There's a certain beauty in simplicity. Just a lefty hurling his pitch from the mound. Clean, uncluttered background, no other players. It was a nice counterpoint to the other cards in this group. Speaking of which, this Curt Simmons card rounds out my second BST purchase.

[Mike D.]

Wow, what a pretty set! Thanks for posting...looking forward to your progress.

Maybe I'll graduate to a set like this some day. Maybe...

How are you going to store and/or show-off the set? Binder? Storage boxes? Something else?

[Eric72]

Originally Posted by Mike D.

Wow, what a pretty set! Thanks for posting...looking forward to your progress.

Maybe I'll graduate to a set like this some day. Maybe...

How are you going to store and/or show-off the set? Binder? Storage boxes? Something else?

I’m using a storage box for now. However, there’s a chance this set will eventually wind up in a binder. I guess it will depend on whether I work up the nerve to crack out the Mantle.

[cardsagain74]

Just picked up the Mantle! Part of one of the carterscards HOFer auction lots tonight. Looks like a really clean 2.5ish card with just rounded corners.

That card is usually so overpriced that I'm really happy to have gotten it as part of a basically discounted lot

[Eric72]

Originally Posted by cardsagain74

Just picked up the Mantle! Part of one of the carterscards HOFer auction lots tonight. Looks like a really clean 2.5ish card with just rounded corners.

That card is usually so overpriced that I'm really happy to have gotten it as part of a basically discounted lot

Congrats on the Mantle! I'm super happy for you. It's a great feeling to snag a classic baseball card, isn't it?

[Eric72]

The next batch of cards I picked up was purchased at the Philly Show in early December. This was my first time flipping through boxes to find cards for a vintage set. At other shows, I had mostly just looked at showcases, searching for higher profile cards. This experience was quite different, and altogether much more rewarding. I had set out to finish the Phillies team set that day, and accomplished this in fairly short order.

One card from this group, #81 Wally Westlake, seemed fairly normal at first glance. However, when I looked a bit more closely, something strange caught my eye.

Westlake is pictured in a Cardinals uniform.

This was made even stranger by the fact that he hadn't played for Saint Louis since 1952. It was one of three Major League teams he was part of that season.

I suppose Topps figured they would simply use this image, though. Westlake only played 5 games (the last of his career) for Philadelphia, all of them during the 1956 season. So, game-action photos of him in a Phillies uniform weren't exactly easy to find. Somehow, I imagine they still aren't.

[Eric72]

Another pickup at the Philly Show is this Granny Hamner. Aside from the somewhat (by today's standards) odd nickname, several things stand out about this card.

For starters, the background image shows a close play at the plate. Hamner is sliding in as the catcher attempts to apply the tag. It is practically impossible to know whether he will be called safe or out. By not showing an umpire in the picture, Topps (perhaps purposefully) leaves the viewer to imagine the outcome for themselves. As a Phillies fan, I prefer to think he was safe, scoring the winning run in the ninth inning of a closely contested game.

Additionally, there is a bat laying on the ground, inches away from the action. As Hamner continues sliding past home, he will likely collide with the lumber. Did nobody think to clear the bat away? Was there no time? Did Hamner gallop towards home from third on a suicide squeeze? So many questions regarding one small detail.

Lastly, there is the foreground portrait. Hamner's cap looks almost brand new. It doesn't appear to have been broken in yet. On a modern card, I probably wouldn't think twice about this. Players nowadays are issued new uniforms, caps, etc. on a seemingly daily basis. Demand for game-used memorabilia is extremely high and teams are more than willing to cash in on this. Back in the mid-50s, as I understand it, things were a bit different. Players from that era tended to get more "mileage" out of things such as gloves, uniforms, and caps. Come to think of it, American society as a whole seems to have trended more and more towards treating everything as easily disposable these days.

Am I just an aging man longing for days gone by as I ponder such things? Perhaps. However, I collect baseball cards. As with most of us, I tend to spend at least as much time looking back as I do looking forward. In many ways, I often prefer the view.

[JollyElm]

I love this thread!

In looking at the catcher on the Granny card, the way his arms are situated together at the plate as he's staring at (most likely) another base runner, it seems to me this was an 'easy' tag out at the plate with no chance of throwing out the other advancing player.

[Eric72]

My next card from the Philly Show is #211, Murry Dickson. He only played for Phillies for a few years; however, had a somewhat long and fairly productive career. Beyond this, he also had quite an interesting life, especially in his younger years. For those who may have an interest, I recommend reading this article from SABR on Dickson:

https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/1bb26f23

As for the card, it shows a then-40-year-old Murray Dickson looking every bit the grizzled veteran he was at the time; not just in the baseball sense, but also someone who had been in battle. The look on his face is that of a person who has literally seen it all. I don't often think of this, but those who were middle-aged in 1956 had been through a decidedly different life than the generations which followed them. They had witnessed a world at war.

The action shot of Dickson is remarkable in that no team logo appears on his jersey. Murry had been pitching for the Phillies for a few years by then, so action photos of him were likely easy to come by. However, he had been traded (or sold) so many times by this point, it's possible Topps wanted to hedge their bet and just show Dickson in a plain jersey...just in case. Ironically, he was traded shortly after the set was released.

The backdrop of the action shot is another one of those cards in which everything has a green tint to it. Additionally, Dickson is curiously pictured on neither a pitcher's mound nor an infield warm-up area. Instead, he is standing on an endless expanse of emerald green grass.

Early on in collecting this set, I began to truly see the cards. Now, as I progress a bit further, I have begun to also see the players. They weren't just flat 2 dimensional objects on a piece of cardboard. These players were real people with real lives and (in Murry Dickson's case) real character.

I can honestly say that collecting a set of cards has never been such a tremendously rewarding experience. What a fantastic journey this is turning out to be.

[Bigdaddy]

I've wondered if on some of the '56s, whether the action shot was superimposed on a stadium background.

Really enjoy your take on these cards. I usually don't contemplate a card this much, but sometimes you just have to slow down.

[Eric72]

We often experience, and sometimes discuss, a loss in our lives. Over the past month, I have dealt with this twice.

Four weeks ago, my father passed away. He and I shared decades of memories, many of which were related to sports and collecting. While his passing was neither sudden nor unexpected, it was still devastating. Even though my relationship with my father was occasionally challenging, I loved and will miss him dearly.

Sixteen days later, my wife and I lost a family pet. His passing was something we had seen coming for a while. For the past six months, we did everything possible, as did the veterinarians. However, the time had come for him to cross the Rainbow Bridge...another soul I loved and will miss dearly.

So, why am I writing all of this here, on a message board devoted to baseball cards? Four weeks ago, my 1956 Topps project stopped as abruptly as it had begun. As other parts of my life return to something resembling normal, I find myself looking forward to resuming the project. Before jumping back in, though, I figured it would make sense to let you all know what happened that caused me to take a little time away.

I'll be back to posting 1956 Topps images/observations soon. Until then, take care.

[RCMcKenzie]

My condolences, Eric.

Best of luck with your 1956 Topps project. It's a great set to work on...Rob

[Eric72]

Originally Posted by RCMcKenzie

My condolences, Eric.

Best of luck with your 1956 Topps project. It's a great set to work on...Rob

Thanks, Rob. I appreciate the kind words.

[Eric72]

I completed the Phillies team set back around New Year's Day. I was almost finished posting the individual cards by mid-January; however, got sidetracked for a while.

I am going to show the last two Phillies cards without a whole lot of conversation. Don't get me wrong, they're still beautiful to me. It's just that I look at images of Phillies from the mid-50's (through the early 60's) in a different light now. They were the players my father grew up watching, and I can't help but think about him as I look at these.

It feels rather good to get back into the swing of things, though. I look forward to posting the other cards I've picked up so far. Hopefully, I'll have that done before the Philly Show next weekend. Then, I can pick up some more cards and continue this '56 Topps journey.

[JollyElm]

Man, Baumholtz is having a real hard time getting to second...probably because he appears to be sliding sharply uphill!!!

[Eric72]

I went to the Philly Show today. While walking the floor, I ran into a few Net54 members, had some great conversations, and picked up a few cards. The only one from 1956 Topps was this Mickey McDermott.

Some people would find the registration issues maddening. Others might find them attractive. I'm definitely part of the latter camp.

While I certainly won't make a sub-project out of color shifted cards, it is really neat to have this particular example.

[Eric72]

And, here's a copy of McDermott without the color shift. I got this one from Bocabirdman a couple months ago. So, now I have doubles of exactly one card in this set. It is interesting that the vertical streak on his right shoulder appears on both cards.

After an admittedly brief Internet search, I have found this print defect to be common. Since Topps wouldn't have an obvious reason (to me, anyway) for including this on the image, it appears to have been something during the process of preparing or printing the sheets.

[Eric72]

When I picked up card #83, Karl Spooner, I had no idea who he was. This is not surprising, considering the fact that he only played for two seasons. I came to learn that the left-hander was a phenom of a pitcher who enjoyed a stunningly good start to his career. It was not meant to last, though. An early injury ultimately took him from top of the world down to being a flash-in-the-pan.

While doing a bit of research on the player, I also discovered something interesting about the '56 Topps card on which Spooner appears. There are (at least) two versions of the front. The portrait was cropped a bit tighter on one of them. This is perhaps easiest to spot at the top of the Brooklyn "B" on his cap. Details, one of which I grabbed from eBay, appear below.

Is this a common occurrence for 1956 Topps Baseball? Were there two different fronts for the cards with a white/gray back variation?

[Eric72]

This Carl Erskine card made me do a double take. Topps seemed to have taken a great deal of artistic license with the background picture. Their version of "artistic" in this case, though, borders on minimalism. There is no stadium, no fence, no infield dirt. Instead, there is just a green "haze" that seems to have been airbrushed over a large portion of the original image.

[Eric72]

I'm going to be spending the entire weekend at home. Presumably, many of you are in the same situation. To make the best of this, I plan to post images of the remaining 12 cards I've picked up thus far. When done, all of the 1956 Topps cards in my collection will be posted in this thread.

Here is #225, Gil McDougald. Although there is nothing remarkable about the card, I do enjoy the images. McDougald's portrait shows a young, vibrant infielder for the New York Yankees. He looks genuinely happy in this picture. Why wouldn't he? The Bombers were on one hell of a run during those days.

The action shot is a classic infield play, one in which McDougald appears to have successfully turned a double play at second.

[Eric72]

Card #316, Jerry Coleman, shows another Yankee infielder making a play at second base. In this action image, Coleman is off the ground, having taken to the air to avoid a hard-sliding runner. I imagine base-runners could not intimidate Coleman, a US Marine who served in Korea and World War II.

[Eric72]

I very much like the look of card #302, "Big Ed" Robinson. The Yankee first baseman is shown applying a tag, likely attempting to complete a pick-off play or snag a runner who took too large a turn around the bag. The photographer (or artist) froze a moment in time skillfully, leaving the viewer to wonder whether the runner was safe or out.

Robinson's portrait is also done tremendously well. His cap is pulled down low and his facial expression is quite serious. The focal point of the image, though, is the look in his eyes. Robinson's gaze is locked upon the left edge of the card, almost inviting the viewer to look past the border to see what it is that he had noticed.

[Eric72]

As a lifelong Phillies fan, I have long been familiar with the name Jim Konstanty. As a member of the pennant winning Whiz Kids, he won the 1950 National League MVP award. I was a young kid in the late '70s, and I often heard Phillies fans speak of that 1950 team, since they were the last Phillies club to reach the World Series.

By 1956, Konstanty was on the New York Yankees, the team which beat the Phillies in that Fall Classic. He was nearly 40 years old, and at the end of his career. In that year, Topps captured the veteran pitcher on card #321.

The portrait of Konstanty accurately depicts an athlete at the end of their playing days. It would not have surprised me to see "coach" or "manager" on the front nameplate rather than a position. He looks wise and learned; however, does not appear to be wildly energetic.

The background image intrigues me. At first glance, it appears to be a typical ballpark scene. As I looked more closely, though, I discovered that something simply did not add up. Furthest from the viewer, there is an outfield wall, visible stands, and some architectural features. It seems like the sight one would see from the third base dugout. Then, in the foreground, Konstanty is following through after throwing the ball...seemingly into that same dugout.

Additionally, take a look at the right edge of the card, near Konstanty's ear. There appears to be a fence and a treeline. I'm no photo expert; however, I believe the perspective is off here. In total, the action shot seems to have been crafted from three different pictures:

- Konstanty throwing
- The large outfield scene under the nameplate
- The small outfield scene near the right edge

As I continue to collect this set, it is becoming apparent that Topps took some creative license with the artwork for their cards. Not that there's anything wrong with them doing this. In a way, it actually adds to the appeal of the cards. Topps chose to produce something which would bring fans, predominantly children, closer to the game.

[Eric72]

Be honest, would you have guessed that Tommy Carroll finished his career with a .300 batting average? Granted, Carroll only played in a total of 64 games and collected only 30 at-bats. Still, not many players have compiled that magical lifetime mark.

His 1956 Topps card offers many interesting details which caught my eye, For starters, there's the background image. Take a look at Carroll's right foot. It certainly makes me wonder what took place the instant after this photo was taken. This fairly normal looking infield scene may very well have turned quite chaotic.

Aside from a potential kick-to-the-groin, there are some other things that I noticed on the card front which weren't in any of the other cards I have seen thus far. Carroll seems to have either run or slid so hard that his cap fell off. Now, this is a common scene in the game, especially when the runner in question is a teenager - Carroll was 19 years old when this issue was released. However, I simply had not yet sen a '56 Topps card depicting it.

Another thing that struck me as odd was the bill of Tommy Carroll's cap. In the portrait image, it appears much smaller than those worn by other players. In a way, it seems reminiscent of the caps worn by players in the 19th and early 20th centuries.

[Eric72]

Card #215, Tommy Byrne, shows a Yankee left-hander who was coming off perhaps the finest season of his 13 year career. In 1955, he went 16-5 with a 3.11 ERA and finished 14th in the MVP voting.

Byrne's 1956 Topps card shows a portrait of a World War II veteran in his mid-30s. He had missed two years of his career due to service in the U.S. Navy, an experience similar to many of his peers. His expression is somewhat serious, with eyes narrowed and seemingly fixed upon something in the distance. I wonder if he was actually gazing inward and contemplating something about which none of us could ever know.

The action shot is beautiful in its presentation. Byrne is shown on the mound, mid-delivery, at the moment of release. There is no batter pictured..no other players...no crowd. I've often heard that great pitchers have the ability to block out nearly everything when expertly plying their craft. To me, this image exemplifies the sort of disposition in which a top-notch hurler would find themselves when everything is working just right.

[Eric72]

Poor Johnny Kucks.

For starters, his name was almost certainly cause for some hazing. At the beginning of the 1956 season, he was a mere 23 years old. I imagine the veterans had a field day with the kid. Still, he was in the major leagues. Among other things, this led to his very own Topps baseball card. The first time Johnny saw the card, though, he probably didn't react very well.

His portrait isn't exactly the most flattering picture, to put it gently. The artist who colored (or created) this image seemed to have some difficulty with accurately rendering Johnny's face. I checked photographs of Kucks...he looked nothing like the kid shown here with somewhat lopsided eyes and a vacant expression.

When he looked on the back of his card, Kucks would have undoubtedly noticed that Topps did not get his date of birth correct. They were off by a year; he was actually born in 1932. This is the second time, in roughly 40 cards, this error has presented itself. Small sample size, i know. However, it seems rather prevalent.

A closer inspection of the back reveals another error. His career stat line shows that he racked up quite a few numbers before 1955...apparently without playing a single game. Somewhat less-than-stellar quality control at Topps that year, it seems. I guess their purchase of Bowman, and lack of competition, may have had an impact in that area.

The card does have some redeeming qualities, though. The background is spectacular, featuring a classic '50s stadium image. The advertising on the outfield wall, while not quite readable, is certainly visible. The architecture of the stadium is beautiful, uncluttered, and a great representation of ballparks from this bygone era.

In the foreground, Kucks' pitching delivery looks clean and graceful, almost effortless. His frame certainly looks to be that of a pitcher. He looks entirely natural in the role of a big-league hurler.

Lastly, there is the autograph. It is large and free-flowing, a well-executed example of the perfect Palmer method taught in schools during the first half of the 20th Century.

Overall, I found this card extremely interesting. There were so many small details that caught my eye and led me to further exploration. Moving forward, I'll certainly take notice whenever I see cards or photos of John Charles Kucks.

[Eric72]

Card #12, Andy Carey, shows a player sporting a "normal" cap. At least, it looks much more like the one I'd expect to see on a ballplayer from the '50s. Quite a difference from the previous card I had posted.

The portrait image draws my attention almost immediately. Carey has an intense look on his face, to go along with features that one might find on a soldier who just emerged from a foxhole. His eyes are narrowed and his gaze fixed on something unseen to his left. There are streaks of dirt on this face which contrast sharply with a clean streak that starts at his right ear. The effect is similar to face paint meant to be worn as camouflage.

Moving on to the action scene, even that image exhibits violence. Carey is shown tagging the runner squarely in the face, an act surely not received well by the opponent. Speaking of the tag, there's something not quite right with this image. The glove looks a bit unnatural, and there's a "watch" around Carey's right wrist. This would be highly unusual for a right-handed thrower..who was playing the infield at the time.

All things considered, it seems as though the team at Topps was once again taking creative license in an effort to put forth an exciting issue. In my opinion, they succeeded. I would recognize this card, from a distance, in a heartbeat. Additionally, it will almost certainly trigger memories of today...when I spent some time pondering a 64-year-old piece of cardboard and its marvelous nuances.

[Eric72]

Joe Collins, pictured here on card #21, was nearing the end of his 10-year career by 1956. He spent the entirety of that decade with the New York Yankees, playing multiple positions along the way.

Collins is shown here as a first baseman, leaning in and attempting to apply the tag on a runner there. I find it interesting to look at the way this runner is standing on the bag. If he were legging out an infield single, one would expect him to be running straight down the line. If he rounded first (or took a lead) and was trying to get back, I would think his lead foot would be on the base.

Instead, the runner seems to have taken a somewhat circuitous route back to first. Combine this with Collins' awkward, almost stumbling body position. It seems to me this was an exciting play to watch in real time. If the action shot on this card was created by using a photo, I applaud the photographer for seizing the moment.

[Eric72]

#40, Bob Turley. #52, Bob Grim. #223, Randy Jackson.

These are the last three cards I own that had not yet been posted. I find each of them beautiful, colorful, and filled with action. However, I'm going to take a break from my typical long-winded write-up on each card. Instead, I'll simply offer a few general thoughts.

When I picked these up a couple months ago, the world was a decidedly different place. Then, COVID-19 hit. As we turn the calendar from March into April, it has affected nearly every part of our lives. This, of course, includes collecting sports cards.

I realize that we'll have a return to normalcy someday, hopefully soon. When that day comes, I'll be looking forward to attending card shows, along with all the other things that have been postponed, rescheduled, or cancelled lately. Until that day, I plan to do something for which there is seldom enough time.

I'm going to take a good look at all that cardboard I've collected throughout the years. Additionally, while flipping through binders and sorting through boxes, I'll slow down and enjoy the experience. After all, I got these cards to enjoy them. For the time being, I think I'll do just that.

Stay healthy and safe, everyone.

[Bigdaddy]

Eric, thanks for the play-by-play of this beautiful set. It is probably my favorite Topps set and I was fortunate to finish it two years ago.

Just a couple of other thoughts on some of the recent cards you posted:

Carl Erskine - this is obviously not a posed photo as Carl is in his follow-through from an actual pitch, however, as you mentioned there is no sign of a mound - no dirt, no pitching rubber and no orientation to the other parts of the stadium. And it looks like Topps filled in the background of his portrait with an airbrush, trying to reproduce the color of the grass, but didn't quite get the texture. Strange backdrop for the action photo.

Joe Collins - I believe Collins is reaching for a off-course pick-off throw from the pitcher that strayed too far towards second base. He is off balance trying to catch the throw and this has made the runner go back to the outside of the bag and tag it with his trailing foot. Certainly not a routine play.

Tommy Carroll - Who is this colored middle infielder making the play at second base? Looking at the uniforms, my guess is that it is Jose Valdivielso, SS for the 1955 Senators.

Has anyone seen any of the actual photos that these cards were printed from, especially the smaller action photos? I would think that might help a man identify some of the other players in them.

Stay healthy and safe as we navigate through this difficult time. And thanks again for the analysis of these cards.

[Eric72]

I've gotten back on the 1956 set building kick. Card #30, Jackie Robinson, was a recent eBay pickup.

This is a mid-50s classic that I'm thrilled to have. It would be the last card of the Dodgers great issued during his career. While his skills had diminished somewhat, it's hard to tell from the action photo. Robinson is shown sliding into the plate, apparently having just stolen home. It was a fitting way for Topps to capture the excitement Jackie brought to the game of baseball.

Additionally, the back of this card has a very interesting cartoon panel. For starters, it mentions the Brooklyn Dodgers' one and only World Series Championship. Topps credits Robinson for his fine play; however, they chose to draw a rather unusual image of the 6-time All-Star.

Is it just me, or does anyone else think the main subject of this cartoon looks like Babe Ruth?

[Eric72]

I’d like to give some public praise to a fellow board member. BlueSky (hi, Marty) saw my set building progress and offered to send me the two cards pictured below. No charge, no strings, just an unexpected and generous gift. Thank you VERY much, Marty. I really appreciate your generosity.

The first card is #59, Jose Santiago. The portrait shows a young hurler who appears quite happy. The expression of joy spreads over his entire face, highlighted by an ear-to-ear grin. Not surprising, really. After logging nearly 1,000 innings in the minors, he was finally in the big leagues. The action shot is (to me) the picture perfect vision of pre-game activity at the ballpark. There are the first stirrings of warm-ups taking place on the edge of a sun-drenched field. Santiago is in the foreground, loosening up his pitching arm. Other players have taken the field; however, are mostly staying near the stands. It's almost as if they're reluctant to kick things into high gear this early in the day. A few fans are visible in the stands, "early birds" seeking autographs perhaps.

In contrast, there is nearly no activity shown on the card of Jack Crimian. The Athletics right-hander is warming up on a seemingly empty field. The color palette used by the artist is darker, as though the day being portrayed was an overcast one. The portrait is that of a man for whom happiness is presently quite elusive. His smile, if it can be categorized as such, is thin and forced. The expression in his eyes is rather hard to read; however, it certainly doesn't evoke feelings of joy and excitement. Perhaps Crimian was pondering the career 9.36 ERA he had racked up in the Major Leagues entering the 1956 season.

# # #

I’m beginning to feel a sense of accomplishment - I'm getting close to being 20% of the way towards completing the 1956 Topps set. Pacing myself and taking the time to thoroughly enjoy each card has been a blast. I’m looking forward to possibly adding a graded HOFer or two, most likely in the 4-5 range, in the near future.