Photo identification for the 1961 Topps series checklists

[Spike]

Spent awhile researching the photos from 1961 Topps series 1-7 checklists to connect them with game situations and would appreciate a fact check of this post.

Topps Baseball Checklists and 1961 Series 1 to Series 7 Photo Identification

Most or all take place at Wrigley, so maybe a Chicago fan can pinpoint things better than I can! Thanks in advance for help, will update (and credit) any improvements in the post.

[ALR-bishop]

Cool project Mathew.

FYI only --there are variations to the 61 CLs.

On CL 1 the names can be even with or slightly below the boxes and #s

On CL 2 the word Checklist on the front can be red or yellow, and on the yellows the back number can be in a black or white circle

On CL 3, the number 4 on the player on the left either shows or does not show

On CL 4 the copyright on the back starts at 336 or 339

On CL 5 The Topps Baseball on front is yellow or black, and the backs have an ad or not

On CL 6 # 440 is Louis or Luis

CL 7--there is either grass or no grass under the umpires left foot

[nolemmings]

Thanks for researching this, as '61 was my favorite set when I collected post-war. I have to disagree with your assessment of the game depicted in Series 3 however, or at least the play you described. Spatially I don't see anyway that's a rundown between first and second, so unless Santo made it to second and overran that bag, that's not it. As importantly, it looks to me like it would be the pitcher in the foreground going to back up third--if so, that is not O'Toole, who was left-handed.

[Spike]

Agreed, that Santo pickoff game doesn't match well and a right-handed pitcher backing up third would work better.

I went through all the Reds games at Wrigley with righty pitchers and didn't find anything useful, so play-by-play might not've thought it worth recording the rundown. Recognizing a player or two (if that's SS, 3B, and P in frame) would go a long way.

[Spike]

Originally Posted by ALR-bishop

Cool project Mathew.

FYI only --there are variations to the 61 CLs.

Thanks Al, I'll include those details.

Also noting that Topps used NY-based action photos for 1961 NFL and NHL checklists following this design debut in 1961 baseball.

[Spike]

Made a better ID for Series 3, thanks to both Al's note about a "4 visible" variation (it's Reds #14, 3B Puddin' Head Jones) and Todd's note about context. I'm more confident that's August 30, with Don Zimmer caught trying to advance to third on a single.

UPDATE: Series 3 is August 30

[toppcat]

Great post on these Matthew. They must have picked up a series of game shots along the way from a friendly photographer. Don't think they would have been daily newspaper related in color back then but maybe a Sporting News connection?

[nolemmings]

Upon further review, I do not believe Series 2 depicts the action you state either (sorry). In that game, you note the Cubs CF going back to his position--that player is white (looks like Ashburn) and George Altman played CF that entire game for the Cubs, with Ashburn in LF.

It may have just been a pop-up to Zimmer or a can of corn to the OF where the runner simply elected to hold his base. That would make it really tough to pin down.

[Spike]

Originally Posted by toppcat

Great post on these Matthew. They must have picked up a series of game shots along the way from a friendly photographer. Don't think they would have been daily newspaper related in color back then but maybe a Sporting News connection?

Likely so, and it sure would be nice to know more about Topps 1960s photography. They were all over the place at times, these checklists included.