Dan Marino - 1995 Select Certified Select Few #1 [#/2250]

1955 Topps was the first of 2 years of horizontal card designs. As with 1952, 1953 & 1954, cards were again a tad larger than today's standard. A nice feature, facsimile autographs, again appeared on the cards. The set came in 2 series, #1-160 and scarcer "High Numbers" #161-210.

Due to the contract battles between Topps & Bowman, Cards #175,186,203 & 209 were never issued. Topps eventually won the war, buying Bowman making 1955 the last year for Bowman cards. But the damage was done as Topps had to leave out many stars including Mickey Mantle & Stan Musial.

There were a total of (15) Hall of Famers in the 1955 set !!!
Top ROOKIEs: Roberto Clemente, Sandy Koufax & Harmon Killebrew
Top Stars: Hank Aaron, Ted Williams, Al Kaline, Ernie Banks, Warren Spahn, Jackie Robinson, Eddie Mathews, Willie Mays, Yogi Berra & Duke Snider.

"The Golden Greek" Harry Agganis, a popular 1955 Topps card, is a tragic story, Agganis, a rising young star, died after his first card was issued. A football star at Boston U., he turned down an offer from the Cleveland Browns and became the starting first baseman. Shortly after he came down with pneumonia and died of a Pulmonary Embolism.

1977 Topps Cloth Stickers
Checklist & Values

As 1977 baseball season was winding down, Topps wanted to sell more cards and released the "1977 Topps Cloth Stickers" test issue. The 1977 Topps Cloth Stickers set came in at (73) total cards: (55) cloth stickers and (18) checklist/puzzle cards that formed large photos of the 1976 AL & NL All-Star teams.

2 Stickers and 1 checklist/puzzle card were in each .15 cent pack with 36/packs in a box.

Nearly all fronts are same as the regular issue - with a few different like Nolan Ryan.
LEFT: Regular issue;
CENTER: Cloth Sticker;
RIGHT: O-Pee-Chee (from Canada).

The 2-1/2" x 3" stickers had highlights & instructions on back. The backing was easily removed and kids could stick them everywhere ! TEACHERS LOVED THEM !!!

Packed with Hall-of-Famers (19 of 55) plus Pete Rose and Mark Fidrych. In addition, stickers & puzzle pieces came with one '*' or two '**' asterisks on back.

1956 Topps were slightly larger (3-3/4" by 2 5/8") horizontal cards similar to 1955 Topps cards, some even sharing portraits with 1954 and 1955 Topps cards. Team cards & checklists appeared for the first time in 1956.

With Bowman gone, after missing the last 3 years, Mickey Mantle was back !!! A fun & simple set, 1956 Topps had no high numbers or expensive rookies but for serious 1956 collectors, there are over 200 variations. Most variations deal with card stock (gray or white back). For #101-180 gray appears to outnumber white about 9-to-1. Many team cards had 2 or 3 variations with team names Left, Center or Right.

There are 2 great cards: #31 Hank Aaron which actually pictures Willie Mays sliding home and #135 Mickey Mantle. Mantle shown leaping high into the stands robbing a home run ! Artist did a great job showing Mantle making the catch ! BUT ... Mantle looked great leaping but the ball flew over his glove.

The 1956 Topps Pins used same portrait photos as the cards.

Click for complete
1956 Topps Pins Checklist and Prices