1981 O-Pee-Chee/OPC #300 Paul Molitor (Brewers)

Like baseball cards, boxing cards have been produced in this country since the 1880's. First in tobacco products, later in gum and candy. Unlike baseball cards, boxing cards have been produced in many countries around the world.

In 1910 Mecca and Hassan tobacco companies put out colorful boxing sets with names like: Jack Johnson, Jim Jeffries, John L. Sullivan & Jim Corbett. In 1951 Topps joined in with a fairly large card set they called "Ringside".

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.

This 72-card set of large (3-1/4" x 5-3/8") cards called 'Hi-Lites' featured baseball highlights. Printed in red and black, card fronts resembled a newspaper front page.

Backs featured trivia question (with answer) sending you to a card with more info.

Rare cards #1-18 can be found blank-backed with just black printing. In 2 months on eBay, NONE of nearly (200) 1960 Nu-Cards listings were black only ! Other than #1 Ruth, black only cards are nearly identical differing only in print color and copyright.