1986 Topps BLANK-BACK PROOF #280 Tim Raines (Expos,Hall-of-Famer)

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This scarce 72-card test issue set was released with very limited East Coast distribution making them quite scarce.

Officially simply called "Topps Baseball Photos", their serrated or "DECKLED" edge gave them the name they go by today. The 2 7/8" x 5" inch cards were sold in 2 card packs with gum or 3 card packs without for 5 cents.
Click to enlarge Complete Proof Sheet on left
Fronts are similar to b&w Exhibit Postcards from the 50's with photos and facsimile autographs. The backs make this very scarce test issue more interesting ! They feature handwritten script of player's name, team, position & date and location of the photograph as well as a mock newspaper article.

This was Topps 2nd "Deckle Edge" issue, their first being the smaller and more common 1969 Topps Deckle Edge inserts in 1969 Topps packs.

Variations of 1974 Topps Deckle Edge exist, making this issue more fun and challenging to collect. Backs can be found in gray or a much scarcer white. Also, more limited proof versions with non-scalloped edges exist and can be found with and without card numbers.

The 27-card 1954 Quaker Oats Sports Oddities multi-sport set was available card by card in boxes of Quaker Oats "Puffed Wheat and Rice" or if you weren't patient, you could purchase a complete set through the mail for all of 15 cents and two box tops from Quaker Puffed Wheat or Quaker Rice !!!

The very colorful cards measured 2-1/4 x 3-1/2 inch and came with rounded corners honoring special moments in sports history. Each card featured a portrait and action illustration.
Click for complete 1954 Quaker Oats Sports Oddities card values and prices
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WOW ! Few issues compare to the 1956 Topps Pins set. The colorful and attractive 1-1/8" diameter pins were packaged with bubble gum and featured a color photo of player on front with a pin clasp on back. Many of the images for pins are the same as on the 1956 Topps cards. If you collect 1956 Topps cards than YOU MUST add at least one of these 1956 Topps Pin to your collection.

Packed with stars (no Mickey Mantle), the 1956 Topps Pins set also had a few scarcities such as Chuck Stobbs, Hector Lopez & Chuck Diering.

In the end, collectors of the day preferred cards to pins and Topps cut back the 1956 Topps Pin set from a planned 90 pins to just 60.

Are sports cards valuable ?

Like all collectibles, over time some sports cards go down in value, others go up and some can even become very valuable. Card values are based on many factors: player popularity, scarcity, condition & collector interest. A card can be scarce but without demand value may not be great.

Q: What are some ways to collect cards ? * Complete sets by year & issue
* Cards of your favorite player
* Cards of your favorite team "TEAM SETS"
* Rookie cards
* Hall-of-Famer cards
* I even had a girlfriend that collected Don Mossi (checkout his ears), players whose last name start with "Z", and the Brett brothers George & Ken (she had a crush on George).
* "TYPE COLLECTING" (everyone should at least do a little of this !)

"Type Collecting"
is collecting at least one of each different "type" of issue. On scarcer issues you can add a less expensive common while on others you can select your favorite player or team.

1986 Topps BLANK-BACK PROOF #280 Tim Raines (Expos,Hall-of-Famer)

1974 Topps DECKLE EDGE
Checklist & Values

1954 Quaker Oats Sports Oddities
Checklist & Values

1956 Topps Pins
Checklist & Values

1986 Topps BLANK-BACK PROOF #280 Tim Raines (Expos,Hall-of-Famer)

1974 Topps DECKLE EDGE Checklist & Values

1954 Quaker Oats Sports Oddities Checklist & Values

1956 Topps Pins Checklist & Values

1974 Topps DECKLE EDGE
Checklist & Values

1954 Quaker Oats Sports Oddities
Checklist & Values

1956 Topps Pins
Checklist & Values