1968 Topps #177 Nolan Ryan ROOKIE BLANK-FRONT PROOF (Mets)

Book = $ *BOOK*
Price = $ 2,495

Extremely RARE (1-of-a-kind ???)
Thousands of times scarcer than his $1,000 regular card. NM/MINT corners but creased.

Price = $ 2,495

Below are short bits & pieces on sportscard & baseball trading card collecting.
Please wander around the website for more info, prices, values & images
on vintage baseball, football, basketball, hockey, sport and non-sports cards.

1963 Topps Peel-Offs (stickers)
Checklist & Values

Another interesting 1960's Topps Test issue !
Topps inserted these Peel-Offs (stickers) also called Stick-Ons in several series of 1963 Topps baseball cards. The Peel-Offs inserts were not mentioned or advertised on wax pack wrappers.
The 1963 Topps Peel-Offs set contained 46 1-1/4" x 2-3/4" stickers and was packed with HALL-OF-FAMERS. The Peel-Offs come in 2 variations, with instructions on the back or the scarcer blank-back.
TOP STARS: Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays, Roberto Clemente, Hank Aaron, Sandy Koufax, Stan Musial, Al Kaline, Carl Yastrzemski, Ernie Banks & MORE !!!

Click for complete 1963 Topps Baseball Peel-Offs Stickers checklist and prices
Note: You may be on that page right now.

1968 Baseball Marbles
by Creative Creations

These 'Marbles' were issued in 'blister packs' of 20 marbles. The 'Marble' was a ��-diameter clear plastic orb containing a paper insert with the player's portrait on the front a facsimile autograph on the back.
The blister packs themselves are collectible. They measure 9-3/4� x 10-1/2�, with the marbles positioned on front; the pack�s back features a baseball design awash in approximately 60 player's facsimile signatures. The package mentions 24 series of 20 marbles per but only 120 different marbles were created.

One of the more interesting collectibles from the late 1960's, they are sought after by both Team and Player collectors.

For another similar interesting issue see the 1970 Chemtoy SuperBalls.

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.
Click for complete 1977 Topps Baseball Cloth Stickers checklist, values and prices.

How long have sports cards been around ? (part 2)

The first important and mainstream basketball set was issued by Bowman in 1948. Other than a Topps set in 1957-58 and a 1961-62 Fleer set, there were no mainstream basketball sets issued until Topps started producing yearly sets beginning with their 1969-70 set featuring the rookie card of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who then went under the name of Lew Alcindor.

In hockey, there were a few sets issued in the 1910's and while O-Pee-Chee issued some sets in the 1930's, the real modern sets began in 1951 with the itroduction of Parkhurst's first set.

In racing, while cards go back as far as the early Indy car days of 1911, modern racing sets began in 1988 with the issues released by MAXX.

1968 Topps #177 Nolan Ryan ROOKIE BLANK-FRONT PROOF (Mets)

1963 Topps Peel-Offs (stickers) Checklist & Values

1968 Baseball Marbles by Creative Creations

1977 Topps Cloth Stickers Checklist & Values

1963 Topps Peel-Offs (stickers)
Checklist & Values

1968 Baseball Marbles
by Creative Creations

1977 Topps Cloth Stickers
Checklist & Values