1968 Topps FB #219 Checklist [VAR:Blue back] [#]

No only did the 1954 Topps issue feature the rookie cards of some of the greatest baseball players of all-time, it also was the 1st appearance of Ted Williams on a Topps card. Topps was so proud of this they made Ted the FIRST (#1) and LAST (#250) card in the set.

1954 Topps was released in three different series, (#1-50), a tougher mid-series (#51-75), and finally (#76-250). Of note for fans of variations, first series cards were issued in Canada with gray backs.

ROOKIE cards of future Hall of Famers Hank Aaron, Al Kaline & Ernie Banks along with cards of SuperStars Ted Williams, Willie Mays, Duke Snider, Yogi Berra, Whitey Ford, Jackie Robinson and tons more !!!

Topps has tried many crazy products, called "test issues". Mostly distributed in limited areas, test issues were scarce. "Candy Lids" were little tubs of candy with player's photos on bottom of a 1-7/8" lid. 10 cents/tub, 24 tubs/box.

Topps first Candy Lids in 1970 and they are very, very hard to find. They had small photos of Tom Seaver, Carl Yastrzemski & Frank Howard.

1970 Topps Candy Lids were called "Baseball Stars Bubble Gum", had 24 players, the 1973 Topps Candy Lids had 55.

Topps planned 1972 Candy Lids but never released it, a few proofs do exist.

Topps 1973 Pinups & Comics share many of the same photos.

The history of vintage baseball card auctions is long and colorful.

T-206 Honus Wagner tobacco cards have sold for upto $2.8 million in auction. The "Holy Grail of Sports Cards", it's extreme-high auction value can mostly be attributed to great PR and "auction fever". It's not close to being the rarest baseball card and Honus Wagner is not Babe Ruth or Mickey Mantle. Yes, the T-206 set is beautiful & special but because of the # of cards and scarcities, few collector's try to complete, which should keep auction competition down compared to say 1933 Goudey or 1952 Topps baseball card issues.
BUT IT DOES NOT...

There's a story Wagner banned his card because he was anti-tobacco but there are other stories about financial considerations.

You surely have heard of PSA and may even know that this card was the FIRST they ever graded. But did you know that dealer (B.l. .ast.o name encoded) admitted tampering with the card, perhaps having it trimmed down to size, before PSA graded it so highly for the auction.