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Below are some tidbits on baseball and sportscard collecting along with a listing of the All-Time and Active Leaders in a selected statistical cateogry. Visit our web site for more info on vintage and current baseball, football, basketball, hockey, sports and non-sport cards and card collecting.

Q1: How long have sports cards been around ? (part 1) The first baseball trading cards date back to 1869. For many years, baseball cards were packaged in packs of tobacco as a way to increase sales the same way that today prizes are packaged in boxes of cereal. In the 1920's and 1930's, candy and gum companies started packaging baseball cards in their products as well. Baseball card production was virtually halted in the early 1940's due to paper shortages created by World War II. The "Modern Era" of baseball cards began in 1948 when Bowman Gum Inc. offered one card and one piece of gum in a pack for a penny. The first important football set was the Mayo set featuring college players in 1984. Other than the 1935 National Chicle set no other key football set was issued until 1948 when noth Bowman and Leaf produced sets. Modern Sports Cards (T2) The drop in production from World War I was compounded by the Black Sox scandal and cards were not produced in significant quantities for over a decade. In the 1930s, baseball cards finally began to reappear with candy products. Beginning in 1933, Goudey, a chewing gum company, began producing cards. Gum became the product associated with baseball cards. Goudey produced larger sets of cards than usual and a boon to collector's they numbered them ! For the next several years, Goudey released new sets of cards to coincide with the baseball season. Again a World War (II) curtailed baseball card production. Bowman Gum Company resurrected baseball cards in 1948 soon to be followed by another bubblegum company, Topps. The two competed not only for consumers but also for rights to baseball players with each trying to sign players to exclusive contracts. In 1956 Topps bought out Bowman and enjoyed a relative monopoly for decades. While Topps was dominant nationally, various regionally-produced sets, usually on or in packages of foods. Post Cereal and Jello printed baseball cards on the backs of their boxes from 1961 to 1963 in both U.S. and Canada. In 1962 Post also produced a football card set featuring players from the two countries in each respective country. Fleer and Donruss ended Topps baseball card monopoly in 1981. Topps sued both but the courts ruled that Topps' exclusive rights only applied to sports cards sold with gum. Score in 1988 and Upper Deck in 1989 joined the market. In 1989 Topps reintroduced tje Bowman brand. The baseball card hobby quickly became saturated with cards. The baseball player's strike in 1994 started a rapid decline in interest. Baseball card companies, trying to remain profitable, started introducing improvements in card quality and also measures to prevent counterfeiting. They released many different brands of cards as well as rare and unique cards. Now baseball cards have come full circle and in 2006 there are only two companies marketing and selling baseball cards: Topps and Upper Deck. Fleer went bankrupt and Donruss lost their license. Upper Deck did buy Fleer and began issuing Fleer brand again.

***  RBI  -  ALL-TIME Leaders  ***
Rank Player (age)           RBI
 1.  Hank Aaron HOF        2297
 2.  Babe Ruth HOF         2217
 3.  Cap Anson HOF         2076
 4.  Lou Gehrig HOF        1995
 5.  Stan Musial HOF       1951
 6.  Ty Cobb HOF           1937
 7.  Jimmie Foxx HOF       1922
 8.  Eddie Murray HOF      1917
 9.  Willie Mays HOF       1903
10.  Mel Ott HOF           1860
11.+ BARRY BONDS (40)      1853
12.  Carl Yastrzemski HOF  1844
13.  Ted Williams HOF      1839
14.  Rafael Palmeiro       1835
15.  Dave Winfield HOF     1833
16.  Al Simmons HOF        1827
17.  Frank Robinson HOF    1812
18.  Honus Wagner HOF      1732
19.  Reggie Jackson HOF    1702
20.  Cal Ripken            1695
21.  Tony Perez HOF        1652
22.  Ernie Banks HOF       1636
23.  Harold Baines         1628
24.  Goose Goslin HOF      1609
25.  Nap Lajoie HOF        1599
26.  George Brett HOF      1595
     Mike Schmidt HOF      1595
28.  Andre Dawson          1591
29.  Rogers Hornsby HOF    1584
     Harmon Killebrew HOF  1584
31.  Al Kaline HOF         1583
32.  Jake Beckley HOF      1575
     Sammy Sosa            1575
34.  Willie McCovey HOF    1555
35.  Fred McGriff          1550
36.  Willie Stargell HOF   1540
37.  Harry Heilmann HOF    1539
38.  Joe DiMaggio HOF      1537
39.+ KEN GRIFFEY JR (35)   1536
40.  Jeff Bagwell          1529
     Tris Speaker HOF      1529
42.  Sam Crawford HOF      1525
43.  Mickey Mantle HOF     1509
44.  Dave Parker           1493
45.+ GARY SHEFFIELD (36)   1476
46.  Billy Williams HOF    1475
47.  Rusty Staub           1466
48.+ FRANK THOMAS (37)     1465
49.  Ed Delahanty HOF      1464
50.  Eddie Mathews HOF     1453
51.  Jim Rice              1451  
52.  Joe Carter            1445
53.  George Davis HOF      1437
54.  Yogi Berra HOF        1430
55.  Charlie Gehringer HOF 1427
56.  Andres Galarraga      1425
57.  Joe Cronin HOF        1424
58.  Jim Bottomley HOF     1422
59.  Mark McGwire          1414
   + MANNY RAMIREZ (33)    1414
61.  Jose Canseco          1407
62.  Robin Yount HOF       1406
63.+ JUAN GONZALEZ (35)    1404
64.  Ted Simmons           1389
65.  Dwight Evans          1384
66.  Joe Medwick HOF       1383
67.  Johnny Bench HOF      1376
68.  Chili Davis           1372
69.  Lave Cross            1371
70.  Orlando Cepeda HOF    1365
71.  Brooks Robinson HOF   1357
72.  Darrell Evans         1354
73.  Gary Gaetti           1341
74.  Johnny Mize HOF       1337
75.  Duke Snider HOF       1333
76.  Ron Santo             1331
77.  Carlton Fisk HOF      1330
78.  Al Oliver             1326
79.  Roger Connor HOF      1322
80.  Ruben Sierra          1318
81.  Graig Nettles         1314
     Pete Rose             1314
83.+ JEFF KENT (37)        1312
84.  Mickey Vernon         1311
     Larry Walker          1311
86.  Paul Waner HOF        1309
87.  Steve Garvey          1308
88.  Paul Molitor HOF      1307
89.  Roberto Clemente HOF  1305
90.  Enos Slaughter HOF    1304
91.  Hugh Duffy HOF        1302
92.  Eddie Collins HOF     1300
93.  Sam Thompson HOF      1299
94.  Dan Brouthers HOF     1296
95.  Del Ennis             1284
96.  Bob Johnson           1283
97.  Don Baylor            1276
     Hank Greenberg HOF    1276
99.  Gil Hodges            1274
100. Pie Traynor HOF       1273
 
***  RBI  -  Active Leaders  ***
Rank Player (age)           RBI
 1.  Barry Bonds (40)      1853
 2.  Rafael Palmeiro (40)  1835
 3.  Sammy Sosa (36)       1575
 4.  Ken Griffey (35)      1536
 5.  Jeff Bagwell (37)     1529
 6.  Gary Sheffield (36)   1476
 7.  Frank Thomas (37)     1465
 8.  Manny Ramirez (33)    1414
 9.  Juan Gonzalez (35)    1404
10.  Ruben Sierra (39)     1318
11.  Jeff Kent (37)        1312
12.  Luis Gonzalez (37)    1251
13.  John Olerud (36)      1230
14.  Alex Rodriguez (29)   1226
15.  Mike Piazza (36)      1223
16.  Bernie Williams (36)  1196
17.  Jim Thome (34)        1193
18.  Robin Ventura (37)    1182
19.  Carlos Delgado (33)   1173
20.  Moises Alou (38)      1155
21.  B.J. Surhoff (40)     1153
22.  Julio Franco (46)     1152
23.  Steve Finley (40)     1125
24.  Chipper Jones (33)    1111
25.  Vinny Castilla (37)   1078
26.  Craig Biggio (39)     1063
27.  Ivan Rodriguez (33)   1050
28.  Garret Anderson (33)  1043
29.  Jason Giambi (34)     1031
30.  Bret Boone (36)       1021
  

===========================================================================
                               WALKS
===========================================================================


***  WALKS  -  ALL-TIME Leaders  ***
Rank Player (age)          Walks
 1.+ BARRY BONDS (40)      2311
 2.  Rickey Henderson      2190
 3.  Babe Ruth HOF         2062
 4.  Ted Williams HOF      2021
 5.  Joe Morgan HOF        1865
 6.  Carl Yastrzemski HOF  1845
 7.  Mickey Mantle HOF     1733
 8.  Mel Ott HOF           1708
 9.  Eddie Yost            1614
10.  Darrell Evans         1605
11.  Stan Musial HOF       1599
12.  Pete Rose             1566
13.  Harmon Killebrew HOF  1559
14.  Lou Gehrig HOF        1508
15.  Mike Schmidt HOF      1507
16.  Eddie Collins HOF     1499
17.+ FRANK THOMAS (37)     1466
18.  Willie Mays HOF       1464
19.  Jimmie Foxx HOF       1452
20.  Eddie Mathews HOF     1444
21.  Frank Robinson HOF    1420
22.  Wade Boggs HOF        1412
23.  Hank Aaron HOF        1402
24.  Jeff Bagwell          1401
25.  Dwight Evans          1391
26.  Tris Speaker HOF      1381
27.  Reggie Jackson HOF    1375
28.  Rafael Palmeiro       1353
29.  Willie McCovey HOF    1345
30.  Eddie Murray HOF      1333
31.  Tim Raines            1330
32.  Tony Phillips         1319
33.  Mark McGwire          1317
34.  Fred McGriff          1305
35.  Luke Appling HOF      1302
36.  Edgar Martinez        1283
37.+ GARY SHEFFIELD (36)   1280
38.  Al Kaline HOF         1277
39.  John Olerud           1275
40.  Ken Singleton         1263
41.  Jack Clark            1262
42.+ JIM THOME (34)        1257
43.  Rusty Staub           1255
44.  Ty Cobb HOF           1249
45.  Willie Randolph       1243
46.  Jimmy Wynn            1224
47.  Dave Winfield HOF     1216
48.  Pee Wee Reese HOF     1210
49.  Richie Ashburn HOF    1198
50.  Brian Downing         1197
     Lou Whitaker          1197
52.  Chili Davis           1194
53.  Billy Hamilton HOF    1187
54.  Charlie Gehringer HOF 1186
55.  Donie Bush            1158
56.  Max Bishop            1153
     Toby Harrah           1153
58.  Harry Hooper HOF      1136
59.  Jimmy Sheckard        1135
60.  Brett Butler          1129
     Cal Ripken            1129
62.  Ron Santo             1108
63.+ CRAIG BIGGIO (39)     1097
64.  George Brett HOF      1096
65.  Paul Molitor HOF      1094
66.  Lu Blue               1092  
     Stan Hack             1092
68.  Paul Waner HOF        1091
69.  Graig Nettles         1088
70.  Bobby Grich           1087
71.  Mark Grace            1075
     Bob Johnson           1075
     Robin Ventura         1075
74.  Ozzie Smith HOF       1072
75.  Harlond Clift         1070
     Keith Hernandez       1070
77.  Bill Dahlen           1064
78.  Harold Baines         1062
79.  Joe Cronin HOF        1059
80.  Ron Fairly            1052
81.  Billy Williams HOF    1045
82.  Norm Cash             1043
     Eddie Joost           1043
84.  Roy Thomas            1042
85.  Max Carey HOF         1040
86.+ KEN GRIFFEY JR (35)   1038
     Rogers Hornsby HOF    1038
88.  Jim Gilliam           1036
   + BERNIE WILLIAMS (36)  1036
90.  Roberto Alomar        1032
91.  Sal Bando             1031
92.  Jesse Burkett HOF     1029
93.  Rod Carew HOF         1018
     Enos Slaughter HOF    1018
95.  Ron Cey               1012  
96.  Ralph Kiner HOF       1011
97.+ CHIPPER JONES (33)    1009
98.  Dummy Hoy             1004
99.  Miller Huggins HOF    1003
100. Roger Connor HOF      1002
  
***  WALKS  -  Active Leaders  ***
Rank Player (age)         Walks
 1.  Barry Bonds (40)      2311
 2.  Frank Thomas (37)     1466
 3.  Jeff Bagwell (37)     1401
 4.  Rafael Palmeiro (40)  1353
 5.  Gary Sheffield (36)   1280
 6.  John Olerud (36)      1275
 7.  Jim Thome (34)        1257
 8.  Craig Biggio (39)     1097
 9.  Robin Ventura (37)    1075
10.  Ken Griffey (35)      1038
11.  Bernie Williams (36)  1036
12.  Chipper Jones (33)    1009
13.  Luis Gonzalez (37)     989
14.  Jason Giambi (34)      979
15.  Manny Ramirez (33)     954
16.  Tim Salmon (36)        941
17.  Brian Giles (34)       902
18.  Carlos Delgado (33)    899
19.  Sammy Sosa (36)        895
20.  Julio Franco (46)      890
21.  Bobby Abreu (31)       879
22.  Mark McLemore (40)     875
23.  Kenny Lofton (38)      844
24.  Omar Vizquel (38)      841
25.  Ray Lankford (38)      828
26.  Jim Edmonds (35)       825
27.  Steve Finley (40)      790
28.  Todd Helton (31)       773
29.  Jose Offerman (36)     772
30.  Ryan Klesko (34)       769

1956 Topps Pins In addition to their regular issue 1956 Topps baseball card set, which in my opinion, was Topps' nicest regular issue set, Topps released a special pin set. This was the first pins ever issued by Topps. Few issues can compare to the 1956 Topps Pins set. The colorful and attractive 1-1/8" diameter pins, just like baseball cards from the era, were packaged with bubble gum. The pins featured a full color photo of the player with a pin clasp on the reverse. Interestingly, some images for the pin set are the same as those on the regular 1956 Topps cards. Even if you don't want to collect the set, if you collect 1956 Topps cards than YOU MUST add at least one 1956 Topps Pin to your collection. The 1956 Topps Pins set features most of the eras Hall-of-Famers including Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, Jackie Robinson, Ted Williams, Ernie Banks, Duke Snider, Al Kaline, Yogi Berra, Eddie Mathews and also includes some super tough scarcities such as Chuck Stobbs, Hector Lopez and Chuck Diering. There is not firm opinion as to which of the 3 scarce short prints are the toughest to find. In the end, collectors in the day preferred their cards to pins and Topps cut back the 1956 Topps Pin set issue from a planned 90 pins to just 60.

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