1956 Topps # 76 Ray Crone [WB] (Braves)

Book = $ *BOOK*
Price = $ 11.50
NEAR MINT

Price = $ 11.50

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.

1934,1935,1936 Diamond Matchbooks
During much of the Great Depression, matchbook collecting swept the country ! Sports matchbooks started appearing in the 1930s, most issued by Diamond Match Company of New York. Over the next few years, several series were issued with similar designs; b/w photo of the player on front with short write-up and stats on back. The player's name and team was also printed on the 'saddle'.
Please consider the following info as approximate.
1934's first baseball release featured 200 players, in 4 different background colors (red,blue,green and orange) for a total of 800 different covers. The set features plenty of Hall-of-Fame greats like Dizzy Dean and Mel Ott.
1935's issue was tiny with only 24 total covers (8 red,8 blue,8 green).
A third series was later released with 200 or more different covers (players/colors).
1930's matchbook covers appear to be huge bargains for collectors as their current values are fractions of the value of Goudey and other baseball cards from the same era.

Click for complete 1935-1936 Diamond Matchbook Checklist and Prices
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1932,1933,1936 Chicago Cubs
Picture Pack Team Issue

Oversized, approx 6x9 inch b/w on construction paper like card stock with facsimile autographs.
Set also has some Cubs execs like William Wrigley & Bill Veeck. The years are very tough to tell and may require an expert.

Click for complete 1932,1933,1936 Chicago Cubs
Picture Pack Team Issue Checklist and Prices
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1955 Topps All-American Football
Checklist & Values

In 1955, college football was much more popular than the NFL. Topps response was the 100 card 1955 Topps All-American Football card set. Topps first major football issue featured the greatest college players from first half of the 20th century.

The 1955 Topps All-American football card set was issued in 1-card penny packs, 9-card nickel packs and 22-card cello packs with tons of rookies & stars including rookie card of former Supreme Court Justice Whizzer White.

TOP ROOKIES: The Four Horseman, Whizzer White, Fats Henry, Doc Blanchard, Don Hutson, Amos Stagg, Tom Harmon, Ernie Nevers ...
TOP STARS: Knute Rockne, Jim Thorpe, Sammy Baugh, Red Grange, Otto Graham ...

Click for complete 1955 Topps All-American Football cards checklist, values and prices.
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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.

1956 Topps # 76 Ray Crone [WB] (Braves)

1934,1935,1936 Diamond Matchbooks

1932,1933,1936 Chicago Cubs Picture Pack Team Issue

1955 Topps All-American Football Checklist & Values

1932,1933,1936 Chicago Cubs
Picture Pack Team Issue

1955 Topps All-American Football
Checklist & Values