BY MARK A. LARSON
Inserts.
The image that immediately springs to mind is the plethora of every type of imaginable insert card issued by today’s baseball card companies. Yet inserts go way back. Back beyond 1990, beyond 1985, beyond 1980, 1975, 1970 …
Mickey Mantle was included in many Topps inserts in the 1960s. And like his regular and subset cards from that era, his is usually the most expensive in the set.
First, let’s define insert. An insert is an extra bonus included with a pack of baseball cards that is not considered part of the regular set. It can be a special card, a coin, a poster, a sticker or some other type of premium.
The first Topps insert of note that included Mantle was the 1961 stamp issue. Stamps were included in wax packs from that year. The entire set included 208 different stamps. (An album to house this illustrious collection could be purchased from Topps for a dime.) A separate set of 201 stamps was issued in 1962 as an insert, and this, too, included Mantle.
In 1963, Mantle appeared in a Topps insert set of 46 “Stick-Ons” or “Peel-Offs”. Instructions on the backs of these little gems read: “Peel off backs. Place All-Stars on books, walls, bikes, anything!”
One of the most popular Topps inserts of all-time was its 1964 coin set. The metal coins were issued with packs of cards. Mantle appears on two coins in the 164-coin set. Once on a regular coin and also on an All-Star coin.
1964 Coins
In 1965, The Mick was featured in the Topps “Embossed” insert set. These small cards had an embossed photo on a gold foil-like surface. They are somewhat reminiscent of today’s Action-Packed cards. There were 72 cards in the set.
Two years later, in 1967, Topps included folded-up posters in wax packs. The company issued 32 of these “Pin-Ups”, including one of Mantle.
Collectors who bought 1968 Topps found a game card insert in each pack. This 33-card set is similar to the Blue Back and Red Back Topps sets of 1951. Of course, Mantle is included in the ’68 version. The cards were designed to be used to play a simulated game of baseball by drawing from a deck of them. Mantle’s card reads: “Single – Runners Advance 2 Bases.”
When the Yankees’ big power man announced his retirement in March 1969, Topps had already mapped out its issues for the year. Among these was an insert set of decals that included Mantle. The 48 different decals in this set are identical in design to the regular cards in the 1969 set, except they measure only 1-by-2 1/2 inches and use many different photos.
Topps issued a variety of products separate from their regular card sets throughout the years. Many of these were “test” issues (sets that were usually distributed in small numbers in limited areas to test the market for them).
Mantle appears in many of Topps’ separate issues including:
• 1960 Topps “Baseball Tattoos”.
• 1961 Topps “Dice Game” cards (test).
• 1962 Topps “Baseball Bucks” (designed like dollar bills).
• 1964 Topps “Giants” or “Supers” large-size cards. (One of the most beautiful sets Topps ever issued.)
• 1964 Topps “Tattoos”.
• 1964 Topps “Stand-Ups” (die cut cards, which stood up when folded).
• 1964 Topps “Stamps”.
• 1965 Topps “Transfers”.
• 1966 Topps “Rub-Offs”.
• 1967 Topps “Stand-Ups” (test).
• 1968 Topps “Posters”.
• 1968 Topps “Discs” (test).
• 1968 Topps “Action Stickers” (test).
• 1969 Topps “Supers” (super-glossy cards).
• 1969 Topps “Stamps”.
• 1969 Topps “Team Posters”.
Other non-Topps issues throughout the years that included Mantle:
• 1952 Star Cal Decals (produced by Meyercord Co. of Chicago).
• 1955 & 1960 Armour plastic coins (issued with hot-dogs).
• 1956 Yellow Basepath Pins (rumored to have been a premium in one-cent bubble gum machines).
• 1962 Salada Tea and Junket Pudding plastic coins.
• 1962 Shirriff Potato Chips plastic coins (Canadian).
• 1963 Salada Tea and Junket Pudding metal coins.
• 1965 Old London metal coins (issued with snack foods).
• • • • • •
See related article on BaseballCardFun.com entitled:
“BASEBALL HOBBY NEWS — To Card Collectors Mantle is King”
Click Link Here
• Originally Published in Apr. 1993 “Baseball Hobby News” •
THIS ARTICLE FROM “BASEBALL HOBBY NEWS” MAGAZINE IS REPRINTED WITH THE PERMISSION OF BOTH THE EDITOR/PUBLISHER AND THE AUTHOR. IT HAS BEEN RETYPED, BUT NO CONTENT HAS BEEN CHANGED (EXCEPT FOR VERY MINOR ADJUSTMENTS, CORRECTIONS TO TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS AND CHANGES TO GRAPHICS). COMMENTS OR INFORMATION IN THE ARTICLE MAY BE OUT-OF-DATE.
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