Three ’64 Topps Takeaways

BY MARK A. LARSON
Editor & Publisher

#1 — AIR-BRUSH ARTISTS ON STRIKE?

Usually when a player changed teams, Topps either showed him without a cap – or airbrushed his cap to disguise the fact the company did not have an up-to-date photo.

In a totally out-of-character move, Topps issued five cards in the 1964 set showing players in their old uniforms and caps, with no airbrushing. (Topps had occasionally skipped the airbrushing in the past, but not to this extent … usually with only one – maybe two – cards in the same set.)

#2 — WHERE’S THE BIRDIE?

The 1964 Topps set is the only one to feature Baltimore Orioles players Orioles caps featuring the “B” logo instead of a bird. (The O’s only used the B cap in 1963.)

#3 — “YEAH, YEAH, YEAH”

In the spring of 1964, the Topps baseball set’s debut was delayed. The company was busy churning out cards of a new British band named … “THE BEATLES.”

Topps cashed in big time during Beatlemania, issuing six different series of Fab Four cards during 1964.

At the time, many companies were vying for the rights to issue Beatle-related products. Legend has it that Sy Berger, head of the Topps card division since the early ’50s, was able to seal the deal with Beatles’ manager Brian Epstein, by traveling to London and speaking to him in Yiddish – both being Jewish …

Now that’s chutzpah !!

See related article on BaseballCardFun.com entitled:
“BASEBALL HOBBY NEWS — Block Letters, Rub-off Quiz Distinguishes ’64 Topps”
Click Link Here

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