Topps Recycles Photos Again and Again and … (Part 5 of 8)

BY MARK A. LARSON
Editor & Publisher

Leader cards first appeared in Topps’ 1961 set and were a nice way to look back at the previous season. Whether they were the standard “League Leaders,” “Team Leaders” or “Active Leaders” the cards gave the company ample opportunities to recycle photos … and boy, did they. The number of players shown on each card ranged from two to six. In at least one instance (shown below) all of the three leaders depicted have repeat photos. In another instance, the same photo of Sandy Koufax is shown on four different leader cards. It almost goes without saying, if you enjoy looking at – or searching for – recycled photos, Leader cards offer a bonanza.

• If you missed – or want to reread – the introduction to this series in Part 1, CLICK LINK HERE. •

– 1968 • 1968 • 1969 –

– 1961 • 1962 • 1967 –

– 1963 • 1964 • 1965 –

– 1970 • 1971 –

– 1967 …………….. 1968 ..…………… 1968 –

– 1969 –

The 1969 Topps “A.L. 1968 RBI LEADERS” gives collectors a 3-for-1 deal on recycled photos.

– 1964 • 1967 • 1968 –

– 1961 • 1962 –

– 1964 • 1966 • 1967 –

– 1962 • 1964 • 1970 –

Another example of Topps reaching far back into their archives – eight years between 1962-70.

– 1973 • 1973 –

– 1961 • 1962 • 1963 • 1964 • 1964 –

The 1963 card (above left) is an example of how Topps would sometimes “straighten” a recycled photo.

– 1967 • 1967 –

– 1968 • 1969 • 1970 –

– 1967 • 1967 • 1969 –

– 1968 • 1969 –

– 1984 • 1984 • 1984 • 1984 –

The four Seavers are all the same. While two of the three Carltons are, the ERA Leaders
photo is slightly different (see below). … Just look at Steve Carlton’s eyes and his jersey
placement. There will be much more on similar – but not exact – photos in Part 8 of this series.

– 1967 • 1967 • 1968 –

– 1971 • 1972 –

– 1965 • 1965 • 1966 –

– 1963 • 1969 –

– 1962 • 1962 Stamp • 1963 • 1964 –

– 1967 • 1967 • 1967 –

– 1977 • 1979 –

– 1968 • 1970 –

– 1964 Giant • 1964 Coin • 1966 –

This is the fifth of eight articles exploring Topps’ recycyled photos.
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(Expect 1-2 new articles in this series to be added to BaseballCardFun.com every week.)
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To see Part 1 of this series: Click Link Here
To see Part 2 of this series: Click Link Here
To see Part 3 of this series:Click Link Here
To see Part 4 of this series: Click Link Here
To see Part 6 of this series: Click Link Here

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