Mark Armour
@markarmour04.bsky.social
Baseball writer/historian, music, baseball cards. Founder SABR’s Biography Project & Baseball Cards committee, author 7 books, former SABR board president, creator Satchel Paige Project. https://marklaurencearmour.wordpress.com/
I have run into people in Washington state who said they saw mini only, and did not know for years that there was a regular sized option.
November 29, 2025 at 4:26 PM
I have run into people in Washington state who said they saw mini only, and did not know for years that there was a regular sized option.
Guessing that in baseball Topps had a very successful product they were tweaking to wring more $$ out (it’s a business) while in football/basketball they were still trying to get there. Guessing though.
November 29, 2025 at 4:10 PM
Guessing that in baseball Topps had a very successful product they were tweaking to wring more $$ out (it’s a business) while in football/basketball they were still trying to get there. Guessing though.
Because Topps wanted to see if they could save on printing cost and convince collectors there was no loss in the value of the product? Narrator: “This did not work.”
November 29, 2025 at 3:32 PM
Because Topps wanted to see if they could save on printing cost and convince collectors there was no loss in the value of the product? Narrator: “This did not work.”
I spent much of my youth waiting for 1980 Dave Stapleton to re-emerge up the dugout steps. Instead, I got an arithmetically deteriorating asset.
November 24, 2025 at 4:28 PM
I spent much of my youth waiting for 1980 Dave Stapleton to re-emerge up the dugout steps. Instead, I got an arithmetically deteriorating asset.
To each his own. As for me, I’ll keep focused on 1970 Billy Grabarkewitz.
November 24, 2025 at 4:23 PM
To each his own. As for me, I’ll keep focused on 1970 Billy Grabarkewitz.
Saw Dick Enberg. I assume Scully is there. I wasn’t surgical I just saw what I passed.
November 19, 2025 at 10:42 PM
Saw Dick Enberg. I assume Scully is there. I wasn’t surgical I just saw what I passed.
Took this one for you.
November 19, 2025 at 10:35 PM
Took this one for you.
I did not propose a hypothesis! Fwiw, I suspect (but can’t prove) that Topps thought Americanization was a compliment, as many did (and still do). Sy Berger later said it was what all the writers called him which is (surprise!) not true.
November 17, 2025 at 5:23 PM
I did not propose a hypothesis! Fwiw, I suspect (but can’t prove) that Topps thought Americanization was a compliment, as many did (and still do). Sy Berger later said it was what all the writers called him which is (surprise!) not true.
Definitely remember this on a Red Sox message board when Lohan was approaching 18 (now approaching 40) and wondering how long the countdown might have been going on.
November 17, 2025 at 3:34 PM
Definitely remember this on a Red Sox message board when Lohan was approaching 18 (now approaching 40) and wondering how long the countdown might have been going on.
Can you graph the annual % so that his increased fame doesn’t swarm the data ? For 1960-64 I still get 48 to 632.
November 17, 2025 at 2:49 PM
Can you graph the annual % so that his increased fame doesn’t swarm the data ? For 1960-64 I still get 48 to 632.
They spelled out Masanori Murakami even though he was commonly known as Masa.
November 16, 2025 at 10:53 PM
They spelled out Masanori Murakami even though he was commonly known as Masa.
Sure, that could have been the reason (though Yaz and Killebrew also had 15 letters). They called him Roberto in 1955 and 1956, then switched. Other companies figured it out.
November 16, 2025 at 10:50 PM
Sure, that could have been the reason (though Yaz and Killebrew also had 15 letters). They called him Roberto in 1955 and 1956, then switched. Other companies figured it out.
My set has not seen the light of day in years. Too much work to even view one, let alone 24.
November 16, 2025 at 3:28 PM
My set has not seen the light of day in years. Too much work to even view one, let alone 24.
That 52 Topps price seems a little steep. Geez man it was $50 like two years ago!
November 16, 2025 at 3:12 AM
That 52 Topps price seems a little steep. Geez man it was $50 like two years ago!
This made me recall my first time seeing him—Schenectady NY in October 1979–but then I did the math and now I’m all sad. Have a great time!
November 14, 2025 at 5:07 PM
This made me recall my first time seeing him—Schenectady NY in October 1979–but then I did the math and now I’m all sad. Have a great time!
Wow, brilliant thank you! I can’t believe that I, a Red Sox diehard who knows Early, never put together that he never had a Red Sox card. (He is in the uniform in 1967, but as a “Cub”.) Great response!
November 13, 2025 at 1:53 AM
Wow, brilliant thank you! I can’t believe that I, a Red Sox diehard who knows Early, never put together that he never had a Red Sox card. (He is in the uniform in 1967, but as a “Cub”.) Great response!
Shoulda tagged @phungo2008.bsky.social. Ran out of room!
November 12, 2025 at 10:56 PM
Shoulda tagged @phungo2008.bsky.social. Ran out of room!
Fortunately I am old enough to be a “sound it out” kid.
November 12, 2025 at 8:44 AM
Fortunately I am old enough to be a “sound it out” kid.