Topps released a set called "Who am I?" in 1967 that issued a card re-using the Babe Ruth picture. It was a gimmick scratch-off set to reveal the person underneath. The images of the unscratched Ruth cards on eBay are pretty wild. I lucked into getting this card at a stamp club auction; someone brought a sandwich bag of a dozen or so of the Who am I? cards, which I snagged for about $5. The consigner should have put the Ruth on the top, and I have no idea why it was buried a few cards into the stack. Card prices being as insane as they are, I only see one currently on eBay for under $100, and it's pretty beat up. My favorite non-sports set of the 50's is the 1952 Bowman Presidents set. Topps re-issued it with the same artwork and jazzed up backs in 1956 after they bought Bowman, and again in 1972 for the infamous '72 election season, in smaller format, complete with the necessary updates for presidents after Ike. I prefer the large format and simple charm of the Boman backs, which are in a similar style to the backs of the Bowman baseball cards in 1951.
As best as I can tell, LVB had to wait until 2008 to appear as a relic card in the Allen & Ginter set, and then 2009 for his appearance in the base set. Alas, no bubble gum in the packs in either set. (And, yes, my wife and kids heard all about it when we watched A Charlie Brown Christmas during the early teens … and now whenever I hear Vince Guaraldi’s version of Für Elise, I can hear their eyes rolling …)
Topps released a set called "Who am I?" in 1967 that issued a card re-using the Babe Ruth picture. It was a gimmick scratch-off set to reveal the person underneath. The images of the unscratched Ruth cards on eBay are pretty wild. I lucked into getting this card at a stamp club auction; someone brought a sandwich bag of a dozen or so of the Who am I? cards, which I snagged for about $5. The consigner should have put the Ruth on the top, and I have no idea why it was buried a few cards into the stack. Card prices being as insane as they are, I only see one currently on eBay for under $100, and it's pretty beat up. My favorite non-sports set of the 50's is the 1952 Bowman Presidents set. Topps re-issued it with the same artwork and jazzed up backs in 1956 after they bought Bowman, and again in 1972 for the infamous '72 election season, in smaller format, complete with the necessary updates for presidents after Ike. I prefer the large format and simple charm of the Boman backs, which are in a similar style to the backs of the Bowman baseball cards in 1951.
Where is Jesse Jackson's ? 🤗
As best as I can tell, LVB had to wait until 2008 to appear as a relic card in the Allen & Ginter set, and then 2009 for his appearance in the base set. Alas, no bubble gum in the packs in either set. (And, yes, my wife and kids heard all about it when we watched A Charlie Brown Christmas during the early teens … and now whenever I hear Vince Guaraldi’s version of Für Elise, I can hear their eyes rolling …)
I love that the bubble gum card gag made it onto the Charlie Brown Christmas special!