The happy/misty card for me is the 1977 Topps Mark Fidrych. His photo reflected the joy of his 1976 season … and looking back at it only drives home that by the spring of ‘77 the magic was already over.
That was a bit before my collecting time, but that happy image and the stories that go with it have always been some of my favorite. Thanks for sharing!
I continue to read and enjoy your work. Thank you!
Adam, you ask the musical question: What baseball cards make you happy and misty all at the same time?
As one might imagine, such a question prompts myriad responses from an old (age 64) collector like me. But there is one specific response that bubbles to the surface: Nothing quite gets my collecting blood flowing like early ‘70s Kellogg’s 3D baseball cards, excluding the 1973 set, of course.
I have the complete 1970 set in all of its uncracked glory, except for Johnny Bench, who I’m certain you love and am equally certain he broke my Pittsburgh Pirates heart on more than one occasion.
Only need Reggie to complete my ’72 set …
Anywho, I just love the COLOR of these cards. The photos are sharp. The text on the backs is well-written, fun and informative. Nothing puts me on the fast track to nostalgia quite like these cards do.
In those days, my luck dictated that I’d likely pull a Bill Parsons or Nate Colbert (the Padres One-Man Gang) from my box of Raisin Bran as I gazed lustfully at the Joe Torre and Vida Blue cards advertised on the cereal box. Reading cereal boxes was never more fun than it was in 1972! Sometimes luck would swing my way, and I’d pull a Clemente or Mays from one of the little paper envelopes in which Kellogg’s packaged those gems.
These days, I revisit this part of my collection more frequently than, say, my early ‘70s sets or tobacco cards. Kellogg’s 3D’s never fail to light a warm nostalgic fire in my card-loving heart. So, happy and misty? Yes.
A sad little aside, however: To my knowledge, Mr. Henry Aaron never appeared on a Kellogg’s 3D card. That sad oversight is our collective loss.
Keep writing, Adam. You’re good, kid … ed (who happens to be an English professor and easily can spot quality writing)
What a fun description of what it was like to collect Kellogg's cards first-run! You're probably among a small group of collectors (or maybe humans) who gazed lustfully in Joe Torre's direction. His 1972 Topps Poster might hold special appeal for you: https://x.com/SABRbbcards/status/810003580904148992
I was a bit late to the game to experience the joy of pulling Kellogg's cards from cereal boxes, so I had to rely on Kraft mac & cheese, Cookie Crisp, and Nestle bars for my food-issued cards. BTW, Aaron did appear in the 1991 Kellogg's set that was made by Sportflics -- Not really 3D, though. https://www.ebay.com/itm/156326323759
The happy/misty card for me is the 1977 Topps Mark Fidrych. His photo reflected the joy of his 1976 season … and looking back at it only drives home that by the spring of ‘77 the magic was already over.
That was a bit before my collecting time, but that happy image and the stories that go with it have always been some of my favorite. Thanks for sharing!
Hi again, Adam!
I continue to read and enjoy your work. Thank you!
Adam, you ask the musical question: What baseball cards make you happy and misty all at the same time?
As one might imagine, such a question prompts myriad responses from an old (age 64) collector like me. But there is one specific response that bubbles to the surface: Nothing quite gets my collecting blood flowing like early ‘70s Kellogg’s 3D baseball cards, excluding the 1973 set, of course.
I have the complete 1970 set in all of its uncracked glory, except for Johnny Bench, who I’m certain you love and am equally certain he broke my Pittsburgh Pirates heart on more than one occasion.
Only need Reggie to complete my ’72 set …
Anywho, I just love the COLOR of these cards. The photos are sharp. The text on the backs is well-written, fun and informative. Nothing puts me on the fast track to nostalgia quite like these cards do.
In those days, my luck dictated that I’d likely pull a Bill Parsons or Nate Colbert (the Padres One-Man Gang) from my box of Raisin Bran as I gazed lustfully at the Joe Torre and Vida Blue cards advertised on the cereal box. Reading cereal boxes was never more fun than it was in 1972! Sometimes luck would swing my way, and I’d pull a Clemente or Mays from one of the little paper envelopes in which Kellogg’s packaged those gems.
These days, I revisit this part of my collection more frequently than, say, my early ‘70s sets or tobacco cards. Kellogg’s 3D’s never fail to light a warm nostalgic fire in my card-loving heart. So, happy and misty? Yes.
A sad little aside, however: To my knowledge, Mr. Henry Aaron never appeared on a Kellogg’s 3D card. That sad oversight is our collective loss.
Keep writing, Adam. You’re good, kid … ed (who happens to be an English professor and easily can spot quality writing)
What a fun description of what it was like to collect Kellogg's cards first-run! You're probably among a small group of collectors (or maybe humans) who gazed lustfully in Joe Torre's direction. His 1972 Topps Poster might hold special appeal for you: https://x.com/SABRbbcards/status/810003580904148992
I was a bit late to the game to experience the joy of pulling Kellogg's cards from cereal boxes, so I had to rely on Kraft mac & cheese, Cookie Crisp, and Nestle bars for my food-issued cards. BTW, Aaron did appear in the 1991 Kellogg's set that was made by Sportflics -- Not really 3D, though. https://www.ebay.com/itm/156326323759
Also, thank you for the kind words!
Another great tale! I forgot that Gaylord pitched for my hometown heroes, the KC Royals. Thanks for sharing the card and the tale!
My pleasure. Glad you liked it!