The Topps Company began producing their famous Bazooka bubble gum in 1953 with various comic inserts inside the packaging. In 1956, Topps decided to include baseball cards with the gum, creating the Bazooka Baseball Card series. These cards featured current major league players on the front and comic panels or puzzles on the back. The Bazooka series was aimed at younger collectors and provided an affordable and fun way for kids to learn about their favorite ballplayers.
The 1956 Bazooka set included 95 total cards and featured a mix of stars and role players from that season. Some of the more notable inclusions were Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, Mickey Mantle, Roy Campanella, and Ted Williams. The designs on the fronts of the cards were quite basic, with a color team logo in the corner and the player’s name and position below their black and white photo. The backs contained a four panel comic strip related to baseball.
Topps produced Bazooka Baseball cards each year through 1961. The 1957 set grew to 105 cards while 1958 and 1959 both had 110 cards each. The 1960 set included 120 cards and 1961 had 125 cards, the high water mark for cards in a Bazooka set during this early period. The content on the backs also evolved over the years, transitioning from comic strips to puzzles and quizzes related to stats and team information.
While the designs were simple compared to Topps’ flagship baseball card issues of the same time, the Bazooka sets still provided young collectors a fun and affordable way to build a basic collection focused on current major leaguers. At just a penny per pack, the cards were very reasonably priced and available virtually anywhere gum was sold. They also had the added bonus of including a piece of bubble gum with each pack.
The 1956 Bazooka set is considered the most iconic and earliest of the series. Prices for high-grade examples of stars from the ’56 set can reach into the hundreds of dollars due to their historic significance as the first year Topps paired cards with Bazooka gum. Most commons are relatively inexpensive to acquire, even in top condition. The set is a must-have for collectors looking to build a complete run of the original Bazooka issues.
While the designs were simple compared to other Topps releases of the mid-1950s, the photography and production values of the ’56 Bazooka cards were still of good quality considering they were intended as bonus inserts aimed at young collectors. The photos have bright, vivid colors that have held up very well over 65+ years. Topps used a mix of action shots and posed portraits depending on the individual players.
Condition is understandably a challenge when collecting such early and affordable vintage cards. High-grade examples can still be found with enough diligence. The most desirable 1956 Bazooka cards in the finest mint or near-mint condition include the aforementioned stars like Aaron, Mays, Mantle, Campanella and Williams. Other key cards include players like Richie Ashburn, Del Ennis, Red Schoendienst, Early Wynn, and Nellie Fox. These were among the biggest names featured that season.
While stars carry premiums, there is still plenty of fun and nostalgia to be had completing the set with commons from 1956. Players like Harvey Haddix, Ray Narleski, Bob Friend, and Sam Jones provide a glimpse at the depth of rosters from that era. For young collectors just starting out, it’s also very reasonable to build a starter collection by snagging a handful of cards from the ’56 set in lower grades. The 1956 Topps Bazooka Baseball card set remains one of the most iconic and historically important early issues for the hobby. Even at over 65 years old, these cards retain their charm and provide a fun link to the early days of the baseball card boom.
The 95 card 1956 Topps Bazooka Baseball card set was truly a pioneering release that helped spark children’s interest in collecting at a very affordable price point. While simple in design, the photography, production values and roster of stars and role players make it an important historical set to acquire. Even after 65+ years, high-grade examples can be found and completing the set provides an enjoyable challenge for collectors of all ages and budgets. The 1956 Bazooka cards stand out as one of the most iconic early issues and remain a staple in the collections of vintage card enthusiasts.
