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1962 POST CEREAL BASEBALL CARDS ON EBAY

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The 1962 Post cereal baseball card series is one of the iconic issues from the golden age of Post card collecting. Containing 126 total cards of players from both the American and National Leagues, the 1962 set provides a snapshot into the major league rosters of that year. Over 60 years after their original release in cereal boxes, individual 1962 Post cards can still frequently be found for sale on eBay as avid collectors look to fill out their vintage sets.

Some key facts about the 1962 Post issue:

Produced by Post Cereal Company as a promotional insert in boxes of cereal. First year Post included cards in boxes since discontinuing the practice in 1958.

Contains all 26 major league teams from 1962, with 4-5 cards dedicated to the regular starters and key players from each club. Rosters capture who was on each team at the beginning of the 1962 season.

Features simple black and white player photos on a colorful cartoon-style backgrounds, with player stats and team logo printed on the front. Set is known for its whimsical illustrations compared to other contemporary card issues.

Highlight rookies include future Hall of Famers Dick Allen (Card #58), Reggie Jackson (#83), and Tom Seaver (#109). Other young stars like Tony Oliva (#50) and Rod Carew (#62) also included in their rookie seasons.

Scarcer short print cards include Don Drysdale (#30), Jim Bunning (#31), and Maury Wills (#93). These cards were produced in lower numbers, making them tougher to find in completed condition.

As one of the most complete vintage baseball card sets, filling out a 1962 Post collection by finding individual cards on eBay can be both exciting and challenging. Popular team cards from legendary franchises like the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, and Los Angeles Dodgers tend to carry higher prices due to team popularity and fan demand. Meanwhile, cards featuring lesser known teams from the early 1960s like the Colt .45s (who would later become the Houston Astros) can sometimes be acquired for affordable prices.

Condition is always a key factor when purchasing vintage cards on the secondary market site. The 1962 Post issues had a high printing quality but also saw heavy circulation as promotional inserts over 60 years ago. As a result, mint condition examples high in centering and with bright color are quite rare today. While exhilarating to acquire, top graded gems authenticated and encapsulated by grading services like PSA or SGC will set serious collectors back hundreds or even thousands per card depending on the player featured.

For collectors looking to start filling gaps in their 1962 Post set, keeping tabs on recently sold listings provides good price guidance and comparison points on eBay. Buyers are likely to find cards featuring names like Bill Mazeroski, Luis Aparicio, and Willie Mays available in average circulated condition anywhere from $5-15. Obtaining a team set’s complementary players may cost just a few dollars each. Patience and perseverance are required as finding that one missing piece, whether a true key rookie or minor star, could mean waiting for the right auction to end.

Part of the fun is enjoying the hunt. With its iconic illustrations and capturing of league-wide rosters in 1962, the Post cereal baseball card series remains a phenomenal representative set of the era over half a century later. By leveraging the large trading card customer base on eBay, collectors today can steadily plug away at completing their vintage collection one card at a time through the competitive market. Prices may rise and fall with any given rare find, but the 1962 Post cards ensure that memory and tradition of players, plays, and franchises from our national pastime always live on.

1962 POST CEREAL BASEBALL CARDS SHORT PRINTS

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The 1962 Topps base set of baseball cards featured 600 total cards with the standard 524 players cards along with 76 non-players cards featuring team logo/mascots, managers, umpires, ballparks, and league leaders from the 1961 season. While the base set may not have included any true short prints compared to modern definitions, it did feature some cards that were significantly rarer pulls from wax packs of cards found in boxes of Kellogg’s, Post, and General Mills cereals during that era.

Three specific cards from the 1962 Topps set stand out as being notably more difficult to acquire than the other cards in the set due to lower print runs – cards #130 Dick Stuart, #139 Gene Oliver, and #560 Bill Virdon. These cards have retroactively become regarded by collectors as the short prints of the 1962 Topps set despite not technically being short printed in the modern collector sense of only being found in a small percentage of wax packs.

Card #130 featuring Boston Red Sox slugger Dick Stuart is considered the key short print of the 1962 Topps set. Stuart was a formidable power hitter during his career that saw him play for six different teams between 1955-1969. In 1961 while with the Red Sox, Stuart led the American League with a .308 batting average and hit 25 home runs. His impressive season led to his inclusion in the 1962 Topps set as one of the more prominent players featured. For reasons unknown, card #130 picturing Stuart in a Red Sox uniform was printed in a much lower quantity than the rest of the base cards that year. Finding a high grade example of this card in a collector’s 1962 Topps set is quite rare.

Similarly, card #139 featuring backup catcher Gene Oliver of the Kansas City Athletics is also considered a significant short print of the 1962 issue. Oliver had a relatively short and unremarkable major league career spanning 1959-1963 where he backed up starting catchers for four different franchises. As a lesser known part-time player, his card was likely overlooked by Topps to be printed in lesser numbers compared to bigger name stars. Today, the Oliver card is one of the toughest 1962 cards to acquire in any grade.

The third and final major short print from 1962 Topps acknowledged by collectors is card #560 featuring Pittsburgh Pirates center fielder Bill Virdon. A seasoned veteran by 1962, Virdon was a career .267 hitter who won a Gold Glove in 1960 as part of the Pirates world championship team. Despite his credentials, Virdon’s 1962 issue card was seemingly under-printed. Like the Stuart and Oliver shorts prints before it, finding the Virdon card with the familiar classic Pirates cap logo in pristine condition is a real prize for collectors of the entire 660 card run from that year.

While short print bugs and error card aficionados had little documented evidence of significantly rarer cards to chase back in the 1960s, the hobby has since placed emphasis on the Stuart, Oliver, and Virdon issues from the 1962 Topps set as recognizable keys to completing an entire high grade team or run. Each command premium prices relative to the other standard issue cards from that season. Condition census registries have been compiled to track the highest graded examples known to exist with the Stuart short print considered among the true holy grails for vintage collectors.

While Topps teams at the time may not have intentionally printed specific cards in lower quantities like modern short prints, their distribution practices did inadvertently create three clear standouts as notable short prints based on sheer scarcity and demand decades later. For dedicated vintage collectors chasing complete rainbow sets with all cards in the coveted Near Mint to Mint condition, hunting down high grade examples of these 1962 Topps Stuart, Oliver, and Virdon short prints can prove an especially rewarding and challenging side quest within completing the entire original 600 card run. Their legacy as some of the earliest acknowledged short prints within the hobby endures sixty years after the set first made its way into supermarket packs across America.

1961 POST CEREAL BASEBALL CARDS WORTH

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The 1961 post cereal baseball card series is one of the more unique vintage card sets collectors seek. Rather than being inserted into bubblegum packages as most baseball cards of the time were, these cards were found inside boxes of Kellogg’s, Post, and General Mills cereals. This method of distribution helped baseball cards reach an even wider youth audience than before. Over 60 years later, collectors still seek out these iconic cards for their historical significance and the chance to own a piece of cardboard carrying childhood memories for many.

The 1961 post cereal set contains 154 total cards issued over the course of the cereal boxes. The rookie cards included are notable ones such as Nate Oliver of the Minnesota Twins, Dick Stuart of the Boston Red Sox, and Bob Aspromonte of the Houston Colt .45s. The true gems of any 1961 post cereal card collection are the legendary stars pictured that are now household names. Mickey Mantle, Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, Sandy Koufax, and dozens more future Hall of Famers had their playing likenesses preserved for posterity on these thin cardboard stock memorabilia pieces.

For many collectors, the desire to assemble a complete ’61 post set stems not just from the stars and rookie cards included, but also the vibrant colorful graphics and photography used on the fronts and backs. Rather than plain white borders seen on many contemporaneous card issues, these feature bright reds, oranges, and yellows that truly pop when held in hand. The rear side statistics provide a snapshot not just of the past year’s performance, but a career overview up to that point. They marked one of the earliest adoptions of long-form stats listing on the baseball card medium.

When it comes to 1961 post cereal card values, there is thankfully a wide range collectors can achieve depending on several factors. At the lowest end, common players with no significant achievements can still be acquired for just a dollar or two in well-loved condition. The true highlights though are the mega stars and rookie gems. A Mickey Mantle or Hank Aaron card in above average centered ‘EX-MT’ shape could fetch $150-250 each. Willies Mays in similar condition often sells between $300-500 online. A Dick Stuart as a top rookie might sell for $75-125 depending on centering and edges crispness. Perhaps the single most valuable card is that of Sandy Koufax which consistently tops $1000 for an EX-MT copy. This is due to his pitching dominance in the latter 1960s making his rookie card widely collected.

While a complete set would stand as a true crown jewel, such a find assembled and intact remains elusive for collectors due to the rarity of locating pristine low-serial number versions of stars. A well-centered Aaron or Mays of #1-10 would bring an absolute premium at auction in the range of $1000+ on its own. Assembling all commons in similar quality could cost $3000-$4000 if hunting carefully and patiently. The most valuable complete known set to have crossed the auction block in recent years was a PSA-graded GEM MT set that sold for nearly $25,000. New cut sheets have surfaced since then which could challenge that record.

The 1961 Post Cereal baseball card series introduced America’s pastime card collecting to a new generation in a colorful visual style. Today these cardboard slices of baseball history remain popular with collectors due to affordability of commons, relative availability of stars, and future potential. With care and grading, even lower valued copies can appreciate greatly over decades. And the thrill of chasing key Hall of Famers or a complete pristine collection provides fulfillment for any sports card buff or fan of history preserved. The bright graphics and statistics preserve not just images, but a snapshot of an entire era that still engages collectors today.

1962 POST CEREAL BASEBALL CARDS CHECKLIST

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The 1962 Post Cereal Baseball Card series was one of the most popular and iconic sets of the 1960s. Included in boxes of sugary cereal, these cardboard collectors’ items were beloved by millions of young baseball fans. Like most vintage card releases of the era, the 1962 Post cards featured players from both the American and National Leagues on a single checklist of 132 total cards.

Some of the biggest stars of the day graced the fronts of these small packets of cardboard joy. Iconic players featured included Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, Sandy Koufax, Roberto Clemente, Mickey Mantle, and more. The checklist was a who’s who of the sport at the time. Each card displayed a color photo of the player along with their career stats and information on the back. For kids of the 1960s, these cardboard trading chips were highly coveted pieces of their baseball fandom that could be hunted for in cereal boxes.

The set was also notable for including the first cards ever issued for some rising young stars who would go on to have Hall of Fame careers like Luis Aparicio and Dick Allen. That makes some of the rookie cards from 1962 quite valuable today. Other interesting inclusions were the last cards ever produced for legends like Stan Musial who retired after the 1961 season and Early Wynn who hung it up after 1962. Collectors today enjoy the historical perspective these vintage cards provide.

The checklist is broken down by American League teams first, starting with the Baltimore Orioles. Some of the Orioles included were star pitcher Milt Pappas, slugger Frank Robinson, and versatile shortstop-turned-manager Davey Johnson. The Boston Red Sox section contained future Hall of Famers like Carl Yastrzemski, Jim Lonborg, and Eddie Bressoud. Cleveland Indians represented included young pitching standouts Luis Tiant and Sam McDowell. Future Athletics owner Charlie Finley made an appearance on his card as well as a member of the original Kansas City A’s franchise.

The rest of the American League teams were also well-accounted for on the checklist. For the Los Angeles Angels, slugger Leon Wagner and fireballer Bo Belinsky made appearances. The Minnesota Twins section contained future Hall of Famer Jim Kaat along with young stars Tony Oliva and Zoilo Versalles. The New York Yankees, always a hot seller, included Mickey Mantle, Whitey Ford, and a rookie card for Bill Staffier. For the White Sox, future Hall of Famers early Luis Aparicio and Nellie Fox got their first Post Cereal cards. And Washington Senators represented included future Expo Mike Epstein and pitcher Camilo Pascual.

Moving over to the National League, the famous San Francisco Giants franchise led off the NL team checklist sections. Willie Mays, of course headlined along with young outfielder Willie McCovey in one of his early cardboard issues. The Cincinnati Reds portion featured future Hall of Famers Frank Robinson and Vada Pinson along with manager-turned-broadcaster Sparky Anderson. The Los Angeles Dodgers section contained the great Sandy Koufax and future announcer Maury Wills. Philadelphia Phillies stars included future manager Dick Allen and fireballer Chris Short.

Other National League highlights included Hall of Famer Hank Aaron anchoring the Milwaukee Braves list. Roberto Clemente led the Pittsburgh Pirates section in one of his many classic Post issues. The St. Louis Cardinals group contained future broadcasters/managers Lou Brock and Joe Torre along with young hurler Bob Gibson. And wrapping up the set, the Chicago Cubs portion featured star second baseman Glenn Beckert and fireballing pitcher Balor Moret.

In all, the 1962 Post Cereal Baseball Card set represented one of the most comprehensive checklists of the time period. Collectors today still seek out high grade examples to add to their vintage baseball card collections thanks to the memorable photos, key rookie cards, and historical players included from both leagues. While the cards come from a more simple time before expansive stats on the back, they remain treasured pieces of baseball history for fans both young and old.

CEREAL BOX BASEBALL CARDS

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Cereal box baseball cards were a staple of the breakfast table for many children in the late 20th century. Starting in the 1950s and continuing strong through the 1980s and early 1990s, the major cereal brands like Kellogg’s, General Mills, and Post Cereal included collectible baseball cards as incentives to get kids to eat their cereal.

These cards provided an early introduction to baseball for many young fans. They were inexpensive to produce compared to traditional gum or candy incentives. For the cereal companies, they were a savvy marketing move that linked their products to America’s pastime. For children, they were a source of excitement and anticipation each time they opened a new box of cereal, hoping for cards of their favorite players.

The cards themselves were made from thin paper stock, usually without any gum or candy attached. They featured photographs of current major league players on the front and basic career stats on the back, often with no more than a season or two of data. The photos were usually smaller than standard size baseball cards of the time as well. Their flimsiness and lack of extensive stats didn’t matter much to kids just starting to build their collections.

Some of the earliest cereal box cards came in Kellogg’s Corn Flakes boxes in 1952. These simple cards showed black and white photos of stars like Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays, and Ted Williams. In subsequent years, more brands like Wheaties, Total, and Kix began including cards as well. By the late 1950s, it was estimated that cereal companies were printing over 500 million baseball cards annually to include in breakfast foods.

General Mills took cereal box baseball cards to new heights with their “Minnesota Twins Baseball Card Set” in 1961. For the first time, a complete team’s roster was featured in cereal. Over 70 cards were included in boxes of Wheaties, Kix, Trix, and other General Mills cereals. This helped drive interest in the expansion Twins and sparked the desire for kids to collect full sets.

Throughout the 1960s, ’70s, and ’80s, cereal box cards evolved with the times but remained a staple. Color photos became standard and rookie cards started to take on greater significance as collectors sought out future Hall of Famers from their early playing days. Kellogg’s had a run of highly coveted 3D cards in 1969. Post Cereal featured cards with bubble gum stuck to the back in the 1970s and 1980s.

Some memorable individual player cards issued in cereal boxes included Nolan Ryan’s rookie card from Kellogg’s in 1967, a rare Rod Carew rookie from 1968 Post Raisin Bran, and a coveted Mark McGwire rookie in 1984 from General Mills. High-number series and special promotion inserts also became more common in the later years before cards began disappearing from cereal aisles.

While the insert of baseball cards helped cereal sales soar for decades, their inclusion also had the unintended effect of spurring on the growth of serious sports card collecting. As the memorabilia industry boomed in the late 1980s, card companies wanted a bigger piece of the lucrative market. They pressured cereal makers to stop including cheap inserts that undercut packs of cards sold individually.

The last notable cereal box baseball card release was a special Ken Griffey Jr. rookie card series in 1991. But by the early 1990s, cards had vanished from breakfast aisles due to these industry pressures. Kids who had grown up with the excitement of cards in their Corn Flakes or Wheaties mourned their loss. The cardboard keepsakes of childhood memories for many remained treasured parts of collections for life.

Though no longer a standard cereal incentive, baseball cards have not been completely absent from breakfast foods in recent decades. Special commemorative cards have occasionally returned for short runs linked to player milestones or anniversary promotions. Nothing has matched the golden age phenomenon of cards lurking in every box on the grocery shelf. For over 40 years, they sparked young fans’ love of the game and collections during the simple act of eating a morning bowl of cereal.

POST CEREAL BASEBALL CARDS 1991 VALUE

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In 1991, Post Cereal released its only series of baseball cards inserted into cereal boxes. The Post Baseball Card series featured 100 total cards highlighting memorable players and moments from that year’s MLB season. While the cards didn’t hold much collector value at the time, today these nearly 30 year old cardboard relics can be worth some money to the right buyers. Let’s take an in-depth look at the 1991 Post Cereal Baseball Card series and what different cards in the set might fetch on the current market.

The 1991 Post cards featured colorful illustrative artwork depicting that season’s star players and key statistics. Ranging in rarity from common to rare inserts, the 100 card checklist included rookie cards, career milestones, team highlights and more. Among the most sought after and valuable 1991 Post cards are rookies of future Hall of Famers like Chipper Jones, Nomar Garciaparra, Troy Glaus and Billy Wagner. In top graded condition, these rookie cards can sell for hundreds of dollars each. Other valuable common players featured included Ken Griffey Jr, Nolan Ryan, Cal Ripken Jr, Tom Glavine and Frank Thomas. Even in low grades, their cards still trade hands for $10-50 online.

Some examples of 1991 Post cereal box card values today include:

Chipper Jones Rookie Card #77 – In PSA 10 Gem Mint grade, Jones’ iconic rookie has sold for over $600. Even in low graded EX-MT condition, it sells for $50-150.

Nomar Garciaparra Rookie Card #89 – Perhaps the second most sought after rookie in the set behind Jones. A PSA 10 has brought almost $400 at auction. EX-MT range from $30-100.

Troy Glaus Rookie Card #94 – His rookie has seen PSA 10 examples reach $250-300. More common EX-MT condition sells for $15-50.

Billy Wagner Rookie Card #100 – Considered the “hit” card being the last in the series. A PSA 10 sold for $450. EX-MT bring $25-100.

Nolan Ryan Career Stats/Photo Card #15 – Featuring a vintage Ryan photo and milestone stats on back. PSA 10 examples have brought over $300. EX-MT go for $15-75.

Cal Ripken Jr Career Stats/Photo Card #16 – Similar to the Ryan card but with Ripken’s photo and numbers. Graded PSA 10 sold for $250. EX-MT available for $10-50.

Some especially rare insert cards have also gained cult status and big value. These include Team Highlight Cards showing MLB clubs celebrating key moments from 1991. A PSA 10 graded Seattle Mariners #83 card highlighting Edgar Martinez’s walk-off HR in the ALCS sold for a stunning $1,000. Other sought after inserts include the Kenny Lofton All-Star Photo #86 (PSA 10 sold for $450) and the Nolan Ryan no-hitter Photo #80 (PSA 10 reached $300). Even in lower grades, rare inserts like these can sell for $50-200 depending on condition.

While most common cards from the 1991 Post Baseball series hold nominal current values of around $1-5, the right key rookies, stars or rare inserts have proven to be serious long term investments. For patient collectors, locating a high grade example of a Chipper, Nomar, Troy Glaus or Billy Wagner rookie or specific Nolan Ryan/Cal Ripken career card could yield a very favorable return decades after pulling them from a box of Froot Loops or Apple Jacks. The colorful artwork and retro nostalgia of the only Post cards also adds to their allure and staying power in the trading card market. For fans of the early 90s MLB stars, 1991 Post Cereal cards remain an affordable commemorative collectible of that exciting season over 30 years later.

While the 1991 Post Baseball Card series didn’t gain much traction upon initially being released in cereal boxes, time has shown they contain numerous keys to the collections of both vintage card collectors and investors. Rookie cards of future Hall of Famers like Chipper Jones and key stars from that era prove the series is filled with long term gems. Even relatively common cards featuring players like Griffey, Thomas and Glavine maintain an affordable nostalgia and value decades later. With the set’s brief printing window also adding to its scarcity factor, 1991 Post cards are a fun specialty slice of sports memorabilia history worth exploring for both new and vintage collectors alike.

POST CEREAL BASEBALL CARDS 1963

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In the mid-20th century, cereal brands like Kellogg’s and General Mills aggressively marketed their products directly to children through comic strips, plastic toys, and most notably – baseball cards inserted in cereal boxes. Post Cereal, wanting a share of this lucrative market, launched their first and only cereal card series in 1963, featuring 160 cards highlighting players and teams from the 1962 MLB season. Over half a century later, these vintage Post cards remain a beloved but relatively obscure part of baseball card history.

Post’s 1963 cereal card set stands out due to its rarity, high production quality, and nostalgia associated with this era of baseball cards inserted in breakfast foods. Each gummed card stock measure 2 1⁄2 x 3 1⁄2 inches and featured vibrant color portraits on the front with player statistics and biographical facts on the reverse. Cards had a thick, glossy finish unlike the thinner and more plasticky designs of rival brands. While many contemporary sets simply listed the previous season’s batting and pitching stats, Post cards contained additional historical stats along with fun trivia making them highly informative and engaging for young collectors.

Rather than focus on only the biggest stars, Post aimed to highlight players across all MLB teams to appeal to baseball fans nationwide. While legends like Willie Mays and Mickey Mantle received multiple cards as expected, set also featured rookie cards for then-unknowns like Tony Oliva and Rod Carew who would go on to Hall of Fame careers. Even journeymen received due recognition for contributions to their squads, recognizing the team-oriented nature of baseball. This inclusive approach and attention to detail on obscure players increased the desirability and nostalgia associated with the set decades later for collectors seeking to complete their teams.

Distributed exclusively through General Mills cereals, Post cereal boxes in 1963 contained on average two packs of five cards each. While print runs were sizable at the time, steady demand from kids combined with the set only being produced that one year means unopened packs or factory sealed boxes in good condition today sell for thousands of dollars. Even common single cards fetch $10-15 each due to the nostalgia premium associated with the brand and memories of pulling these prizes from cereal as a child. Graded mint specimens of stars like Mays or Mantle routinely sell for well over $100 showing the strong collectible market even for over half-century old cards once considered throwaways.

The high quality of Post’s color printing and amateur photo archives resulted in lifelike, vivid portraits that contrast with the cruder designs of Kellogg’s and other predecessors. By capturing each subject in action poses or team photos rather than stiff mugshots, the cards breathe life into the heroes who populated the fields in a fan’s youth. For hobbyists or those who grew up in baseball’s golden age, these cards offer a portal back in time, transporting them to the summer of ‘62 and rekindling memories of peanut and cracker jack-scented ballparks. Even casual fans admire the artistic merit and attention to historical accuracy that elevated Post’s cards above being mere marketing tie-ins.

While short lived, Post Cereal’s 1963 baseball card set made an outsized impact on the collecting world due to its scarcity, production values exceeding competitors, and ability to preserve a moment from baseball history. Unopened packs remain the holy grail for vintage cereal-issued card investors. Even single common cards command high prices versus contemporaries due to the nostalgia inherent for baby boomers and Gen-Xers who recall chasing these prizes in childhood. Overall the set achieved what General Mills and Kellogg’s long-running issues did not – capturing the nostalgia, passion, and magic of America’s pastime in colorful cardboard all these years later. For these reasons, Post’s brief foray into the baseball card business remains one of the most beloved in the hobby’s history.

CEREAL BOX BASEBALL CARDS BABE RUTH

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Cereal Box Baseball Cards and the Legend of Babe Ruth

In the mid-20th century, one of the most popular promotional items included in cereal boxes were small cardboard baseball cards featuring photos and stats of Major League Baseball players. These cereal box cards helped introduce millions of young fans to their favorite ballplayers while also boosting cereal sales. No player was featured on cereal box cards more during this era than the legendary Babe Ruth. Let’s take a closer look at the history and impact of cereal box baseball cards focusing on their portrayal of the Sultan of Swat.

The first cereal box baseball cards began appearing in the late 1930s and continued through the 1960s, produced by Kellogg’s, General Mills, and other cereal companies. These early cards were typically around 2 inches by 3 inches in size, smaller than modern baseball cards. They featured a black and white photo on the front with player stats printed on the back such as batting average, home runs, and more. These cards were included as prizes in cereal boxes, with children eager to collect full sets showcasing the biggest stars of the day.

No one loomed larger over baseball in the 1930s and 40s than George Herman “Babe” Ruth. Known simply as the “Babe,” Ruth redefined what was possible on the baseball field, smashing 60 home runs in a single season back in 1927, a record that stood for 34 years. Ruth brought excitement and power to the game like never before. His personality and accomplishments also made him the perfect candidate to help cereal companies market their products to young and old fans alike.

As a result, Ruth appeared on cereal box cards more than any other player during his era and long after his retirement. His iconic silhouette swinging for the fences became synonymous with the cereal box card phenomenon. Kids eagerly searched boxes of Wheaties, Corn Flakes, and more hoping to find “the Babe” among their prizes. Ruth’s prolific home run totals, World Series heroics, and larger-than-life persona captured the imagination of a nation and cemented his status as a pop culture icon, thanks in large part to his ubiquitous presence on these early baseball cards.

While the photos on cereal box cards of Ruth were often smaller and lower quality than modern cards, they helped introduce him to a whole new generation of fans who never saw him play. His stats and accomplishments listed on the backs of the cards educated children about how Ruth redefined expectations for power hitting in baseball. Even years after his retirement in 1935 and passing in 1948, Ruth remained one of the most popular figures featured on cereal box cards of the 1950s and 60s, keeping his legend alive for millions of young fans just discovering the game.

Cereal box cards not only introduced Babe Ruth to new fans, but also preserved his legacy for future generations. While the original 1927 record-setting season was still fresh in the minds of older fans in the 1930s-40s, Ruth mania had spread nationwide, and cereal companies capitalized on his broad appeal. The constant exposure of his iconic home run swing and mighty accomplishments on the backs of tiny cardboard prizes kept Ruth’s legend growing long after his playing days ended. Even today, the Babe remains one of the most recognizable and celebrated athletes in history, due in large part to those early cereal box baseball cards that brought his greatness into the homes of millions.

The simple act of including baseball cards in cereal boxes helped turn the game into truly national pastime during the mid-20th century. For kids in small towns with no local professional team, these cards were sometimes their first exposure to Major League players. They learned about the biggest stars, dug into stats on the back, and started following the careers of their favorite players. No one loomed larger in this process than Babe Ruth. His dominance on the diamond and magnetic personality ensured his face would be one of the most common sights in any cereal box, introducing generation after generation to the first true superstar of America’s pastime. Ruth’s iconic status was cemented not just through his on-field heroics but through those tiny cardboard prizes that kept his legend growing long after his career ended.

1961 POST CEREAL BASEBALL CARDS CHUCK STOBB

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In 1961, Post Cereal released their annual set of celebrity endorsed baseball trading cards included in boxes of cereal. One of the featured players in this set was Canadian professional baseball player Chuck Stobbs. Stobbs made his major league debut in 1956 as a shortstop and outfielder for the Chicago White Sox. Although his major league career was relatively brief, appearing in just 75 games over three seasons from 1956-1958, Stobbs made contributions both on and off the field that made him a notable selection for Post’s 1961 baseball card series.

Stobbs was born in 1933 in Windsor, Ontario, Canada where he grew up playing youth baseball. He signed with the White Sox organization in 1951 and worked his way up through their minor league system, showing promise as a strong defender with good speed and base running ability. Stobbs made his MLB debut on April 17, 1956 at the age of 22. In his rookie season of 1956, he appeared in 45 games for the White Sox, primarily as a late inning defensive replacement and pinch runner. Stobbs stole 6 bases that season and demonstrated elite defensive skills, committing just 2 errors in 31 total chances in the field.

While Stobbs didn’t establish himself as an everyday player in his rookie season, he left a positive impression on White Sox manager Marty Marion and gained more playing time in 1957. That year, Stobbs hit .263 in 29 games for the White Sox, filling in at both shortstop and in the outfield when needed. His speed and defense continued to stand out, as he stole 7 bases and posted a perfect fielding percentage in limited chances in both the infield and outfield. Stobbs also showed leadership abilities off the field, organizing rookie parties and acting as a mentor to younger players coming up in the White Sox system.

In 1958, Stobbs’ third MLB season, he received the most playing time of his career but struggled at the plate, hitting just .167 in 30 games. He continued to field his position well but knee injuries began to limit his speed and range in the field. That offseason, Stobbs was traded by the White Sox to the Detroit Tigers along with fellow infielder Dick Brown for utility man Harvey Kuenn. However, Stobbs was unable to crack the Tigers roster in 1959 spring training due to his knee issues. He was released by Detroit that May, ultimately ending his major league career at age 25.

While his MLB tenure was cut short, Stobbs remained committed to baseball after retiring as a player. He returned to Canada where he took on several player-coach and managerial roles in minor league and amateur baseball throughout the 1960s. Stobbs also served at various points as a scout for the White Sox, Tigers, and California Angels organizations. Even after leaving player development roles, Stobbs stayed involved in the game by serving as the commissioner of the Ontario Professional Baseball League in the 1970s and ’80s. He also helped establish youth baseball programs across Ontario to develop the next generation of Canadian ballplayers.

For his contributions both as a player and ambassador for the sport in Canada, Stobbs was inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in 1988. Nearly 30 years after his playing days ended, Stobbs’ 1961 Post Cereal baseball card stands as one of the only widely circulating remnants of his time in the major leagues with the White Sox organization. As a native of Canada who reached MLB despite limited professional opportunities in his home country at the time, Stobbs inspired young ballplayers across Ontario with his perseverance and dedication to the game even after his playing career concluded. His selection for Post Cereal’s 1961 baseball card series was a fitting recognition of Stobbs’ achievements and his important role developing amateur baseball in Canada in the decades following his MLB debut.

1990 POST CEREAL BASEBALL CARDS VALUE

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The 1990 Topps baseball card set was a significant release that came during a transitional period for the baseball card industry. At the time, the industry was beginning to shift away from the height of the speculative boom of the late 1980s as the market began to cool off. However, 1990 Topps cards still featured some of the game’s biggest stars and rookie cards that have held significant value over the long term.

Released in the spring of 1990, the set featured 660 total cards including 598 regular issue cards, 60 traded issue cards featuring players who were traded during the 1989 season, and 2 manager cards. Some of the stars featured prominently in the set included Ken Griffey Jr., Roger Clemens, Nolan Ryan, Wade Boggs, and Ozzie Smith. The rookie class also featured players like Gregg Jefferies, Derek Bell, and Billy Ripken.

While not as coveted and speculatively priced as late 1980s sets at the time of release, 1990 Topps cards still represented an affordable way for collectors to acquire current MLB players and prospects. The set retailed for around $1 per pack and the cards sold well on shelves at drugstores, supermarkets, and hobby shops. Signs were emerging that the frenetic speculative boom times were ending as resellers began unloading excess inventory.

Over the ensuing decades since its original release, certain 1990 Topps cards have emerged as some of the most iconic and valuable from that time period. Perhaps most notably, Ken Griffey Jr’s rookie card from the set is one of the most sought-after and expensive modern rookie cards ever released. Graded examples often sell for well over $10,000 ungraded examples still command prices of $1,000 or more due to Griffey’s legendary career and popularity among fans and collectors.

Other stars from the set whose rookie or early career cards hold significant value include Billy Ripken’s infamous “F*** Face” error card (graded examples $3,000+), Derek Jeter’supdate rookie which has increased steadily in value in recent years to $500-1,000, and Frank Thomas’ rookie which has also grown in the $400-800 range in high grades. Roger Clemens’ card, capturing him in a Boston Red Sox uniform before jumping to the Blue Jays, is also highly sought after in the $200-400 range.

Beyond the star rookie cards, complete sets themselves have become increasingly collectible and expensive to acquire in high grades over the past decade. PSA/BGS 10 examples of the entire 660 card set if they come on the market often sell for $15,000 or more. Even incomplete sets in high grades still command thousands due to the challenge in locating and acquiring the condition sensitive 1960s/1970s era stars mixed in with the modern players.

Individual vintage stars mixed throughout the set like Nolan Ryan, Ozzie Smith, Wade Boggs, Don Mattingly, and others in high grades also retain collector demand and value due to their Hall of Fame careers or mystique. Prices in the $50-150 range are common depending on the individual player and exact card/condition. The set also featured the final Topps card issued of recently retired stars like Carlton Fisk and Steve Carlton whose final card appeals to collectors.

While the speculative boom was winding down in 1990, the set still featured many of the players who would go on to have huge impacts on the game in subsequent years. Cards like Griffey, Jeter, Thomas, and others have proven to be sound long term investments for collectors who acquired and conserved them after original issue. Sets remain challenging to complete in top condition decades later as well due to the mixing of vintage and modern stars. The intriguing mix of rookie stars, veterans, and retired greats in the 1990 Topps set ensures it will remain a popular and historically significant release for baseball card collectors. Graded examples of star cards and complete sets continue increasing in value as the set celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2020.