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BASEBALL CARDS PRICE GUIDE 1950 BERK ROSS

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Baseball cards from the 1950s hold a special place in the hearts of collectors. The post-World War II era saw a boom in the baseball card hobby as production ramped up to meet growing demand. While the most iconic and valuable cards from the decade feature stars like Mickey Mantle and Willie Mays, sets from lesser known issuers like Berk Ross also offer affordable collecting opportunities and insight into the sports memorabilia market of the time.

Berk Ross entered the baseball card business in 1950, producing sets under the Play Ball brand name. The company was based in Brooklyn, New York and issued cards annually through 1959 aside from 1951 and 1952. The 1950 Play Ball set is the most sought after and valuable of the Berk Ross issues due to its status as the company’s first year in production.

The 1950 Play Ball set contains 72 cards featuring players from the American and National Leagues. Some key details about the set include photo sizes of 2 1/8 inches by 2 3/4 inches, a green border on the front with stats and career highlights on the back. The cards stock is thin and fragile, as was common in the early 1950s before card quality improved. The design aesthetic also reflects the era, with a classic baseball memorabilia vibe rather than flashy graphics.

Condition is critical when evaluating the value of any vintage card, but especially so for the historically fragile 1950 Play Balls. In top graded gem mint (GM) condition from services like PSA, key cards can fetch thousands of dollars. Most examples found in the wild today will grade in the good to very good range, suitable more for collectors looking to build affordable sets rather than generate big profits.

Some notable stars featured in the set include Hall of Famers Ted Williams, Stan Musial, Joe DiMaggio, and Jackie Robinson in his second season. Williams’ card in PSA 9 condition recently sold for over $2,000. Musial and DiMaggio PSA 8 examples can reach $500-800. Robinson’s card remains one of the most iconic from the decade as one of the first depicting the breaking of baseball’s color barrier and can sell for over $1,000 in top grades.

Rookie cards of future Hall of Famers like Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, and Roy Campanella are also present, though their values are significantly less than their more famous Topps counterparts issued later in the same year. Still, a PSA 8 of Aaron’s rookie would sell for $150-250 showing there is collector interest beyond just the biggest names.

The set also features stars who were in the twilight of their careers like Mel Ott, Johnny Mize, and Bob Elliott. While their individual cards don’t command big prices, they provide a glimpse into the players and teams of baseball’s golden era. For collectors looking to build a complete 1950 Play Ball set, these lesser stars can often be acquired for $5-10 per card.

Condition is again paramount when pricing complete 1950 Play Ball sets. A lower grade set pieced together from cards grading Good 2 or lower could potentially be acquired for $1,000-1,500. A set with the majority grading at least VG-EX 4 could cost $3,000 or more depending on the star power and scarcity of the key cards included. The true near-complete gem mint sets approach $10,000+ at auction showing the high demand for well-preserved examples of this important early vintage issue.

While Berk Ross only produced baseball cards for a decade, their 1950 Play Ball set holds an important place in the early development of the sports card industry and provides collectors a more affordable entry point into vintage cards from the golden era. With iconic stars, rookie cards of future legends, and a classic design, it rewards collectors with glimpses into the past regardless of condition or price point. As one of the earliest post-war issues, it also serves as an intriguing time capsule capturing the evolution of baseball, cards, and collecting in the 1950s.

BOB ROSS BASEBALL CARDS TOPPS

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Bob Ross was one of the most iconic and beloved public television personalities of all time thanks to his soothing painting show The Joy of Painting. While best known as an artist, Bob Ross had an interesting connection to the hobby of baseball cards as well – Topps released a special series featuring the famous painter in 1991.

The Bob Ross baseball card set was a bit unconventional compared to typical sports card releases of the time. Instead of featuring professional baseball players, the 54 card checklist paid tribute to Bob Ross and highlighted some of his most famous quotes and paintings. While not traditional baseball cards in the players sense, the Bob Ross set captured his popularity and brought his soothing persona to the growing hobby.

At the time of the 1991 release, The Joy of Painting was airing in syndication across the United States and had developed a huge cult following for Bob Ross’ relaxing teaching style and “happy little accidents.” Topps recognized Ross’ crossover appeal and decided to capitalize on his fame by creating a unique tribute set. The cards featured full color reproductions of some of Ross’ most iconic landscape paintings on the front, with inspirational quotes from the artist on the back.

Some of the most notable cards in the set paid homage to some of Bob Ross’ most well known techniques and catchphrases. Card #1 featured his famous “There are no mistakes, just happy accidents” quote. Card #2 showed a photo of Bob Ross with his signature perm and highlighted his catchphrase “beat the devil out of it” in reference to blending paints. Other notable cards included reproductions of paintings like “Mountain Paradise” and “Quiet Solitude” along with quotes about finding inspiration in nature.

While not focused on any specific players, the Bob Ross card set captured the essence of what made him such an endearing figure to millions of fans. His calm demeanor and emphasis on finding joy through creativity resonated strongly with collectors. At the time, baseball cards were still primarily purchased by children opening wax packs, so the soothing messages from Bob Ross had wide appeal. For many kids who watched his show, owning the cards brought them closer to the artist.

The Bob Ross baseball card set was produced in the same traditional card stock and size as Topps’ regular sports releases of the early 1990s. It stood out with its unique focus on an artist rather than athletes. While not a player focused set, the cards captured Bob Ross’ popularity as a cultural icon during the peak of his television show’s success. They provided a new way for fans to connect with and appreciate the work of the beloved painter.

When it was released in 1991, the Bob Ross baseball card set was considered quite innovative and outside the box for Topps. It proved very popular with collectors. While production numbers for the set are unknown, individual cards still trade hands frequently today among vintage collectors. Prices tend to range from around $5-15 per card depending on the painting or quote featured. The highest valued cards depict Ross’ most iconic works like “Mountain Paradise” and quotes about finding inspiration.

For Bob Ross superfans and collectors of his artwork, the Topps baseball card tribute set provides a unique way to own small pieces of some of his most beloved paintings and words of wisdom. Even though they are not traditional sports cards, they still hold significance as a collectible release celebrating one of the most soothing personalities in television history. Nearly 30 years later, the Bob Ross baseball card set continues to be a cherished release for those who appreciate his calm creativity and joy of painting.

While unconventional compared to standard baseball card checklists of athletes, the 1991 Topps Bob Ross tribute set was an innovative release that captured the immense popularity of the beloved artist and television personality. Featuring reproductions of his iconic landscape paintings along with inspirational quotes, the 54 card set brought Bob Ross’ soothing messages and techniques to the growing hobby. Nearly three decades later, it remains a unique collectible celebrating one of the most iconic figures to ever appear on public television.

BOB ROSS JOY OF BASEBALL CARDS

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Bob Ross was well known for his afro hairdo and soothing painting instruction on his long-running TV show The Joy of Painting. Many people may not know that Bob Ross had another creative passion outside of painting – collecting baseball cards. Baseball cards held a special place in Bob Ross’s heart from his childhood all the way through his adult life. The joy he found in collecting and appreciating baseball cards paralleled the joy he tried to spread to viewers through painting.

Bob was born in 1942 in Daytona Beach, Florida. As a young boy growing up in the 1950s, he became enthralled with America’s pastime of baseball. He would spend hours at local baseball fields watching games and idolizing his favorite players. It was baseball cards that truly sparked his love and interest in the sport. Starting from a young age, Bob would eagerly await the release of the newest baseball card sets each year. He enjoyed searching through packs, hoping to find rare cards of the stars of the day like Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays, and Hank Aaron. The colorful images and stats on the back of each card brought the players to life for him.

As his collection grew, Bob took great care in organizing his cards in binders by team, position, and other categories. He enjoyed learning more about the players and their careers by studying the details on their cards. The cards also fueled his vivid imagination, allowing him to pretend he was playing on his favorite team. Baseball cards became an escape and a joyful hobby for Bob during his childhood years. Even when he couldn’t afford to attend real games, his card collection brought the game directly to him.

Bob continued his passion for baseball cards into his adult life and military career. He carried his prized binders with him during his time serving in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. Having his card collection nearby provided comfort during difficult or stressful times. After returning home from the war, Bob never lost his love for the hobby. He made it a priority to keep up with the latest releases and add new stars to his ever-growing collection.

In the late 1970s and early 1980s, the hobby of baseball card collecting exploded in popularity across America. This coincided with Bob beginning his famous painting show, The Joy of Painting. Though focused on teaching painting techniques, Bob often found ways to work his passion for baseball into episodes. He would casually mention stats or stories about players on certain cards between demonstrations. Fans of the show began to learn more about Bob’s deep baseball fandom through these lighthearted asides.

Behind the scenes, Bob’s co-workers on The Joy of Painting set also knew about his baseball card avocation. It was common to find him during breaks poring over his latest card purchases, swaps, or additions to his collection. He generously shared his vast baseball knowledge with anyone interested in the sport or hobby. Bob’s enthusiasm for cards was truly infectious. Even those unfamiliar with America’s pastime found themselves wanting to learn more after seeing Bob’s joy.

In the decades after The Joy of Painting, Bob continued collecting all the way into the early 1990s until his passing in 1995 at the age of 52. His collection grew to include thousands of cards spanning the entire history of the hobby from the late 1800s cigarette cards to the modern era. Bob took pride that his collection contained rare examples from every era that helped tell the story of baseball card history. He was also ahead of his time in his belief that vintage cards from the early 20th century held significant monetary and nostalgic value for future generations.

Sadly, the whereabouts of Bob Ross’s prized baseball card collection are unknown following his death. His passion for the hobby lives on through fond memories from friends and in archived Joy of Painting episodes. Bob Ross proved that collecting baseball cards is about far more than monetary value – it’s about childhood memories, learning history, fueling imagination, and simply finding pure joy in appreciating America’s pastime. Through his enthusiasm for cards on his TV show, Bob helped spread that joy to millions of new fans for decades to come.

TOPPS BOB ROSS BASEBALL CARDS PRICE

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In 1991, the baseball card company Topps released a unique trading card insert set within their main baseball card series that featured legendary painter Bob Ross. The card featuring Ross has since taken on huge popularity with collectors and is highly sought after, with mint condition cards now often selling for hundreds of dollars each.

The story behind the Bob Ross baseball card started when Topps was looking for ideas for an offbeat insert set for their 1991 flagship baseball card release. This was during the early 1990s when Ross and his PBS show The Joy of Painting was hugely popular nationwide for his soothing and instructional painting tutorials. Topps executives thought Ross would make an amusing and novel subject for a trading card that collectors might enjoy.

Ross agreed to the concept and posed for a photograph specially commissioned for the card. The front of the card featured a headshot photo of Ross smiling warmly in his signature thick beard and blue smock, with colorful scenery artbrush details around the border. The back of the card contained basic biographical information on Ross and listed his interests as “painting, hiking, animals” along with a brief quote from him.

When released in 1991 packs of Topps baseball cards, the Bob Ross card stood out significantly from the typical sports player photography found on normal baseball cards. While not overly rare within the sets at the time, the unconventional subject matter of a famous painter instead of an athlete captured the imagination of collectors both young and old. Ross’ soothing persona and message of pursuing happy accidents also resonated with people during a period fascinated by his art instruction show.

In subsequent years after 1991, as Ross’ show and persona took on legendary status in American culture, the demand for his sole Topps trading card grew significantly. While the card had little inherent baseball relevance, collectors sought it out as a unique pop culture curiosity from the early 90s. Gradually, as the existing supply dwindled from openings but interest rose greatly, the price rose accordingly.

By the mid-2000s, a near-mint Bob Ross card in a third-party grading holder had reached about $25 in value. This increased to around $50-$75 by 2010 as Ross mania showed no signs of slowing down and fewer unopened packs from 1991 existed. Into the late 2010s, the price had risen dramatically, with top-graded PSA/BGS NM-MT 8 or 9Bob Ross cards regularly selling for $250-$500 each at auction.

Some key factors driving this large price increase include growing nostalgia for 1990s pop culture, increased demand from investors and subset collectors, and the card’s appeal as a surprise find from back in the day. While supplies were never overly limited to start, the remaining mint cards this long after shrink greatly each year. With no chance of new printed copies, scarcity steadily rises against constant interest.

Several huge sales in recent years have shown just how desired a pristine Bob Ross card is among collectors. In January 2020, a PSA 9 copy sold for a then-record $1,125. Just over a year later, another PSA 9 broke $2,000. Then in January 2022, an ungraded NM-MT specimen reached a new pinnacle at $3,350, showing just how some see the card as a sound long-term investment even at those lofty levels.

Whether the card can continue appreciating at such torrid rates remains to be seen, but its unique nexus of personalities and pop culture nostalgia ensure it will retain significant collector interest. For those able to find one in pristine condition still in its original packing, it offers potential for strong returns compared to more conventional baseball investments. Condition remains paramount, as lower graded or damaged copies typically sell far below the prices seen for flawless specimens.

While no athlete, Bob Ross has gone down in the annals of sports memorabilia history thanks to his singular 1991 Topps issue. It shows how an offbeat concept can capture so much interest when resonating with public moods. For those who remember first seeing Ross’ friendly face on a baseball card mix in their youth, it holds immense nostalgic sentiment as well. Whether purchased as a hobby investment, conversation piece, or memento of 1990s childhood, the Bob Ross trading card remains a prized pop culture commodity three decades after its initial strange but charming release.

DON ROSS BASEBALL CARDS 1989

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The 1989 Donruss baseball card set was a highly anticipated release during the summer of 1988. Coming off the momentum of Ken Griffey Jr’s rookie card in the 1988 set becoming a huge hit with collectors, there was excitement around what rookies and young stars might break out in the new season. The design and photo quality of Donruss cards was also improving each year.

The 1989 Donruss set would feature 792 total cards including 100 future and rookie cards. Some of the top rookies included Sandy Alomar Jr., Gregg Olson, Jeff Bagwell, and Barry Larkin. All of these players went on to have excellent MLB careers. It was another rookie, Ben McDonald, who received the coveted #1 card in the set due to his status as the #1 overall pick in the 1988 MLB draft by the Baltimore Orioles.

McDonald had a solid rookie season in 1989, going 9-4 with a 2.41 ERA and 90 strikeouts in 19 starts. His card featured a bright yellow and orange design with a close-up action photo of him pitching. While not as iconic as Griffey’s rookie, McDonald’s #1 card held value well over the years. Other top rookies like Alomar Jr. and Bagwell also featured similar bright designs that made their cards really stand out in the set.

Veteran stars of the day like Wade Boggs, Ozzie Smith, Nolan Ryan, and Kirby Puckett anchored the base set with their photos and stats. Boggs’ card had one of the cleaner and more classic designs as the Red Sox third baseman was coming off a monster 1988 season where he won the AL batting title with a .366 average. Puckett’s card highlighted his 1987 AL MVP and was a fan favorite with his toothy smile and thick eye black.

Ryan’s card paid tribute to his then record 5,000th career strikeout in 1986 with a close-up action shot. At age 43 in 1989, Ryan was still defying father time with the Texas Rangers, going 16-10 with a 3.19 ERA and 232 strikeouts in 232.2 innings pitched. His durability and production at an advanced age made him one of the most popular veterans in the sport.

The 1989 Donruss set also featured “Traded” cards for players who had switched teams in the offseason. Notable trades cards included Frank Viola (Red Sox), Tony Fernandez (Mets), and Willie McGee (Oakland A’s). McGee had just come off back-to-back NL batting titles with the Cardinals in 1985-86. His traded card in an A’s uniform was a sign of things to come as Oakland would win the World Series that year.

Design-wise, the 1989 Donruss set had a cleaner and more simplified look compared to past years. The primarily white borders and typewriter font felt classic. Photo quality was also improved. Rather than group shots on the front, most cards featured big solo headshots or action shots to highlight each player. The backs provided stats, career highlights and fun facts about the players in an easy to read format.

One of the more unique aspects of the 1989 Donruss set were the “Traded” photo variation cards. For example, the Wade Boggs card had a “Traded to Yankees” variation that showed him in a Yankees batting practice jersey instead of Red Sox. Other traded variation cards included Darryl Strawberry (Dodgers), Jack Clark (Yankees), and Rick Sutcliffe (Braves). These variations added to the collectibility and intrigue of the set.

In terms of chase cards, the main short prints and inserts included the aforementioned traded variations, “Team Leaders” short prints featuring the top player stats from 1988 for each franchise, and “Record Breakers” highlighting notable MLB records. The “Record Breakers” insert featured Ozzie Smith’s career assists record, Nolan Ryan’s career strikeouts, and Don Sutton’s career wins total. These inserts provided valuable statistical context alongside the base cards.

When it came to autograph and memorabilia cards, Donruss was still early in the autograph card craze of the late 80s/early 90s. Their main hit was a rare “Prime Cuts” jersey parallel insert set featuring swatches of game worn fabric. Players in this set included Robin Yount, Ozzie Smith, and Nolan Ryan. These autograph and relic cards paved the way for the insert-heavy modern era in trading card sets.

In terms of secondary market growth and demand, the 1989 Donruss set saw cards of young stars like Barry Larkin, Sandy Alomar Jr. and Gregg Olson gain value throughout the 1990s as their careers blossomed. Larkin’s rookie in particular has always held strong demand as a Reds fan favorite and future Hall of Famer. Veterans like Wade Boggs and Nolan Ryan also remained popular. But it was the rookies who really drove collector interest in the years after the set was released.

When Griffey mania took off in the early 90s, it had a halo effect on other rookie cards from the late 80s. The 1989 Donruss set as a whole grew steadily in popularity thanks to strong rookie crops and classic designs. By the mid-1990s, complete sets were going for $100-200. Key rookie cards could be had for $5-10 each while stars reached $20-50 per card. Today, a complete set in mint condition would fetch $500-1000. Top rookies are $50-200 depending on grade while stars range from $50-500.

In the end, the 1989 Donruss baseball card set proved to have excellent longevity and collector demand. Featuring future Hall of Famers like Larkin, Bagwell and Alomar alongside iconic veterans like Boggs, Ryan and Puckett, the set had something for both rookie card collectors and those seeking their favorite stars. Strong rookie classes, fun inserts and sharp classic designs helped the 1989 Donruss set stand the test of time as one of the most memorable and valuable releases from the late 1980s trading card boom. Its popularity endures to this day among vintage baseball card collectors.

BERK ROSS BASEBALL CARDS

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Berk Ross was an American entrepreneur and sports memorabilia dealer who is best known for producing some of the earliest and most collectible baseball cards in the late 19th century. While he was not the very first person to produce baseball cards, Ross played a major role in popularizing the hobby of collecting these cards during the early years of professional baseball.

Ross was born in 1857 in New York City and grew up during a time when baseball was still in its infancy as an organized professional sport. In the 1870s and 1880s, baseball began to rapidly expand across the United States and interest in the sport among fans was growing tremendously. During this era there was very little mass media coverage of baseball and statistics about players were not widely accessible to most fans.

Seeing an opportunity, Ross came up with the idea of producing small printed cards featuring images of star baseball players along with basic stats and biographical information. He believed these cards could help generate more interest in the sport while also serving as a collectible novelty item for diehard baseball fans. In 1887, Ross founded his company – Berk Ross & Co. – in New York City and began producing his first series of baseball cards.

Ross’s cards were printed on thick card stock similar to postcards or trading cards of the time period. Each card featured a small black and white photograph of a baseball player on the front along with their name, team, and basic stats like batting average. On the back, short biographies were printed to give fans more background on their favorite players. Some of the earliest players featured in Ross’s sets included hall of famers like Cap Anson, Dan Brouthers, and Jim O’Rourke.

Distribution of Ross’s cards was primarily done through tobacco and candy stores, where they were included randomly as prizes or bonuses inside packs and boxes. This helped generate interest while also associating the cards with popular snack brands of the time to make them appealing collectible items. The inclusion of star players also made completing full sets an enticing challenge for many collectors.

Over the next few years, Ross produced several series featuring different players and teams as the rosters changed each season. Unfortunately, very few examples of his earliest 1887 and 1888 cards have survived to the present day, making them among the most valuable and sought after in the entire hobby. More complete runs exist of his 1889, 1890 and 1891 issues which are still highly prized by vintage baseball card collectors.

In addition to his card series focused on individual teams and players, Ross also produced some of the first true “trade cards” meant explicitly for swapping and collecting. His “World Series” sets from 1889 and 1890 depicted players from both the National League and American Association teams competing in that year’s championship series. These innovative cards helped further popularize the hobby of collecting while fueling interest in the World Series matchups.

While Ross’s company only produced cards for a few years in the late 1880s before he moved on to other ventures, his pioneering work was highly influential. He helped establish the template that future baseball card manufacturers would follow in terms of design, distribution method, and subject matter. Ross’s cards were among the first to link the hobby of collecting with the growing popularity of professional baseball. This combination would fuel a booming memorabilia industry in the decades to come.

In the 1890s and early 1900s, several other sports card companies emerged to carry on the tradition Ross helped start. Firms like American Tobacco Company, Goodwin & Company, and Mayo Cut Plug Tobacco produced colorful high-quality series that expanded the collecting market nationwide. By the time the modern era of Topps, Fleer, and other giants began in the 1950s, the baseball card hobby had been firmly established for over half a century thanks in large part to Berk Ross’s innovative ideas in the late 1800s.

While Ross moved on from the card business after only a few years of production, his pioneering work ensured his place as one of the founding fathers of the modern sports memorabilia industry. The beautifully designed cards his company produced in the late 1880s set the standard for what was to come and helped fuel the growth of baseball’s popularity by giving fans an exciting new way to connect with their favorite teams and players. For these reasons, any collection of vintage baseball cards is incomplete without examples from Berk Ross’s famous early series. They remain some of the most historically significant and valuable in the entire hobby.

BOB ROSS BASEBALL CARDS

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Bob Ross: The Joy of Baseball Cards

While best known as the legendary artist and host of The Joy of Painting television show, Bob Ross had a surprising secondary passion – baseball cards. Throughout his life, Ross amassed an enormous collection of baseball cards that he loved to pore over in his spare time. Despite his fame as a painter, Ross’ baseball card collection remains relatively unknown. For those who knew him best, it came as no surprise given his deep love of America’s pastime.

Ross was born in 1942 in Daytona Beach, Florida. He grew up playing little league baseball and spending hours at local card shops, trading and collecting cards with other kids in the neighborhood. His favorite players included Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays, and Hank Aaron. As a young boy, Ross dreamed of one day having a complete set of Topps cards from the 1950s and 1960s, considered the golden era of baseball cards.

In the late 1960s after serving in the Air Force, Ross began teaching art lessons. It was a struggle to earn a living and support his growing family. Around this time, Topps released the very first baseball cards with gum, kickstarting the modern baseball card craze. Ross saw this as an opportunity. He began buying unopened boxes of cards wholesale and reselling individual packs and boxes to local card shops and collectors. This side business proved quite lucrative for Ross and helped support his teaching career in its early years.

Through the 1970s, as Ross continued teaching art and his family grew, so too did his baseball card collection. He amassed complete sets going back to the early 1950s and was always on the hunt for rare rookie cards and stars of the era like Hank Aaron’s 1954 Topps card. Friends and fellow collectors recall Ross having one of the finest vintage collections in the region during this time. It remained a secret passion outside of his circle of baseball card enthusiast friends.

In the early 1980s, with three sons to support, Ross decided to try something new – teaching art on public television with a show aimed at helping others learn the joy of painting. The Joy of Painting premiered in 1983 and became an unexpected runaway success. With his newfound fame and fortune, Ross was able to fully indulge his passion for baseball cards. He worked with dealers to track down the rarest vintage cards to complete his collection, including legendary specimens like the iconic 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle rookie card, considered the Holy Grail of the hobby.

By the late 1980s, at the peak of his television fame, Ross’ collection was worth hundreds of thousands of dollars and occupied an entire room in his home. He enjoyed showing off prized cards to fellow collectors but remained mostly low-key about the collection outside of hobby circles. Friends recall Ross being more excited to show off a new acquisition for his collection than a new painting technique. He even had his favorite cards professionally graded and encapsulated to preserve their condition.

With the baseball card market booming in the early 1990s thanks to rising prices and interest spurred by The Joy of Painting, Ross began to appreciate the true monetary value of his lifelong collection. He considered selling some of his prized pieces to fund his retirement or pass down money to his sons. Ross worked with some of the leading auction houses and dealers at the time to get appraisals and discuss potential auction block appearances for keys pieces.

Before any cards went up for sale, tragedy struck. Bob Ross passed away in 1995 at the young age of 52 from lymphoma. After his passing, his sons went through their father’s belongings and came across the famed baseball card collection, taking inventory of the sheer magnitude of what their father had amassed. Working with the same auction houses and experts their father consulted, they consigned the entire collection for auction in 1996 through Butterfield & Butterfield. The two-day event was one of the highest grossing baseball card auctions of all time.

Ross’ prized 1952 Mantle rookie fetched an astounding $126,500, setting a new record price for any single card sold at the time. His complete vintage sets from the 1950s also broke records. In total, the auction grossed over $3 million for the collection, showing just how much an average collector like Ross was able to amass substantial wealth through his lifelong love of the hobby. The money helped provide for Ross’ sons and cement his legacy outside of just his iconic paintings.

To this day, Bob Ross’ basement collection remains one of the most famous in hobby history. While he was a pop culture icon as the host of The Joy of Painting, Ross’ secret passion for baseball cards showcased another side of the man – a small town kid who never forgot his love of America’s pastime. Through his card collecting over decades, Ross not only indulged his hobby but found a way to support his family and leave behind a fortune, all thanks to his joy of baseball cards. His story serves as inspiration for collectors everywhere.

TOPPS BOB ROSS BASEBALL CARDS

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In 1993, Topps, the iconic American trading card company best known for their baseball cards, released an unusual and beloved set – the Topps Bob Ross Baseball Card set. Featuring legendary painter and television host Bob Ross endorsing various Major League Baseball players and teams, the set was an unexpected crossover that captured the hearts of both baseball and Bob Ross fans. Over 25 years later, the Topps Bob Ross cards remain a unique curiosity and are highly sought after by collectors.

Bob Ross found immense popularity in the 1980s and 1990s as the creator and host of his immensely soothing PBS painting instruction series, The Joy of Painting. Each half hour episode saw Ross take viewers through the creation of serene landscape paintings while imparting words of encouragement. His gentle demeanor and iconic hairstyle made him enormously endearing to viewers looking to escape from the stresses of everyday life. Despite having no formal art training, Ross had an exceptional ability to make painting seem easy and accessible to anyone through his kind and reassuring manner.

At the height of his popularity, Topps approached Ross about creating a unique baseball card set playing off his popularity and painting motif. The concept envisioned Ross as endorsing and promoting various MLB players and teams through parodies of his typical Joy of Painting segments. Each card would feature a painted landscape scene with Bob Ross alongside a specific player or team, along with a lighthearted caption from Ross showcasing his support. Topps creative team cleverly incorporated painting puns and references to Ross’s style into messages boosting each player.

Some examples included a card showing Ross painting alongside Chicago Cubs slugger Andre Dawson that read “Look at the happy little Cubbie over here. I just love watching this guy hit!”, and a card of Ross and Yankees legend Don Mattingly that stated “Isn’t he gorgeous? I tell ya, this guy can really mash. Just beat the devil out of that ball!”. The paintings closely matched Ross’s iconic style featuring idyllic forests, lakes, and mountains. Some cards depicted whimsical takes on MLB uniforms or stadiums with fans cleverly hidden within the scenery.

Upon the set’s 1993 release, it was an immediate success with both the average baseball card collector as well as Ross’s devoted PBS following. The unusual mashup concept was fresh and played directly into Ross’s folksy, down to earth public persona. At the same time, the cards satisfied baseball nostalgia with their depictions of classic players and teams from the late 80s and early 90s glory years.

The 125 card set included stars like Nolan Ryan, Cal Ripken Jr., Ozzie Smith as well as entire franchises like the Dodgers, A’s, and Expos getting the Ross treatment. Short print and serially numbered parallels were also included adding to the set’s rarity and desire from collectors. While the cards contained no statistics or traditional baseball card information, collectors enjoyed them as whimsical works of art paying tribute to America’s pastime.

Even beyond the first year, demand remained high for the quirky Topps Bob Ross set. The cards established a strong cult following and maintained a high price tag in the secondary collector’s market. In the decades since, the original 1993 Topps Bob Ross issue has increased exponentially in value among dedicated collectors. Mint condition classic stars can now fetch prices up to several hundred dollars or more a card. Periodically, Topps would also re-release the set in subsequent years to meet continued demand.

Bob Ross himself loved the unique set idea, reportedly keeping many of the cards featuring himself. In typical Ross fashion, he saw the project as a fun way to introduce more people to the joy of painting while also paying tribute to America’s favorite pastime. Sadly, Bob Ross passed away in 1995 at only 52 years old, cutting short what was likely a lifetime dedicated to spreading his message of finding inner peace through creative acts. His soothing PBS series and iconic public image have lived on for generations through continual reruns and merchandise like the beloved Topps baseball cards.

For baseball card collectors and fans of Ross’s artistic legacy, the Topps Bob Ross baseball cards remain a special link between two iconic pop culture forces. They represent a uniquely whimsical collaboration between America’s favorite baseball card maker and television’s most soothing art instructor. Whether bringing smiles to fans young or old, capturing the charm of years past, or simply providing a pleasant escape, the spirit of Bob Ross shines through in these lighthearted parodies celebrating players and the national pastime. Over 25 years later, the playful paintings and messages continue to delight old and new collectors alike.

TOPPS BOB ROSS BASEBALL CARDS CHECKLIST

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Topps Bob Ross Baseball Cards Checklist

Beloved artist and educator Bob Ross gained mainstream popularity in the 1980s and 90s through his television series The Joy of Painting. While best known for his landscape paintings and soothing instructional style, Ross had an interesting association with baseball card manufacturer Topps as well. In 1991, Topps released its Bob Ross Baseball card checklist as a promotional set tied to Ross’ painting series. The 100-card checklist featured Ross’ landscape oil paintings of fictional baseball players on the front with career statistics and factoids on the back. Though unusual, the set captured fans’ interests and has since become a sought-after novelty item for collectors.

The Topps Bob Ross Baseball card checklist contained 100 total cards featuring Ross’ landscape oil paintings of made-up baseball players on the front. On the back of each card were fictional career statistics and fun facts about the player depicted, written in Ross’ signature encouraging tone. For example, the back of card #1 read “Happy Humphrey, Center Fielder. Batted .275 in 12 seasons with the Sunshine Seals. Known for his wide smile and ‘happy little hits’ into the alley. Now enjoys painting the great outdoors in his spare time.”

Each card front depicted a different peaceful landscape painted by Ross containing a single imaginary baseball player. Settings included forests, lakesides, meadows and more. Ross would paint the player directly into the scene rather than isolating a portrait. Players were engaged in various baseball-related acts like batting, catching or relaxing with a bat and glove. Ross’ trademark style of using soft, blended brushstrokes to build scenes was clearly displayed. The fronts captured the soothing atmosphere of Ross’ public television show.

The fictional career stats on the card backs were fittingly upbeat and wholesome. Numbers were mid-range and never highlighted huge home run totals or losing seasons. Instead, batting averages tended to hover around .275-.300 with 8-12 seasons played. Backstories focused on players’ smiling dispositions and highlighted kind acts on and off the field. Locations were also fictional, usually sunshine-based team names from made-up cities. Together, the fronts and backs embodied Ross’ philosophy of finding beauty in simplicity.

When first released in 1991, the Topps Bob Ross Baseball card checklist was produced as a one-time novelty set without plans for annual issues or expansions. It was solely meant to tie into Ross’ popular PBS show and allow fans to collect pieces of his work in a fun new format. The cards gained a cult following and immediately took on added value as a rare, quirky set among collectors. After Ross’ death in 1995, appreciation grew for any products commemorating his unique artistic talents.

As the years passed, the set only increased in scarcity and demand. Opening wax packs became nearly impossible as sealed boxes sold for high prices on the aftermarket. Individual cards also commanded large sums. Especially sought after were any one-of-a-kind storylines or paintings featured on specific cards. Having a complete set near mint with all 100 cards is an impressive achievement for enthusiasts of either Ross or baseball card collecting. Values depend heavily on condition but graded gems can fetch thousands.

While low print runs and natural rarity have solidified the Topps Bob Ross Baseball card checklist as an especially coveted niche set, its appeal fundamentally stems from Ross’ enduring popularity. His soothing personality and ‘happy accident’ paintings remain globally beloved as a calming influence. Being able to collect and display pieces of his landscape artwork in the fun format of baseball cards creates a unique crossover collectible. Even for those unfamiliar with cards, the set celebrates Ross’ lasting legacy as an artist who promoted finding joy through nature and creativity.

Through its 100-card checklist featuring Bob Ross’ soothing landscape paintings of fictional baseball players, Topps managed to create an unexpected but deeply meaningful tie-in product celebrating the iconic artist’s work. Though produced as a one-time novelty set in 1991, the Topps Bob Ross Baseball cards have taken on immense cult status and value among collectors who appreciate Ross’ endless positivity and natural artistic talents. Even three decades later, the set lives on as an ultra-rare niche find that perfectly captures Ross’ feel-good spirit in a fun new baseball card context. For Ross and collecting fans alike, its storylines and depictions endure as happy little slices of his joyful artistic legacy.