Card of the Day: Elgin Baylor 1969 Topps #35

Card of the Day: Fran Tarkenton 1969 Topps #150

Card of the Day: Fergie Jenkins 1969 Topps #640

Card of the Day: Nolan Ryan 1969 Topps #533

Card of the Day: Lee May 1969 Topps #405

Card of the Day: Bob Hayes 1969 Topps #6

Bowie Kuhn’s 1969 Topps One-Hit-Wonder

Commissioners are like presidents.  They have to deal with a lot of stuff leftover from the last one while trying to handle new situations.  Based on the decisions they make, some commissioners are liked a lot more than others.  Major League Baseball has had ten different commissioners over it’s history.  Each one has their pluses and minuses.  Thanks to the famous Black Sox Scandal, baseball now has one appointed commissioner.

Bowie Kuhn was baseball’s fifth commissioner (1969-1984).  During his reign, baseball saw the disappearance of the reverse clause, labor strikes, and a firm stance on drugs and gambling.  Its funny to think about, but at one time Willie Mays and Mickey Mantle were barred from baseball thanks to Bowie Kuhn.  After Mays and Mantle retired, both were still involved in baseball.  But they each went on to promote casinos too.  Kuhn wouldn’t allow them to work in baseball, and be part of a casino at the same time.  So they each had to cut their ties with baseball for a while.  Kuhn’s successor would eventually reinstate both of them.  Its very common for one commissioner to redo or undo the actions of another.

Baseball executives like Kuhn do have their place in the hobby.  Topps made this card just for him in 1969, and its not part of the standard 1969 Topps Baseball set.  From the information that collectors have gathered, it sounds like Kuhn would hand these out at his discretion.  Its rumored that only a few hundred were printed.  That dark colored border easily allows for chipping.  You don’t see them often.

How To Spot A Fake Reggie Jackson 1969 Topps #260 Rookie Card

The 1969 Topps Baseball set has a lot of notable cards.  Its highlighted by Mickey Mantle’s final card of his playing career.  Second year cards of Johnny Bench and Nolan Ryan.  Rookies of Earl Weaver, Al Oliver, Bobby Bonds, Graig Nettles, Sparky Lyle, Rollie Fingers, and Bobby Cox are also key cards.  Above them all is #260.  That would be Mr. October’s, Reggie Jackson, official rookie card.

Much like a lot of valuable vintage rookie cards, Reggie Jackson’s 1969 Topps #260 has been heavily counterfeited and altered over the years.  Its important to know what to keep an eye out for when buying one.

Below are some tips for spotting a counterfeit/altered Reggie Jackson 1969 Topps #260 rookie card:

• Glossy finish on the front.
• Fuzziness to the photo.
• Perfect centering – the 1969 Topps set is known for having horrible centering.  Its possible for an authentic card to have nice centering, but most counterfeits look too perfect.
• The purple circle on the front containing Reggie Jackson’s name and position is fuzzy.  It should be solid in color.
• On the front, locate the word “ATHLETICS”.  Look closely at the black lines surrounding the yellow lettering.  These lines should NOT be made up of tiny black dots.  Authentic cards will have solid black lines.
• White letters – (23) cards from the 5th Series of 1969 Topps have white letter variations on the front pertaining to the player’s last name.  Guys like Mickey Mantle, Gaylord Perry, and Willie McCovey have this variation.  Reggie Jackson does NOT.  Jackson’s last name will always be in yellow.  Don’t let anyone convince you their Reggie Jackson rookie card is a rare white letter variation.  If their Reggie Jackson rookie card does have white letters its either completely counterfeit or they took a very fine pencil eraser to his last name which has been known to turn the yellow to white.  They’re attempting to catch an uneducated collector off guard.
• Airbrushed hat logo – Ron Perranoski #77 and Paul Popovich #47 are the only two cards in the set to contain this feature.  Reggie Jackson does NOT.  If the Reggie Jackson rookie card you’re looking at has some type of airbrushed hat logo its either completely counterfeit or has been altered.  Another attempt at taking advantage of an uneducated collector.
• One of the best things you can do is compare the Reggie Jackson rookie card you’re looking at to a less popular card in the set.  The printing techniques for all of the cards are the same.  Special treatment wasn’t given to Reggie Jackson’s rookie card.  The print quality should be similar in size, shape, and color.

Card of the Day: Roland Sheldon 1969 Topps #413

Card of the Day: John Havlicek 1969 Topps #20