1951 Topps
1951 · Topps Chewing Gum, Inc. (Brooklyn, NY)
Topps' debut baseball release, issued as two 52-card game-card series — Red Backs and Blue Backs. Stars include Yogi Berra, Phil Rizzuto, Richie Ashburn, and Warren Spahn.
Key Facts
- Release
- 1951
- Manufacturer
- Topps Chewing Gum, Inc. (Brooklyn, NY)
- Distribution
- Topps’ first baseball release — small game cards sold in caramel/taffy packs, issued in two 52-card series
- Card stock
- Game-card stock with rounded corners, 2″ × 2⅝″ — playable as a baseball card game
- Series
- Two 52-card series — Red Backs and Blue Backs (each numbered 1–52)
- Total cards
- 104
Key Cards
- ·
Yogi Berra (Red Backs #1)
Topps’ very first baseball card #1.
- ·
Phil Rizzuto (Red Backs #5)
Reigning AL MVP.
- ·
Warren Spahn (Red Backs #30)
Hall of Fame lefty in his Boston prime.
- ·
Duke Snider (Red Backs #38)
Dodgers center-field icon.
- ·
Monte Irvin (Red Backs #50)
Negro Leagues star and 1951 NL RBI leader.
- ·
Bob Feller (Red Backs #22)
Indians fireballer and Hall of Famer.
- ·
Gil Hodges (Red Backs #31)
Dodgers power anchor.
- ·
Richie Ashburn (Blue Backs #3)
Whiz Kids center fielder — Blue Backs are the scarcer series.
- ·
Enos Slaughter (Blue Backs #30)
Country — Cardinals Hall of Famer.
- ·
Johnny Mize (Blue Backs #50)
The Big Cat in his Yankees years.
- ·
Red Schoendienst (Blue Backs #6)
Cardinals Hall of Fame second baseman.
- ·
Bobby Doerr (Blue Backs #37)
Red Sox Hall of Fame second baseman.