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The 1951 Topps Blue Backs baseball cards are a rare and valuable set of cards that were part of Topps’ first venture into the baseball card market. The Blue Backs were sold along with the Red Backs, which are more common and less expensive. The Blue Backs and the Red Backs have the same design and number of cards, but differ in the color of the card backs and the players featured.
The Blue Backs and the Red Backs were both designed as playing cards for a baseball game. The cards have rounded corners and measure 2″ by 2-5/8″. The front of each card shows a black-and-white headshot of a player on a colorful background, with his name, team, position, and card number at the bottom. The back of each card has a blue background with a baseball diamond and various game situations and plays printed on it. The cards also have a letter and a number in the corners, which indicate the player’s skill level and batting order.
The Blue Backs set consists of 52 cards, featuring mostly National League players. Some of the notable players in the set are Richie Ashburn (#3), Red Schoendienst (#6), Enos Slaughter (#30), Bobby Doerr (#37), and Johnny Mize (#50). The set also includes some players who were traded or retired before the 1951 season, such as Eddie Yost (#1), Hank Majeski (#2), Johnny Sain (#9), and Ralph Branca (#20). The most valuable card in the set is #6 Red Schoendienst, which can sell for over $1,000 in near-mint condition.
The Blue Backs were sold in one-cent packages that contained two cards each. The cards were printed on heavy stock cardboard and are more durable than the Red Backs, which were printed on thin paper. However, the Blue Backs are also more difficult to find than the Red Backs, as they were produced in smaller quantities and distributed less widely. According to PSA CardFacts1, only about 10% of all graded 1951 Topps cards are Blue Backs.
The 1951 Topps Blue Backs baseball cards are a significant part of baseball card history, as they represent Topps’ first attempt to compete with Bowman, the dominant card company at the time. The Blue Backs are also highly sought-after by collectors, as they are scarce, attractive, and feature some of the best players of the era. The 1951 Topps Blue Backs are a true treasure for any baseball card enthusiast.
1951 Topps Blue Backs Set Checklist
1 Eddie Yost – Washington Senators
2 Hank Majeski – Chicago White Sox
3 Richie Ashburn – Philadelphia Phillies
4 Del Ennis – Philadelphia Phillies
5 Johnny Pesky – Boston Red Sox
6 Red Schoendienst – St. Louis Cardinals
7 Jerry Staley – St. Louis Cardinals
8 Dick Sisler – Philadelphia Phillies
9 Johnny Sain – Boston Braves
10 Joe Page – New York Yankees
11 Johnny Groth – Detroit Tigers
12 Sam Jethroe – Boston Braves
13 Mickey Vernon – Washington Senators
14 Red Munger – St. Louis Cardinals
15 Eddie Joost – Philadelphia Athletics
16 Murry Dickson – Pittsburgh Pirates
17 Roy Smalley – Chicago Cubs
18 Ned Garver – St. Louis Browns
19 Phil Masi – Chicago White Sox
20 Ralph Branca – Brooklyn Dodgers
21 Billy Johnson – St. Louis Cardinals
22 Bob Kuzava – Washington Senators
23 Dizzy Trout – Detroit Tigers
24 Sherm Lollar – St. Louis Browns
25 Sam Mele – Washington Senators
26 Chico Carrasquel – Chicago White Sox
27 Andy Pafko – Chicago Cubs
28 Harry Brecheen – St. Louis Cardinals
29 Granny Hamner – Philadelphia Phillies
30 Enos Slaughter – St. Louis Cardinals
31 Lou Brissie – Cleveland Indians
32 Bob Elliott – Boston Braves
33 Don Lenhardt – St. Louis Browns
34 Earl Torgeson – Boston Braves
35 Tommy Byrne – New York Yankees
36 Cliff Fannin – St. Louis Browns
37 Bobby Doerr – Boston Red Sox
38 Irv Noren – Washington Senators
39 Ed Lopat – New York Yankees
40 Vic Wertz – Detroit Tigers
41 Johnny Schmitz – Chicago Cubs
42 Bruce Edwards – Brooklyn Dodgers
43 Willie Jones – Philadelphia Phillies
44 Johnny Wyrostek – Cincinnati Reds
45 Bill Pierce – Chicago White Sox
46 Jerry Priddy – Detroit Tigers
47 Herm Wehmeier – Cincinnati Reds
48 Billy Cox – Brooklyn Dodgers
49 Hank Sauer – Chicago Cubs
50 Johnny Mize – New York Yankees
51 Eddie Waitkus – Philadelphia Phillies
52 Sam Chapman – Cleveland Indians
1951 Topps Blue Backs Baseball Panels Set Checklist
Super Rare
26 cards. Cards are listed in numerical order by the lowest card number in each panel.
40 Vic Wertz – 1 Eddie Yost
12 Sam Jethroe – 2 Henry Majeski
11 Johnny Groth – 3 Richie Ashburn
4 Del Ennis – 17 Roy Smalley
5 Johnny Pesky – 37 Bobby Doerr
35 Tommy Byrne – 6 Red Schoendienst
7 Gerald Staley – 10 Joe Page
25 Sam Mele – 8 Dick Sisler
13 James Vernon – 9 Johnny Sain
29 Granville Hammer – 14 George Munger
15 Eddie Joost – 42 Bruce Edwards
16 Murray Dickson – 41 Johnny Schmitz
18 Ned Garver – 24 Sherman Lollar
34 Earl Torgeson – 19 Phil Masi
20 Ralph Branca – 33 Don Lenhardt
32 Bob Elliott – 21 Billy Johnson
44 Johnny Wyrostek – 22 Bob Kuzava
23 Phil Trout – 26 Chico Carresquel
27 Andy Pafko – 43 Willis Jones
46 Gerry Proddy – 28 Harry Brecheen
31 Lou Brissie – 30 Enos Slaughter
36 Cliff Fannin – 49 Henry Sauer
47 Herman Wehmeier – 38 Irv Noren
50 Johnny Mize – 39 Ed Lopat
51 Eddie Waitkus – 45 Bill Pierce
48 Billy Cox – 52 Sam Chapman
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Sources and refrences for this article 1. psacard.com2. deanscards.com3. keymancollectibles.com
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