1951 Topps

Red Back Card #10 - Mel Parnell	Blue Back Card #6 - Red Schoendienst

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The Topps Chewing Gum Co. of Brooklyn, New York issued its first national baseball card sets in 1951. Issued in two series, they are known as Red Backs and Blue Backs, as that is the major difference in design between the two series. Sold two perforated cards to a package with something called "Baseball Candy," the cards are designed to be a deck of cards for an elementary baseball game. The 2" by 2-5/8" cards carry a black and white player photo on a red, white, yellow and green background along with the player's name and short statistical information on the front. Below the lower right side of the player picture is a card number; in the Red Back series, it shows as the "A" series and the Blue Backs are the "B" series. These cards were printed on thick cardboard and have lasted well over the years; however, as a small issue with relatively few stars (particularly in the Blue Back series), they do not currently enjoy a great deal of popularity.

Despite Bowman's claim of "exclusive" rights to player images, Topps was able to secure a small handful of players through a deal with a group called Players Enterprises that worked to get endorsements for its clients. This gave Topps the ability to include players in its sets; their use of candy instead of gum didn't stop Bowman from suing them for infringement. When the judge ruled in favor of Topps, it opened the doors for them to get ready for 1952. As they began signing more players to contracts and planning to compete directly with Bowman, the two companies would come out with some of the best-loved card sets in hobby history.

Among notable cards in these sets: Monte Irvin's rookie card, Yogi Berra, Bob Feller, Duke Snider and Warren Spahn are Red Backs, while Johnny Mize and Richie Ashburn are two of the few Blue Back stars. Two variations appear among Red Backs; Gus Zernial can be found as a member of the White Sox or A's and Tommy Holmes can be found as a Brave or with Hartford. Both cards were updated after early-season moves.

Since a warehouse of unopened boxes of Red Back cards was discovered in the mid-80s, the Blue Backs are scarcer and more valuable. Although collector interest in these sets has been fairly tepid, these cards can usually be found at a fair buying price when compared to other sets of the era. That is, when they can be found. They don't appear on dealer tables or store displays as often as Topps' other 1950s cards. Despite the lack of attention by hobbyists and the fact that some hobby price guides have left both sets out of their listings, this set is signifcant as the earliest Topps baseball issue.

Red Back	Blue Back

1951 Topps Wax Pack	1951 Topps Display Box

1951 Topps Blue Backs

1. Eddie Yost
2. Henry Majeski
3. Richie Ashburn
4. Del Ennis
5. Johnny Pesky
6. Albert Schoendienst
7. Gerald Staley
8. Dick Sisler
9. Johnny Sain
10. Joe Page
11. Johnny Groth
12. Sam Jethroe
13. James Vernon
14. George Munger
15. Eddie Joost
16. Murry Dickson
17. Roy Smalley
18. Ned Garver
19. Phil Masi
20. Ralph Branca
21. Billy Johnson
22. Bob Kuzava
23. Paul Trout
24. Sherman Lollar
25. Sam Mele
26. Chico Carresquel
27. Andy Pafko
28. Harry Breechen
29. Granville Hamner
30. Enos Slaughter
31. Lou Brissie
32. Bob Elliott
33. Don Lenhardt
34. Earl Torgeson
35. Tommy Byrne
36. Cliff Fannin
37. Bobby Doerr
38. Irv Noren
39. Ed Lopat
40. Vic Wertz
41. Johnny Schmitz
42. Bruce Edwads
43. Willie Jones
44. Johnny Wyrostek
45. Bill Pierce
46. Jerry Priddy
47. Herman Wehmeier
48. Billy Cox
49. Henry Sauer
50. Johnny Mize
51. Eddie Waitkus
52. Sam Chapman

1951 Topps Red Backs

1. Larry Berra
2. Sid Gordon
3. Ferris Fain
4. Verne Stephens
5. Phil Rizzuto
6. Allie Reynolds
7. Howie Pollett
8. Early Wynn
9. Roy Sievers
10. Mel Parnell
11. Gene Hermanski
12. Jim Hegan
13. Dale Mitchell
14. Wayne Terwilliger
15. Ralph Kiner
16. Preacher Roe
17. Dave Bell
18. Gerry Coleman
19. Dick Kokos
20. Dominick DiMaggio
21. Larry Jansen
22. Bob Feller
23. Ray Boone
24. Hank Bauer
25. Cliff Chambers
26. Luke Easter
27. Wally Westlake
28. Elmer Valo
29. Bob Kennedy
30. Warren Spahn
31. Gil Hodges
32. Henry Thompson
33. William Werle
34. Grady Hatton
35. Al Rosen
36a. Gus Zernial (Chicago in bio)
36b. Gus Zernial (Philadelphia in bio)
37. Wes Westrum
38. Ed Snider
39. Ted Kluszewski
40. Mike Gargia
41. Whitey Lockman
42. Ray Scarborough
43. Maurice McDermott
44. Sid Hudson
45. Andy Seminick
46. Billy Goodman
47. Tommy Glaviano
48. Eddie Stanky
49. Al Zarilla
50. Monte Irvin
51. Eddie Robinson
52a. Tommy Holmes (Boston in bio)
52b. Tommy Holmes (Hartford in bio)