1964 Topps Giants

In 1964, Topps issued additional baseball card sets apart from their regular baseball card set. One such set was the "Giants" baseball card set. These cards were larger than the regular sized card. They were postcard size.

This 60 card set is beautifully photographed. The backs of each card is a highlight of the player's career shown as a newspaper article. A few cards were short printed and are more difficult to find.

Here is the card of #4, Sandy Koufax.

Here is the back of his card.

I love this card of #15, Jim Gentile. A great picture!

Here is the back of his card.

Here is the front and back of Mickey Mantle, #25 in the set.

The complete set of 60 currently sell for $150-$200.

Matchbox Service Station (Part 3)

In 1968, Matchbox produced its third service station.

This station was one story and came with B.P. markings. Here is the station.

The cars shown are from left to right are #53 (B) Mercedes Benz 220 SE issued in 1963, #39 (B) Pontiac Convertible issued in 1962, #29(B) Austin A55 Cambridge Sedan issued in 1961, #49(B) Sports Boat & Trailer issued in 1961, #30(A) Stake Truck issued in 1956, #65(B) Jaguar 3.4 Litre Saloon issued in 1962, #31(C) Lincoln Continental issued in 1964, #24(B) Weatherill Hydraulic Excavator issued in 1959 and the #40(B) Leyland Royal Tiger Coach issued in 1961.

Here is the box it came in.

Matchbox Service Station (Part 2)

In 1961, Matchbox issued their second Service Station in 1961. It was two story and used the same colors as the first, yellow and red. In 1963, it was reissued in white and green w as a BP station. Here it is:


Also shown are the Accessory Pack of the BP Gas Pumps and Attendant, the #13D Dodge Wreck Truck, issued in 1965, the #57B Chevrolet Impala, issued in 1961 and the #28C MK 10 Jaguar, issued in 1964.

Here is the box that the Service Station was packed in.

Matchbox Service Station (Part 1)

In 1957, Matchbox introduced their first Service Station which is described on the box as ""Showroom and Service Station for Matchbox Toys". It was based on a real station close to one of the Matchbox factories. Here it is.

To the left is the box it came in. A few years later, the same station was produced but had a red building with a yellow base.

Also shown is the the first accessory Matchbox issued, the 3 gas pumps with attendant and Esso sign. This was first issued in 1956. Its box is shown to the left.

The cars shown, from left to right, are the #45(A) Vauxhall Victor, the #13(B) Bedford Wreck Truck, the #46(A) Morris Minor and the 11(B) Road Tanker. All these cars were first issued in 1958.

Bobby Murcer

Bobby Murcer was one of my favorite players when I was a kid. I got the change to follow his career both in person as well as on TV. Bobby was born May 20, 1946. Here is a baseball card from 1973 showing the youngster.

He briefly played for the New York Yankees in 1965 and 1966 then fulfilled his military obligation in 1967 and 1968 before being called up to the majors to stay in 1969. Here is his first Topps baseball card from 1966.

Bobby was the heir apparent to Mickey Mantle but never reached that lofty goal but he was a great player. He played for the Yankees, San Francisco Giants and the Chicago Cubs. He was a 5 time All Star and also won a Gold Glove award for his fielding. He hit a total of 252 career home runs. Here is his 1973 Topps baseball card.

After his retirement, he was a Yankee coach and assistant General Manager. He also was a broadcaster for Yankee games on television for 20 years. He won 3 Emmy Awards.

Bobby was diagnosed with a brain tumor on Christmas Eve, 2006 and underwent surgery 2 days later. Bobby returned to work as an announcer on May 1, 2007.

Bobby planned to broadcast about 60 games in 2008 but became tired and weak. On June 30, 2008, Murcer's family released a statement that he had suffered a relapse:

Bobby Murcer continues to recover from the effects of cancer and shingles which caused him to cut short his broadcasting work and his book tour earlier this month. He has been under medical care in Oklahoma City.

The cancer treatment over the last 18 months has been intensive and has, as a side effect, somewhat compromised his immune system and made the fight all the more challenging. While he has shown some measured improvement in recent days, this is clearly a major battle, as all who have been through it understand.

Bobby remains hopeful that he will be able to resume his broadcasting work down the road, but for now, is appreciative of the thoughts and prayers of his fans, and wants them to know that he is aware that he is in their hearts, as they are in his.
　
Two weeks later, on July 12, 2008, Bobby passed away.

A memorial service was held August 6, 2008. Ironically, it was 29 years to the day that Bobby delivered the eulogy at his friend and teammate, Thurmon Munson’s funeral.

Bobby left behind his wife (his high school sweetheart) of 42 years, Diana “Kay”, 2 children and 5 grandchildren.

One year later, Bobby is still in our hearts.

Matchbox Fire Station

Over the years, Matchbox produced a range of Service Stations as well as a Fire Station. The purpose was to create "extra play value", not to mention increased sales!

Here is the MF-1-A Fire Station which was produced beginning in 1963. It was either sold separately, as I have shown, or part of the G-10 Gift Set, both in colorful boxes.

Also shown are the #59(B) Ford Fairlane Police Car, issued in 1963, the #57(C) Land Rover Fire Engine, issued in 1966 as well as 2 #29(C) Fire Pumpers also issued in 1966.

At the same time the Fire Station came out, Matchbox was also developing an Ambulance Station, which was to have a green roof. The Ambulance Station was never released so some of the Fire Stations were fitted with the green roofs made for the Ambulance Station. These are harder to find than the red roof variation.

Here the the box that the Fire Station came in.

Brooks Robinson

I was never a fan of Brooks Robinson, the 3rd baseman for the Baltimore Orioles in the 1960s and 1970s.

Don't get me wrong, he was a fabulous player who is in the Baseball Hall of Fame. But he played for the Orioles, who were a rival of my team, the New York Yankees.

My opinion changed in 1972.

There was a baseball card show at Montclair State University in Montclair, New Jersey, about a 45 minute drive from my house. The show was in late fall of 1972. Since I was only 15 years old, my dad drove me there and my mom also came along.

I was working 4 hours every Sunday morning at the local stationery/newspaper store bringing in the Sunday papers and assembling them. At $2.00 an hour, I had saved some big bucks to spend on cards.

Anyway, Brooks Robinson was signing items that day so I brought my 1968 Topps card of him to get autographed. Back then, autographs were free and there were not long lines to get your items signed. I looked around for a while and then got in line for his autograph since the line was short, only about 10 people. My mom tagged along with me.

When my turn came, he stuck out his hand to shake mine and asked me what my name was. We chatted a while and then I introduced my mom. She was excited to shake his hand. After some more chatting, my mom asked him if his ring was one of his World Series rings. He said yes, it was his ring from the 1970 World Series. He then took off the ring and gave it to my mom to try on. Mom took the ring and tried to try it on but it was hugh! She finally got it on her finger and we both admired it. Mom gave him back the ring and we both thanked him.

What a class act! Brooks took time to talk with us, not just sign my card and move on. I watched the rest of his career in a different light. I even got the chance to see him play a few times at Yankee Stadium.

Here is my card from that day over 35 years ago.