Even among collectors of oddball sports cards, the Transogram baseball issues of 1969 and 1970 have long been a source of confusion, thanks to both their distribution methods and their short lived, out of nowhere run in the sports collecting hobby.
During the spring of 1969 Transogram figures popped up in toy store aisles, representing both the American and National Leagues. Boxes featured red and blue writing on white cardboard, with a transparent place piece to allow shoppers a clear view of the players inside. Behind the plastic figurines was a red or yellow cardboard rendering of the inside of a stadium featuring an action shot.
The side panels of the boxes show a small head shot of the featured players. Many collectors snipped these side panel cards and saved them separately. The figures themselves featured a player in full team uniform, complete with logos on the jerseys, cap, socks, belt, and glove.
In 1969 and early parts of 1970, The Amazing Mets, the champions of baseball took the nation by storm. To capitalize on their popularity, Transogram dedicated their second 1970 series to the Champs, featuring 15 different members of the 1969 team. Issued three to a package, the Mets box was orange and blue, the teams colors. The box was called “1969 World Champion Collector Figurines”. The yellow cards featured three players from the basic 1970 set: Tom Seaver, Cleon Jones, and Jerry Koosman.
Whether collecting the full boxed figurines or single cards, serious Mets collectors should add these wonderful pieces to their Orange and Blue collections.
Cool! Might have to get these for my 69 shrine.
Thanks Chris! Love these. I have a few of the cards as well.
Great cards. A little hard to find. Fairly expensive. The figures are goofy. They also come in single player boxes.
Jim wrote a piece about the Transogram cards awhile ago, which you can check out here — https://mets360.com/?p=29324
I just have the 1969 World Series figurines. Agreed figurines have come a long way since 69!
Eh…. they never did much for me. One of the few items from 69/70 that I didn’t bother to try to pick up, over the years…. Nice write up though, Mark
Thanks Jack, much appreciated.