I’ve been looking to get a set of 1983 Topps Foldouts, five oversized mini-sets (leaders in pitching, batting, home runs, stolen bases and relief). It’s easily gettable for under $10, but I’m holding out to save every dollar. (It’s actually kind of silly how single dollar sensitive I can be).
I was wondering whether the cards, unfolded, would fit in 4-pocket sheets, so I went to the pdf of my always at hand 2009 Standard Catalog to check the size. The first comparable set I thought of, that I had in sheets, was a late-‘70’s Minnesota Twins team issued postcard set. Alas, the foldouts are bigger.
Knowledge attained, I aimlessly scrolled down, looking for nothing in particular, past Montreal Expos player pins and matchbook covers, when I ended up at “N.” First entry – 1969 Nabisco Team Flakes.
Usually I’m not a big fan of sets that are nearly only found hand cut, but now that I am committed to completing the 1975 Hostess set (the only year that I cut out the cards), I’m changing my tune a little. Reasonably well hand cut cards have started to appeal to me. And, if you’re a frequent reader, you know I’ve been looking for new sets to pursue. A 24-card, hand cut set is right in my sweet spot.
I’d heard about these cards, but never paid them any mind. I had a vague picture in my mind of dark, unattractive, crooked cards, but NO!, the cards are mini-replicas of late 1960’s Sports Illustrated posters and, as I looked at each card online, I was, like Proust via madeleine, taken back to my room in Canarsie, and then in Lake Grove, Long Island. Much of my posters of that time are gone – Aaron, Yaz, Ken Harrelson – but one has survived, travelling with me through college, Chicago and Cooperstown.
Seeing a mini – Mays seems to be enough to make me go for this set. I’ve seen uncut boxes, but I prefer hand cut. Unlike Hostess, which provided space between the dotted-lined cards, there’s no separation between the Team Flakes cards, which makes nice copies hard to find, helpful in pricing. But what I really want to know is who the hell ever ate Team Flakes?
So now I have another target, one that seems easily attainable. We’ll see if that pans out, but I’m sure it’s easier to buy these cards than try to buy back my old posters. I don’t have the room or wall space for those.
SABR's Baseball Cards Research Committee 
Nothing wrong with being dollar conscience. Sometimes speed is of the essence, sometimes quality and sometimes cost. I put together lots of little sets of players, based on birthdate, high school etc. There’s always a little bit of internal competition I have with myself and occiassionally I’ll put a limit of how much I’ll spend. I think it’s just part of the collector mind.
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I got the foldout set for a buck or two less than an offer I had sent to another seller – that he rejected as too low! Great satisfaction in that.
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A question, Jeff: if the hand cutting is not good, do you try to improve it? Also, I thought Team Flakes were great! Hated Wheaties and Corn Flakes.
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I haven’t thought about improving on a hand cut. I did get a 1975 Hostess Mickey Rivers recently hat was badly cut, but I thought if I cut it it would end up too small.
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I did a post last spring tying Globe to Team Flakes and SI posters. I have posters for Pilots Mincher, Davis and Bell, plus childhood ones of Boog Powell, Aaron, Gibson and football’s Ben Davidson. My brother also had Campenaris and Brock. Make sure to post on tweeter the Team Flakes acquisitions.
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You subliminally planted this idea in my head.
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That’s a cool little set to chase. Yes the Foldouts will fit in four pockets if cut. I bought two sets . One to cut and one to keep intact.
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I saw that on Twitter. Though it goes against this whole post about cutting cards, I won’t cut the Foldouts, since I only got one set (for $5.99).
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