1975 to 1983 Hostess Unassembled Complete Boxes (225 boxes, 675 total cards)

Sold For:

$2,700

Year:

1975

Auction:

2017 Spring

Lot #:

1464

Category:

Postwar Baseball - 1970s to Present Cards

Presented is a large assortment of 225 unassembled Hostess boxes, consisting of 675 cards in total, representing six different Hostess sets. From 1975 to 1983, Hostess issued these landmark sets of 150 cards on the bottom of boxes of Hostess snack-cake products, with one three-card panel appearing on the bottom of each box. These sets were sensationally successful, and collectors all over the country were seen stocking up on Hostess products. This collection consists of the following: 1) 1975 Hostess (75 boxes, 225 total cards): Complete set (50 panels) and twenty-five duplicates. Keys: #28-30 Rose, two 37-39 Winfield, three 55-57 Carew, 58-60 Ryan, two 61-63 Carlton, two 73-75 Seaver/Blyleven, two 79-81 Yount, two 82-84 Bench/Perry, two 88-90 Jackson, 130-132 Aaron, and two 133-135 Schmidt/Stargell. 2) 1976 Hostess (36 boxes, 108 total cards): Partial set (26/50 panels) and ten duplicates. Keys: #4-6 Perry, 7-10 Brock, 49-51 Stargell, 76-78 Gossage, two 85-87 Perez, 94-96 Aaron, two 103-105 Fingers, 124-126 McCovey, three 127-130 Rice, 145-147 Jackson, and 148-150 Yastrzemski. 3) 1977 Hostess (26 boxes, 78 total cards): Partial set (23/50 panels) and three duplicates. Keys: #1-3 Palmer/Morgan/Jackson, 4-6 Yastrzemski/Munson/Bench, 7-9 Seaver/Rose/Carew, 22-24 Rice, 115-117 Hernandez/Nettles/Carlton, 127-129 Gossage, and two 136-138 Fingers. 4) 1978 Hostess (42 boxes, 126 total cards): Partial set (33/50 panels) and nine duplicates. Keys: Two #4-6 Perez/Sutter, 10-12 Stargell, 25-27 Guidry/Brett, 31-33 Murray, 43-45 Bench/Rice, 46-48 Jackson, 61-63 Winfield, 82-84 Ryan, 112-114 Schmidt, two 121-123 Niekro, two 127-129 Rose, 136-138 Yount, 139-141 Perry/Carew, 145-147 Carter, and 148-150 Seaver/Munson. All 1978 boxes also include an illustrated ad on the inside of the box featuring Hall of Famer Ernie Banks endorsing Medalist batting gloves. 5) 1979 Hostess Baseball (42 boxes, 126 total cards): Partial set (30/50 panels, plus extra variation panel #103/104/105) and eleven duplicates. Keys: #7-9 Garvey/Schmidt, 25-27 Munson, two 46-48 Gossage, 55-57 Yount, 67-69 Brett, 70-72 Carlton, 82-84 Perry, two 100-102 Ryan/Smith, three 103-105a Stargell/Bailor (photo reversed), five 103-105b Stargell/Bailor (photo corrected), 121-123 Murphy, 124-126 Winfield, 130-132 Sutter, 133-135 Blyleven, and 142-144 Rose. 6) 1983 Hostess Twinkies U.S. Olympic Gold Medalists (4 boxes,12 total cards): Panels include: #21-6-19 Cassius Clay (Muhammad Ali)/Naber/Meyer, 14-7-5 Owens/Milburn/Kahanamoku, 24-8-12 Crabbe/Connolly/Didriksen, and 13-3-20 Wottle/Chandler/Boston. The boxes grade Excellent overall. The cards are in Nr/Mt or better condition (with a few exceptions). The recent introduction of grading of handcut panels by PSA is just beginning to have a significant effect. Although there are no guarantees with reference to grading, it would be hard to imagine that these boxes do not include a generous supply of panels with the potential for grading PSA 10. This is an extremely sizable collection of these unusual, scarce, and underrated Hostess package-design cards. Total: 225 boxes, 675 cards.

Reserve $500. Estimate $1,000+.