In the summer of 1995, Topps released a 132 card Bazooka branded baseball card set.
The original Bazooka baseball cards date back to the 50’s and 60s. Then in the 80’s, Topps included a run of Bazooka cards as promo sets in packages of gum. These were some of my favorite oddball cards in the junk wax era, and I wrote about the 1988 set here.
The Breakdown
In 1995, Topps decided to try something new, and Bazooka became a pack issued, mainstream release for the first time. Wax boxes contained 36, five card packs, and retailed for about 50 cents. This product was also one of the last to feature a piece of gum in every pack.
In addition to the base set of 132 cards, there was a 22 card Red Hot parallel/insert set. Both cards use the same photo, but the Red Hot card has a reddish tint to the photo, and the card has a unique number starting with the “RH” prefix (see the checklist below for a photo).
These cards came out at the tail end of my prime collecting window. I had just graduated high school, and while I was still in the hobby for a couple more years, my focus was more on basketball cards at that time. I actually don’t even remember seeing these packs in stores. As I’ve gotten back into collecting over the last several years, I’ve loved stumbling across some of these sets I missed out on and adding them to my collection. Well, I’m sad to say this isn’t one that I was excited to keep for the PC.
I love the vintage Bazooka cards, and I didn’t think twice about keeping some of the promo sets from the 80s. For some reason, this 1995 set just doesn’t do it for me. Regular old base sets printed on standard card stock are kind of my jam, but there is just something about this set and leaves me wanting more. Actually, I think I just want more! A 132 card checklist for a low end, non-premium release is kind of weak. The big stars are there, but I like my low end releases to include a much wider array of players.
Topps even released a factory box set for this product? Was the set so popular that it warranted its own box set? I just don’t see how demand would have dictated that. In fact, it would seem the attempt to make Bazooka cards a stand alone release didn’t resonate with collectors. The product only made it one more year, and 1996 was the second and final attempt to have a pack issued mainstream Bazooka set.
Wrap it Up
While I appreciate the entry level price point, and I like how Topps included a piece of gum in the packs, in my opinion this product was lacking. The checklist was too small, the card backs did not add value, and I’m just not a big fan of the general design. Today’s values are pretty cheap. Sealed boxes and sets can be found on eBay for $10-$15, and I’d recommend picking up singles on Sportlots if you are looking to fill out a set.
What do you think?
Lee Smith, Cal RIpken Jr. and Sammy Sosa are a few of the players found in this set.
Checklist
Base Set
1 Greg Maddux
2 Cal Ripken, Jr.
3 Lee Smith
4 Sammy Sosa
5 Jason Bere
6 Dave Justice
7 Kevin Mitchell
8 Ozzie Guillen
9 Roger Clemens
10 Mike Mussina
11 Sandy Alomar, Jr.
12 Cecil Fielder
13 Dennis Martinez
14 Randy Myers
15 Jay Buhner
16 Ivan Rodriguez
17 Mo Vaughn
18 Ryan Klesko
19 Chuck Finley
20 Barry Bonds
21 Dennis Eckersley
22 Kenny Lofton
23 Rafael Palmeiro
24 Mike Stanley
25 Gregg Jefferies
26 Robin Ventura
27 Mark McGwire
28 Ozzie Smith
29 Troy Neel
30 Tony Gwynn
31 Ken Griffey, Jr.
32 Will Clark
33 Craig Biggio
34 Shawon Dunston
35 Wilson Alvarez
36 Bobby Bonilla
37 Marquis Grissom
38 Ben McDonald
39 Delino DeShields
40 Barry Larkin
41 John Olerud
42 Jose Canseco
43 Greg Vaughn
44 Gary Sheffield
45 Paul O'Neill
46 Bob Hamelin
47 Don Mattingly
48 John Franco
49 Bret Boone
50 Rick Aguilera
51 Tim Wallach
52 Roberto Kelly
53 Danny Tartabull
54 Randy Johnson
55 Greg McMichael
56 Bip Roberts
57 David Cone
58 Raul Mondesi
59 Travis Fryman
60 Jeff Conine
61 Jeff Bagwell
62 Rickey Henderson
63 Fred McGriff
64 Matt Williams
65 Rick Wilkins
66 Eric Karros
67 Mel Rojas
68 Juan Gonzalez
69 Chuck Carr
70 Moises Alou
71 Mark Grace
72 Alex Fernandez
73 Rod Beck
74 Ray Lankford
75 Dean Palmer
76 Joe Carter
77 Mike Piazza
78 Eddie Murray
79 Dave Nilsson
80 Brett Butler
81 Roberto Alomar
82 Jeff Kent
83 Andres Galarraga
84 Brady Anderson
85 Jimmy Key
86 Bret Saberhagen
87 Chili Davis
88 Jose Rijo
89 Wade Boggs
90 Lenny Dykstra
91 Steve Howe
92 Hal Morris
93 Larry Walker
94 Jeff Montgomery
95 Wil Cordero
96 Jay Bell
97 Tom Glavine
98 Chris Hoiles
99 Steve Avery
100 Ruben Sierra
101 Mickey Tettleton
102 Paul Molitor
103 Carlos Baerga
104 Walt Weiss
105 Darren Daulton
106 Jack McDowell
107 Doug Drabek
108 Mark Langston
109 Manny Ramirez
110 Kevin Appier
111 Andy Benes
112 Chuck Knoblauch
113 Kirby Puckett
114 Dante Bichette
115 Deion Sanders
116 Albert Belle
117 Todd Zeile
118 Devon White
119 Tim Salmon
120 Frank Thomas
121 John Wetteland
122 James Mouton
123 Javy Lopez
124 Carlos Delgado
125 Cliff Floyd
126 Alex Gonzalez
127 Billy Ashley
128 Rondell White
129 Rico Brogna
130 Melvin Nieves
131 Jose Oliva
132 J.R. Phillips
Red Hot Inserts
RH1 Greg Maddux
RH2 Cal Ripken, Jr.
RH3 Barry Bonds
RH4 Kenny Lofton
RH5 Mike Stanley
RH6 Tony Gwynn
RH7 Ken Griffey, Jr.
RH8 Barry Larkin
RH9 Jose Canseco
RH10 Paul O'Neill
RH11 Randy Johnson
RH12 David Cone
RH13 Jeff Bagwell
RH14 Matt Williams
RH15 Mike Piazza
RH16 Roberto Alomar
RH17 Jimmy Key
RH18 Wade Boggs
RH19 Paul Molitor
RH20 Carlos Baerga
RH21 Albert Belle
RH22 Frank Thomas