1951 Topps Connie Mack’s All-Stars Baseball Cards

Product Details

One of several Topps Baseball sets issued during their debut season, 1951 Topps Connie Mack's All-Stars Baseball is a small release with a die-cut design. The early cardboard series is also known as R414-2.

Led by cards for Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig, the vintage set commands strong values.

1951 Topps Connie Mack's All-Stars Baseball Set Details

Named for the accomplished manager, 1951 Topps Connie Mack's All-Stars Baseball may only have 11 cards in the checklist, but there is certainly no filler. An homage to the former greats, including Connie Mack himself, it can easily be considered a Hall of Fame set since every subject is enshrined in Cooperstown.

Measuring 2-1/16" by 5-1/4", the tall 1951 Topps Connie Mack's All-Stars Baseball cards have a distinct design. The large black-and-white image of each player is highlighted by a deep red background and a yellow-filled text box at the bottom that also acts as a stand. The player's full name and replica signature is listed along with basic info and the tagline "Connie Mack's All-Time All-Star Team."

The card backs are basic with a moderately-sized player bio in the center and an ad for the full series at the bottom along with instructions for the figure stand. While there are no card numbers, most collectors organize them by the player's last name.

What really makes the cards distinct is that almost the entire player image is die-cut. This design allows collectors to fold the die-cut portion out of the card to create a makeshift display piece.

However, the die-cut design also means that many of the cards have suffered considerable wear at the hands of overzealous collectors. It is also not uncommon to find 1951 Topps Connie Mack's All-Stars Baseball cards that are altered, with the exterior portion of the die-cut completely removed with scissors. Coming as no surprise, this greatly decreases the value.

Because of the remnants found at the top and bottom of each card, it is believed that the release was originally printed as panels. The cards can be especially vulnerable at these points and the set also suffers from centering issues.

As values have increased, counterfeits have become more common. Although the easiest way to avoid most of the uncertainty is to purchase cards that have been graded or authenticated by a reputable company, there are few key things to be aware of when shopping for 1951 Topps Connie Mack's All-Stars Baseball.

The most obvious thing to verify is that the card is actually die-cut. Many fakes somehow overlook that step and it can be an easy way to rule out a counterfeit. Also, the card stock for fakes is rarely accurate so, if possible, it is good to familiarize yourself with a real card during the research process.

It is also important to note that there is another similar set from Topps that was issued the same year. Featuring nearly the same exact design, 1951 Topps Major League All-Stars Baseball also totals 11 cards, but the checklist is completely different as it includes active players of the time. These die-cut cards are considerably more difficult to find than the Connie Mack's.