FUN FACTS - The 1968/69 Topps Basketball set represented the first return to basketball for Topps since the 1957/58 set. Topps only issued a test set for 68/69 consisting of 22 black/white cards contained in the standard white border test wrappers (envelopes). In addition to the 22 cards Topps also included one of 12 "How To Play Better Basketball" 8-page booklet inserts in each pack. There are no known display boxes that were made for this set. It is speculated by some that these packs/cards were sent to the NBA offices for license approval as well as to a small number of employees, suppliers and other execs.
PACKAGE CONTENTS - To honor this incredibly hard-to-find set we've put together a comprehensive package consisting of the following. Some creative liberties were required as noted below.
- (1) custom designed display box to keep all of the goodies in. There's not a known display box available so we designed a box based on the test wrapper.
- (4) test wrappers with each containing 5 random novelty cards, a random "How To Play Better Basketball" booklet insert (front/back pages only) and a stick of gum. The real test packs only contained 3 cards along with the booklet and a stick of gum.
- (4) glossy wax packs that we reimagined Topps would have issued had they gone public with the set. The back of these packs consists of the standard ingredients list on one side and an ad from a pack of 1968 football cards on the other. Each pack contains 5 random novelty cards, a randon "How To Play Better Basketball" booklet insert (front/back pages only) and a stick of gum.
- (22) novelty cards representing the complete 22 card set (not included in package deal)
- (12) "How To Play Better Basketball" booklets representing the complete 12 booklet set (front/back pages only)
