Inventory In-Depth: Best Multi-player Cards of the '50's

Modern cards, especially those released in the past ten years to the present, are full of multi-player combinations. That includes modern players with past players, teammates, non-teammates, and every combination in between. However, multi-player cards weren't part of a normal set until the mid-1950's.

Some of the first multi-player cards come from the attractive 1953 Bowman color set. Although Bowman released a small set that year, they did include several multi-player cards. One of the most popular is #44 Mickey Mantle/Hank Bauer/Yogi Berra. The Bowman Gum Company picked a great team for both of the multi-player cards that year (the other was #93 Billy Martin & Phil Rizzuto). The Yankees would win the World Series every year from 1949 to 1953.

Topps issued its first multi-player card in 1954. Card #139 features brothers John and Ed O’Brien, the shortstop and second baseman for the Pirates. Unfortunately for the O'Brien brothers, the Pirates finished last in the NL with a dismal record of 50-104. The O'Brien brothers would both be out of baseball by 1959, but they will always be remembered as the first Topps multi-player card.

In 1957, Topps really got the hang of multi-player cards and one of their best was the #400 Dodgers' Sluggers card, featuring Carl Furillo, Gil Hodges, Roy Campanella, and Duke Snider. In the two years prior to the release of the 1957 Topps set, the Brooklyn Dodgers had made two World Series appearances, winning one in 1956. Although the Dodgers would be best remembered as a team with outstanding pitching, this unique multi-player card accounted for a total of 116 home runs in 1956.

Please click here to view all of our 1950's singles cards.

Los Angeles Dodgers

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The Los Angeles Dodgers are a Major League Baseball team based in Los Angeles, California, USA. The team is in the Western Division of the National League. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of names before becoming the Brooklyn Dodgers circa 1911. The team moved to Los Angeles before the 1958 season. The Dodgers are the reigning National League West champions.

First MLB team to employ and start a black player in the 20th century (Jackie Robinson in 1947). First baseball team to win championships in different leagues in consecutive years (1890). First TV broadcast (1939). First use of batting helmets (1941). First West Coast team (1958) - along with the San Francisco Giants.

See what Dean’s Cards has to offer on their Dodgers Team Page!

Retired Numbers	1, 2, 4, 19, 20, 24, 32, 39, 42, 53
Colors
Dodger Blue and White
Name
Los Angeles Dodgers (1958–present)
Brooklyn Dodgers (1932–1957) Brooklyn Robins (1914–1931) Brooklyn Dodgers (1913) Brooklyn Trolley Dodgers (1911–1912) Brooklyn Superbas (1899–1910) Brooklyn Grooms (1891–1895) Brooklyn Bridegrooms (1888–1890), (1896–1898) Brooklyn Grays (1885–1887) Brooklyn Atlantics (1883–1884) (Also referred to as "Trolley Dodgers" 1911–1931)
Other nicknames
Ballpark
Dodger Stadium (1962–present) Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum (1958–1961) Ebbets Field (Brooklyn) (1913–1957) Washington Park (II) (Brooklyn) (1898–1912) Eastern Park (Brooklyn) (1891–1897) Ridgewood Park (Brooklyn) - Sunday games only (1886–1889) Washington Park (I) (Brooklyn) (1884–1890)
Major league titles
World Series titles (6)	1988 • 1981 • 1965 • 1963 1959 • 1955
NL Pennants (21)	1988 • 1981 • 1978 • 1977 1974 • 1966 • 1965 • 1963 1959 • 1956 • 1955 • 1953 1952 • 1949 • 1947 • 1941 1920 • 1916 • 1900 • 1899 1890
AA Pennants (1)	1889
West Division titles (10)	2008 •2004 • 1995 • 1988 • 1985 1983 • 1981 • 1978 • 1977 1974
Wild card berths (2)	2006 • 1996