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.

New York Yankees

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The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the borough of the Bronx, in New York City, New York and are a member of Major League Baseball's American League East Division. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Baltimore, Maryland in 1901 as the Baltimore Orioles, and moved to New York City in 1903, becoming known as the New York Highlanders before being officially renamed the "Yankees" in 1913. From 1923 to 2008, the Yankees' home ballpark was Yankee Stadium, one of the world's most famous sports venues. In 2009, they moved into a new stadium, also called "Yankee Stadium".

The franchise leads Major League Baseball in both revenue and titles, with 26 World Series championships and 39 American League Pennants. They have more championships than any other franchise in North American professional sports history, passing the 24 Stanley Cup championships by the Montreal Canadiens in 1999. Throughout the team's history, the franchise has produced some of the most celebrated players in Major League history, including Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle, and Yogi Berra. The franchise has seen 44 of its players inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, and the Yankees have retired the numbers of 16 of its players.

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

Retired Numbers	1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 23, 32, 37, 42, 44, 49
Colors
Navy Blue, White
Name
New York Yankees (1913–present)
New York Highlanders (1903–1912) Baltimore Orioles (1901–1902) (Also referred to as "Americans" originally)
Other nicknames
The Bronx Bombers, The Yanks, The Pinstripers, The Bronx Zoo, The Evil Empire
Ballpark
Yankee Stadium (II) (2009–present) Yankee Stadium (I) (1923–1973), (1976–2008) Shea Stadium (1974–1975) Polo Grounds (IV) (1913–1922) a.k.a. Brush Stadium (1913–1919) Hilltop Park (1903–1912) Oriole Park (Baltimore) (1901–1902)
Major league titles
World Series titles (26)	2000 • 1999 • 1998 • 1996 1978 • 1977 • 1962 • 1961 1958 • 1956 • 1953 • 1952 1951 • 1950 • 1949 • 1947 1943 • 1941 • 1939 • 1938 1937 • 1936 • 1932 • 1928 1927 • 1923
AL Pennants (39)	2003 • 2001 • 2000 • 1999 1998 • 1996 • 1981 • 1978 1977 • 1976 • 1964 • 1963 1962 • 1961 • 1960 • 1958 1957 • 1956 • 1955 • 1953 1952 • 1951 • 1950 • 1949 1947 • 1943 • 1942 • 1941 1939 • 1938 • 1937 • 1936 1932 • 1928 • 1927 • 1926 1923 • 1922 • 1921
East Division titles (15)	2006 • 2005 • 2004 • 2003 2002 • 2001 • 2000 • 1999 1998 • 1996 • 1981 • 1980 1978 • 1977 • 1976
Wild card berths (3)	2007 • 1997 • 1995