Thinking pink

The color pink. Whaddaya think?

It has its place. In cartoons from the '70s, sure.

In houses from the '50s, you bet.

On fashion models, where do I sign up?

But on baseball cards?

Baseball cards???

Once again, the answer is: unequivocally, definitely, positively, one hundred percent ...

Yes.

Oh, I've heard the protests. One even showed up on the last post I wrote. It said: "Pink should never be on a baseball card!" (I corrected the spelling for you, Adam). Why even yours truly has lamented the many times that pink has appeared on the Dodgers' baseball cards. It's true, it's not my favorite color.

But never?

Never ever?

Better alert Topps:

And Donruss:

And Fleer:

And Upper Deck:

And when you're done doing that, better alert Topps again:

And again:

And again:

In fact, for quite awhile there, the color pink was a staple of Topps' palette for years and years.

Beginning in 1972:

The

Color

Pink

Appeared

On

Every

Topps

Set

For

The

Next

Thirteen

Years!

Even in a pink-bereft set like 1985 Topps, the company couldn't resist sneaking the color in ever so slightly:

And pink has popped up on other sets ...

Here ...

... and there.


In fact, it's the perfect time to discuss the color because it happens to be Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Sports teams from high schools to the NFL are wearing pink on their uniforms to show support for those battling the disease.

Next year, Topps is coming out with pink parallels that are also connected to the fight against breast cancer. Some collectors are scoffing at these, but I have no problem with them.

Pink's always been a part of baseball cards.

Since long before card collecting scoffers were scoffing.

Since long before card collecting bloggers were blogging.

Since way back when, in fact.

No pink on a baseball card?

It's just not going to happen.

You'd have to outlaw bubble gum, too.