SY BERGER, 91, DIED DEC. 14, 2014.
Sy Berger devised the practice of signing Major League Baseball players year after year to use their names and images on cards which were published in annual sets.
For 30+ years, Topps had been paying players $75 a year for that privilege, and usually that amount was applied toward buying stuff from their catalog. Berger knew players personally which made it easier for him to get them to sign. However, it took him six years to get St. Louis slugger Stan Musial to ink a contract. Mr. Berger was often seen by the side of close personal friend Willie Mays.
Topps was formed in 1938 as a chewing gum company. As gum competition grew, they unveiled their Bazooka Bubble Gum which also included a short comic strip as a way to increase sales. And that led to putting gum into packs of baseball cards.
More to Come.
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