Embedded Files
Updated as of 11/6/2023
Swinging with the Califonia Angels 1983
The FRED LYNN Page!
The FRED LYNN Page!
Fred Lynn baseball cards. On this page you will find all cards FRED LYNN, most from my own collection. Lynn appeared on mainstream TOPPS (Topps Chewing Gum, Inc.) from 1975-1991. So I have completed all of this regular TOPPS cards, but this does not mean I have EVERY Topps Fred Lynn card there is. There are also Topps Coca-Cola, Coins, K-Mart, MSA Discs, O-PEE-CHEE, NESTLE, Rub-Offs, Scratch-Offs, Stickers and more. Also, after his playing career ended, Topps continued(s) to issue special cards, reprints and autographed cards. Not to mention the myriads of other card manufacturers: Donruss, Fleer, Hostess, Kellogg's, Score, SSPC, Upper Deck and many more. Sometimes there may be an example of a 1 of 1 or single card (usually a "chase" or insert card randomly put in a pack). So it is virtually IMPOSSIBLE to collect every single card or issue of Fred Lynn. So I concentrated on just his regular TOPPS cards including any All-Star, League Leaders, Team & Topps "Tiffany" cards. I also did the same with Fred's O-Pee-Chee cards. I will try to post as many scarcer Fred Lynn cards as I come across them. Or please email me at nowbatting19@yahoo.com if you would like to add something of interest to this page!
This page is dedicated to Fred & Natalie Lynn!
10/5/1975 UPI Wire Photo, American League Championship Series (Boston Red Sox vs. Oakland A's)
Fred Lynn Topps Baseball Cards 1975-1991
Below we have every regular (or basic) Topps card issued of Fred Lynn from 1975 Topps #622 Rookie Outfielders to 1991 Topps 586, his final card with the Padres. I did not include the various Team cards, as you would probably need a magnifying glass to find Fred in some of them. But these are the regular cards, plus All-Star, League Leader & Highlight cards. I have sold a few collections, but can never get rid of these Fred Lynn cards! It was so fun putting them together that I started doing the O-PEE-CHEE (Topps cards issued in Cananda) and Topps TIFFANY Lynn cards as well. If any of you have the Topps Mail Order Team cards (hand cut from sheets) from 1975-1981 that you would like to part with, please email me at Nowbatting19@yahoo.com
Top Row: 1975 #622 ROOKIE, 1976 #50, 1976 #192 1975 AL Batting Leaders (R.Carew/F.Lynn/T.Munson)
Middle Row: 1976 #196 '75 AL RBI Leaders (G.Scott/J.Mayberry/F.Lynn), 1977 #210, 1978 #320
Bottom Row: 1979 #480, 1980 #110, 1980 #201 1979 Batting Leaders (K.Hernandez/F.Lynn)
Top Row: 1981 Topps #720, 1981 TRADED #797, 1982 #252 In- Action
Middle Row: 1983 #392 All-Star, 1983 #520, 1984 #680
Bottom Row: 1985 #225, 1985 TRADED #77T, 1986 #55
Top Row: 1987 #370, 1988 #707, 1989 #416
Middle Row: 1990 #107, 1990 #663 Turn Back the Clock - '75, 1990 Wax Box bottom panel card #H (hand cut)
Bottom Row: 1990 TRADED #77T, 1991 #586, 1991 Operation Desert Shield #586
1975-1980 Boston Red Sox (Close up)
1975 Topps 172 Red Sox Team Darrell Johnson Mgr.
I'm guessing here, but Fred might be in the last row, 5th from right. It could also be that he might not even be in this photo as Topps would use photos from the previous year (1974). If someone knows for sure, please let me know! This was a great Red Sox team led by Carl Yastrzemski, Carlton Fisk, Luis Tiant, & youngsters Dwight Evans, Fred Lynn & Jim Rice.
1975 Topps 172 Red Sox Team (Team Checklist on back)
It's interesting to note that Topps card no. 622 Rookie Outfielders with Fred Lynn is not in the checklist! Card #616 Jim Rice is listed, so this must have been an oversight on Topps' part. If you were a Red Sox fan in 1975 and you were checking off the cards, you might have thought there was NO card of Fred, and you were wondering "what the hell is wrong with Topps?" And then you found card #622 Rookie Outfielders. It would have been cool if Topps would have done "solo" rookie cards of both Lynn & Rice, like they did with George Brett & Robin Yount.
1975 TOPPS #622 (Rookie Card)
1975 TOPPS #622 (Rookie Card)
Rookie card. Fred Lynn first appeared for the Red Sox in late 1974, so his first card (or Rookie card) was in 1975. In 1975 Lynn was the first player to win the Rookie of the Year AND Most Valuable Player in the same season. He also won the first of 4 Gold Glove Awards. The Red Sox went to the World Series but lost in a thrilling 7 game contest to the Cincinnati Reds. Lynn contributed a home run and some spectacular defense in what was to be his only World Series.
1976 TOPPS #50
1976 TOPPS #50
Lynn's 2nd year card. Great action shot with special "Topps All-Star Rookie" trophy. In 1976 Lynn played through injuries (a constant theme during his career) but still batted .314 and had a career high 8 triples. He also appeared in his 2nd consecutive All-Star Game and belted a HR off Tom Seaver. This is probably my favorite Fred Lynn baseball card.
1977 TOPPS #210
1977 TOPPS #210
3rd consecutive All-Star selection for Lynn! For 1977 Topps added "A.L (or N.L.) ALL-STARS" on cards of players who were selected to the All-Star team the previous year. In 1977 Topps allowed several players' iimages (inc.Lynn) to be used for a Venezuela League Sticker set. These stickers are extremely fragile and are commonly found in low grades. One of Fred Lynn's toughest TOPPS related issues.
1978 TOPPS #320
1978 TOPPS #320
Another favorite of mine is this 1978 Topps card. It depicts a relaxed pose by the batting cage prior to a game. The 1978 season was supposed to be another return to the World Series by the Red Sox. The season ended in a tie with the Yankees and an extra game was played to determine the Pennant winner. The Red Sox lost (remember they were "cursed" at that time) but Lynn contributed a .298/ 22 HR/ 82 RBI season. He also won his 2nd Gold Glove Award.
1979 TOPPS #480
1979 TOPPS #480
The 1979 season might have been Lynn's best ever. He did not win the MVP, but he was the A.L. Batting Champion with a cool .333 average (career high). He had career highs in Runs (116), RBI (122) & HRs (39) , plus won his 3rd Gold Glove Award. In the All-Star Game in Seattle he belted a HR plus crashed into the centerfield wall in an effort to steal a Mike Schmidt triple. Fred says "I make that catch in my dreams..."
1980 TOPPS #110
1980 TOPPS #110
The 1980 season was Fred's last in a Boston Red Sox uniform. He was plagued by injuries and played in only 110 games. He still managed to hit .301 but the Red Sox management at the time knew Lynn was elligible for free agency in 1981 and wanted to avoid paying the big bucks. So they stalled and sent contract renewals to both Lynn and Carlton Fisk. Problem was the contracts were mailed LATE, making both players free agents. Fisk signed with the White Sox, but Lynn accepted a trade to the California Angels near his hometown. That was the end of that great Red Sox team.
Scarcer 1970's Fred Lynn Baseball Cards
1976 MSA Player Disc Samples Fred Lynn
Very rare player disc that are among the first MSA produced. These sample discs are much rarer than the later MSA issues that were used to promote products. The text on front is imprinted, not like the normal printing on the regular discs. The backs are blank. Notice the image used is the same as on his 1975 Topps #622 Rookie card!
1977 Venezuelan League Stickers 144 Fred Lynn
In 1977 a baseball sticker set was issued along with a special album to affix the stickers. Among the set are several current (at the time) Major League players. The sticker fronts are very similar to the 1977 Topps baseball issue but the stickers are smaller in size and the printing is rather crude. The stickers are blank backed and very fragile. Most are found in low grades due to having been removed from the albums. This is one of the hardest Fred Lynn issues to find.
1976 Hostess 3-Card Panel F.Lynn/J.Morgan/P.Niekro
Hostess, makers of "DING-DONGS," "HO-HO's," "TWINKIES," etc., issued baseball cards on various packages of snack treats. The cards were intended to be cut out and traded. This uncut panel has an early card of Fred Lynn along with Hall of Famers Joe Morgan & Phil Niekro. At this point time it looked like a no-brainer that Lynn would one day be in the HOF but injuries took their toll. He's still a Hall of Famer in my book though! I am pretty lucky, my dad used to work for Hostess and would bring home empty boxes with the cards intact. Thanks Pops!
1975 SSPC Puzzle Backs Fred Lynn
SSPC briefly created a major card set in 1975 (including Fred Lynn), but because of legal problems the set wasn't issued until 1976. SSPC also issued a 24-card "Puzzle backs" set using simple uncluttered photos. The back of this card features part of a Jim "Catfish" Hunter puzzle. Technically you could say that this and the regular SSPC cards are "Rookie cards." The regular 1975 SSPC 402 Fred Lynn card has a different photo than the above Puzzle back card. I will post one shortly.
Kellogg's 3-D Superstars Fred Lynn cards in original wrappers (as issued in cereal boxes)
1979 Kellogg's 3-D Superstars 80 Fred Lynn
1979 Kellogg's 3-D Superstars 80 Fred Lynn (Back view)
1980 Kellogg's 3-D Superstars 40 Fred Lynn
1980 Kellogg's 3-D Superstars 40 Fred Lynn (Back view)
Most of the Kellogg's 3-D Superstars cards could be ordered in complete set form via Mail Order, or you could get one in various Kellogg's cereal boxes. The above 1979 & 1980 Kellogg's Fred Lynn cards (above) are still in their unopened paper wrappers as issued in the cereal boxes. I actually ordered a 1979 Kellogg's 3-D Superstars complete set in 1979, which I still have. The cards did not come with wrappers via Mail Order. If I remember right, they came in a box. Some years the Kellogg's cards have a slight "curl" to them and this was the case in 1979. The Kellogg's cards can (& do) crack easily so if your Kellogg's card has this "curl" I would advise to keep it in a flexible, not rigid, card holder. I will post my 1979 Kellogg's Fred Lynn card shortly so you can have a better look at the card. But I think it's cool to have the cards still in the wrapper too. I would imagine they are very scarce. Luckily they are very affordable!
1978 McDONALD's BOSTON RED SOX
1977 Hostess Twinkies 51 Fred Lynn
The 1978 McDonald's Boston Red Sox cards are very difficult to find. They measure 3-1/2' x 6," very much postcard size. They feature full-color photos with a facsimile autograph. The backs of the card are blank. Supposedly the cards had limited distribution in the Boston area McDonald's and were included in "Treasure Chest" meals for kids under 12. There are (6) known players; Rick Burleson, Carlton Fisk, Fred Lynn, Jim Rice, Luis Tiant and Carl Yastrzemski. This Fred Lynn card was given to me by a long-distance friend who knew I collected all things Fred Lynn. Thank you!
Hostess also issued cards in single packages of Twinkies snack treats. The Hostess Twinkies were placed on small piece of white cardboard measuring about 3-1/8" x 4-1/4."The cardboard was used not only for packaging purposes, but they also contained the card as an added bonus. Of course, there was a problem ("Houston, we have a problem..."). Twinkies are GREASY. Hence the Hostess TWINKIES cards are commonly found stained. The card fronts are exactly like the regular Hostess cards, but have a black rectangular "band" on one edge of the card. The regular Hostess cards do not. I believe the above 1977 Hostess "Twinkies" #51 Fred Lynn card has been mis-identified by PSA (Professional Sports Authenticator) as there is no black band on the back of the card. It also is suspect because of a lack of Twinkies grease stains. I could probably get a job down there (PSA is is based in Newport Beach CA) but I don't think they can afford me... (plus I don't want to commute 2 hours a day in traffic).
1979 Sports Challenge Records FRED LYNN
1979 Sports Challenge Records Fred Lynn
1979 Sports Challenge Records Fred Lynn
Back view
Back view
"Sports Challenge" was a popular television Sports Quiz show in the 1970's (if memory serves, I believe it was hosted by the late great Dick Enberg!). Sports Challenge produced these 6" diameter picture discs to promote the show. The discs are actual 33-1/3 rpm records. The front has artwork of the players (there are 12 different discs), the back has a short biography of the player and Sports Challenge logo. On this 1979 Sports Challenge FRED LYNN - Has Incredible Day in Detroit record, is highlights and interview with Fred about his 3-home run (also a Triple & single!), 10 RBI game in Detroit in 1975. This disc is unplayed (Note center hole for record spindle intact).
1977 Boston Red Sox check made out to Fred Lynn. I had just turned 14! Good grief
1980 TOPPS PEPSI-COLA ALL-STARS 6 FRED LYNN - "THE HOLY GRAIL" OF FRED LYNN CARDS!
You must all bow down & worship this card... In my opinion, this 1980 TOPPS PEPSI-COLA ALL-STARS 6 FRED LYNN is the "HOLY GRAIL" of Fred Lynn baseball cards. In 1980 Topps created a proposed (22) card set for Pepsi-Cola. Topps printed 3 card sheets for Pepsi's approval. For whatever reason, the set was never issued. One of the card sheets was later cut up into single cards. Another sheet sold in an auction (I think it was in 5 figures...). The other sheet, who knows. In any case the cards are extremely RARE. The above example is 1 of only 5 Professionally authenticated by SGC (Sportscard Guarantee Co. The photo and card format is nearly identical to Fred's 1980 TOPPS 110 card, but other than that there are noticeable differences. For starters there is the Pepsi logo on both the front and back of the card. Instead of "A.L. ALL-STARS" on the regular Topps card, the TOPPS PEPSI and "ALL-STARS." The colors are different on front, the TOPPS PEPSI colors are Red, white and blue. The card back is different as well. Certainly the card numbers are different as the TOPPS PEPSI had just 22 cards, while the regular 1980 Topps set consisted of (726) cards. What is great about this card is that it was never released. If it had been, likely they would have mass-produced them like most 1980's-1990's cards. But because they were never issued, they remain among the rarest of modern baseball cards. The only reason I even KNEW about the set was many years ago I had seen the set cataloged in the annual SCD Standard Catalog of Baseball Cards (Krause Publications). I was fascinated because I knew that this was a Fred Lynn card I could only DREAM about. Kind of like now having a 1952 TOPPS 311 MICKEY MANTLE card, for those who grew up idolizing him. For me, my baseball hero was Fred Lynn. And this card is far RARER than the 1952 Topps Mantle card because it was never issued! Anyway, here is picture of one if you have never seen one before!
By the way....exactly half of the 22-card 1980 TOPPS PEPSI-COLA ALL-STARS set includes Hall of Famers like Mike Schmidt, Reggie Jackson, Rod Carew, etc.. At this point in his career, Fred was one of the best players in the game! While Fred Lynn is not in the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown (injuries and outfield walls before padding took their toll), he IS a HALL OF FAMER in my biased opinion! He is also in the NCAA College Hall of Fame and the Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame.
1982 Topps #251 Fred Lynn BLACKLESS Variation (Rare)
1982 Topps 251 Fred Lynn (regular card, left) & rare 1982 Topps 251 Fred Lynn BLACKLESS variation (right)
The 1982 Topps baseball cards, like most cards of that era, are not hard to find. But for some strange reason, half of the cards (396) were printed missing the thin black border that goes around the photo, & the facsimile autograph on the front. The cards are not entirely "blackless" as the title suggests (see above example). But they are missing the autograph & black border. The card backs are identical. The "blackless" cards were a factory error by Topps, and likely early in the print run. Usually, they catch things like this, and the card sheets are destroyed. But some of these cards got out. The 1982 Topps "BLACKLESS" cards are considered a "variation," and they are RARE! Fred Lynn, along with former teammates Dwight Evans, & Carlton Fisk, have this "blackless" variation. How rare are these? PSA has authenticated just five (5) examples of the Lynn card. Not to say there are not more, the above example is from my collection, and it is not authenticated or graded by PSA. Still, a tough, tough issue. Expect to pay a premium for 1982 Topps BLACKLESS cards graded by a reputable Professional Authenticator (PSA, SGC, Becketts). Between the 1977 Venezuelan League Stickers & 1980 Topps Pepsi-Cola All-Stars Fred Lynn cards, this one is maybe the rarest!
1991 Topps Stadium Club #415 Fred Lynn - A last hurrah that was never issued!
1991 Topps Stadium Club Fred Lynn photo for proposed card #415
1991 Stadium Club #415 Rick Honeycutt
(BOOOO for TOPPS!)
Topps issued their last regular card of Lynn in the 1991 Topps set (card no. 586). They had also planned to do a Fred Lynn card in their debut premium issue, 1991 STADIUM CLUB. The card was supposed to be #415 and a photo of Lynn in his Padres warm-up jacket was selected. The card was never issued, and it's a shame as the Stadium Club cards were how ALL Topps cards should have been at that time; high quality cards with sharp photos and high glossy surface (now all card are like that). For whatever reason a card of Fred Lynn was not issued from the 1991 Stadium Club set. Instead card #415 went to Rick Honeycutt (see pic), who was not a bad pitcher, but come on Topps! Fred deserved better! You can see the photo of Fred that Topps was going to use, along with original Topps envelope with notes about the card... that never was!
To Topps credit, they have since done numerous highlight and "Turn Back The Clock" Fred Lynn cards. But still, I say... BOOOOOOO!!!
1976 Kellogg's 3-D Superstars #31 Fred Lynn
Questions? Comments? Email me at Nowbatting19@yahoo.com
My daughter, me & my baseball hero! Thanks Natalie!
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