Forty years ago, Topps and Kmart teamed up to release the first boxed set through a retail chain, which touched off those now familiar and ubiquitous sets from Topps, Fleer and many department stores that lasted through the 1980s. But the 1982 Kmart set was unique when it came out. I know. I was there. My brother worked at Kmart at the time. One day he came home from work to tell his fellow baseball-card-addicted brothers that Kmart was selling some sort of new Topps set in individual boxes. We were intrigued. Everything about this was new. A 44-card set all in one mini box? Never heard of such a thing. You can only get them in one particular department store? Wild. I was instantly jealous of my brother. He had access . My brother picked up a box almost immediately. We could afford them even on our paltry salaries. I remember each box costing $1.97. But getting a box was more difficult for me. I don't remember what time of year it was but maybe I had school to go to, and I...
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