One of my earliest memories of a sports related collectable is that of the 1960’s Vople Tumblers. These were cups as I recall being available with fill ups at local Tressler Comet gas stations in Cincinnati. Truth be told, I stopped following the Cincinnati Reds as ball club almost a decade ago. For some reason, I just couldn’t seem to remain connected with the team and players after I had been gone from the city for over two decades. I still find myself looking for items from players from the period of the 1970s and before. I decided not too long ago to begin putting together a set of the Reds Vople tumblers. In searching them out, I found that the Reds Series was one of a number of similar offerings.
When I got my first couple of these via E-Bay, I was taken back to a time when I was not permitted to drink from these as they were the “special Reds cups” usually reserved for a cold Hudepohl beer or “high ball” while my dad listened the “The Ole Lefthander” call a game. I was also surprised to find the bottom of the tumblers stamped with Made in USA. The concept for these items is simple, a paper print inside a tumbler sealed with a plastic cap. The artwork is far from simple, thus my attraction to them.
In searching for information on these I came across a number of sites besides E-Bay offering them. In addition, I noticed other Vople related items as well being offered in the form of cards (1963-1964 Western Oil Twins) and 11 x 8 ½ prints for such teams as the Minnesota Vikings (1970) Atlanta Braves (1966 Pure Oil Company), 1962, 1964, 1969 Dodgers (Union Oil). I am sure there are other products and someone out there who has a serious collection of Volpe items. However, if you’re like me and just a novice, you might find some this “starter information” helpful.
Cincinnati Reds: Year of Issue 1966, (set of 12)
Available at Tresler Comet Gas Stations
Chico Cardenas
Gordy Coleman
John Edwards
John Ellis
Tommy Harper
Deron Johnson
Jim Maloney
Bill McCool
Joe Nuxhall
Jim O’Toole
Vada Pinson
Pete Rose
Buffalo Bills: Year of Issue 1965, (set of 12)
Available at ?
Glenn Bass
Butch Bryd
Wray Carlton
John Day
Billy Joe
Jack Kemp
Darryl Lamonica
Tom Lestak
Lou Saban
Gearge Saimes
Billy Shaw
Mike Stratton
Cleveland Browns: Year of Issue 1965 (set of 12)
Available at Clark Oil Gas Stations
Jim Brown
Blanton Collier
Gary Collins
Vince Costello
Bill Glass
Lou Groza
Jim Houston
Jim Kanicki
Dick Modezelski
Frank Ryan
Dick Schafrath
Paul Warfield
Cleveland Indians: Year of Issue 1966, (set of 12)
Available at ?
Max Alvis
Joe Azcue
Larry Brown
Rocky Colavito
Vic Davalillo
Chuck Hinton
Dick Howser
Sam McDowell
Don McMahon
Sonny Siebert
Leon Wagner
Fred Whitfield
Detroit Lions: Year of Issue?, (set of ?)
Available at ?
Mel Farr
Wayne Walker
Detroit Tigers: Year of Issue 1966, (set of 12)
Available at Sunaco Gas Stations
Hank Aguirre
Norm Cash
Don Demeter
Bill Freeman
Willie Horton
Al Kaline
Mickey Lolich
Dick Mcauliffe
Denny McClain
Joe Sparma
Don Wert
Dave Wickersham
Detroit Red Wings: Year of Issue 1971, (set of ?)
Available at ?
Wayne Connelly
Alex Delvecchio
Roy Edwards
Gordie Howe
Frank Mahovlich
Darrell Oren
Garry Unger
Indiana Pacers: Year of Issue 1971, (set of 6)
Available at ?
Art Becker
Roger Brown
Mel Daniels
Bill Keller
Freddie Lewis (with Mel Daniels name)
Rick Mount
Bob Netolicky
Kentucky Colonels: Year of Issue ?, (set of )
Available at ?
Darel Carrier
Louie Dampier
Dan Issel
Jim Ligon
Cincy Powell
Walt Simon
Los Angeles Dodgers: Year of Issue 1965, (set of 12)
Available at Union 76 Gas stations & Kentucky Fried Chicken
Tommy Davis
Willie Davis
Don Drysdale
Ron Fairly
John Kennedy
Sandy Koufax
Jim Lefebvre
Claude Osteen
Wes Parker
Ron Perranoski
John Rosboso
Maury Wills
Los Angeles Rams: Year of Issue ? (set of ?)
Available at ?
Dick Bass
Roger Brown
Roman Gabriel
Deacon Jones
Lamar Lundy
Merlin Olson
Minnesota Vikings: Year of Issue ? (set of?)
Available at ?
Alan Page
Montreal Canadians: Year of Issue 1966, (set of 12)
Available at Steinberg’s Stores
Ralph Backstrom
Jean Beliveau
John Ferguson
Charlie Hodge
Claude Provost
Bobby Rosseau
Henri Richard
Jean Guy Talbot
Giles Trembley
J.C. Trembley
Gump Worsley
Jacques Laperriere
NBA All-Stars: Year of Issue 1968, (set of ?)
Available at ?
Elgin Baylor
New York Mets: Year of Issue 1966, (set of 12)
Available at ?
Larry Bearnarth
Yogi Berra
Jack Fisher
Rob Gardner
Jim Hickman
Ron Hunt
Ed Kranepool
Johnny Lewis
Tug Mcgraw
Roy McMillan
Dick Stuart
Ron Swoboda
Oakland Raiders : Year of Issue (set of ?)
Available at ?
Ben Davidson
Darryl Lamonica
Jim Otto
St Louis Cardinals: Year of Issue ? (set of 6)
Available at ?
Lou Brock
Orlando Cepeda
Curt Flood
Bob Gibson
Tim McCarver
Mike Shannon
San Francisco 49ers: Year of Issue ?(set of ?)
Available at ?
John Brodie
John David Crow
Charlie Krueger
Ken Willard
Seattle Supersonics: Year of Issue ? (set of ?)
Available at ?
Tommy Kron
Tom Meschery
Bob Rule
Al Tucker
Lenny Wilkens
Washington Redskins: Year of Issue 1965,(set of ?)
Available at ?
Sam Huff
Sonny Jorgenson
Bob Mitchell
John Paluck
Joe Rutgens
Charley Taylor
For my collecting purposes, I am not looking for MINT examples, but rather ones that display nicely. When asking about these products, you will want to inquire about cracks to the plastic and if there is any water damage to the interior print. If you have information about these tumblers that is not listed here, such as when they were issued, the names and number of players in a set as well is what outlets offered them as promotional items, I would love to hear from you.
As always, collect what you enjoy and enjoy what you collect.
MEARS Auth, LLC
For questions and comments on this article, please feel free to drop me a line at DaveGrob1@aol.com