Return to the Oddball Archive Index
Specs
Year: 1971
Title: Mattel Instant Replay
Size: 2-3/8″ Diameter Discs
Number in Set: 9
Overview
There is a lot of overlapping and confusing information in the hobby about the 1971 Mattel Instant Replay set. Also, some references write they may have been a 1970 release and there are also a lot of questions about the double-sided discs. So if you have any corrections or better information about this set, please reach out to me.
In the early 1970s, Mattel released the pictured red and blue handheld record players that played snippets of sports moments recorded on small discs. Each box included a few discs that pictured sports superstars, so the discs have become a popular collectible.
If you wanted to finish the basketball sets of discs, one way was to buy a four-disc blister pack.
Blisters for the other sports were available too (football, baseball, and hockey).
Here is an example of a basketball blister pak case/box.
Collectors could also pruchase 8-disc portfolios that came with a booklet.
Each unnumbered disc was black and had a paper sticker applied to the front with the player’s depiction, name, and team. The recorded side also has the player’s name and set’s title stamped on it.
A second issue was made, too, with two-sided discs. Beckett describes them as ivory and writes that some collectors refer to them as “Mattle Show ‘N Tell” discs.
Example
Key Cards
The Lew Alcindor disc is the priciest due to its unique distribution in record player boxes only and not in the blister paks. Also, note that PSA is no longer grading these, but 171 discs exist in their registry; here is an Alcindor example.
Checklist
Elgin Baylor
Wilt Chamberlain
Jerry Lucas
Pete Maravich
John Havlicek
Willis Reed
Oscar Robertson
Jerry West
Lew Alcindor