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Wolfman's Topps Sets of the 60s

Topps Sets of the 60's

The following is a list of the 1960s that I have completed.  Also included is information regarding each of the Topps baseball sets issued in the 1960s.

Wolfman's Complete Sets of the 60s

1968 Topps - Completed

1969 Topps - Completed

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Topps 1960

  • Set Size: 572 cards.

  • Design: This was the first standard-sized Topps set to feature an entirely horizontal layout. Each card showcases two images of the player: a large full-color portrait alongside a smaller black-and-white action shot.  The set is known for its bright, multi-colored backgrounds including yellows, greens, and reds, with the player's name and team information appearing in bold block letters

  • Key Rookies:  Carl Yastrzemski (#148), Willie McCovey (#316), and Juan Marichal (#343) are highlights.

  • Key Stars: The set includes legends like Mickey Mantle (#350), Willie Mays (#200), Hank Aaron (#300), and Sandy Koufax (#343).

  • Subsets: The set includes several specialized subsets, such as World Series highlights (385-391), and Sport Magazine All-Star selections (553-572).

  • High Numbers: Cards #507–572 are considered "high numbers." 

  • Inserts: Topps included three different inserts to justify a price increase to 10 cents: player biographic booklets, posters, and Scratch-Off game cards.

Topps 1961

  • Set Size: 587 cards.

  • Design: The cards are known for their clean, straightforward design, often featuring vertical, full-color player images.

  • Key Rookies:  The 1961 set features HOF rookies #35 Ron Santo, #141 Billy Williams, and #417 Juan Marichal.

  • Key Stars:  The 1961 Set features #2 Roger Maris, #150 Willie Mays, #211 Bob Gibson, #290 Stan Musial, #300 Mickey Mantle, #344 Sandy Koufax, #388 Roberto Clemente, and #415 Hank Aaron.

  • Subsets: 1961 was the first Topps set to feature dedicated "League Leader" cards, highlighting top performers from the 1960 season. League Leaders (#41-50), Baseball Thrills (#401-410), MVP Cards (#471-486), All-Stars (#566-589).

  • High Numbers: The set was released in seven series. The High Number Series (Series 7, cards #523–589).

  • Inserts/Other Products: The 1961 set also featured 208 collectible stamps in wax packs. Unmarked, original checklists from this era can be valuable to collectors.

  • Fun Facts:  Cards #426, 587, and 588 never produced.  

Topps 1962

  • Set Size: 787 cards.

  • Design: The cards are known for their distinct, vibrant, and somewhat controversial design, often referred to as "psychedelic tombstones. Unlike the 1975 set, which had randomized, chaotic colors, the 1972 set was organized, with all players on a specific team sharing the same color scheme.In Action" Cards: These cards (interspersed throughout the set) featured action shots, often with a more creative, candid feel than the standard portrait shots.

  • Key Rookies: Carlton Fisk / Cecil Cooper / Mike Garman (#79): The only Hall of Fame rookie card in the set, featuring a young Carlton Fisk who would go on to win the AL Rookie of the Year award that season. 

  • Key Stars: Key Hall of Fame cards include Nolan Ryan (#595), Roberto Clemente (#309), Hank Aaron (#299), Willie Mays (#49), and Pete Rose (#559).

  • Subsets: The set included League Leaders (85–96), Playoff cards (221–222), World Series cards (223–230), and "Boyhood Photos of the Stars" (341–348/491–498). Traded Cards: Cards 751–757 feature players in their new uniforms after being traded. 

  • High Numbers: Released in six series with high numbered 526–787, particularly those in the final series, are notoriously harder to find, with Steve Carlton (#751) being a key high-number card. 

  • Fun Fact:  This was the final year of Topps' exclusive licensing before competition from other manufacturers began.

Topps 1963

Topps 1964

  • Set Size: 660 cards.

  • Design: The 1974 cards feature color photos, featuring the player’s name, team, and position, often using a classic 1970s design aesthetic.

  • Key Rookies: The set includes the rookie cards of Hall of Famers Dave Winfield (#456) and Dave Parker (#252). Other notable rookies include Ken Griffey, Sr. (#598), Bucky Dent (#582), and Frank Tanana (#605).

  • Key Stars: The set includes key cards of superstars like Nolan Ryan (#20), Pete Rose (#300), Tom Seaver (#80), Johnny Bench (#10), Reggie Jackson (#130), and Brooks Robinson (#160). 

  • Subsets: The set included League Leaders (201-208), All-Stars (331-339), Playoffs (470-471), and World Series highlights (472-479).

  • Topps Traded: A 44-card "Traded" set was also issued later in the year, featuring players in their new uniforms (e.g., Lou Brock, Gaylord Perry). 

  • Fun Facts:  The 1974 set was released all at once, a change from the traditional, multiple-series release that started in 1952. 1974 was the first year Topps offered factory sets, which were sold exclusively through the J.C. Penney catalog.

Topps 1965

  • Set Size: 660 cards.

  • Design: The 1975 set is famous for its distinctive, colorful, two-tone borders that often corresponded with team colors

  • Key Rookies:   The 1975 set is renowned for containing the rookie cards of several Hall of Famers, making it a critical set for collectors: Robin Yount (#223), George Brett (#228), Gary Carter (#620), Jim Rice (#616), Fred Lynn (#622), Keith Hernandez (#623) 

  • Key Stars: Hank Aaron (Highlights #1 and #660), Nolan Ryan (Highlights #5 and #7), Pete Rose (#320), Mike Schmidt (#70)

  • Final Cards: The set features final cards for stars like Bob Gibson (#150), Harmon Killebrew (#640), and Frank Robinson (#580). 

  • Subsets:  The set begins with a "Highlights" subset (cards 1–7) featuring milestones from the 1974 season, including Hank Aaron’s 715th home run. It also includes League Leader cards (306-313), Playoffs (459-460), and World Series highlights (461-466).and MVP cards from 1951 to 1974 (189-212).

  • High Numbers: Cards in the final series (#529–660) are known to be more difficult to find, making them more sought after. 

  • Fun Facts:  Topps produced a parallel "mini" set in 1975, which measures

  • 2-1/4 x 3-1/8.  These were test-marketed primarily in Michigan and California and are now highly collectible.

Topps 1966

  • Set Size: 660 cards.

  • Design:  Mellow color combinations on white borders, often described as a blend of 1974 and 1975 styles, with a small graphic of a player in action on the front.  Back of cards feature a green-and-black, sometimes grayish, design with biographical info and statistics.

  • Key Rookies: Dennis Eckersley (#98): Considered the premier rookie card of the set.

  • Key Stars: Includes iconic veterans such as Nolan Ryan (#330), Reggie Jackson (#500), and George Brett (#19).

  • Final Cards: Hank Aaron (#1): Significant as his final "active" card with the Milwaukee Brewers.

  • Subsets: Record Breakers (#1-6), League Leaders (#191-205), Post-Season, Highlights (#461-466), Father and Son (#601-605), Checklists:(#132, #264, #396, #528, #660). Traded Subset: A 44-card subset (#1T–44T) featuring players who changed teams after the initial printing, such as Steve Carlton and Frank Robinson. Father/Son Cards: Features famous baseball families like Buddy Bell and his father Gus. 

  • Topps Traded: ​A 44-card subset (#1T–44T) featuring players who changed teams after the initial printing, such as Steve Carlton and Frank Robinson. Father/Son Cards: Features famous baseball families like Buddy Bell and his father Gus. 

  • Fun Facts:  The

Topps 1967

  • Set Size: 660 cards.

  • Design: Known for a bright, colorful design with the team name in large, block letters on the front. 

  • Key Rookies:  Mark Fidrych RC (#265), Bruce Sutter RC (#144), Andre Dawson RC (#473), Dale Murphy RC (#476), Jack Clark (#488).

  • Key Stars: Nolan Ryan (#650), George Brett (#20), Reggie Jackson (#10), Thurman Munson (#170), and Tom Seaver (#150). 

  • Final Cards: The set features final cards for stars like Bob Gibson (#150), Harmon Killebrew (#640), and Frank Robinson (#580). 

  • Subsets:  League Leaders (#1-8), Record Breakers (#231-234), 1976 LCS (#276-277), 1976 World Series (#411-413), Turn Back the Clock (#433-437) and Big League Brothers: Cards #631–634 featuring siblings in MLB.​

  • Fun Facts:  Expansion Teams: Features the first cards for the Seattle Mariners and Toronto Blue Jays - whose players were famously airbrushed into their new uniforms because photographs in the new gear were not yet available.

Topps 1968

  • Set Size: 598 cards.

  • Design: Distinctive burlap/speckled frame around color photos.

  • Key Rookies: Nolan Ryan/Jerry Koosman (#177), Johnny Bench (#247).

  • Key Stars: Mickey Mantle (#280), "Super Stars" (Mantle/Mays/Killebrew, #490), "Manager's Dream" (Clemente/Oliva/Cardenas, #480), and second-year cards of Tom Seaver (#45) and Rod Carew (#80).

  • Subsets: League Leaders (1-12), World Series Highlights (151-158), and The Sporting News All-Stars (361-380).

  • Condition Issues: The burlap borders are highly susceptible to chipping and edge wear.

  • High Numbers: The set was released in seven series. The high-number series (#498–598).

Topps 1969

  • Set Size: 664 cards.

  • Design: Features a full-color photo with a crisp white border, with the player's name and position inside a colored circle at the top.

  • Key Rookies: Reggie Jackson (#260), Rollie Fingers (#597), Bobby Cox, Graig Nettles, Sparky Lyle, and Bobby Bonds. 

  • Key Stars: Mickey Mantle (#500) Final active Topps card of the Yankee legend, Nolan Ryan (#533): Second-year card, but often considered his first solo Topps card.

  • Subsets: League Leaders: Cards (1-12), World Series Highlights: Cards (163-169), Sporting News All-Stars: Cards (416-435)

  • High Numbers: Released in seven series, with high-number cards (Series 7, #589-664)

  • Inserts: Topps included 33 "Deckle Edge" cards and 48 small 1-1/2” by 1-1/2” decals in packs. 

  • Set Size: 660 cards.

  • Design: The 1973 set features a clean, simple look with a large color photo on the front, bordered in white The card backs are printed in black ink on a muted orange background, featuring career statistics, biographical details, and a small trivia cartoon.

  • Key Rookies: The 1973 set contains major rookie cards, including Mike Schmidt (#615), Goose Gossage (#174), Ron Cey, and Davey Lopes.

  • Key Stars: The set features iconic cards of Willie Mays (his last "active" card), Hank Aaron, Pete Rose, Roberto Clemente, and Nolan Ryan. 

  • Subsets:  All-Time Leaders (#1–#8), League Leaders (#61–#68), Playoff & World Series Highlights (#201–#202), Highlights from the 1972 postseason.

  • High Numbers: Cards in the final series (#529–660) are known to be more difficult to find, making them more sought after. 

  • Fun Facts: 1973 was the final year Topps released its flagship set in staggered, multi-series waves throughout the season.

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