Complete Vintage Fleer Sets

While adding another round of Complete Sets to our inventory last week, we noticed there was a nice run of complete Fleer Sets from 1959 to 1961.  Out of the four sets we added, two of them are VG/EX and the others are EX/MT.  Vintage Fleer Cards will never hold the same prestige as Vintage Topps, or even Bowman for that matter, but these are sets that don't come around as often either.  Plus, at DeansCards.com, it's always fun when someone finds some 1959 Fleer cards and makes sure to let us know they struck gold and found a Ted Williams!

As fun as the 1959 Fleer Ted Williams set is, the set we see the least of is the 1960 Fleer Football Card set.  The 1960 Fleer Football cards were Fleer's first adventure into Football.  The production quality from Fleer on this set was really, really bad.  High-grade cards aren't something you will see a lot of in this set, due to constant miscuts, rough cuts and sloppy print flaws.  With this being their first football set, and their worst production, it really gives the cards their own admirable qualities.

Now for those sets:

• 1959 Fleer Baseball Complete Set - Very Good/Excellent
• 1960 Fleer Football Complete Set - Very Good/Excellent
• 1960 Fleer Baseball Compete Set - Excellent/Mint
• 1961 Fleer Baseball Complete Set - Excellent/Mint

If you are still interested in Fleer Baseball Cards and aren't a complete set kind of guy, make sure to check out our huge selection of singles too.  We always have a surge of collections at the beginning of the year, so keep an eye on our Recently Added Cards page to keep up and what we're getting in the door.

Set-Break: Near Mint 1968 Topps Football Cards

Sometimes you have the singles and sometimes you don't.  When we don't have the singles at DeansCards.com we turn to our Complete Sets to see what we can do.  We had a gorgeous Near Mint 1968 Topps Football complete set and decided to bust it so we could fill in the high grade singles we were missing.  The lowest grade of any card from the break was Excellent/Mint, making this a really great addition to our singles.

The best singles from the break:

• Bart Starr - Near Mint
• Joe Namath - Near Mint
• Dick Butkus - Near Mint/Mint
• Don Meredith - Near Mint/Mint

Click here to see our entire 1968 Topps Football Card selection.

Inventory In-Depth: Our Plethora of 1961 Topps Baseball Cards

Q: Where can you choose to buy from over 18,000 different 1961 Topps Baseball Cards? 

A: Only at DeansCards.com.

We have the most comprehensive listing anywhere on the worldwide web, and we’ve just added 5,000 more cards to our extensive inventory! Sorry for boasting, but we even have more than eBay, who currently has less 15,000 listings from that year.

# 300 Mickey Mantle - 1961 Topps Baseball

The 1961 Topps offering celebrates its golden anniversary in 2011 with 50 years since production!  Amazingly enough, we still have over 7,000 cards in Excellent/Mint condition or better.  You just don’t see these cards in this great condition every day.

When you add it up, nobody has the quality or quantity that DeansCards.com has to offer when it comes to vintage cards.  If you’re looking to start collecting the set, pick up one of our starter sets and get some major discounts on top of DeansCards.com everyday discounts.  Or shop for your favorite big league team or player.  Either way, Dean’s Cards has all the 1961 Topps Baseball to make your collection complete.

(Left) # 2 Roger Maris - 1961 Topps Baseball

(Right) # 388 Roberto Clemente - 1961 Topps Baseball

Click here to check out our inventory of 1961 Topps Baseball Complete Sets, Starter Sets, Stars, Commons, and More!

Inventory In-Depth: Best & Worst Autographed Card

Here at DeansCards.com, we have hundreds of autographed cards and even a few baseballs. Unlike regular baseball cards, autographed cards have a human element to them that can make them more difficult, but also more fun, to collect. There is a wide array of autographed cards that range from high-quality penmanship to scribbles.

One of our least favorite autographed cards came from the 1969 Topps baseball autographed set.  Dean has been hard at work getting as much of this set autographed, but the vast majority of cards came already autographed from a private collectors.  In this case, Reggie Jackson signed over his own face on his rookie card.  This card has been PSA/DNA certified, but it is still incredibly entertaining to see a signature directly on the most important part of a baseball card.

The office favorite is probably this 1967 Topps #423 Fence Busters card featuring Willie Mays and Willie McCovey. At the time this card was issued, Mays had been playing for 16 years, while McCovey had been in the league for about 8 years. In 1966, they hit almost an identical number of home runs (Mays had 37, McCovey had 36). Although Mays' signature is a bit smeared, it still has his easily distinctive signature. We are definitely glad someone took a trip to Candlestick Park and got these two sluggers' signatures.

Please click here to view our entire selection of autographed cards.

Kahn's Baseball Cards

From 1955 until 1969, the Kahn's company issued fifteen baseball sets, in addition to nine basketball sets. Kahn's was headquartered in Cincinnati until it was purchased by Consolidated Foods in 1966. The 1955 and 1956 Kahn's sets feature only the hometown Reds. The Pirates were included starting in 1957 and the Phillies in 1958. The Indians were added in 1959, followed by both the Chicago Cubs and White Sox in 1960. The 1961 Kahn's set dropped the number of teams to the Reds, Indians, and Pirates. In 1962, Kahn's added the Minnesota Twins to the set. The 1963 set was unusual, as it included the Reds, Indians, Pirates, and, for the first time, the Yankees and the Cardinals. The 1964 set was the first to introduce color and featured only Reds, Pirates, and Indians players. The 1965 and 1966 set added the Milwaukee Braves before they moved to Atlanta at the end of the 1965 season. The 1967 set had numerous variations and included the Braves, Reds, Indians, Mets, and Pirates. The 1968 set added the Tigers and both Chicago teams to the previous year's set. And the final year of vintage Kahn's cards featured the Braves, Cubs, White Sox, Reds, Indians, Pirates, and Cardinals.

All Kahn's cards are somewhat hard to find because they were packaged with hot dogs, so many of the cards have stains from the grease and water that were in the packaging. Some of the first few years have a waxy coating that protected them from the juice, but most cards that have survived are low-grade. If you are interested in selling any Kahn's cards, please click here.

Harmon Killebrew Baseball Cards

In honor of the late great Harmon Killebrew, we thought we would look back at some of Killer's best of his cards from his 22-year career.

The best place to start for Killebrew's cards would have to be his rookie card (#124) in the 1955 Topps set. At the time this card was printed, Killebrew was playing third base for the Washington Senators. He would spend most of his career as a first baseman for the Twins franchise, which was moved from Washington D.C. to Minnesota in 1960. Killebrew played left field, center field, right field, second base, and even DH for the Royals at the end of his career. Many casual baseball fans are surprised to learn that Killebrew's career took several years to really blossom and he was not named an All-Star until 5 years after his rookie season.

One of Killebrew's most attractive and expensive cards is his 1963 Topps #500 short-printed card. 1963 was another great offensive year for Killebrew. He lead the league in slugging percentage (.555) and home runs (45). Looking at the Twins' offensive statistics for 1963, it is hard to understand why this team didn't achieve more in the postseason. However, the 1963 Yankees' offense and the pitching of the 1963 Dodgers was just too much for the Twins.

Killebrew's #375 1969 Topps card is one of the most important of his entire career. Killebrew would win the AL MVP Award after helping lead the Twins to the ALCS, which they would lose to the Baltimore Orioles in three games. Killebrew would lead the league in both home runs (49) and RBI (140). Although the Twins would lose the only World Series that they went to with Killebrew on the roster in 1965, he will always be remember for his great postseason performances.

Please click here to view our entire inventory of Harmon Killebrew cards.

1967 Topps Rookie Cards

Right now, we have more 1967 Topps baseball cards high number and rookie cards that we have ever had in stock. The 1967 Topps set is one of the most difficult to complete due to the high number seventh series, which consists of cards #534-609. The high number series was not released in all parts of the country, was short printed, and was released at a time when the football season was just starting. These three factors make it very difficult to find any seventh series cards.

The 1967 Topps star cards are mostly head-shots. Cards #150 Mickey Mantle, #200 Willie Mays, and #400 Roberto Clemente are all three tight head-shots. Card #45 Roger Maris is the first to show him as a St. Louis Cardinal. He would play for the Cardinals for another 2 years. Some of the most attractive cards are #250 Hank Aaron and #430 Pete Rose. Both Rose and Aaron are shown in their batting stances. Aaron looks like he may be taking batting practice, while Rose is standing with his back to the outfield of what could be spring training outfield.

The 1967 Topps baseball card set has several key rookie cards.  Card #569 Rod Carew and  #581 Tom Seaver are part of the high number series, so both can be very difficult to find.

Please click here to view our entire inventory of 1967 Topps baseball cards.

Willie Mays Baseball Cards

As Willie Mays celebrates his 80th birthday, the staff here at DeansCards.com decided to take a look at some of his best baseball cards over his 22-year-career for the Giants and the Mets. With the Giants, Mays won Rookie of the Year in 1951 and the NL MVP twice (1954 and 1965). Mays finished in the top 20 of the MVP voting 15, was named to the All-Star team 18 times, was given the Gold Glove Award 12 times, and was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1979.

The logical place to start is with Mays' rookie card. Released in 1951 along with Mickey Mantle's rookie card, the 1951 Bowman is a horizontal card, which is somewhat unusual for the 1951 Bowman cards. It shows Mays about to swing, standing in front of some sort of cloth, perhaps for batting practice. Mays would be part of the first all African-American outfield in history. In 1952, Mays would be drafted by the U.S. Army and miss most of the 1952 and 1953 baseball season.

During the 1954 World Series, Mays made one of the most memorable catches of the decade and perhaps the entire century. Because there were no World Series recap cards like their would be in many 1960's sets, this catch would not be commemorate for several more years. One card that gives a great view of the over-the-shoulder catch is the #427 1961 Nu-Card Scoops. The Nu-Card Scoops set was intended to give a visual overview of some of the greatest plays in the past few decades of Major League Baseball.

Although Mays wold have cards all the way through the 1973 Topps set, one of our favorites is the simple #5 1958 Topps card. The 1958 Topps set is the first to feature cards from the San Francisco Giants team. The New York Giants franchise moved to San Francisco during the summer of 1957, leaving New York City with only one baseball team until the Mets arrived 1962. The 1958 Mays card is one of the few head-shots of the center fielder. Mays still looks the young, vibrant athlete that so many remember.

Please click here to see our full selection of Willie Mays baseball cards.

Inventory In-Depth: Best Basketball Cards

#75 Lew Alcindor

#61 Oscar Robertson

In honor of the 2011 NBA Playoffs, we though we would take a look at some of our favorite basketball cards that we have in stock. We are always trying to buy more basketball cards, but we have found that they can be very hard to find, especially from the 1950's and 1960's.

One of our hometown basketball heroes is Oscar Robertson, so of course we love his 1961-62 Fleer basketball card. Many basketball fans remember that the current Sacramento Kings franchise was located in Cincinnati for fifteen years (1957 to 1972). Cincinnatians had the opportunity to watch Oscar Robertson play to a 79-9 record during his three varsity seasons at University of Cincinnati and then average a triple-double for the Royals during the 1961-62 season.

#57 Michael Jordan RC

Another office favorite comes from the memorable 1970-71 Topps basketball card set, which consists of the tall-sized cards. The #75 Lew Alcindor card is the very last card to feature that name because Alcindor would go on to change is name to Kareem Abdul-Jabar after the Milwaukee Bucks won the NBA Championship in 1971. Alcindor also won his first of six MVP Awards.

And, of course, we couldn't leave out our Michael Jordan rookie card from the 1986-87 Fleer set. Although Jordan made his rookie debut with the Chicago Bulls in 1984, this card is considered to be his rookie Fleer card because it was the first basketball set that Fleer released in the 1980's.

To check out these cards and many other basketball cards, please click here.

1969 Globe Imports Playing Cards Complete Set

One set that people often ask us about is the 1969 Globe Imports Playing Cards set. It features many of the most popular stars from the late 1960's, including Pete Rose, Brooks Robinson, Bob Gibson, and Willie Mays, among others.

This set is so unique because the cards were actually printed on traditional playing cards. The players black-and-white action shot was just placed in the center of the card. We were also surprised by the size of the cards. They are very small, measuring only slightly larger than a postage stamp (their actual measurements are 1-5/8" by 2-1/4").

One of the most interesting aspects of the Globe Imports set is that there were several different variations that are included in the master set. For example, the Ace of Spades can be Don Drysdale, Mickey Mantle, or Ken Harrelson.

1960 Fleer Baseball Card Complete Set

#3 Babe Ruth

One of the very first retro card sets was the 1960 Fleer baseball card set. We are always surprised by how slowly these sets sell because they are full of Hall-of-Famers and star players from the first 90 years of professional baseball. Dean believes that this may be due to the fact that many of the players in the set are not wearing the uniforms of the team that made them famous. For example, Arky Vaughan is featured as a Brooklyn Dodger, but he spent only 4 of his 14 year career with the Dodgers. He is best known as the All-Star shortstop of the Pirates. George Sisler is shown as Boston Brave, but most people remember his for his 12 year career as a St. Louis Brown. Ernie Lombardi, a famous catcher for the Cincinnati Reds, is wearing a Giants uniform on his card.

#42 Ty Cobb

The Fleer company would make sets in 1961 and 1963, but the 1960 set definitely stands out for the unusual uniform choices. For those players who are featured in unexpected uniforms, it seems that the Fleer company picked the team that the player was on in the last year of his career. This would have made more sense in 1960, when collectors might remember that player for his last year in baseball. However, it makes the set slightly less desirable for collectors today.

Click here to see our selection of 1960, 1961, and 1963 Fleer cards!

Bert Sugar's Baseball Hall of Fame

Bert Sugar's Baseball Hall of Fame: A Living History of America's Greatest Game
By Bert Randolph Sugar & Bruce Curtis

Journey deep into the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum with Bert Sugar’s Baseball Hall of Fame book. Enjoy more than 500 color and black-and-white original and archival photographs--along with engaging and informative commentary, and dramatic close-up images of the most fascinating artifacts on display in the Hall. This book offers a quintessential take-home of the timeless experience of baseball's spiritual home.

"What Bert Sugar doesn’t know about baseball, nobody knows." – Yogi Berra


"To get a better sense of the Hall of Fame, you would have to be in Cooperstown." – Bob Costas

Retail $35.00
Your Price $29.75

Order your copy of this timeless hardcover book today!

Getting Our Mantles Back

We just had a long-time customer sell sixteen Mickey Mantle cards back to us. The cards range from 1953 all the way to 1969 and include five cards that grade PSA 7. We originally wrote about most of these cards in our of our first blogs, which talked about all of the PSA-graded Mantle cards. Most of these cards sold a few months after this original blog article was written. Everything else grades Excellent and above. The consensus at the office is that the rarest of these cards is the 1955 Bowman. We rarely get a chance to see this card due to condition issues, which stand out on the wood grain television border, and scarcity.

This is a pretty thorough collection of the Mick's career but also demonstrates the evolution of both Topps and Bowman as they celebrated one of the best hitters of the 1950's and 1960's. Listed below is the entire collection and links to the individual card on our website.

1953 Topps #82 Mickey Mantle - VG/Ex
1954 Bowman #65 Mickey Mantle - SGC 70 EX+ 5.5
1955 Bowman #202 Mickey Mantle - VG/Ex
1956 Topps #135 Mickey Mantle - Ex/Mt
1957 Topps #95 Mickey Mantle - VG/Ex
1958 Topps #150 Mickey Mantle - Ex/Mt
1959 Topps #10 Mickey Mantle - PSA 7 NM
1960 Topps #350 Mickey Mantle - PSA 7 NM
1961 Topps #300 Mickey Mantle - Ex/Mt
1962 Topps #200 Mickey Mantle - Ex
1963 Topps #200 Mickey Mantle - PSA 7 NM
1964 Topps #50 Mickey Mantle - Ex/Mt
1965 Topps #350 Mickey Mantle - Ex/Mt
1966 Topps #150 Mickey Mantle - PSA 7 NM
1968 Topps #280 Mickey Mantle - PSA 7 NM
1969 Topps #500A Mickey Mantle (yellow letters) - Ex/Mt

Just In: 1961 & 1962 Post Near Sets

1961 Post #132 Roberto Clemente (COM)

We just received a very large collection that included two rare items - a 1961 Post Cereal near complete set and 1962 Post Cereal near complete set. While most of these cards are pretty commonly available, the sets can be difficult to put together because many of the cards were made in much shorter supply. Most Post cards were made available on the back of cereal boxes and could also be purchased directly from the Post Cereal Company in the form of team sheets. The "company-purchase" cards now go by the designation "COM", while the cards cut out of the box are designated by the phrase "BOX". However, a few cards were printed only on the back of the boxes. Because the primary cereal consumers were kids, many of the cards that were printed only on the boxes are now difficult to find. Other cards were just made in short supply and could probably be called "short prints".

1962 Post #5 Mickey Mantle (ad)

The 1961 Post Cereal near complete set is missing only three cards: #93 Jim Lemon, #94 Chuck Stobbs, and #183 Roy McMillan. The 1962 Post Cereal near complete set is missing four cards: #82 Ted Kluszewski, #83 Bob Allison, #125 Jim Brosnan, and #188 Ernie Banks. We also have 1961 and 1962 Post Cereal baseball cards for sale individually.

1969 Deckle Edge Baseball Cards

The 1969 Deckle Edge insert set consists of a total of 35 cards. While the cards are only numbered 1-33, two cards, #11 and #22, feature two different players, depending on the variation. Card #11 for example, can feature either Hoyt Wilhelm or Jim Wynn, and card #22 is either Joe Foy or Rusty Staub. In both cases the “B” variation is more valuable (Wynn and Staub).

For being such a small set, '69 Deckle Edge has lots of big names!

Just as the ’65 Embossed cards were inserted into the original ’65 card packs, the 1969 Deckle Edge cards were inserted into regular issues of ’69 cards. The Deckle Edge cards have a unique design as well. In fact, the title of the set alludes to the way in which the cards were cut. The scalloped borders simulate an old-style photo, thus the cards had their vintage-style appearance right as they rolled off of the printing press! Visit DeansCards.com to see our collection of 1969 Deckle Edge insert cards!

1965 Topps Embossed Baseball Cards

You Can't Get a Good Scan!

The 1965 Topps Embossed insert set consists of 72 cards that were once inserted into the regular ’65 series card packages. The cards themselves are relatively tall and skinny, measuring 2 1/8" by 3 1/2". The card fronts feature profile-view player portraits on gold foil. The images are slightly raised, and are often found with scratches and flaws, because the gold foil is so thin and easily damaged.

The player portraits can be found on either a blue background (denoting an American League player), or a red background (denoting a National League player). There are various rumors circulating the industry, suggesting that there are 1965 Topps Embossed cards that feature silver foil as opposed to gold. DeansCards.com, like many others, is in the majority that has never seen one of these supposed silver foil cards. If you have any information on these cards, or if you have seen one of these cards personally, feel free to drop us a line and tell us about it!

Unlike so many expensive 60's Star Cards, the stars in the '65 Embossed set are actually quite affordable.  The complete set as well as our DeansCards.com inventory alike, are both filled with 1965 Embossed stars including big names like Mickey Mantle, Roberto Clemente, Hank Aaron, and Willie Mays.

We just added a 1965 Topps Embossed Set to our website this morning!

O-Pee-Chee Baseball Cards

1965 OPC # 207 Rose

Foreign cards do not always fare well in the competitive sports card market, but the O-Pee-Chee brand has remained extremely popular. The first O-Pee-Chee set was printed by the O-Pee-Chee company of London, Ontario in 1934. The O-Pee-Chee Gum Company had survived both world wars and was a popular gum and candy manufacturer in Canada. The 1934 V94, or “Butterfinger” set was very similar to the R310 set by the same name, which released at the same time in the United States. The V300 set was then released three years later in 1937. It was strikingly similar to the R318 Batter-Up set. This early pattern of making small changes to the American sets and releasing them in Canada would continue into the 20th century.

1971 OPC # 513 Ryan

In 1958, Topps signed an agreement with the O-Pee-Chee Gum Company that allowed Topps to sell hockey cards, which remain popular today. In 1965, Topps licensed the O-Pee-Chee Gum Company to sell baseball cards with Topps’ design. In 1970, the Canadian government passed a federal regulation requiring all media, including baseball cards, to include a French translation. Today, vintage O-Pee-Chee cards are easily identified by their card stock, which frays easily. The card stock also has a dark or grey appearance that sets it apart from the regular Topps’ issue. The Upper Deck company bought the O-Pee-Chee name in 2006. Fortunately for hockey card collectors, they retained their hockey licensing, allowing hockey cards to be printed with the O-Pee-Chee name.

Here at DeansCards.com, our best-selling year of O-Pee-Chee cards is the 1965 set.  Individually, the 1965 #40 Frank Howard card is the best selling.  The most expensive O-Pee-Chee card that we have ever sold is a 1966 #50 Mickey Mantle card.  DeansCards.com is currently buying and selling O-Pee-Chee baseball and hockey cards.If you are interested in selling your collection of 1960’s O-Pee-Chee baseball or pre-1969 O-Pee-Chee hockey cards, please click here. If you are interested in viewing our current selection of O-Pee-Chee cards, please click here.

Venezuelan Topps Baseball Cards

1968 Topps Venezuelan #247

Here at DeansCards.com, we are always looking for Venezuelan Topps. Some of the Venezuelan Topps can be easily identified by the Spanish and English printed on the backs. These cards were first released in 1959, around the time that the government in Venezuela would become more stable and democratic. They were sold as parallel sets to the regular 1959 Topps issue. However, the 1959 Venezuelan set would stop after card #196. The 1959 cards can be identified by the Spanish phrase “Impreso en Venezuela por Benco Co.” on the back of each card. The Benco Company was the Venezuelan printer that Topps decided to use.

1962 Topps Venezuelan #1 Roger Maris

Topps would release another Venezuelan set in 1960 that also included only 196 total cards and could be distinguished by their faded appearance. The next set would be released two years later in 1962 and would include two extra cards (#199 and #200) that featured Elio Chacon and Luis Aparicio, two natives of Venezuela. Numbers 197 and 198 are skipped in this set.

The next release of Venezuelan cards would be in 1964. The 1964 set was much larger at 370 cards and could be distinguished from the regular Topps issue by the large black margin on the backs of the cards. The next printing of Venezuelan Topps would be in 1966 with another 370-card set. The backs of the 1966 Venezuelan Topps are much darker than their American counterparts. A 1967 Venezuelan set was released, but it features both Venezuelan league players in addition to the MLB players. The final printing of a Venezuelan Topps issue would be in 1968 with another 370-card set. These cards look the most different from the regular issue because they were printed on gray card stock and have a orange, instead of yellow, back. Some, but not all, of the Venezuelan cards have the phrase “Hecho en Venezuela -C.A. Litoven” on the backs.

1964 Topps Venezuelan #323

For many of the Venezuelan years, the card stock is lower quality and, therefore, it is much more difficult to find these cards in high grades. Not only is the overall population small, but many cards cannot be found that grade over a Very Good/Excellent or Excellent.

Topps’ foreign market has provided some of the most interesting cards of the 20th century. DeansCards.com is always looking to buy collections that include Venezuelan Topps cards. If you are interested in more information about selling your collection, please click here. To see our selection of Venezuelan cards, please click here.

1964 Topps Giants Baseball Cards

#7 Koufax

DeansCards.com has just received both a 1964 Topps Giants PSA graded complete set as well as a non-PSA graded Very Good/Excellent set. The 1964 Topps Giants baseball card set consists of 60 large size cards that measure 3⅛” by 5¼” and feature the most popular players of the time. These cards were released separately from the regular 1964 Topps in their own wax and cellophane packs. Although the set was issued as a single series, seven of the cards were short printed, making them significantly harder to collect in nice condition. The 1964 Topps Giants cards have a large color photograph on the font and a newspaper article discussing the player on the back.

#25 Mantle

The DeansCards.com PSA graded 1964 Topps Giants set has a GPA of 8.248, which will rank approximately 18th when we register it as a PSA Registry set. Sandy Koufax, Willie Mays, Roberto Clemente, and Mickey Mantle all grade PSA 8 NM-MT. Orlando Cepeda is graded PSA 10 GEM MINT and is one of ten that exist.

DeansCards.com also has non-PSA set that grades Very Good/Excellent.  The short prints for the 1964 Topps Giants set can be very difficult to find.  This set includes all of the short prints, but in an affordable manner.

The 1964 Topps Giants set can be very difficult to collect and we rarely have even a single complete set in inventory. To see the PSA graded set, please click here. To see the non-PSA set, please click here.  To view the rest of our 1964 Topps Giants inventory, please click here. If you are interested in selling 1964 Topps Giants cards or any other 1960’s cards, please click here.

1968 Topps: The set with the speckled border

# 177 Nolan Ryan / Jerry Koosman rookie card

The 1968 Topps baseball card set design is one of the most eye-catching of the entire decade, with its distinctive speckled borders.  The 1968 Topps set features two great rookie cards: Nolan Ryan (#177) and Johnny Bench (#274).  The 1968 set features two players per rookie card, so Nolan Ryan is paired with fellow pitcher Jerry Koosman.  This is the greatest pair of players ever featured together on a rookie card.  The two would combine for an astounding 546 wins and 8,270 strikeouts over their careers.

The subsets for the 1968 sets are League Leaders (#1-12), World Series Highlights (#151-158), and The Sporting News All-Stars (#361-380).  The player cards are vertically oriented, while the rookie cards, league leader cards, and World Series cards are all horizontal.  When properly aligned, the All Star cards have a photograph of Carl Yastrzemski on the back.

The 1968 Topps set features the final cards for 28 players, including #330 Roger Maris, #167 Elston Howard, #99 Rocky Colavito and #58 Eddie Mathews.  Unfortunately, none of these fellows' cards feature them on the team of their glory years.  Maris’ last card shows him as a Cardinal, Mathews as a Tiger, Howard with the Red Sox and Colavito with the White Sox.

The 1968 Topps set also features three of my favorite multi-player cards.   Manager's Dream (#480) had a latin theme, with Clemente, Oliva, and Cardenas.   The Super Star card (#490) featured Killebrew, Mays, and Mantle.  Both pictures were taken at the 1966 All-Star Game.  

# 490 Super Stars card

The third multi-player card was #530 Bird Belters, showing the Robinsons  – Frank and Brooks.  What is interesting about this photo is that it was taken at the same sitting as 1967 Topps card #1 “The Champs”, which also included Hank Bauer.  Bauer stepped out of the photo and the photographer moved in a couple steps.  You can tell because of the same positioning of the towels in the dugout and fans in the stands.  


The world was upside down
1968 was one of the most turbulent years of the 20th Century.   The Vietnam war was at its worst, the Tet Offensive dominated the television and way too many of our boys were coming home in body bags.  Everyone seemed to be protesting something, whether it be on college campuses against the war or for civil rights in the streets of almost every major city.

As if that was not enough turbulence for one summer, Martin Luther King and Robert Kennedy were both assassinated, there was a 3-way race for President, a politically charged Olympic Games in Mexico City, and to cap it off the Soviets invaded Czechoslovakia.  

The game of baseball was also having a very strange year. Marvin Miller, became the executive director of the MLB Player’s Association in 1966.  The players were becoming “organized”.  Miller’s career had started with the United Steelworkers’ Union and he applied many of those principles to the MLBPA.  Miller organized the MLB’s first collective bargaining agreement in 1968.  As the 1968 season opened, the players were “revolting” and the owners were pushing back.  The tension was thick.

There were also strange things happening on the field, and 1968 became known as “the year of the pitcher”.  The hitting seemed to disappear and the pitchers dominated the game.  The combined batting average for both leagues was .237 - the lowest ever.  Carl Yastrzemski led the AL in Batting with a .301 average – the lowest ever.  Bob Gibson had an ERA of 1.12 and Denny McLain won 31 games.  Since that time, no pitcher has come close to either one of those feats.  In 1968, both MVP winners were pitchers. That did happen once before in 1928 with Walter Johnson and Dizzy Vance.



The Players Organize
Although greatly overshadowed, trouble was also brewing in the world of baseball cards.  The images of the players were the reason the kids bought the cards, but players received very little of the profits. Topps had historically signed players to exclusive baseball card contracts (with helpful pressure from the clubs) while they were in the minor leagues for a whopping $5!  

Miller soon turned his attention towards baseball cards and approached Topps President Joel Shorin, to renegotiate the Topps contract on behalf of the players.  By 1967, major league players were locked into long-term baseball card contracts and received only $125 a year to have their pictures on a Topps card.  What Miller really wanted was for Topps to also give the players’ union a percentage of Topps’ sales.  Shorin politely refused, saying “ I do not see the muscle in your position.”  Miller quickly left the office and the war was on.

Miller encouraged players to hold out over spring training to avoid signing new contracts with Topps.  Although most players were still under contract to Topps, many players refused to let Topps take their picture.  Topps soon discovered, as the owners had the year before, that players were now organized and did indeed have leverage.  As a result, Topps was forced to use old photos for the 1968 set, as well as to decrease the total number of cards in the set.  

Although the baseball card “strike” was eventually resolved in November of 1968, it took Topps a few series to get the pictures taken at spring training onto the 1969 Topps cards.  It greatly hurts the image of the 1968 set becausemany of the photographs can be seen again in the first few series of the the1969 set.  Examples include #45 Tom Seaver, #110 Hank Aaron, #355 Ernie Banks, and #144 Joe Morgan to name just a few of the stars.   

If this resistance continued for another year, Topps would have a dwindling number of players for their cards and few new images.  These first few series of cards in the 1969 Topps set used many previously seen pictures.  The first 327 cards of the 1969 Topps set are a collection of boring head shots and recycled photos from the past.  In my opinion, if Topps did not settle the dispute with the players when they did and the 1970 Topps set was a further decline in quality and quantity, Topps might have alienated a generation of collectors.

Shorin eventually caved to Miller’s demands.  The newly negotiated contract required Topps to pay each player $250 (double the previous $125) per year and, more importantly, Topps would pay the Players’ Association 8% of sales up to $4 million and another 10% after that.  The way that Topps compensated the players had changed forever.  

The new contract that Topps agreed to in November of 1968 was a huge financial victory for Marvin Miller and the player’s union  just when they needed one.  The Topps contract added much needed funding for the MLBPA’s coffers.  The union now was generating revenue outside of the player’s dues.

More importantly in the long run, the MLBPA’s victory over Topps showed the players an example of the power that a strong union has in a profitable industry.  The “small” victory over the Topps Gum co. would serve as an example and fortify the player’s resolve against their primary nemesis, the owners.  This new found resolve would eventually culminate in the elimination of the reserve clause in 1975, which allowed free-agency, guaranteed contracts, and insured the continual increase in player’s salaries and that has yet to crest.

Completing the 1968 Topps set
Another notable feature of the 1968 cards is the fact that the high number or 7th series doesn’t have the steep increase in card prices that is so common for previous years.  In 1968, (and again in 1969), Topps did a good job in getting the 7th series of the set to market before the season ended.   In many vintage Topps sets, the cards from the high numbers series are often ten times more expensive than their low number counterparts.  The price difference is even greater for some cards, considering the extremely low population that exists for the high number cards.  

For that reason, DeansCards.com builds and sells more complete sets from 1968 than just about any other set from the 1960’s.  The three vintage sets that we find easily to build- in no particular order – are the sets from 1958, 1968 and 1969.

The distinctive speckled edge of the 1968 set also serves to hide corner wear very well.  Therefore, it is still possible to find many 1968 Topps cards in nice condition.  All of these factors combine to make the 1968 Topps the least expensive vintage set to complete.




Photos needed
In 1967, Topps broke the “600 card barrier” for the first time by issuing a set that had 609 cards. The 1968 Topps cards were released in seven series, as in previous years, but the 1968 Topps set only contains 598 cards.  

The lack of fresh photos, greatly reduced the cards that Topps could issue in 1968.  For example, the 1968 Topps set had only 29 Rookie Cards.  (There is not a Giants Rookie card.)  In comparison, 1967 Topps set had 43 team Rookie Cards.

Although the 1968 sets only had 598 cards, Topps struggled to even reach that number.  The 1968 Topps set featured several players for whom had past photos, and were still under contract, but had not been in the major leagues in several years.  Some examples include: Tommie Aaron (#394),  Dick Calmus (#427),  Jimmy Schaffer (#463), and John Tsitouris (#523). The list goes on, but seems as irrelevant as the players on the cards themselves.  As the saying goes, Topps was “trying to make chicken salad without much chicken”.

Old Photos and Hat less Players
Almost all of the photos used in the 1968 Topps set were actually taken in 1966 or before.  Back in the days when Topps had a monopoly on the gum card industry, they would cut expenses by not taking a full portfolio of pictures every year.  Topps would also take several pictures of each player and also take a “back-up” photo, just in case he was traded.  This back-up picture was usually a portrait of the player without his cap.  

During these off years, Topps would supplement their photo library by contacting or purchasing photographs of the handful of players who were traded and changed teams during the winter.  A few photos that appeared in the 1968 topps set that were clearly taken in 1967.  Examples include: Clete Boyer, Bob Bailey, Ted Abernathy and Roger Maris.  All four players were traded before the 1967 season and appear in their new uniforms on 1968 Topps cards.

If all else failed, and Topps was forced to use a photo of a player in an outdated uniform, Topps would simply “black out” the emblem on the players cap.  This was clearly the last resort, because it looked so terrible.  Because there were expansion years for baseball, the 1961, 1962 and 1969 Topps sets feature quite a few cards of players with airbrushed or blacked out logos or missing hats.  Topps had little choice but to use these inferior images, as they did not have current photos of the players.  

# 21 Ron Davis - a great example of a "blackened" hat

The 1968 Topps Astros and A’s cards look the most unnatural thanks to their blackened hats.  The Athletics moved from Kansas City to Oakland and therefore had to change their logo.  Due to the feud with the players association, Topps was unable to get pictures of the A’s in their new uniforms.

The unsolved mystery of the 1968 Topps set is why the Astros’ cards have them all pictured in Colt .45 uniforms, which means they were taken no later than 1965.  The Colt .45s moved into the Astrodome and became the Astros in 1966.  Not only are the pictures on the Astros’ cards old, they were boring.  Most of the 1968 Topps Astros card featured head shots.  What makes this so interesting is that Topps had some great cards of Astros players, in the new Astros uniforms, in both the 1966 and 1967 Topps sets.

One curious note about this set is that although Reggie Jackson’s major league debut was in 1967, Topps was unable to make a card for him until 1969 due to the MLBPA’s activities regarding contracts. The addition of a Reggie Jackson rookie card to the 1968 set would certainly have increased the value of this set significantly.




Was the 1968 Topps set their weakest offering ever?
By the spring of 1968, Topps desperately needed updated photographs, but because of the fight with the MLBPA, they were unable to secure them.  The 1968 Topps set would have to go to press with an outdated portfolio of photos.  

The result was arguably the worst vintage set that Topps ever produced, at least in a non-expansion year.  Of the 598 cards in the 1968 Topps set, 114 of the cards feature  players without hats and 48 cards have blacked out hats.  Two of the cards (#481 Chuck Harrison and #566 Ken Harrleson) were taken so you can only see the underside of the cap.  A surprising 28% of the 1968 Topps cards do not show the logo on the players cap.  This has to be a dubious record, particularly for a non-expansion year set.

The 1968 Topps set is the “low water mark” of the Topps vintage sets in terms of the number of cards issued, the players pictured on the cards and the the tired photos used on the cards.   In spring training of 1969, Topps restocked its portfolio of player photos and issued a 664 card set.  The number of cards in the Topps sets would continue to expand and never again reach below 660 cards.   The photos used on the cards would also continue to evolve in creativity and quality.




1968 Topps was a set of “lasts”
Topps would never again use the speckled border design employed in the 1968 set.  The 1968 Topps set was also the last set in which the players did not share in the profit that Topps made on the cards.  1968 was also the last year that baseball had 20 teams.  In 1969, baseball added four new teams and divisional playoffs.  More teams means more players, which means more cards to print.  

Although few collectors would choose 1968 Topps as their favorite vintage set, it was a solid issue that featured a bold and creative design.  Considering the challenges that Topps faced in 1968, I think that they made a strong effort, considering the obstacles to producing the set.  The reputation of the 1968 Topps set is greatly enhanced by having the two high-profile Rookie Cards of Johnny Bench and Nolan Ryan.  If Topps could have gotten Reggie Jackson into this set, you would probably be reading a much different commentary.  We would be discussing the set with the greatest Rookie Card class of the 1960’s - but it was not meant to be.

If you are still hungry for more details on the individual 1968 Topps cards, there is a great blog by “Jim from Downington” located at http://1968topps.blogspot.com/  Jim is a long-time customer of DeansCards.com and has written a page of information for every card in the 1968 Topps set!  Some of the interesting facts in this article were taken from his blog.




Prologue
Most people remember 1968 as a dynamic year in our country’s history.  As a student of baseball card history, I can think of no other set that mirrors the ill effects of the world around it, like the 1968 Topps baseball card set does.  Almost every niche of American society was touched by the turmoil of the times.  It stands to reason that the hobby of collecting baseball cards would also feel the effects of this incredible social friction. Along with the vivid pictures of the Vietnam War, the Mexico City Olympics, the protests at the universities and the riots in the streets, the assasinations of RFK and MLK, the volatile presidential campaign, and the Russian tanks in the streets of Prague – the photos on the 1968 Topps cards helps to document that strange and troubled year.  

May none of those (mostly terrible) things happen again, but hopefully we have a better nation, a better world and even a better hobby because of the events of 1968.  Although baseball cards surely pale in importance to the other events of 1968, the players now had a share of the the hobby’s profits, and also an example of what a strong union could accomplish. The MLB team owners no longer seemed as intimidating to the players. Over the next few years, the owners would begin to feel the sting of the players’ union and new found confidence.  The status quo had changed forever.