1961 Topps Baseball
# of cards: 572
Dimensions: 2 1/2 x 3 1/2
Collector Score: *** (3 stars)
In 1961, Topps went crazy with specialty cards for the first time. Checklists (apart from team cards), League Leaders, and Topps Rookie All-Star trophies started with this set. Also known as the “hatless wonders”, the 61 set is largely made up of portraits of hatless players – and many of them look horrible without their caps – especially Harmon Killebrew. The card backs were printed in black and olive green on a dark colored card stock, which makes them pretty hard to read, even when they are in great condition. Overall, a boring set to look at. The backs don’t contain paragraphs, just “blurbs”. They did manage to get Mantle onto 6 different cards, but overall this set was Topps worst ever up until that time. The saving grace is found in the specialty cards, and the history made that season by Maris & Mantle. Rookie cards of Hall Of Famers Billy Williams and Ron Santo of the Cubs and Juan Marichal of the Giants are featured. Number 587 and 588 were never printed, so although the set goes up to #589 Spahn, the actual number of cards is 587.
PRICES REFLECT VALUES IN NEAR MINT CONDITION
COMPLETE SET (587) $16,000.00
Common Player (1-522): $15.00
Minor Stars (1-522): $25.00
Unlisted Stars (1-522): $35.00
Common Player (523-589): $60.00
Minor Stars (523-589): $90.00
Unlisted Stars (523-589): $125.00
1 Dick Groat $75.00
2 Roger Maris $750.00
10 Brooks Robinson $150.00
35 Ron Santo RC $150.00
44 A .L . Home Run Leaders $225.00
141 Billy Williams RC $175.00
150 Willie Mays $350.00
160 Whitey Ford $150.00
200 Warren Spahn $125.00
228 New York Yankees team $175.00
287 Carl Yastrzemski $125.00
290 Stan Musial $300.00
300 Mickey Mantle $2,000.00
307 World Series Game 2 $225.00
344 Sandy Koufax $300.00
350 Ernie Banks $150.00
371 Bill Skowron $150.00
388 Bob Clemente $450.00
401 Babe Ruth Hits 60th Homer $150.00
405 Gehrig Benched $225.00
406 Mantle Blasts 565 ft . HR $300.00
415 Hank Aaron $400.00
417 Juan Marichal RC $300.00
425 Yogi Berra $250.00
429 Al Kaline $150.00
430 Bill Mazeroski $150.00
471 Phil Rizzuto $100.00
472 Yogi Berra $150.00
475 Mickey Mantle $650.00
478 Roger Maris $175.00
480 Roy Campanella $125.00
482 Willie Mays $150.00
484 Hank Aaron $150.00
517 Willie McCovey $125.00
525 Ron Perranoski RC $175.00
542 Minnesota Twins team $125.00
545 Hoyt Wilhelm $175.00
554 Pittsburgh Pirates team $225.00
559 Jim Gentile $175.00
565 Felipe Alou $75.00
568 Bill Skowron $75.00
570 Nellie Fox $150.00
571 Bill Mazeroski $150.00
572 Brooks Robinson $175.00
574 Luis Aparicio $150.00
575 Ernie Banks $300.00
576 Roger Maris $450.00
577 Hank Aaron $500.00
578 Mickey Mantle $1,500.00
579 Willie Mays $500.00
580 Al Kaline $250.00
581 Frank Robinson $250.00
586 Whitey Ford $300.00
589 Warren Spahn $300.00