1960s Topps

Brand name printed on the merchandise in the 1960s

Despite a brief attempt by Fleer to sign baseball players in 1963, Topps continued its reign as the only major baseball card manufacturer in the United States. On the other hand, Football had more than one professional league in operation, allowing for competing companies to co-exist by producing a major national set for each league. Topps was able to produce National Football League sets from 1960 to 1963 while Fleer issued American Football League sets. Topps then began producing AFL sets from 1964 to 1967 while Philadelphia Gum issued NFL sets. Before the end of the decade Topps revived their basketball issue after a ten-year hiatus. The following is a list with brief descriptions of Topps sports card products for the 1960s. All cards listed are standard size(2½ × 3½ inches). Exceptions are noted.

Topps also maintained a presence in the foreign card market which began near the end of the 1950s by issuing baseball cards in Venezuela from 1959 to 1968. Topps also maintained licensing agreements with A&BC Chewing Gum in England and O-Pee-Chee in Canada. A&BC Chewing produced an annual (soccer) football set featuring marks and designed featured in Topps baseball and (American) football sets. While hockey cards were produced by Topps up until 1960-61, they were produced and distributed by O-Pee-Chee from 1961-62 onwards (under the Topps license). After a 1967 Topps Test set, the annual hockey series was produced in both Canada (O-Pee-Chee) and USA (Topps) from 1968-69 onwards.

The annual Topps/O-Pee-Chee Canadian football series was printed in USA from 1958 to 1960, then printed in Canada from 1961 to 1965 and 1968 to 1972. That series featured players from the Canadian Football League. Also in the 1960s, O-Pee-Chee produced a baseball series that mimicked Topps baseball (but was printed in Canada) from 1965 onwards.

Baseball

Base sets

Year Set Quantity Size (in.) Distribution1 Notes
1960 Topps 572 2.5 × 3.5 in (6.4 × 8.9 cm) Wax(1,6), Cello(12), Rack(36) only set w/ horizontal front
1961 Topps 587 2.5 × 3.5 in (6.4 × 8.9 cm) Wax(1,5), Cello(12), Rack(36) cards 587/588 not issued
1962 Topps 598 2.5 × 3.5 in (6.4 × 8.9 cm) Wax(1,5), Cello(12) Master set (688)
1963 Topps 576 2.5 × 3.5 in (6.4 × 8.9 cm) Wax(1,5), Cello(12) Pete Rose RC #537
1964 Topps 587 2.5 × 3.5 in (6.4 × 8.9 cm) Wax(1,5), Cello(12)
1965 Topps 598 2.5 × 3.5 in (6.4 × 8.9 cm) Wax(1,5), Cello(12) No multi-player cards
1966 Topps 598 2.5 × 3.5 in (6.4 × 8.9 cm) Wax(5), Cello(12), Rack(36)
1967 Topps 609 2.5 × 3.5 in (6.4 × 8.9 cm) Wax(5), Cello(12), Rack(36) Tom Seaver RC #581
1968 Topps 598 2.5 × 3.5 in (6.4 × 8.9 cm) Wax(5), Cello(12), Rack(36) Nolan Ryan RC #177
1969 Topps 664 2.5 × 3.5 in (6.4 × 8.9 cm) Wax(5), Cello(10,12), Rack(39) Master set (695)

1 Pack type(card quantity)

Supplemental Issues

Year Set Type Quantity Size(in.)
1960 Bazooka Box card 36 1 1316 × 2 34 in (4.6 × 7 cm)
Tattoos Wrapper 96 1 916 × 3 12 in (4 × 8.9 cm)
1961 Stamps Insert 207 1 38 × 1 316 in (3.5 × 3 cm)
Bazooka Box card 36 1 1316 × 2 34 in (4.6 × 7 cm)
1962 Stamps Insert 201 1 38 × 1 78 in (3.5 × 4.8 cm)
Baseball Bucks Insert 96 1 34 × 4 18 in (4.4 × 10.5 cm)
Bazooka Box card 45 1 1316 × 2 34 in (4.6 × 7 cm)
1963 Stick-Ons Insert 46 1 14 × 2 34 in (3.2 × 7 cm)
Bazooka Box card 36 1 916 × 2.5 in (4 × 6.4 cm)
Bazooka All Time Greats Insert 41 1 916 × 2.5 in (4 × 6.4 cm)
1964 Coins Insert 167 1.5 in (3.8 cm) diameter
Topps Giants Large 60 3 18 × 5 14 in (7.9 × 13.3 cm)
Stand Ups Large 77 2.5 × 3.5 in (6.4 × 8.9 cm)
Bazooka Box card 36 1 916 × 2.5 in (4 × 6.4 cm)
Photo Tattoos Test 75 1 916 × 3 12 in (4 × 8.9 cm)
1965 Embossed Insert 72 2 18 × 3.5 in (5.4 × 8.9 cm)
Transfers Insert 72 2 × 3 in (5.1 × 7.6 cm)
Bazooka Box card 36 1 916 × 2.5 in (4 × 6.4 cm)
1966 Rub-Offs Insert 120 2 116 × 3 in (5.2 × 7.6 cm)
Bazooka Box card 48 1 916 × 2.5 in (4 × 6.4 cm)
1967 Bazooka Box card 48 1 916 × 2.5 in (4 × 6.4 cm)
Stand Ups Test 24 3 18 × 5 14 in (7.9 × 13.3 cm)
Pirates Stickers Test 33 2.5 × 3.5 in (6.4 × 8.9 cm)
Red Sox Stickers Test 33 2.5 × 3.5 in (6.4 × 8.9 cm)
Punchouts Test 91 2.5 × 4 916 in (6.4 × 11.6 cm)
1968 Game Card Insert 33 2 14 × 3 14 in (5.7 × 8.3 cm)
Bazooka Tipps from the Topps Box card 15 panels 5.5 × 6 14 in (14 × 15.9 cm)
Posters Large 24 9 34 × 18 18 in (24.8 × 46 cm)
Plaks Large 26 1.5 × 2 in (3.8 × 5.1 cm)
Action All-Star Test 16 3 14 × 5 14 in (8.3 × 13.3 cm)
3-D Test 12 2 14 × 3 12 in (5.7 × 8.9 cm)
1969 Deckle Edge Insert 35 2 14 × 3 14 in (5.7 × 8.3 cm)
Topps Super Large 66 2 14 × 3 14 in (5.7 × 8.3 cm)
Bazooka Baseball Extra News Box card 12 panels 5.5 × 6 14 in (14 × 15.9 cm)
4 on 1 Stickers 25 2.5 × 3.5 in (6.4 × 8.9 cm)
Stamps Mini 240 1 × 1 716 in (2.5 × 3.7 cm)
Team Posters Large 24 11 14 × 19 34 in (28.6 × 50.2 cm)

Licensed sets

Canada

From 1965 onwards, the Canadian gum company O-Pee-Chee produced licensed sets basically identical to the Topps set of the same year. The primary difference with the O-Pee-Chee sets is the 'Printed in Canada' statement on the reverse. The copyright line shows T.C.G, and did so until 1972 when it changed to O.P.C. The 1969 O-Pee-Chee set included the company's logo on the reverse and used a magenta ink as opposed to the pink ink on the Topps cards.

Year Set Quantity Size(in.) Notes
1965 O-Pee-Chee 283 2.5 × 3.5 in (6.4 × 8.9 cm)
1966 O-Pee-Chee 196 2.5 × 3.5 in (6.4 × 8.9 cm)
1967 O-Pee-Chee 196 2.5 × 3.5 in (6.4 × 8.9 cm)
Paper Inserts 32 5 × 7 in (12.7 × 17.8 cm)
1968 O-Pee-Chee 196 2.5 × 3.5 in (6.4 × 8.9 cm)
1969 O-Pee-Chee 218 2.5 × 3.5 in (6.4 × 8.9 cm)
Deckle 24 2 18 × 3 18 in (5.4 × 7.9 cm)

Venezuela

During the 1960s, Topps produced Venezuelan sets only in even-numbered years except for 1967. The 1967 Venezuelan set is unique among these in that it features Venezuelan league players along with retired U.S. players in addition to the base set cards.

Year Set Quantity Size(in.) Notes
1960 Topps Venezuelan 198 2.5 × 3.5 in (6.4 × 8.9 cm)
1962 Topps Venezuelan 198 2.5 × 3.5 in (6.4 × 8.9 cm)
1964 Topps Venezuelan 370 2.5 × 3.5 in (6.4 × 8.9 cm)
1966 Topps Venezuelan 370 2.5 × 3.5 in (6.4 × 8.9 cm)
1967 Topps Venezuelan 338 2.5 × 3.5 in (6.4 × 8.9 cm)
1968 Topps Venezuelan 370 2.5 × 3.5 in (6.4 × 8.9 cm)

Football

1960

1961

1962

1963

1964

1965

1966

1967

1968

1969

Basketball

All basketball sets here are of NBA players.
1968-69 Topps Test
This test set has 22 cards with black-and-white photos. The player's name and team are at the bottom of the card. The numbered backs are oriented horizontally and combine to form a picture of Wilt Chamberlain. Size: 2.5 × 3.5 in. (6.4 × 8.9 cm)

1969-70 Topps
This 99 card set issued in 10-card packs was Topps' first major basketball set since 1957. The cards are oversize with player photos in an oval frame. The white borders display sketches of basketball scenes with the player's name and position at the top and team at the bottom. The backs offered career statistics and biographical data along with a small cartoon in the shape of a basketball falling through a hoop. Size: 2.5 × 4 1116 in. (6.4 × 11.9 cm)

1969-70 Topps Rulers
This 23-poster set was issued as an insert in the regular wax packs. The 'rulers' depict a player in a cartoon style drawing next to a vertical ruler which indicates the player's height. The player's name and team are also displayed in a bubble on the front. Size: 2.5 × 9 78 in. (6.4 × 25.1 cm)

Ice hockey

During the 1960s, Topps and O-Pee-Chee continued their working relationship to produce National Hockey League cards for the Canadian market. In the early 1960s, the O-Pee-Chee sets featured some, but not all of the teams (Topps/O-Pee-Chee held rights for the Boston Bruins, Chicago Black Hawks, and New York Rangers; Parkhurst held rights for Detroit Red Wings, Montreal Canadiens, and Toronto Maple Leafs). After Parkhurst stopped producing hockey cards in 1964 (to focus on the company's other endeavors), Topps/O-Pee-Chee held the rights for all the NHL teams.

Starting in 1961-62, the Topps/O-Pee-Chee cards were printed in Canada. In 1967, Topps produced a test set for the U.S. marketplace (a unique set that featured the 1966-67 design). Then in 1967-68, the Topps/O-Pee-Chee set was the last to feature just six NHL teams and marketed specifically for the Canadian marketplace.

Starting in 1968-69, Topps and O-Pee-Chee created different sets for their respective markets. The designs for the two sets were similar.

1960-61

1961-62

1962-63

1963-64

1964-65

1965-66

1966-67

1967-68

1968-69

1969-70

Non-sport

1960

Funny Valentines 'A' (66) Size: 2½ × 3½ inches
Presidents of the United States (33) Size: 2-11/16 × 2¾ inches
Popeye Tattoos (#) Size: 1-9/16 × 3½ inches

1961

Crazy Cards (66) Size: 2½ × 3½ inches
Giant Size Funny Valentines (55) Size: 2½ × 4¾ inches
Sports Cars (66+20)Size: 2½ × 4¾/ 1-13/16 × 4¼ inches

1962

Casey & Kildare (110) Size: 2½ × 3½ inches
Civil War News (88) Size: 2½ × 3½ inches
Famous Americans (80) Size: 1⅜ × 2-9/16 inches
Foldees (44) Size: 2½ × 4-11/16 inches
Mars Attacks (55) Size: 2½ × 3½ inches
Monster Tattoo (#) Size: 1-9/16 × 3½ inches
Superman Tattoos (#) Size: 1-9/16 × 3½ inches
Valentine Stickers (~43) Size: 2½ × 3½ inches

1963

Astronauts (55) Size: 2½ × 3½ inches
Beverly Hillbillies (66) Size: 2½ × 3½ inches
Flag Midgee Cards (99) Size: 1-9/16 × 2½ inches
Monster Flip Movies (36) Size: 2-7/16 × 2½ inches
Monster Laffs-Midgee (153) Size: 1-9/16 × 2½ inches
Valentine Foldees (55) Size: 2½ × 4-11/16 inches
Walt Disney Characters Tattoos (#) Size: 1-9/16 × 3½ inches

1964

Beatles Black & White (165) Size: 2½ × 3½ inches
Beatles Color (64) Size: 2½ × 3½ inches
Beatles Diary (60) Size: 2½ × 3½ inches
Beatles Movie 'A Hard Days Night' (55) Size: 2½ × 3½ inches
Beatles Plaks (55) Size: 2½ × 4-11/16 inches
Johnson vs. Goldwater (66) Size: 2½ × 3½ inches
John F. Kennedy (77) Size: 2½ × 3½ inches
Military Emblems (24)
Nutty Awards (32) Size: 3⅛ × 5¼ inches
Outer Limits (50) Size: 2½ × 3½ inches

1965

Battle (66) Size: 2 × 3-5/16 inches

Standard Emblems (24)

Daniel Boone (~55) Size: 2½ × 3½ inches
Flash Gordon (24) Size: 2½ × 3½ inches
Flying Things (~48) Size: irregular
Gilligan's Island (55) Size: 2½ × 3½ inches
Hot Rods (66) Size: 2½ × 3½ inches
King Kong (55) Size: 2½ × 3½ inches
Kookie Plaks (88) Size: 2½ × 4-11/16 inches
Mighty Mouse and His Pals Tattoos (#) Size: 1⅝ × 3½ inches
Mod Generation Stickers (55) Size: 2½ × 4-11/16 inches
Monster Greeting Cards (50) Size: 2½ × 3½ inches
Presidents and Famous Americans (44) Size: 2½ × 4-11/16 inches
Push-Pull (36) Size: 2½ × 4-11/16 inches
Rat Fink Greeting Cards (40) Size: 2½ × 4-11/16 inches
Silly Stickers (55) Size: 2½ × 3½ inches
Soupy Sales (66) Size: 2½ × 3½ inches
Tom and Jerry Tattoos (#) Size: 1⅝ × 3½ inches
Ugly Stickers (164) Size: 2½ × 3½ inches
Wise Guy Buttons (24) Size: 2" diameter

1966

Batman (55) Size: 2½ × 3½ inches
Batman A (44) Size: 2½ × 3½ inches
Batman B (44) Size: 2½ × 3½ inches
Batman-Riddler Back (38) Size: 2½ × 3½ inches
Batman Color Photos (55) Size: 2½ × 3½ inches
Comic Book Foldees (44) Size: 2½ × 4-11/16 inches
Comic Book Foldees Large (43) Size: 3¼ × 6 inches
Flipper (30) Size: 2½ × 3½ inches
Flipper's Magic Fish (10) Size: irregular
Fold-A-Roos (24) Size: 2½ × 4-11/16 inches
Frankenstein Stickers (44) Size: 2½ × 3½ inches
Funny Rings (24) Size: 2½ × 3½ inches
Get Smart (66)

Secret Agent Kit (16)

Green Hornet Stickers (44) Size: 2½ × 3½ inches
Insult Post Cards (32) Size: 3⅛ × 5¼ inches
Lost In Space (55) Size: 2½ × 3½ inches
Make Your Own Name (33) Size: 2½ × 3½ inches
Man From U.N.C.L.E. (55) Size: 2½ × 3½ inches
Marvel Flyers (12) Size: irregular
Monster Laffs (66) Size: 2½ × 3½ inches
Rat Patrol (66) Size: 2½ × 3½ inches

Army Insignia Ring (22)

Slob Stickers (132) Size: 2½ × 3½ inches
Superman (66) Size: 2½ × 3½ inches
Superman In The Jungle (66) Size: 2½ × 3½ inches
Ugly Buttons (24) Size: 2" diameter
Wacky Labels (#) Size: 1⅛ × 2-9/16 inches

1967

Angry Stickers (88) Size: 1⅛ × 2-9/16 inches
Blockheads (12) Size: 7¼ × 8⅝ inches
Captain Nice (#) Size: 2½ × 3½ inches
Comic Book Tattoos (#) Size: 1-9/16 × 3½ inches
Disgusting Disguises (51)
Doctor Dolittle Tattoos (#) Size: 1-9/16 × 3½ inches
Dopey Books (42) Size: 2½ × 3½ inches
Fighter Planes (12) Size: irregular
Funny Travel Posters (24) Size: 9¾ × 18½ inches
Krazy Little Comics (16) Size: 2½ × 3½ inches
Maya (71) Size: 2½ × 3½ inches
Monkees Flip Movies (16) Size: 2-7/16 × 3½ inches
Nasty Notes (32) Size: 2½ × 3½ inches
Nutty Initial Stickers (#) Size: 2½ × 3½ inches
Phoney Records (40 stickers) Size: 2½ × 2⅝

Stupid Hit Songs (15) Size: 2½ × 3½ in.

Phoney Records Stickers (55) Size: 3⅜" square
Pop-Ups (12) Size: 2-3/16 × 3½ inches year?
Terror Tales (88) Size: 2½ × 3½ inches
Toppscience (24) Size: 3 × 6¼ inches
Wacky Packages Die-Cuts (44)
Wanted Posters (24) Size: 10 × 18½ inches
Who Am I? (44) Size: 2½ × 3½ inches

1968

Batty Book Covers (24) Size: 11⅛ × 18¾ inches
Crazy TV (#) Size: 2½ × 3½ inches
Fabulous Rock Records (16) Size: 6¾" diameter
Giant Plaks (50)
Hang-Ups (18) Size: 9-13/16 × 18⅜ inches
Julia (33) Size: 2½ × 3½ inches
Kooky Awards (44)

Shields (15)

Krazy People Posters (24) Size: 9¾ × 18½ inches
Land of the Giants (55) Size: 2½ × 3½ inches
Laugh In (77) Size: 2½ × 3½ inches

Goldie's Laugh-Ons Stickers (24) Size: 1-15/16 × 2-15/16 inches

Mini Stickers and Nutty Tickets (~32) Size: 2½ × 3½ inches

Tickets (24) Size: 1¼ × 4¾

Put-On Stickers (33) Size: 2½ × 3½ inches
Wise Ties (12) Size: 3¾ × 9½ inches

1969

Archie Tattoos (16) Size: 2½ × 3-7/16 inches
Groovy Stick-Ons (#) Size: 3⅛ × 5¼ inches
Love Initials (84) Size: 2½ × 3½ inches
Man on the Moon (99) Size: 2½ × 3½ inches
Mod Squad (55) Size: 2½ × 3½ inches
Planet of the Apes (44) Size: 2½ × 3½ inches
Room 222 (44) Size: 2½ × 3½ inches
Pak O' Fun (42) Size: 3⅛ × 5¼ inches
Wacky Ads (36) Size: 3⅛ × 5¼ inches

Other Sixties Issues

Astro Boy Tattoos (#) Size: 1-9/16 × 3½ inches
Bazooka Joe
Flip-Ups (#) Size: 2 × 2¼ inches
Magic Funny Fortunes (#) Size: 1-9/16 × 3½ inches
Magic Tattoos (#) Size: 1-9/16 × 3½ inches
Real Wood Plaks/Valentine Wood Plaks (~66) Size: 1⅜ × 3½ inches

Recommended Reading

Sources

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