Putting together a 1968 Topps set...
 

I've been a huge fan of this set since I was a kid. Growing up in the late 80's the card to have was the Ryan/Koosman RC. After years of thinking about it, I've finally decided to take the plunge and put this set together. Started off picking up about 30 commons and 8 HOFers in EX/NM this past month.

What should I expect collecting this set? Are the high numbers real tough? Any advice is appreciated.

I'm already aware that centering is going to be an issue.

I love the 68 set! After you get the Ryan, Mantle, and Bench rookie...it's a relatively easy set compared to the other 60's offerings. The high numbers, for me anyhow, were relatively plentiful at shows and there was not much premium above regular commons. One exception is the #528 Tiger Team card...hard to find and carries a healthy premium. You have Jim Palmer and Lou Brock in the last series, but both cards are relatively inexpensive and plentiful.

Probably the coolest card in the set, and to me one of the top cards of the 60's, the Super Stars #490 with Mantle, Mays, and Killebrew, is a tough card to find in great shape...I am sure it was well handled by many kids back in the day.

I also really like the All Star cards, the horizontal style really worked. Anyhow...love the set, you'll have fun! Again, my opinion it is the easiest of the 60s...

John, don't forget about Lee May all star rookie card. Not sure of the number but I was surprised what this card went for. Must be short printed!

High numbers are easy. All of the Tigers are tough, in any condition. Larry Fritsch sold complete series of these cards until......well, he still might, but the condition has been going downhill on his stock for years. I purchased a few series from him about five years ago, and EVERY card was miscut or at least severely off center. Oh well.

Have fun!

wow, that one went right by me...I had no idea. I must have picked up #487 Lee in one of my lots. Not only that, I looked through the 150 or so doubles I have and sure enough, I have a nice EX+ double. Go figure. A quick Ebay search and wow, that is a pricey card for a 68 common. Thanks for the info!

A well centered Lee May card is even more challenging to find. For me, it was one of the toughest 6th series cards to find well centered. The 506, 544, and 583 cards (all Tigers) also seem to command a modest premium, just not as much of a premium as the May card. Most of lower series Tiger cards, at least recently, do not seem to be commanding the premiums that they once did. For me, the McLain card was probably the toughest Tigers card from the first 5 series.

It's IMO a very nice set. Always liked it because of the fact that they seemd to have a card of "everybody" even those at the bottom of the rosters.

If you notice, and this cound be a nice post, Topps in those years had cards of players printed who had not been expected to make the team.

Because the last series were printed in mid April, guys such as Roy White, Dick Nen, Don Shaw, Andy Kosco, Bill Short and other were printed.

Thanks for the responses, guys. Very helpful. I think I'm going to really enjoy putting this one together.

I remember Joe Sparma card..Tiger.... maybe card 505? 506? That was the toughest one for me.

I wonder why the Tigers are so tough. Any ideas? I guess they were single prints ,but its pretty crazy to think that all of the tigers fell into that catergory.

The Burlap border is different in the first series compared to the rest of the set.
There are some variations on the checklist.(copyright/cropping)
Cards 49 and 400 are found both in yellow and white team letters(senators)
Card 400 in white is hard to find. Brinkman and ?

I'm typing this off the top of my head ...I think I got the card numbers correct

The Tigers won the World Series in 1968, thus the added demand for their cards from the 68 Topps set. The same holds true for 69 Mets cards from the 69 Topps set....some of the 69 Mets (like the 68 Tigers) are slightly tougher to find than other commons.

A nice supplemental set from 1968 is the Milton Bradley set...here is a checklist for you

http://www.oldbaseball.com/MegaCheck...dley&year=1968

MBs
 

Here are the two 107s listed in that CL. It is a fun set. And, the Brinkman and Cox cards often listed as yellow letter variations to the regular 68 set are in all cases really just MB cards (yellow versus orange backs ) as listed in that CL

http://i1267.photobucket.com/albums/...psae4a6f77.jpg
http://i1267.photobucket.com/albums/...539/img254.jpg
http://i1267.photobucket.com/albums/...539/img255.jpg

Condition
 

I've always felt the "burlap" card design helps hide condition wear, so the eye appeal of mid-grade+ cards is higher than the average condition sensitive set. Here are my (4) 1968 cards:

http://www.collectorfocus.com/images...002/1968-topps

http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/q...pm/BenchRC.jpg

http://www.collectorfocus.com/images...pps-nolan-ryan


http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/q...agersDream.jpg

I also think the design while some find ugly is unique and cool in a way...

I was looking over my 68 Set last evening and ran acrossed this thread this mourning, so I figured I'd throw up a scan for you guys.

http://photos.imageevent.com/ltsgall...e/IMG_0378.JPG

http://photos.imageevent.com/ltsgall...b/IMG_0378.JPG

I once sold like 6 Lee May cards at an Albany NY show back in the day. I had no idea at the time just how good it was. I have had a few in the past year and they have all sold for me and quickly. ANd yes for passably centered cards, I'm getting full Beckett of $10

Rob Veres of Burbank once told me that Joe Sparma was the hardest card for him to acquire from the 68 set. He thought it was the shortest printed card in the set.

Yes, all the semi-hi and hi # Tigers cards are tough to real tough to find.

Rich

Great stuff Kirk--brings back alot of memories. BTW, that gum looks delicious :rolleyes:

Kirk...awesome pics, thanks for sharing! I love the old boxes...neat.


I picked up this 68 card off a fellow Net54er last week for my SGC Killebrew collection. I do think this is my favorite 60s card...all my favorites on one card. I think some would say too bad the Killer was on this card instead of Aaron or someone else, but for me...it couldn't be better...


http://www.net54baseball.com/attachm...1&d=1395513910


Progress report from the OP?

Kirk, great pictures, thanks.

Anyone have the Mike McCormick variation?

McCormick WLT
 

Great pics, guys. Thanks for all the info, it's been very helpful.

Should have known, Al! That's a toughie.

John,
I saw this on ebay a few days back, and thought it was a pretty nice piece.

http://photos.imageevent.com/ltsgall..._-g__60_12.JPG

Wow, that is one cool card. I have seen prints from this card signed, but never the card itself. I couldn't find that in the Sold search on Ebay...do you remember or know how much that went for? Thanks for sharing...

John,
I believe it is a present BIN listing.

As you can imagine, it's quite pricey.
I think the seller was asking something like 1,100.00 to 1,200.00

Anyway, it looked like a very unique item.
Lots of Homers between those three sluggers.

I've seen some 1968 Topps PSA 10's on Amazon recently.

Al, here's 3 of a kind
 

3 WL McCormick's. Will listen to reasonable offers for the cello pack under B/S/T.

X Mas pack
 

Carlton- the one in the Xmas pack looks pretty good.