1965 Topps…..is next…..thanks……and finished!!!!!!!
 

1966 Topps set is done and it’s time to relax before I jump into the next fun build.

61 vs 65.

I’m thinking 61 would be harder but I like both sets.
I’m more leaning to 61 first….(love the design) and then 65 next, but I like the high number fun.

What’s everybody’s thoughts on the two?

I'm bias to '61 as it's my favorite design of the 60s.

61 is a clean design, but the photos are not as good. Seems like the peak of no cap really bad portraits with the expansion. Lots of very poor choices. Love the All-Star design. Highs are a lot more expensive.

65 is an easy set build and pretty cheap relatively to other Topps issues. Bang for buck is the 1965 to me.

65 is one of my favorite sets of the 60s. Great, bright pictures and I really like the team names in the pennants.

I would go with 1965. It is a great design. A fun set.

1961 is nice but after putting the set together and looking through my binder, too many head shots. Half the cards look great but the other half all look the same.

Mike

As has already been said, the ridiculous amount of 1961 headshots ("Guillotine Set") versus the beautiful pennants of 1965 makes me say this: look at it from an autograph perspective. If this was the 1960's and you were able to see the players, which cards would their signatures clearly look more beautiful on? The 65's, because it is a wonderfully colorful design.

Here's another vote for the '65 set. Bright, clear photography and Pennants! To me, it is the best design and photography of the '60s Topps sets. Some good rookies in Carlton, Perez and Hunter also.

Overall, much better eye appeal than the '61 set. I've chased and put together both sets, and the '61 high numbers wore me down, though I do like the AS cards.

I would vote for '65 as well. Though I like some individual cards, to me the design on the whole of '61 is blah, and you have those high numbers which are not really a problem in '65. The '65 pennant design might be the most clever of the decade, and there are some really great looking cards - Aaron and Koufax come to mind. Mantle seems to have his eyes closed, but it's an action pose and not a tight portrait, which usually gets it high praise among his '60s issues.

Collect what you love though. Some people can't stand '55 Bowmans. i think they are incredible, but that's just me.

About a year ago, I had to choose between two sets I had started that needed finishing, ironically the same two sets you are deciding between. My decision was to finish the 1965 first, for many of the reasons already pointed out, and finish the 1961 set later. Easy choice on my end, I finished my 1965 set last month.

Somebody named 65 as the best Topps set of the 1960s. Don't remember who.

Ok, ok, ok…….the cardboard fans have spoken…..1965 it is.

Thanks for the help and guidance

What are the 5 toughest cards???

Anybody have any larger lots? Exmint or better?