Obtaining Topps High # series in the '60's

[nolemmings]

Originally Posted by IndyDave

My childhood collection started with 1966 Topps - I was 7 years old.

When I found the collecting hobby through ads in Sporting News and Baseball Digest around 1970 I found I did not have high numbers for 1966 and 1967 - but had them beginning 1968.

By the time I got to junior high, I found out one of my friends had a few high numbers in 1967 - apparently the cards made it to at least the grocery store near his house that my mom never went to.

This was Youngstown Ohio suburbs.

We were also one of the markets that got the entire 1973 set in a single series.

Kind of the same with me in Minnesota-- I was also age 7 in my first year of collecting. I do remember that we had a splattering of high numbers in 1966, only because a neighbor showed me the Twins Team card he had and I was envious. When I went up the street to the store there were none and through bad timing or whatever I never was able to land any. I suspect like you that there was a store or so elsewhere in town that carried them longer. I just remember the '66 football coming out in full force--both sets--and I kind of moved on.

[jingram058]

I started collecting in 1967. I put the entire Topps set together, and then some. Many, many duplicates of basically everybody, by the checklists. Same for 1968 as well.

[Harliduck]

I love hearing about these type of stories...I was 8 in 1978 and there were no series obviously by then...so hearing about anything pre-1973 is super cool. Please keep them coming...

[steve B]

Originally Posted by Harliduck

I love hearing about these type of stories...I was 8 in 1978 and there were no series obviously by then...so hearing about anything pre-1973 is super cool. Please keep them coming...

Ah, but there was if you were into Star Wars. Blue, red, Yellow, Green... All issued like baseball used to be as their own series, but numbered as part of a bigger set.
The last series was the orange ones, and I never even knew it existed until a friend from the other end of town showed me a couple. The only store that had them was his local corner store. Not even the card store got any.

[skil55voy]

Grew up in Detroit. Started collecting in 1962

1962 - Whole set All Series available in stores
1963 - Series 1,2,3 and part of 4. Never saw any 5th, 6th or 7th Series in stores.
1964 - First 5 Series complete, never saw 6th or 7th in stores
1965 - Completed
1966 - First 6 Series complete. Never saw any 7th Series in stores, ordered 10 cards from Topps in the 7th Series by choosing random numbers.
1967 - First 5 Series complete. About half of the 6th Series. Never saw 7th Series cards in stores.
1968 - Completed
1969 - Completed
1970 - Completed. Ordered Series 6 & 7 from Topps.

[mikemb]

I started collecting in 1965 as an 8 year old. I grew up in central New Jersey (Dunellen). Bought packs at the local store from 1965 through 1970.. High numbers were available every year. Other than 1966, completed 90% to 95% of the set each year. Only had 5 1966 Topps last series. It was not that they were unavailable, I only bought one pack.

I love looking at my old checklists to see who I got and who I didn't get.

Mike

[jmoran19]

Originally Posted by mikemb

I started collecting in 1965 as an 8 year old. I grew up in central New Jersey (Dunellen). Bought packs at the local store from 1965 through 1970.. High numbers were available every year. Other than 1966, completed 90% to 95% of the set each year. Only had 5 1966 Topps last series. It was not that they were unavailable, I only bought one pack.

I love looking at my old checklists to see who I got and who I didn't get.

Mike

I’m curious what 5 high # cards did you get. Thanks John