The 1960 Bowman baseball card set was issued during one of the most exciting eras in Major League Baseball history. In 1960, players like Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, and Sandy Koufax were entering their primes and putting up incredible stats that would cement their legacies as some of the best to ever play. The 1960 Bowman set beautifully captures these iconic players during that magical time period.
The 1960 Topps set is arguably more well-known and collected today due to its exciting vertical design and the inclusion of more stars. The 1960 Bowman set deserves recognition for showcasing the sport during the early 60s and giving collectors a chance to own cards featuring future Hall of Famers from that era. The set contains 228 cards issued in 21 series over the course of the 1960 season. Some key things to know about the 1960 Bowman baseball card set include:
Design & Production: The 1960 Bowman cards marked a return to the traditional horizontal card format after several years of experimental vertical designs. The cards feature a simple but attractive design with the team name and league at the top, followed by a color photo of the player in uniform. Stats are listed on the back. The cards were printed via the process of lithography and have a distinctive slick feel compared to the cardboard used by competitors like Topps.
Rookies: The 1960 Bowman set is notable for featuring rookie cards of stars like Brooks Robinson, Tony Oliva, Don Drysdale, and Ron Santo. These rookie cards are key chase cards for collectors today. Future Hall of Famers like Roberto Clemente and Frank Robinson also had early career cards found in the 1960 Bowman set.
Short Prints: Like most vintage Bowman issues, the 1960 set includes several short print series that were produced in lower numbers, making them tougher pulls for collectors. The most notable short prints come from series 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18 and 21. Cards from these series command premium prices due to their scarcity.
Condition Issues: While Bowman cards from the 1950s tended to have better longevity than their Topps counterparts, the 1960 issue is prone to production flaws that hurt card quality over time. Issues like printing errors, poor color registration, and fragility mean high grade examples can be elusive. Condition census guids like PSA and BVG have few 1960 Bowman cards grading above a PSA 8.
Key Players: Some of the biggest stars featured on 1960 Bowman cards include Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, Sandy Koufax, Nellie Fox, Don Drysdale, Brooks Robinson, Ernie Banks, Roberto Clemente, Harmon Killebrew, Early Wynn, Hoyt Wilhelm, and Roy Face. Collectors love finding pristine examples of these all-time greats who were in their primes during this time period.
Investment Potential: High grade rookie cards of players like Oliva, Clemente, Drysdale and Santo command prices in the thousands of dollars today. Popular stars like Mays, Aaron and Koufax can bring in five figures depending on condition. While the 1960 Bowman set lacks the recognition of flagship Topps issues, the condition scarcity of this 60+ year old set continues to drive collector and investor demand higher over time.
The 1960 Bowman baseball card set provides a unique glimpse into the sport during one of its most exciting eras. Future Hall of Famers who defined the 1960s are captured in their early careers. While production flaws hamper grade potential, condition census rarities continue to gain value due to the set’s historical significance and place in the timeline of the vintage basketball card hobby. For dedicated collectors, locating high quality examples remains a challenge but also a very rewarding pursuit.
