The 1962 Post cereal baseball card series has long been a favorite among collectors for its innovative card designs and inclusion of many star players from the early 1960s. Inside boxes of cereals like Wheaties, Grape-Nuts and Corn Flakes, families in 1962 found these small cardboard treasures featuring some of the biggest names in the game. Over six decades later, sets of these vintage cards remain highly sought after by collectors looking to build their vintage baseball collections.
The 1962 Post cereal issue was the 18th series released through the popular promotional program between Post Cereals and the major leagues. Like earlier issues, it featured 96 total cards – 48 each from the American and National Leagues. Some of the biggest stars of the era graced the cardboard, making these cards instant keepers for many young fans just starting their collecting hobby. Names like Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, Sandy Koufax and early cards of up-and-coming sluggers like Willie McCovey and Roberto Clemente draw collectors to this set even today.
In addition to star power, the 1962 Post cards stand out for their visual design innovations. For the first time, cards featured action photography covering the entire front of the card rather than boxed photos. This allowed for more dynamic pose selections that really captured the action and excitement of America’s favorite pastime. Backs of the cards also included more stats and biographical information on each player compared to earlier simpler issues. Overall set quality and production values were also higher than most previous cereal promotions.
Condition and centering are always key factors when evaluating vintage cards for sale. The 1962 Post set utilized a higher quality thick paper stock compared to flimsier issues of the 1950s which helps them hold up comparatively well over six decades. Still, finding a completely flawless gem mint example from this era is quite rare. More common graded condition for 1962 Post cards on the market range from Good to Very Good with slight wear around the edges or corners. Lightly off-centered printing is also not uncommon given the mass production process of the time.
Perhaps the most coveted and valuable cards from the 1962 Post set are the rookie cards it features. First issued cards of future Hall of Famers like Eddie Mathews, Joe Torre and Lou Brock can be found. But the true gems are the rookie cards of three all-time great pitchers – Sandy Koufax, Bob Gibson and Juan Marichal. In top grades, those rookie cards regularly sell for well over $1000 each and are true jewels for any vintage baseball collection. Other stars like Mays, Aaron, McCovey and Clemente also tend to attract strong prices given their historic careers and all-time fan popularity.
For collectors looking to build their 1962 Post cereal collection, there are a few reliable sources to find quality vintage cards currently for sale. Online auction sites like eBay often have a steady stream of individual commons and stars listed from buyers breaking apart larger vintage collections. Graded gem examples can also be found. For more extensive run sets, online trading card shops and vintage card show dealers are good options. Prices will vary widely depending on the individual cards and grades, but complete near-mint ungraded sets often sell in the $300-500 range. Key stars and especially rookie cards will demand much higher individual prices.
Patience is important when shopping for 1962 Post cards, as condition varies widely and top condition copies become harder to find after six decades of collecting interest in the set. An advantage today is authentication and grading services help ensure buyers aren’t misled on the condition and history of the cards they purchase. The iconic designs, star power and rich baseball history captured in the 1962 Post cereal issue make it a premier collectible for any vintage card collector and ensure strong ongoing demand for copies currently available for sale.
