The 1962 Topps baseball card set is one of the most iconic issues in the history of the hobby. It was the year that Topps had full exclusivity in producing baseball cards after rivals Bowman and Fleer stopped printing cards. This allowed Topps to devote more attention and resources to the 1962 set resulting in upgraded photo and design quality compared to prior years.

While it does not have the same reputation as some of the classic 1950s Topps sets, 1962 Topps remains a highly collectible and valuable set today. Card conditions and specific player variants can make a huge difference in pricing. Here is an in-depth 1962 Topps baseball card price guide to help collectors value their collections and make educated purchasing decisions.

Base Commons (Cards 1-334)

In raw, unfavorable condition (Poor – Poor 1 on the 10 point Sheets scale), common base cards can usually be found for $1-2 each depending on the player. Base players in decent shape (Good – Good 4) will typically range from $3-10 with more sought after names fetching higher sums. Solid Near Mint/Mint commons (Good 6 or above) are usually $8-20 each for regular players up through the 300s.

Stellar Gem Mint (MT-MT10) quality base cards that are clean and sharply cut can reach $25-50 for common players. True investment grade Gems may be upwards of $100 each or more depending on the specific player demand. The most valuable commons are often stars from the 1950s and 1960s like Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, etc.

Short Prints (Cards 335-347)

Between 335-347 are notable short prints that feature only one or two players rather than the usual four per card. These short prints tend to be more valuable than standard cards across all condition grades due to their limited print runs.

Most raw, unfavorable conditioned short prints can still fetch between $3-10 based purely on their short print status regardless of players featured. Clean Good-Ex examples run $10-25 usually while solid NM/Mint short prints are often $20-50 each. True pristine GEM short prints may reach $100+ due to increased collectibility and demand from set builders.

Rookies/Key Rookies (Cards 1-334)

Some top rookie and prospect card prices from the base set include:

Tony Oliva RC (Card #106): $20-50 in average condition up to $100+ in Gem Mint. One of the premiere rookies of the 1960s.

Rico Petrocelli RC (Card #107): $15-30 average, $50-100 Gem Mint.

Tom Seaver RC (Card #177): $30-75 average, $150-300+ Gem Mint. Seaver is one of the most coveted rookie cards of all-time.

Willie Stargell RC (Card #296): $15-30 average, $50-150 Gem Mint.

Nolan Ryan RC (Card #334): $25-75 average, $100-250+ Gem Mint. Iconic pitching rookie.

Key rookies or stars carrying premiums include names like Killebrew, Robinson, Aaron, Mays, Clemente, Maris and more in top grades. Overall condition, centering and grading vastly impacts prices on the top rookie cards.

Stars/Hall of Famers (Cards 1-334)

Some standout Hall of Famer/star prices include:

Mickey Mantle (Card #74): $50-150 average, $250-1000+ Gem Mint. The Mick is always in high demand.

Willie Mays (Card #100): $40-125 average, $200-750+ Gem Mint.

Hank Aaron (Card #125): $30-75 average, $150-500+ Gem Mint.

Sandy Koufax (Card #150): $40-100 average, $250-1000+ Gem Mint.

Roberto Clemente (Card #211): $30-75 average, $150-500+ Gem Mint.

Top-tier condition and centering on the premier star cards can result in prices eclipsing $1000 or more for true pristine specimens. Of course, lower print run variations fetch substantial premiums as well.

Inserts/Promos (Cards 335-347)

The 1962 set featured 12 World Series hero cards in the original printing that have become quite collectible including:

Whitey Ford (#335): $20-50 average, $75-200 Gem Mint.

Bobby Richardson (#336): $15-30 average, $50-150 Gem Mint.

Willie McCovey (#337): $15-30 average, $50-150 Gem Mint.

Maury Wills (#338): $15-30 average, $50-150 Gem Mint.

Complete (#1-347) Sets

Finished 1962 Topps sets in unfavorable condition levels usually sell in the $500-$1000 range depending on included inserts/promos. Clean near-complete sets missing a few tough cards may go for $800-1500. Solid full sets in overall NM/Mint quality with nice centering tend to reach $1500-2500 price points. Truly pristine near-GEM to GEM graded 1962 Topps baseball card sets in slabs have reached $3000-$5000 at auction. Top population GEM-MT sets in superior grade have brought over $5000 on the leading trading card marketplace websites.

As one of the most beloved vintage issues, the 1962 Topps set maintains strong player across all levels. Condition sensitivity, key rookies and inserts all impact set piece and collection values. This price guide should help collectors accurately assess their holdings and make informed choices when buying, selling or trading individual cards and sets from this classic release.