The 1962 Topps baseball card set is one of the most iconic issues in the hobby. It is highly sought after by collectors and seen as a transition year between the classic T206 era and the modern age of baseball cards that was just beginning. The 1962 set is also highly desirable for getting graded and encapsulated by Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA). Here is an in-depth look at what collectors should know about 1962 Topps cards and the grading process through PSA.
1962 was Topps’ 5th year as the sole baseball card licensing holder after pulling ahead of their main competition, the Bowman Gum Company. The 1962 set contained 660 total cards and featured all current major and minor league players. Some of the rookie cards included in the set that would go on to have Hall of Fame careers were Tom Seaver, Don Drysdale, Willie Stargell, and Reggie Jackson. The iconic design featured a vertical format with the player’s photo on the left and stats/career highlights on the right. The cards had a glossy finish and were printed on thin cardboard stock.
As the first “modern” era set, the 1962 Topps are highly coveted by collectors both for investment potential raw or graded. In top PSA 10 gem mint condition, high-end Hall of Fame rookie and star cards can fetch thousands or even tens of thousands at auction. Simply put, a PSA 10 1962 Topps card in a popular graded holder is the holy grail for collectors of this classic set. Earning that coveted PSA 10 grade is no simple task.
When submitting cards to PSA for grading, the first step is to carefully inspect each card to ensure it qualifies. The 1962 Topps set had flaws even when newly packed that disqualify modern gem mint status. A single printing error, crease, or ding can knock a card out of the PSA 10 category. The thin cardboard stock also wears easily over decades. Senders must select only their sharpest, mostperfectly centered examples for Submission to have any chance at that perfect score.
Once received, PSA grading is a multi-step, meticulous process. Senior graders first thoroughly examine each card under bright lighting from the front and back for any defects. They check centering with precision measurement tools. The surface is closely analyzed for whitening, scratches, or other blemishes under high magnification. Only then does the grader assign a numerical grade based on their expert opinion and standards. For a 1962 Topps card, this means it truly needs to present like it just came fresh out of its original wax pack.
Each card receiving a PSA 10 grade must meet such strict condition requirements that employees rarely agree on an exact percentage but estimates are often 1% or less of all examples submitted achieve the top score. Even marginal flaws can knock a card down to a 9 or lower depending on severity. This scarcity and exacting standards make earning that special black PSA 10 holder tremendously difficult but highly desirable for collectors.
The 1962 Topps set is still widely collected today despite its age. The combination of classic design, transition era, and storied rookie cards resonates with hobbyists. Add in the pure challenge and prestige associated with earning the PSA 10 grade, and it’s easy to see why these cards continuing climbing in popularity and value long-term when encapsulated in the strictest third-party authentication available. For enthusiasts of the set and mid-century baseball memorabilia in general, having Top 1962 rookies and stars encased in the black 10 label is the ultimate display and investment piece.
The 1962 Topps baseball card set holds a special place in the history and development of the modern collecting hobby. While the thin cardboard and decades of aging make true gem mint examples exceedingly rare, earning a PSA 10 holder takes these classic cards to the highest echelon that much more difficult but rewarding. For discerning collectors, nothing signifies quality, condition, and value quite like seeing that perfect 10 grade from the industry leader PSA.
