The 1963 Topps baseball card series is one of the most iconic sets in the history of the hobby. Coming on the heels of major league baseball’s expansion in 1961 and 1962, the ’63 Topps cards introduced fans to stars on the newly formed New York Mets and Houston Colt .45s franchises. While the set overall isn’t among the most valuable unopened, several individual 1963 Topps rookie and star cards have risen dramatically in price in recent years due to their historical significance and condition scarcity. Let’s take a look at some of the most valuable gems from the 1963 Topps set.
Kicking off our list is the rookie card of Hall of Fame second baseman Joe Morgan. A tempestuous talent with the Cincinnati Reds, Morgan would go on to be named to seven All-Star teams during his career and help lead the “Big Red Machine” to back-to-back World Series championships in 1975-76. His slick defensive skills and impactful bat made him one of the top second basemen of his era. In near mint condition, Morgan’s scarce ’63 Topps RC has sold for over $15,000. Another Cincinnati standout, Frank Robinson, also has an elite card from the set. As one of the earliest examples of an MVP playing in both leagues, Robinson’s imposing presence in a Reds uniform makes his 1963 issue a trophy card fetching thousands in high grades.
Two icons of the New York Mets inaugural 1962 season, pitcher Craig Anderson and outfielder Jimmy Piersall, have rare rookie cards that shine brightly in the ’63 set. Both were original “Metropolitan” stars who contributed to the team’s surprising 61-101 record as expansion newcomers. Their cardboard debuts are key pieces of Mets history securing over $5,000 apiece when preserved excellently. On the other coast, pitcher Juan Marichal made his Topps bow following a monster 1962 season split between the Giants and Red Sox farm clubs. “The Dominican Dandy’s” 163 strikeouts and 2.30 ERA made him an instant ace, with his striking rookie card in demand at four-figure values today.
Two American League MVPs, Early Wynn and Elston Howard, possessed defining ’63 issues as well. “Old Early” had ascended to his career pinnacle with the 1963 White Sox, igniting the “Go-Go” season with 21 wins and a career-best 2.19 ERA at age 41. His MVP award winning ways made his Topps card a must-have. Meanwhile, Yankee catcher Elston Howard had broken the MLB color barrier and was a crucial part of their dynasty. His smooth lefty swing and stellar defense were praised on baseball cards ahead of his contemporaries. High grade copies of Wynn and Howard now cost collectors several thousand dollars each.
Across town with the Mets, slugging first baseman Ron Swoboda had a breakout 1963 campaign with 16 home runs as a 23-year old rookie. His encouraging potential and status as one of the new NL club’s original position players created lasting demand for Swoboda’s scarce RC. When found in pristine condition sealed in the original wax wrapper, it can net over $6,000. Another rookie holding immense value is Angels pitcher Bo Belinsky. With pinup girl fame and a stellar 1962 season, Belinsky’s card became one of the set’s most coveted and historically important. Now graded mint or better, it can bring in excess of $10,000 at auction.
Rounding out our lineup of 1963 Topps standouts are a pair of Hall of Fame hurlers who started their careers with the expansion Colt .45s/Astros – Don Nottebart and Jim Umbricht. As two of the earliest stars donning the new Houston uniform, their debut issues provide a unique slice of baseball and franchise history. Nottebart enjoyed a long, effective career highlighted by threestraight 15-win seasons for the Astros in the mid-60s. His condition scarce rookie elicits over $3,000 in top grades. Meanwhile, Umbricht’s tragic passing in a plane crash at age 33 after just 2 MLB seasons has given extra notoriety and value to his popular 1963 RC, selling in the $5,000 range pristinely preserved.
While the 1963 Topps baseball card set as a whole doesn’t command the absurd prices of the T206 tobacco era or 1952 Topps, several individual rookie cards and star players have attained premier status. Strong investment demands for the earliest cardboard representations of soon-to-be legends like Morgan, Marichal, and Wynn, as well as expansion stars and obscure figures, keeps the market robust. With the inherent vintage nostalgia and historical relevance of 1960s baseball embedded within, uncovering a high quality ’63 Topps RC of any of these discussed players would make for an exhilarating addition to any collection.
