The 1965 Topps baseball card checklist introduced for the first time ever, the #660 card featuring Hall of Fame player Mickey Mantle. This was a historic checklist that documented the careers of many all-time great players who were entering their prime or winding down toward retirement.
The 1965 set consists of 660 total trading cards issued in wax sealed packs. The cards featured photographs of major league players from both the American and National Leagues on the front. On the back of each card was additional information about the player such as career statistics, team and positional affiliations.
Some key highlights from the 1965 Topps Baseball Card Checklist include:
#660 – Mickey Mantle (NY) – This was the first time Topps issued a card higher than the previous standard of 600 cards. Mantle’s inclusion as card #660 showed the reverence he commanded as one of baseball’s true icons.
#1 – Willie Mays (SF) – “The Say Hey Kid” led off the checklist as one of the game’s brightest stars still in his prime at age 33. He was entering his 13th season with the Giants.
#119 – Sandy Koufax (LA) – The great Dodgers lefty was reaching the peak of his Hall of Fame career in 1965. He won 27 games and struck out 382 batters en route to his first of 3 Cy Young Awards.
#253 – Hank Aaron (Milwaukee) – “Hammerin’ Hank” was just beginning his assault on Babe Ruth’s home run record, hitting 41 longballs for the Braves in 1965.
#464 – Ron Santo (Chicago-NL) – The fiery Cub third baseman was an All-Star in 1965, batting .281 with 21 home runs and 83 RBI in his 5th full season.
#539 – Pete Rose (Cincinnati) – “Charlie Hustle” was in his early Reds career in 1965, batting .273 in his 4th season while establishing himself as one of baseball’s toughest outs.
Top rookie cards included Tommy Harper (#455) of the Cincinnati Reds and Dick Radatz (#489) of the Boston Red Sox, both of whom made strong debuts in 1965. Meanwhile, several future Hall of Famers like Al Kaline, Johnny Bench, Reggie Jackson and Bob Gibson all received prominent placements early in the checklist as established stars of the mid-1960s.
On the downside of their careers, the 1965 checklist featured legends like Early Wynn (#224) of the White Sox, playing in his 21st and final season; Yogi Berra (#329) of the Mets in his 18th year; and Robin Roberts (#408) of the Baltimore Orioles pitching in his 16th season before retiring.
The 1965 Topps Baseball Card Checklist documented a memorable year in baseball history. The Yankees won the World Series behind the pitching of Mel Stottlemyre and fortified by seasoned veterans like Mickey Mantle still leading the lineup. Young stars like Koufax, Mays, Aaron and Rose were dominating the sport. For collectors, it marked the introduction of the elusive #660 Mick and the start of an expansion of checklists beyond the 600-card standard of years past. Most 1965 Topps cards remain highly collectible and remembrances of the game during one of its most exciting eras.
