The 1968 Topps baseball card set was issued by Topps in 1968 and is considered one of the classic vintage sets from the1960s. It contains photos of 656 total cards including 615 base cards, 31 Manager cards, 8 Checklist cards, and 2 Record Breaker cards. Highlights of the 1968 set include some iconic cards of legendary players from that era such as Mickey Mantle, Hank Aaron, and Bob Gibson.
Some key facts and details about the 1968 Topps baseball card set:
Design: The cards featured a very simple yet classic design with a solid color background, white borders on the top and bottom, and black borders on the sides. Each card contained the player’s name, team, position, and photo on the front. Backs contained personal stats and a career record along with some biographical information.
Size: Cards measured 2.5 inches by 3.5 inches, which was the standard size for nearly all cards issued in the 1960s.
Photography: As was standard for the time, photos were usually headshots taken during Spring Training that showed the players expressions and uniforms but without much environmental context in the shots. The photos were higher quality than previous years.
Short Prints: Four short printed cards have been identified from the 1968 set including Johnny Callison, Orlando Cepeda, Joe Torre, and Dick Howe. These scarce cards are highly sought after by collectors.
Rookies: Notable rookies included Reggie Jackson, Tom Seaver, Rollie Fingers, and Bobby Bonds. Seaver’s iconic first card is among the most valuable from this set.
Managers: For the first time, Topps issued distinctive manager cards separate from the base set, which were numbered M1-M31. These spotlighted coaches and managers like Earl Weaver and Walter Alston.
Checklists: Eight checklist cards were issued at the beginning of the set to help collectors track progress, which was a standard Topps inclusion.
Record Breakers: Stars like Mickey Mantle and Hank Aaron each received special Record Breaker cards, numbered RB1-2, highlighting accomplishments from the previous season.
Standout Stars: Other star cards included Willie Mays, Roberto Clemente, Jim Palmer, and Brooks Robinson. The Aaron and Gibson cards showcased their dominance in 1967.
Design Evolution: Compared to previous years, the 1968 set had cleaner graphics with solid color backgrounds and simplified wording, representing an evolutionary step towards a more modern aesthetic.
Looking specifically at some of the superstar cards from the 1968 Topps set that are among the most iconic and valuable today:
Mickey Mantle (Card #1): Mantle’s legendary career was still in full swing in 1968 as the leadoff card in the set. He was still a huge star for the Yankees and is depicted in his classic crouched batting stance. This is regarded as one the true vintage “holy grail” cards.
Hank Aaron (Card #20): Aaron’s card captures his prolific 1967 season where he led the league with 44 HRs and 127 RBI en route to winning the NL MVP award. The graphics highlight his “13th 40 Homer Season” accomplishment, foreshadowing his eventual all-time home run record.
Bob Gibson (Card #64): Gibson’s intimidating on-field presence is captured as he stares down the camera. The back touts his 1968 season where he went 22-9 with a minuscule 1.12 ERA and 13 shutouts, leading to him being named NL Cy Young winner.
Tom Seaver (Card #250): Seaver’s brilliant rookie season is immortalized, establishing him as a future Hall of Famer and one of the most dominant pitchers of the 1970s. He went 16-13 for a lackluster Mets team in his first season.
Willie Mays (Card #130): In his age 36 season, Mays is shown in the outfield for the San Francisco Giants with his signature elongated follow-through swing. A true icon of the game at this point in his career.
The 1968 Topps baseball card set provides a great time capsule into the sport during that late 1960s era. Collectors today highly value the cards showing the superstar players from that period, which capture them at the height of their careers before inevitable decline or retirement. The simpler yet appealing graphic design also makes these cards highly aesthetically pleasing as part of any vintage baseball card collection.
