The 1968 Topps baseball card set was the seventh series of annual football cards produced by the Topps Chewing Gum Company. These cards featured professional baseball players from the American and National Leagues and were issued during the 1968 MLB season. The 1968 set contained 660 total cards and is highly coveted by collectors today due to its place in baseball history and the iconic rookie cards it features.
The 660 cards in the 1968 set were issued in wax paper packs, with each pack containing five or six cards. The cards measured 2-1/2 inches by 3-1/2 inches which was the standard size Topps used for baseball cards from 1952 through 1981. As with previous Topps sets, card numbers ranged from 1 through the total set size, with photo variations, error cards, and late additions accounting for deviations from the numeric pattern.
Some key facts about the iconic 1968 Topps baseball card set:
Iconic rookie cards: This set featured the rookie cards of Hall of Famers Reggie Jackson, Steve Garvey, Rollie Fingers and Willie McCovey as well as other legends like Fergie Jenkins and Johnny Bench.
Hank Aaron chase: The Hank Aaron chase cards (#75, #660) showing his progress towards Babe Ruth’s home run record were some of the most iconic cards in the set as Aaron broke the record in 1974.
Photo variations: Many stars like Willie Mays and Hank Aaron had two different photo variations in the set, adding to collector interest.
Uncommon error cards: A handful of error cards missing players’ names or photos stand out as rare chase cards for advanced collectors.
Late additions: After the base set was completed, nine additional cards were issued, including the final card (#669) honoring Roberto Clemente after his tragic death in a plane crash in Dec 1972.
Design changes: The 1968 set featured design changes like larger fonts, a navy border replacing red from 1967, and team name pennants underneath photos.
The 1968 Topps set marked an important time in baseball history with legends entering their primes and home run records being chased. While production numbers for individual cards are not published, the set as a whole is considered readily available in Completed form through auctions and card shops. Graded high-end examples in Gem Mint condition can still demand thousands due to the star power and historical significance represented in the 1968 cards.
Some of the most valuable cards in the 1968 Topps set today include:
Rookie cards of Reggie Jackson, Steve Garvey, Rollie Fingers – Graded 9/10 can fetch hundreds to a few thousand each
Nolan Ryan rookie card (#250) – High-graded examples over $1000
Hank Aaron cards #75 & #660 – Can reach $500-1000+ in top condition
Rookie card of Johnny Bench (#51) – >$500 for high grades
Rookie card of Willie McCovey (#466) – $200-500 range
Two known photo variation sets comprising over thirty stars – $10,000+ for a true master set.
While still obtainable for collectors on a budget in raw complete set form, condition-graded high-ends of stars and coveted rookie cards from the 1968 Topps set have grown substantially in value. This is due to both the talented players featured and the set’s placement within the core era of modern baseball fandom in the 1960s & 70s. Along with the iconic 1967, 1969, and 1970 Topps issues, the 1968 set remains one of the most recognized in the hobby.
The 1968 Topps baseball card complete set holds tremendous historical significance, features legendary players and Hall of Fame rookie cards, and offers collectors iconic visuals of stars from baseball’s golden era. While production was high, desirable examples in top grades have achieved noteworthy prices fitting for one of the most important releases from the original Topps run throughout the 20th century. The rookie cards, chase variations, and acclaimed photography make the 1968 set highly acclaimed among card collectors to this day.
