The 1968 Topps baseball card set is one of the most iconic and well-known issues in the history of the sport. Produced and distributed by Topps, the 1968 set was the 17th series of baseball cards issued by the company and featured 660 total cards highlighting players, managers, and team checklists from that Major League Baseball season. Some key facts and highlights about the 1968 Topps baseball card set:
The 1968 set was the first Topps baseball card series to feature a first card in the set of one of the game’s all-time greats – Willie Mays of the San Francisco Giants. Mays would go on to appear on the first card in Topps sets several more times throughout his career. The iconic photo of Mays swinging a bat with the Polo Grounds in the background has become one of the most recognizable images in collectible sports cards. Three future Hall of Famers – Frank Robinson, Hank Aaron, and Sandy Koufax – also received the prestigious first card placement in the 1968 set.
Rookie cards of several future Hall of Famers were included in the 1968 Topps set, including Johnny Bench, Reggie Jackson, and Carlton Fisk. The Bench and Jackson rookie cards in particular are among the most valuable in the hobby. Other notable rookie cards included Tony Pérez, Andy Messersmith, and Tommy John. Future home run king Hank Aaron’s card continued to feature his record-breaking stats from the previous season when he surpassed Babe Ruth’s all-time home run record.
The design and photography of the 1968 cards featured more artistic, colorful team logo designs on the fronts compared to previous plain white logo sets. Photos were also transitioning to more centered headshots rather than posed action shots. The backs featured more statistics and included a description of each team’s home park. The Glossy/paper stock combo was also upgraded from previous wax-paper issues, making the cards hardier for kids to enjoy.
The 1968 Topps set total included 660 cards issued in the basic series. Some of the notable inclusions were 30 Manager cards, 21 League Leader Proof of Achievement cards, and team checklists for both leagues. The final cards in the set showed stats leaders from 1967 for each league. Several insert sets were also released, like the Topps Deckle Edge mini cards. Error or mismatch cards also exist, such as one with the wrong photo of Tommy John on the back.
In terms of rarity and value, the 1968 Topps set contains many desirable and expensive high-grade cards. Rookie cards like Bench, Jackson, and Fisk routinely sell for thousands in gem mint condition. Other valuable vintage stars like Mays, Aaron, Koufax, and Robinson are also highly sought after. Lower-numbered parallels like the League Leaders get more difficult to acquire in high grades as well. The 1968 Topps set remains one of the most coveted issues among collectors decades after its original release.
The 1968 season in MLB itself featured plenty of historic moments and storylines that added to the retro appeal of the cards. The St. Louis Cardinals won the World Series against the Detroit Tigers. Bob Gibson’s record setting 1.12 ERA season dominated baseball that year. The California Angels played their first season in Anaheim. Expansion brought the first year of the Kansas City Royals and Montreal Expos franchises as well. All these contextual elements and more have kept collectors engaged with the 1968 Topps set for generations.
Among the most famous stories associated with the 1968 Topps release was an error involving the photo of then-Minnesota Twins pitcher Jim Merritt. Due to a printing plate mixup, Merritt’s card was mistakenly issued with a photo of a different player, Jerry Stephenson, on the back. Only about 100 of these now iconic “Merritt-Stephenson” cards are believed to exist, making it one of the true oddball errors in the hobby. The story has taken on a mythical lore among collectors in the decades since.
As baseball cards grew to become one of the most popular hobbies and collectibles worldwide starting in the late 1980s and early 90s, interest and demand for vintage classics like the 1968 Topps set skyrocketed. In pristine mint condition, a full unopened wax box could be worth tens of thousands of dollars today. Even common single cards in high grades remain highly sought after and trade hands frequently on eBay, ComicConnect, and other third party auction sites. Vintage blogs and documentaries also spread interest in the rich history and stories behind iconic sets like 1968 Topps.
The 1968 Topps baseball card set is truly a defining issue that bridged the evolution from the early days of the hobby into the modern insert card era. Loaded with Hall of Fame talent, beloved rookie stars, memorable photos, and even legendary errors like the Merritt-Stephenson miscue, it’s no wonder 1968 Topps has held its prominent place at the top of want lists for generations of collectors since. Whether being enjoyed for the players, memories, or monetary value, the 1968 set rightfully remains one of the most cherished releases in the long tradition of Topps baseball cards.
