The 1968 Milton Bradley baseball card set marked an important transition year for the popular card manufacturer. While Milton Bradley had been producing baseball cards since the early 1950s, the 1968 set would be one of the last issued before Topps dominated the market for several decades. The 1968 Milton Bradley cards remain a favorite among collectors today due to their classic designs and significance in the history of the hobby.
Some background – Milton Bradley began making baseball cards in 1950 as a competitor to the dominant Bowman brand. They issued full-size cards annually through 1962 then switched to mini-cards from 1963-1967. The mini-card designs never gained much traction with collectors. For 1968, Milton Bradley returned to the standard 3.5 inches by 2.5 inches size that is still used today.
The 1968 set includes 134 total cards featuring players, managers, and umpires from both the American and National Leagues. Some of the star players featured include Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, Roberto Clemente, Mickey Mantle, and Sandy Koufax. The cards have a clean and classic design with a black-and-white photo on the front and player stats like batting averages on the back. Unlike some contemporaries, Milton Bradley kept statistics and photographer credits off the front of the cards for a cleaner look.
In terms of production, the 1968 Milton Bradley cards were printed using a unique process compared to rivals like Topps. MB cards had a special linen finish on the front that gave them a distinctive smoothness different from the stockier cardboard stocks of the time. This linen finish is one reason 1968 MB cards have aged very well compared to some other 1960s issues.
While they didn’t receive much attention upon initial release, the 1968 Milton Bradley baseball cards have grown in popularity with collectors in recent decades. The clean designs, unique linen finish, and historical significance make them a desirable vintage issue. In the early 1970s, Topps solidified its monopoly of the baseball card market and Milton Bradley’s series ended. This makes their 1968 set one of the final mainstream baseball card releases from the brand.
For collectors, finding high-grade 1968 Milton Bradley cards today can be a challenge. As they weren’t the highest print run of the period either. Enthusiasts still seek raw copies to collect as well as higher graded gems. Common players may sell for around $10-15 in Excellent condition while true stars can reach $100 or more if carefully preserved. The set has retained significant collector interest versus other contemporary brands of similar production dates.
In addition to individual cards, the 1968 Milton Bradley baseball card set is still offered intact in factory sets over 50 years later. These sealed wax packs and factory boxes containing the full 134-card lineup remain highly prized. Even partially complete sets attract attention. For serious vintage collectors, acquiring a high-quality factory sealed 1968 MB box is an impressive trophy piece. Auction records for sealed boxes have reached up to $1000 depending on condition factors.
While short-lived as a major card manufacturer, Milton Bradley made an impact on the baseball card collecting scene for over 15 years including their 1968 return to standard sized cards. The clean designs, unique qualities like the linen finish, and historical context have ensured this issue maintains strong collector demand decades after initial production. For these reasons, the 1968 Milton Bradley baseball card set stands out as an iconic release that represented the twilight of one company’s time in the market before the onset of a new era in the 1970s. Its continued popularity today serves as a testament to both its visual appeal and significance within the rich timeline of sports card history.
