1960 Topps Baseball Card Price Guide Overview
The 1960 Topps baseball card set is considered one of the most iconic vintage issues ever released. Featuring many legendary players from the 1950s and 1960s like Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, and Sandy Koufax, 1960 Topps remains a highly collectible set today even with over 60 years having passed since its original printing. In this in-depth price guide, we will explore the variations, key cards, and valuations you can expect to see for individual 1960 Topps cards in various grades on the collecting market in 2022.
1960 Topps Base Set – #1 Mickey Mantle to #520 Bob Buhl
The 1960 Topps flagship issue contains 520 cards focusing entirely on players and managers from that season. Some notable rookie cards found in the base set include Roberto Clemente, Pete Rose, and Lou Brock. The most valuable cards tend to be those featuring the game’s biggest stars from that era. Here is a breakdown of estimated prices for several key 1960 Topps base cards in different condition grades:
#1 Mickey Mantle – Perhaps the single most iconic card in the entire set. PSA 10 Gem Mint examples have sold for over $150,000. Lower graded copies still demand solid four-figure prices down to PSA 5 Very Good condition.
#15 Willie Mays – Another true icon of the era. PSA 10’s have topped $50,000 with PSA 5’s in the $2,000-$3,000 range.
#42 Hank Aaron – His first Topps issue card. PSA 10’s exceed $10,000 with most PSA 5’s $300-$500.
#74 Sandy Koufax – The lefty’s rookie card. PSA 10 price reached over $20,000 last year but still a four-figure card down to PSA 5.
#142 Roberto Clemente – His true rookie card. PSA 9 copies sell $1,000-$1,500, PSA 5’s $200-$300 range.
#150 Lou Brock – Another top rookie. PSA 9’s around $500 with PSA 5’s around $75.
1960 Topps Baseball Highlights Subset
This 15-card “Highlights” subset features action photos from the 1959 World Series between the Dodgers and White Sox. Lower print run than the base and stars are significantly more valuable. Key names include Koufax, Aaron, Mays again. PSA 10 Highlights cards sell for mid-four figures on average.
1960 Topps Football/Baseball TV Stars
An unusual 34-card mix of pro athletes from both sports as well as TV/radio broadcasters of the era. Only a few dozen copies exist of the uncorrected “Frank Howard” error card (#34), making it one of the true “holy grails” valued over $20,000 PSA 8 or better. Other stars include Mickey Mantle, Johnny Unitas, others. Most cards sell for $100+ even in lower grades.
1960 Topps Variations
Like most vintage releases, 1960 Topps saw some variations between early and late print runs that collectors seek out. Notable variations include:
Mantle “Stripe” Back Variation – Early issue cards lacked vertical stripes on the card back. Extremely rare and only seen in low grades. Worth thousands even in poor shape.
Billy Williams Issue Numbers – His first few cards were printed with “#139” but were then changed to the correct “#138”. Scarcer first printing.
Dick Groat Number Font – Early cards used a different font/size for his #117. Both are collectible but early more valuable.
NL Pennant Fronts – Uncorrected proofs exist showing the NL pennant logo on the front instead of AL. Very rare errors.
Condition and Set Completion
As with most vintage issues, the condition or state of preservation is everything when it comes to 1960 Topps values at the high end. A PSA 10 Mantle or Mays regularly fetch tens of thousands while a Good/Very Good copy is only worth a few hundred dollars from the same player. Building a complete 1960 Topps set presents a challenge due to printing errors, scarce variations and how picky collectors seem them preserved. A PSA/SP authentic 8.5+ set in a display case could be worth $25,000+ based upon past auction sales.
In Summary
Even after six decades, 1960 Topps baseball cards remain a classic that captures the talents of legends like Mantle, Mays, Aaron and Koufax in their prime. Condition is paramount, but affordable lower graded copies exist of stars and rookies alike. The TV Stars and Highlights subsets add to the allure of an iconic vintage issue. 1960 Topps is a must-have for serious collectors of the earliest Topps baseball cards and staples of the vintage collecting hobby. With iconic imagery and players that still resonate today, it’s easy to understand the lasting appeal and value of this pricey price guide.
