1960 was a special year for baseball cards as it marked the debut of the Bazooka brand of cards. Produced by Topps, Bazooka cards were smaller and made of thinner cardboard stock compared to the standard baseball cards of the time. They featured colorful cartoon illustrations on the front along with the player’s photo and stats on the back. Due to their unique size and design, 1960 Bazooka cards have developed quite a cult following among collectors over the decades.
The 1960 Bazooka set consists of 132 cards featuring players and managers from both the American and National Leagues. Some key things to know about the set and individual card values:
The design features a cartoon illustration of each player on the front along with their name and team. On the back is their photo and stats from the 1959 season.
Condition is extremely important when grading and pricing 1960 Bazooka cards due to the thin stock. Even lightly played copies in average condition can be worth $5-10 while very nice near mint copies may fetch $15-25.
Top stars of the era like Willie Mays, Hank Aaron and Sandy Koufax can be found in the set. Their cards in top grades have six figure values. An ungraded mint example of the Willie Mays card recently sold for over $35,000.
Rarer short prints like those featuring managers Casey Stengel, Walter Alston and Al Lopez are valued higher in top grades. An SGC-graded 9 copy of the Al Lopez card sold for around $2,000.
Complete sets in lower graded condition can be acquired for $500-1000 depending on overall quality. A pristine near-complete set in high grades would command $10,000+.
Single cards of less notable players in average condition sell for $1-5. Rookies and prospects fetch higher values, especially if they went on to have good careers.
Some key 1960 Bazooka rookie and prospect cards to watch for include future Hall of Famers Roberto Clemente, Juan Marichal and Ron Santo. Here’s a closer look at values for these rookie gems:
Roberto Clemente, Pirates: His iconic Bazooka rookie is one of the most coveted cards of the set. High graded copies in SGC/PSA 8-9 can reach $500-1000. Near mint 10s have sold for over $2000.
Juan Marichal, Giants: The legendary Dominican pitcher’s rookie card is also quite valuable, especially in high grades. PSA 8s sell in the $200-300 range while 9s reach $500-700.
Ron Santo, Cubs: As a third baseman who went on to have a great career and later become a broadcaster, his rookie has solid demand. PSA 8 copies sell for $100-150 and 9s go for $250-350.
Other notable 1960 Bazooka rookie cards include Tony Conigliaro, Dick Ellsworth, Don Drysdale, Pete Rose and Tom Seaver. While not all became superstars, there is collector interest in their rookie cards depending on the player and condition. Here are estimated prices:
Tony C, Red Sox: $50-100 in PSA 8; $150-250 in PSA 9.
Dick Ellsworth, Mets: $30-60 in PSA 8; $75-125 in PSA 9.
Don Drysdale, Dodgers: $40-80 in PSA 8; $100-150 in PSA 9.
Pete Rose, Reds: $25-50 in PSA 8; $75-125 in PSA 9.
Tom Seaver, Mets: $75-150 in PSA 8; $150-250 in PSA 9.
The 1960 Bazooka set remains a highly collectible and affordable vintage issue for collectors due to the fun cartoon designs and abundance of star rookies and future Hall of Famers. While the cards are not as valuable as flagship sets from the same year, there is strong nostalgia surrounding them. Condition is critical, so higher graded examples will always demand top dollar from enthusiastic Bazooka collectors.
