Topps Football in the 1960s

1960 Topps and 1961 Topps

The early-decade sets belong to a market also served by Fleer. A same-year Topps and Fleer collection will not necessarily contain the same teams or players. A long professional career and the date of an individual card are different facts; the issue’s actual player roster should decide whether it belongs in the project.

1962 Topps: black borders

The black-bordered front design makes white edge wear conspicuous. Mike Ditka and Fran Tarkenton are prominent rookie-card subjects. Inspect the black areas for abrasion and possible recoloring; do not assume a stronger-looking border in a photograph is evidence of a stronger original card.

1963 Topps: the last pre-split year

Before the 1964 licensing division, Topps offered its own distinct player roster and design. Use the 1963 checklist when selecting subjects; the subsequent AFL-only period is not a guide to this year’s contents. Team changes and the card’s printed team can differ from a player’s later reputation.

1964 Topps and 1965 Topps

Topps concentrated on the AFL while Philadelphia covered the NFL. The 1965 Topps tall-boy issue measures about 2-1/2 by 4-11/16 inches and includes Joe Namath’s rookie. It needs holders and album pockets sized for the card; standard pockets can damage the exposed top.

1966 Topps and 1967 Topps

Both continue the AFL focus. The 1967 issue has 132 cards arranged by team, and its vivid backgrounds are a useful visual identifier. Joe Namath’s later Topps cards are separate issues from his 1965 rookie, even when a seller emphasizes the same player name.

1968 Topps and 1969 Topps

Topps again presents players from both major professional leagues. The 1968 set opens with Bart Starr; the 1969 checklist includes the familiar Brian Piccolo rookie. Build the late-decade years independently from the AFL-only sets so a league-wide collecting goal does not silently change halfway through the run.

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