1961 Topps Cards

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1961 Topps Baseball Cards

1961 Topps

Topps opted for a clean minimalist design for the 1961 set. The majority of the front sides of the cards are taken up by the player's picture. This set mainly just featured one player picture rather than twin images of varying sizes.

At the bottom of the card are 2 panels which are each a different color. The player's name is printed in the left panel along with his field position blow that. The name and position are each in a different color of ink. In the right panel is the player's team name.

Both panels and the picture are surrounded by a slim black frame, and then the entire card is framed by a white border. The backs of the cards display the player's entire major and minor league stats. The lifetime stats are printed on top of a green background and topped by a short series of remarks about the player where there was room. Above all of that is box with the player's name, team, personal stats, and field position.

To the left of that box the name Topps and the card's number are printed in a circle logo shaped like a baseball. Underneath the stats section is a series of cartoon panels. The 1961 Topps set is laden with an impressive number of specialty cards. The set was the introduction of many subsets which would later become Topps baseball card set staples like checklists, league leaders, and the now-familiar rookie all-star trophy logo included in a player's regular card.

This set some major precedents for the design and layout of Topps sets for years to come. The set was also the first to show hatless player photos. The hatless photos allowed Topps to airbrush in the hat of a new if a player was traded. This made the process easier for Topps but many collectors have expressed disfavor at the image of these hatless players who don't necessarily look like the image many people have of major league baseball players when they have their caps removed.

Some of the previous subsets included in past year's sets were altered. In the past, 'rookie prospect' cards had a drastically different design from regular player's cards, but for the '61 set Topps notated rookie prospects with just a simple yellow star in an upper corner along with the words '1961 Rookie'.

Some of the rookie cards had a black border around the star while others do not; the border was added midway through the set. A trophy was added to the bottom corner of Rookie All-Star cards. There were many other subsets of the 1961 set which remained the same. Multi-player cards were scattered throughout. The multi-player cards of this set look essentially the same in terms of design as the regular player cards of the set.

There was also a series which commemorated the last year's World Series from #306-313. There was one card for each game of the series and a card depicting the Pirates' final victory. There was also an All-Star team subset as there had been for the past 3 years. This year though, it was redesigned so that the cards had a background that looked like a newspaper, with the player's photo 'ripping' through the paper in the center.

This set again featured a Manager card's subset which was distributed between 2 different series within the set. The first series was between #131 and 139 and the 2nd was between 219 and 226. The manager cards weren't divided between the 2 leagues this time and some managers are not even included because certain teams changed managers too often. All the manager cards have a red white and blue shield background with the manager's picture set against it.

A white oval below lists the manager' name and team. The backs of the manager cards look similar to regular player card backs and they list the manager's career managerial record and big league playing record. The team cards of this set were a little different in that they didn't have checklists on the back like the team cards of many previous sets had had. Instead, the backs featured a write-up about the team's season stats and record.

Checklists were now their own cards and each series checklist had an action photo on the front. The statistical leaders was another new subset in 1961.Card numbers 41-50 were cards featuring the leaders of various batting and pitching categories from the 1960 season. Topps included league leader's subsets in every set through the 1980's and included them in some sets after that.

There were a handful of variations in the 1961 set. Most of the checklists had variations among them and variations in checklists became a mainstay through other Topps sets later in the 1960's. The variations included a misspelling of Luis Arpacio's name, color scheme variations, copyright line differences and more. Most of these variations do not significantly affect value however.


Entire 1961 Topps Set Checklist

1. Dick Groat
2. Roger Maris
3. John Buzhardt
4. Lenny Green
5. Johnny Romano
6. Ed Roebuck
7. White Sox Team
8. Dick Williams
9. Bob Purkey
10. Brooks Robinson
11. Curt Simmons
12. Moe Thacker
13. Chuck Cottier
14. Don Mossi
15. Willie Kirkland
16. Billy Muffett
17. Checklist 1-88
18. Jim Grant
19. Cletis Boyer
20. Robin Roberts
21. Zorro Versalles
22. Clem Labine
23. Don Demeter
24. Ken Johnson
25. Reds' Heavy Artillery 
26. Wes Stock
27. Jerry Kindall
28. Hector Lopez
29. Don Nottebart
30. Nellie Fox
31. Bob Schmidt
32. Ray Sadecki
33. Gary Geiger
34. Wynn Hawkins
35. Ron Santo
36. Jack Kralick
37. Charlie Maxwell
38. Bob Lillis
39. Leo Posada
40. Bob Turley
41. NL Batting Leaders
42. AL Batting Leaders 
43. NL Home Run Leaders 
44. AL Home Run Leaders
45. NL ERA Leaders
46. AL ERA Leaders
47. NL Pitching Leaders
48. AL Pitching Leaders 
49. NL Strikeout Leaders
50. AL Strikeout Leaders 
51. Tigers Team
52. George Crowe
53. Russ Nixon
54. Earl Francis
55. Jim Davenport
56. Russ Kemmerer
57. Marv Throneberry
58. Joe Schaffernoth
59. Jim Woods
60. Woodie Held
61. Ron Piche
62. Al Pilarcik
63. Jim Kaat
64. Alex Grammas
65. Ted Kluszewski
66. Bill Henry
67. Ossie Virgil
68. Deron Johnson
69. Earl Wilson
70. Bill Virdon
71. Jerry Adair
72. Stu Miller
73. Al Spangler
74. Joe Pignatano
75. Lindy Shows Larry 
76. Harry Anderson
77. Dick Stigman
78. Lee Walls
79. Joe Ginsberg
80. Harmon Killebrew
81. Tracy Stallard
82. Joe Christopher
83. Bob Bruce
84. Lee Maye
85. Jerry Walker
86. Dodgers Team
87. Joe Amalfitano
88. Richie Ashburn
89. Billy Martin
90. Jerry Staley
91. Walt Moryn
92. Hal Naragon
93. Tony Gonzalez
94. Johnny Kucks
95. Norm Cash
96. Billy O'Dell
97. Jerry Lynch
99. Don Buddin
100. Harvey Haddix
101. Bubba Phillips
102. Gene Stephens
103. Ruben Amaro
104. John Blanchard
105. Carl Willey
106. Whitey Herzog
107. Seth Morehead
108. Dan Dobbek
109. Johnny Podres
110. Vada Pinson
111. Jack Meyer
112. Chico Fernandez
113. Mike Fornieles
114. Hobie Landrith
115. Johnny Antonelli
116. Joe De Maestri
117. Dale Long
118. Chris Cannizzaro
119. A's Big Armor
120. Ed Mathews
121. Eli Grba
122. Cubs Team
123. Billy Gardner
124. J. C. Martin
125. Steve Barber
126. Dick Stuart
127. Ron Kline
128. Rip Repulski
129. Ed Hobaugh
130. Norm Larker
131. Paul Richards
132. Al Lopez
133. Ralph Houk
134. Mickey Vernon
135. Fred Hutchinson
136. Walt Alston
137. Chuck Dressen
138. Danny Murtaugh
139. Solly Hemus
140. Gus Triandos
141. Billy Williams
142. Luis Arroyo
143. Russ Snyder
144. Jim Coker
145. Bob Buhl
146. Marty Keough
147. Ed Rakow
148. Julian Javier
149. Bob Oldis
150. Willie Mays
151. Jim Donohue
152. Earl Torgeson
153. Don Lee
154. Bobby Del Greco
155. Johnny Temple
156. Ken Hunt
157. Cal McLish
158. Pete Daley
159. Orioles Team
160. Whitey Ford
161. Sherman Jones
162. Jay Hook
163. Ed Sadowski
164. Felix Mantilla
165. Gino Cimoli
166. Danny Kravitz
167. Giants Team
168. Tommy Davis
169. Don Elston
170. Al Smith
171. Paul Foytack
172. Don Dillard
173. Beantown Bombers
174. Ray Semproch
175. Gene Freese
176. Ken Aspromonte
177. Don Larsen
178. Bob Nieman
179. Joe Koppe
180. Bobby Richardson
181. Fred Green
182. Dave Nicholson
183. Andre Rodgers
184. Steve Bilko
185. Herb Score
186. Elmer Valo
187. Billy Klaus
188. Jim Marshall
190. Stan Williams
191. Mike De La Hoz

192. Dick Brown
193. Gene Conley
194. Gordy Coleman
195. Jerry Casale
196. Ed Bouchee
197. Dick Hall
198. Carl Sawatski
199. Bob Boyd
200. Warren Spahn
201. Pete Whisenant
202. Al Neiger
203. Eddie Bressoud
204. Bob Skinner
205. Bill Pierce
206. Gene Green
207. Dodger Southpaws
208. Larry Osborne
209. Ken McBride
210. Pete Runnels
211. Bob Gibson
212. Haywood Sullivan
213. Bill Stafford
214. Danny Murphy
215. Gus Bell
216. Ted Bowsfield
217. Mel Roach
218. Hal Brown
219. Gene Mauch
220. Al Dark
221. Mike Higgins
222. Jimmie Dykes
223. Bob Scheffing
224. Joe Gordon
225. Bill Rigney
226. Harry Lavagetto
227. Juan Pizarro
228. Yankees Team
229. Rudy Hernandez
230. Don Hoak
231. Dick Drott
232. Bill White
233. Joe Jay
234. Ted Lepcio
235. Camilo Pascual
236. Don Gile
237. Billy Loes
238. Jim Gilliam
239. Dave Sisler
240. Ron Hansen
241. Al Cicotte
242. Hal W. Smith
243. Frank Lary
244. Chico Cardenas
245. Joe Adcock
246. Bob Davis
247. Billy Goodman
248. Ed Keegan
249. Reds Team
250. Buc Hill Aces
251. Bill Bruton
252. Bill Short
253. Sammy Taylor
254. Ted Sadowski
255. Vic Power
256. Billy Hoeft
257. Carroll Hardy
258. Jack Sanford
259. John Schaive
260. Don Drysdale
261. Charlie Lau
262. Tony Curry
263. Ken Hamlin
264. Glen Hobbie
265. Tony Kubek
266. Lindy McDaniel
267. Norm Siebern
268. Ike DeLock
269. Harry Chiti
270. Bob Friend
271. Jim Landis
272. Tom Morgan
274. Gary Bell
275. Gene Woodling
276. Ray Rippelmeyer
277. Hank Foiles
278. Don McMahon
279. Jose Pagan
280. Frank Howard
281. Frank Sullivan
282. Faye Throneberry
283. Bob Anderson
284. Dick Gernert
285. Sherm Lollar
286. George Witt
287. Carl Yastrzemski
288. Albie Pearson
289. Ray Moore
290. Stan Musial
291. Tex Clevenger
292. Jim Baumer
293. Tom Sturdivant
294. Don Blasingame
295. Milt Pappas
296. Wes Covington
297. Athletics Team
298. Jim Golden
299. Clay Dalrymple
300. Mickey Mantle
301. Chet Nichols
302. Al Heist
303. Gary Peters
304. Rocky Nelson
305. Mike McCormick
306. World Series Game 1
307. World Series Game 2
308. World Series Game 3
309. World Series Game 4
310. World Series Game 5
311. World Series Game 6
312. World Series Game 7
313. World Series Summary
314. Bob Miller
315. Earl Battey
316. Bobby Gene Smith
317. Jim Brewer
318. Danny O'Connell
319. Valmy Thomas
320. Lou Burdette
321. Marv Breeding
322. Bill Kunkel
323. Sammy Esposito
324. Hank Aguirre
325. Wally Moon
326. Dave Hillman
327. Matty Alou
328. Jim O'Toole
329. Julio Becquer
330. Rocky Colavito
331. Ned Garver
332. Dutch Dotterer
333. Fritz Brickell
334. Walt Bond
335. Frank Bolling
336. Don Mincher
337. Al's Aces
338. Don Landrum
339. Gene Baker
340. Vic Wertz
341. Jim Owens
342. Clint Courtney
343. Earl Robinson
344. Sandy Koufax
345. Jim Piersall
346. Howie Nunn
347. Cardinals Team
348. Steve Boros
349. Danny McDevitt
350. Ernie Banks
351. Jim King
352. Bob Shaw
353. Howie Bedell
354. Billy Harrell
355. Bob Allison
356. Ryne Duren
357. Daryl Spencer
358. Earl Averill
359. Dallas Green
360. Frank Robinson
362. Frank Funk
363. John Roseboro
364. Moe Drabowsky
365. Jerry Lumpe
366. Eddie Fisher
367. Jim Rivera
368. Bennie Daniels
369. Dave Philley
370. Roy Face
371. Bill Skowron
372. Bob Hendley
373. Red Sox Team
374. Paul Giel
375. Ken Boyer
376. Mike Roarke
377. Ruben Gomez
378. Wally Post
379. Bobby Shantz
380. Minnie Minoso
381. Dave Wickersham
382. Frank Thomas

383. Frisco First Liners
384. Chuck Essegian
385. Jim Perry
386. Joe Hicks
387. Duke Maas
388. Bob Clemente
389. Ralph Terry
390. Del Crandall
391. Winston Brown
392. Reno Bertoia
393. Batter Bafflers
394. Ken Walters
395. Chuck Estrada
396. Bob Aspromonte
397. Hal Woodeshick
398. Hank Bauer
399. Cliff Cook
400. Vern Law
401. Babe Ruth 
402. Larsen
403. Brooklyn-Boston
404. Hornsby 
405. Gehrig 
406. Mantle 
407. Jack 
408. Mathewson 
409. Johnson 
410. Haddix
411. Tony Taylor
412. Larry Sherry
413. Eddie Yost
414. Dick Donovan
415. Hank Aaron
416. Dick Howser
417. Juan Marichal
418. Ed Bailey
419. Tom Borland
420. Ed Broglio
421. Ty Cline
422. Bud Daley
423. Charlie Neal
424. Turk Lown
425. Yogi Berra
(426) Not Issued
427. Dick Ellsworth
428. Ray Barker
429. Al Kaline
430. Bill Mazeroski
431. Chuck Stobbs
432. Coot Veal
433. Art Mahaffey
434. Tom Brewer
435. Orlando Cepeda
436. Jim Maloney
438. Curt Flood
439. Phil Regan
440. Luis Aparicio
441. Dick Bertell
442. Gordon Jones
443. Duke Snider
444. Joe Nuxhall
445. Frank Malzone
446. Bob Taylor
447. Harry Bright
448. Del Rice
449. Bobby Bolin
450. Jim Lemon
451. Power for Ernie 
452. Bob Allen
453. Dick Schofield
454. Pumpsie Green
455. Early Wynn
456. Hal Bevan
457. Johnny James
458. Willie Tasby
459. Terry Fox
460. Gil Hodges
461. Smoky Burgess
462. Lou Klimchock
463a. Jack Fisher
463b. Braves Team
464. Leroy Thomas
465. Roy McMillan
466. Ron Moeller
467. Indians Team
468. Johnny Callison
469. Ralph Lumenti
470. Roy Sievers
471. MVP, Phil Rizzuto
472. MVP, Yogi Berra
473. MVP, Bobby Shantz
474. MVP, Al Rosen
475. MVP, Mickey Mantle
476. MVP, Jackie Jensen
477. MVP, Nellie Fox
478. MVP, Roger Maris
479. MVP, Jim Konstanty
480. MVP, Roy Campanella
481. MVP, Hank Sauer
482. MVP, Willie Mays
483. MVP, Don Newcombe
484. MVP, Hank Aaron
485. MVP, Ernie Banks
486. MVP, Dick Groat
487. Gene Oliver
488. Joe McClain
489. Walt Dropo
490. Jim Bunning
491. Phillies Team
492. Ron Fairly
493. Don Zimmer
494. Tom Cheney
495. Elston Howard
496. Ken MacKenzie
497. Willie Jones
498. Ray Herbert
499. Chuck Schilling
500. Harvey Kuenn
501. John De Merit
502. Clarence Coleman
503. Tito Francona
504. Billy Consolo
505. Red Schoedienst
506. Willie Davis
507. Pete Burnside
508. Rocky Bridges
509. Camilo Carreon
510. Art Ditmar
511. Joe Morgan
512. Bob Will
513. Jim Brosnan
514. Jake Wood
515. Jackie Brandt
516. Checklist 507-587
517. Willie McCovey
518. Andy Carey
519. Jim Pagliaroni
520. Joe Cunningham
521. Brother Battery 
522. Dick Farrell
523. Joe Gibbon
524. Johnny Logan
525. Ron Perranoski
526. R. C. Stevens
527. Gene Leek
528. Pedro Ramos
529. Bob Roselli
530. Bobby Malkmus
531. Jim Coates
532. Bob Hale
533. Jack Curtis
534. Eddie Kasko
535. Larry Jackson
536. Bill Tuttle
537. Bobby Locke
538. Chuck Hiller
539. Johnny Klippstein
540. Jackie Jensen
541. Roland Sheldon
542. Twins Team
543. Roger Craig
544. George Thomas
545. Hoyt Wilhelm
546. Marty Kutyna
547. Leon Wagner
548. Ted Wills
549. Hal R. Smith
550. Frank Baumann
551. George Altman
552. Jim Archer
553. Bill Fischer
554. Pirates Team
555. Sam Jones
556. Ken R. Hunt
557. Jose Valdivielso
558. Don Ferrarese
559. Jim Gentile
560. Barry Latman
561. Charley James
562. Bill Monbouquette
563. Bob Cerv
564. Don Cardwell
565. Felipe Alou
566. All Star,Paul Richards
567. All Star,Danny Murtaugh
568. All Star,Bill Skowron
569. All Star,Frank Herrera
570. All Star,Nellie Fox
571. All Star,Bill Mazeroski

572. All Star, Brooks Robinson
573. All Star, Ken Boyer
574. All Star, Luis Aparicio
575. All Star, Ernie Banks
576. All Star, Roger Maris
577. All Star, Hank Aaron
578. All Star, Mickey Mantle
579. All Star, Willie Mays
580. All Star, Al Kaline
581. All Star, Frank Robinson
582. All Star, Earl Battey
583. All Star, Del Crandall
584. All Star, Jim Perry
585. All Star, Bob Friend
586. All Star, Whitey Ford
589. All Star, Warren Spahn