For The Set Collectors - 1963 Topps Complete

[Harliduck]

This afternoon I finally completed my 1963 Topps set. I wouldn't normally post a thread on a completed set, but this one is pretty special for me. I have completed all the 60's sets at least once before, and I am actually working on second sets as well...but the 63 I have mostly ignored. Here is my last card, soon to be liberated into my notebook -





Each post war Topps set comes with their own set of challenges. Here are a few learnings from this latest adventure -

*Rose rookie is SUPER HOT right now, and I do think I bought mine at the right time. Instead of making this the last card of the set, I got it towards the beginning. I ended up with a SGC 5 that I will certainly leave graded. Hindsight I probably should have dropped down a grade or two and gone with a better centered card, as it is clearly obvious that watching these cards sell folks are really fixated on that here. Either way, completely happy with this iconic card and my 10 year old self still gets gitty holding it... I ended up buying a couple of reprints for the binder...and wow, they are pretty nice. Easy to tell in hand, but I got to imagine it's a tough world out there for that card...

*What is up with card #496? Reminds me of the 66 Topps Grant rookie. I went into this set having no idea this SP was in that much demand. I ended up winning a pretty nice example for a decent price. This is the kind of card that non set collectors don't get...to pay a premium for Steve Dalkowski with that ugly head rookie look, when I paid the same for almost a later year Mantle? Well...tough to justify except to a set collector I get just as excited seeing a 66 Grant Rookie as I do a nice Jackie R card. Just point of view...





*It is very hard to get a starter lot for 1963. Not sure why, just after months of looking I came up dry. Most years I start with 3 or 4 nice lots, pick and choose the best cards, and then go from there. I was extremely lucky getting a NICE lot from net54 member Wilkie here. Great deal, really nice cards.

*High numbers are relatively inexpensive and ebay plentiful. Some come at a premium, but overall nothing near 66 & 67. More comparable to 64, although seemingly there are many more HOF cards and Rookies in the highs than any other set.

*Have already upgraded 30 to 40 cards from not being satisfied with pick ups and lot cards. The colors chip pretty easy and little crease hide easy on scans. As I have said before, soft corners and mild OC do not bother me, but creases have to go.

*Hank Aaron and Willie Mays are much pricier than other years, especially Hank. Being card #390 it's not a high number, the pose isn't that great, and he didn't do anything out of the ordinary for him that year (i.e. 1957). But for me it's his most expensive 60's card easy in EX+. Same with Mays although Mays' 1960 is rather popular.

*There are 3 Mickey's to this set. His Leader card may be the most inexpensive Mantle in the 60's to get outside his 1969 Checklist card. I actually had one in my wilkie commons lot (thanks!) and was able to upgrade on a card that I would not have replaced except it was part of another small lot I received. The base card is yet another somewhat boring head shot but I have always loved this card. I had 3 before I began this set so I just picked the nicest one.

*The team cards are very nicely done, and I really like the Mets and the Colts 45's with their colors. Just cool to have Colt 45 cards in general in this set!

*The World Series subset is really nice, with great Yankee stars. You have Tresh, Ford, and Maris...the Giants have Sanford, Pierce, and Hiller....WHO? I know you have to go with the highlights, but 50 plus years later what a bummer. And could you imagine if the Yankees celebrate card was Mantle hugging....well...any Yankee HOFer??

*Funny how Gaylor Perry had a head shot RC card in 62, but showed up in the glorious head shot rookie cards a year later? Almost like he was demoted? With the popularity of the Rose card, the head shots do have a special look and it's funny how such an ugly set up now looks pretty cool. LOTS of great names in those heads - Oliva, Stargell, McNally, Freehan, Staub, Harper, and many others...and oh yeah...Dalkowski!!

*Worst card of the set for me is unquestionably Moose Skowron. No Yankee...now a Dodger...(and I know from the books I read he was NOT happy about that)...and give the guy a comb for crying out loud. So many bad hair days in the 60s when Topps would make them take a picture without a hat "just in case"....I would have refused and either looked up to block like some did, or flip it around Griffey style, which some catchers at the time could do. Either way, 50 years later Vic Roznosky still looks HORRIBLE in his 67 topps card!

*Best card of the set for me is the high numbered Roberto Clemente. Great pose, great card, and the color pops. Throw in the fact it's a high number on the same page as the Rose RC and cool...just cool.

*Other harder to get cards for me to get either in the shape I needed or just availability (and decent price) were - #398 Boog Powell, #457 Tex Clevenger, #462 Wally Post, #470 Tom Tresh, #473 Mets Team, #507 Roland Sheldon, #511 Charlie Neal, #535 Jim Perry



Fun it's over, on to the next goal! I also decided to re-complete my 63 Fleer set to add to the binder. I have had that set complete, sold, complete, traded, ect three times now! Need about 10 more and they all look pretty good together. Anyone else share their adventures with 1963 set building? Would love to hear others experiences!!! Thanks

[PowderedH2O]

I've always thought the 1963 set is one of the most beautiful ever. I am about 75% complete. I have a decent Pete Rose which I am quite content with, but I have considered buying a reprint for the binder just like you. I still need the Mantle, Mays, Aaron, Clemente, and Brock, so I still have some strong cards to pick up, but I have pretty much all of the other stars.

My favorite cards are Don Drysdale and Bob Gibson. Both are just classic cards. Oh, and Willie McCovey too! Gorgeous!

[ALR-bishop]

John-- congrats on completing it. I like the set a lot. I originally bought the whole set and received it in series packages from The Card Collector's Company in NY. Getting those packages as a 13 year old was a thrill I still remember .

When you are ready let me know and I will send you my list of variations/ variants to the set

[Harliduck]

Originally Posted by PowderedH2O

I've always thought the 1963 set is one of the most beautiful ever. I am about 75% complete. I have a decent Pete Rose which I am quite content with, but I have considered buying a reprint for the binder just like you. I still need the Mantle, Mays, Aaron, Clemente, and Brock, so I still have some strong cards to pick up, but I have pretty much all of the other stars.

My favorite cards are Don Drysdale and Bob Gibson. Both are just classic cards. Oh, and Willie McCovey too! Gorgeous!

Brock, McCovey, and Mays were also in the last 10 cards I needed. The Brock is a very popular card and I'll be honest, I could simply not win an auction on that card. I ended up overpaying on a BIN which I am sure we all do as we get to the last few. It's funny how the Gibson and McCovey are the same photos from 61, but look much better in 63 format...

[Harliduck]

Originally Posted by ALR-bishop

John-- congrats on completing it. I like the set a lot. I originally bought the whole set and received it in series packages from The Card Collector's Company in NY. Getting those packages as a 13 year old was a thrill I still remember .

When you are ready let me know and I will send you my list of variations/ variants to the set

Wow, how cool you were able to buy the whole set like that back then. I remember buying the 1982 Donruss set complete as a 12 year old at a card shop and was THRILLED I could buy the whole set all at once, something that was completely foreign to me at the time.


So....I only have one variant, and know of only one other. I have the #54 1962 and the 1963 Rookie DeBusschere cards, and only have the more common all yellow no white box #454 Art Fowler card...what am I missing??


Edit to add that I see there are two 1962/1963 Rookie variants....also #29. I just bought the 1962 version to go with the set. So I now have TWO...haha.

[mintonlyplz]

i did not catch the Gibby...but was aware of McCovey.

[ALR-bishop]

The first link is the traditional list. The second 2 are more exotic. Because they were all DPs, every CL in the set can be found with at least minor differences

http://r.search.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0LEV...VrX.9Bx4SKh3A-
http://r.search.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0LEV..._Vf4WhH.QsgsU-

http://r.search.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0LEV....tVnwd1IqQ29Q-