Best 1960s Non-Topps Set?

[BobC]

Originally Posted by lampertb

'33 Goudeys, '41 Play Balls, '50 Bowmans.

Thanks for responding Richard. Based on your choices you appear to be choosing normal, well-known and widely issued/distributed card sets, that were sold in packs, of then current players. Not specialty, regional, or oddball issues (stamps, coins, box panels, stickers, posters, stand-ups, and so on), nor as you specified, anything Topps or Topps related. Following those parameters your '60s choices are fairly limited to only the '63 Fleer set. Unless you want and/or are willing to adjust your focus to maybe consider an O-Pee-Chee or Venezuelan set as not Topps related. In your original post you also mentioned as additional concerns and issues, availability, affordability, and checklist size. Those are all able to be met by selecting the '63 Fleer set. It was nationally distributed in packs, all current players (including a Maury Wills rookie card) including many of the then big name stars (Mays, Clemente, Koufax, and such, but no Mantle), with all 66 different players in the set being very available and generally quite affordable. There's even a 67th card, which is the set checklist. Many of the other choices people have listed are wonderful as well, but, they are Topps or Topps related, they weren't distributed in packs, they aren't actually cards, they may include some extremely rare items that will ridiculously hard (and possibly quite expensive) to find, and on and on. Also, based on your other decade's set choices, they are all from the earlier parts of those decades, so a '63 set seems to rather nicely fit into that timeline/frame as well.

Good luck in whichever set you do end up deciding to go with, but given your stated parameters and earlier choices, the only '60's set option that would appear to meet all your wishes is the 1963 Fleer set, if you want to stay consistent with your collecting goals.

Related story, I first became interested in the '63 Fleer set about 25-30 years ago when I came across a guy selling a bunch of them raw at a flea market. Sold me his whole stack of 20 of them in VG-EX to NM condition (including Koufax) for $20. After that, had no choice but to complete the set, right? You'll likely never find a deal like that today, but you should still be able to acquire that entire set fairly easily, and at reasonable prices. I just did a quick Ebay search for "1963 Fleer" in the Sports Card, Memorabilia category, and it pops up with over 19,000 items listed. If you take a quick look, you'll find many '63 Fleer cards in really nice shape listed, and very often at less than $10 a card. Also, the vast majority of them are not graded (which I personally prefer). And there even appears to be a near set (58/66) for sale individually by Greg Morris Cards right now, which looks to include all the big-name players in the set. The Greg Morris listed cards all have the bright blue background behind them, so easy to spot and find, and all look to be in really nice shape as well. There's another current thread on this same Pre-1980 Post-War forum about grading by Greg Morris Cards, which speaks well of his grading and overall reputation, if you become inclined to go in that direction. When it comes to the '60's, have always felt the '63 Fleer set was one of, if not the most, underappreciated and undervalued regular card sets of that entire decade. Be sure and let us know what you finally decide, and again, good luck in whatever set you end up choosing.

[darkhorse9]

Having completed most of the major sets (1948-2022) I've been looking for a new goal. I've been trying to get at least one "odd ball" set from every year 1953-1969. It's not easy as there are some lean years to be sure. Some of these aren't even started, some are partly done, some are complete.

I preferred sets that were distributed nationally if possible, unless one struck my fancy (see 1953) and they had to be issued by themselves (not as pack inserts), and reasonably and affordably able to complete

Here are my set goals

1953 Johnston Cookies (done)
1954 Red Man (done)
1955 Topps Double Header
1956 ? No clue. Taking suggestions
1957 ? No clue. Taking suggestions
1958 Hires
1959 Armour Coins
1960 Leaf
1961 Baseball Scoops (done)
1962 Post (done)
1963 Stat Back Exhibit
1964 Topps Giant (done)
1965 Old London Coins
1966 Bazooka
1967 Kahn's
1968 Topps Posters (done)
1969 Topps Stamps

[lampertb]

Thanks for the suggestions, everyone.
I don't like the fact that there's no Mantle or Killebrew, but overall it looks like '63 Fleer is the probable winner. I'll just get a Topps Mantle or something to pop in there... a lil' mix and match to fill the holes.

One of these days (later days) I'm going to rebuild the '71 Topps set that I had, but sold. Boy, wish I'd never done that....

Thanks again, all.

[mikemb]

Originally Posted by lampertb

Thanks for the suggestions, everyone.
I don't like the fact that there's no Mantle or Killebrew, but overall it looks like '63 Fleer is the probable winner. I'll just get a Topps Mantle or something to pop in there... a lil' mix and match to fill the holes.

One of these days (later days) I'm going to rebuild the '71 Topps set that I had, but sold. Boy, wish I'd never done that....

Thanks again, all.

You could get this Mantle

OIP.jpg

Mike

[lampertb]

Yup, just found out about this insert set. Honestly, that seals the deal! I'm excited.

Originally Posted by mikemb

You could get this Mantle

Attachment 541787

Mike

[mikemb]

It's a great set.

I got mine about 40 years ago in an Irv Lerner auction.

Mike

[G1911]

Originally Posted by lampertb

Yup, just found out about this insert set. Honestly, that seals the deal! I'm excited.

Good luck on your chase, it’s a very fun little set to put together.

[nolemmings]

I see that I'm late to the show, and it seems you already made up your mind, but allow me to throw in another vote for the '63 stat back Exhibits. The Fleer set is gorgeous, but the Exhibits from 1963 have an incredible player selection. Made up of nearly 1/3 HOFers, it includes the Mantle and Killebrew you mentioned, along with Musial and Aaron, who are not found in Fleer (which has rather modest HOF representation). Like Fleer, it has the Maury Wills following his incredible MVP season, and has Maris as well, along with Ken Hubbs not long before his tragic demise. The set is comparatively inexpensive and is a reminder of a genre of cards that dates back to the 20's yet the stat backs make it distinguishable.
Good luck in your quest.

[BobC]

Originally Posted by lampertb

Thanks for the suggestions, everyone.
I don't like the fact that there's no Mantle or Killebrew, but overall it looks like '63 Fleer is the probable winner. I'll just get a Topps Mantle or something to pop in there... a lil' mix and match to fill the holes.

One of these days (later days) I'm going to rebuild the '71 Topps set that I had, but sold. Boy, wish I'd never done that....

Thanks again, all.

Richard,

I think '63 Fleer is your best, wisest choice, in looking at what you're trying to do. And even though Mantle isn't in the original set, as another poster pointed out, there is a 1998 Fleer Tradition fantasy card #67 of Mantle that fits in perfectly with the original '63 set. And another quick Ebay search turns up three of those Mantles for sale right now. Two BINs for $14.99 or $9.99, and both with free shipping, and one auction with a $2.95 opening bid and a $4.95 shipping charge, and no bids so far, and which ends this Thursday. So, you should easily be able to fill that Mantle void for less than $10.00.

And another great choice I think if you go with the '71 Topps set for your '70's set. I don't believe there is a comparable non-Topps or non-Topps related set issued in the '70's that goes along with your earlier decade choices otherwise. However, nice condition hi-number '71's can be a little difficult, and pricey, depending a lot on how condition sensitive you are. As a possible back-up/alternative, I'd suggest the '72 Topps set then, for the rather unique and outstanding card design if nothing else.

And if you do decide to move forward to the '80's and later decades then, your non-Topps options are wide open. Have fun!

[Lucas00]

Originally Posted by darkhorse9

Having completed most of the major sets (1948-2022) I've been looking for a new goal. I've been trying to get at least one "odd ball" set from every year 1953-1969. It's not easy as there are some lean years to be sure. Some of these aren't even started, some are partly done, some are complete.

I preferred sets that were distributed nationally if possible, unless one struck my fancy (see 1953) and they had to be issued by themselves (not as pack inserts), and reasonably and affordably able to complete

Here are my set goals

1953 Johnston Cookies (done)
1954 Red Man (done)
1955 Topps Double Header
1956 ? No clue. Taking suggestions
1957 ? No clue. Taking suggestions
1958 Hires
1959 Armour Coins
1960 Leaf
1961 Baseball Scoops (done)
1962 Post (done)
1963 Stat Back Exhibit
1964 Topps Giant (done)
1965 Old London Coins
1966 Bazooka
1967 Kahn's
1968 Topps Posters (done)
1969 Topps Stamps

1956- Topps pins or Yellow basepath pins, love both.
Or 1956 JD McCarthy Postcards? Not sure if they're technically 1956. Honestly could probably be used for any date in the late 50s.

1957- Swift meats is all I really know of a major league oddball release that has more than one team represented. Expensive as hell and not the greatest to look at pieces of players in my opinion. But still a really cool set.

One of the worst years for Oddball card issues ever.