When I was about 12 or so, a friend gave me a small stack of old cards from 1963, 1964 and 1965. This was my first source of 1965s, and I remember clearly that there was a Pete Rose in the bunch. Cool at the time, but I had absolutely no thought then about what its potential value might be. As I recall it was in rough shape, so it's probably just as well.
The Angels would change their designation late in the 1965 season from Los Angeles to California, so the cards still feature the LA Angels logo. The Houston Colt .45s changed their name to Astros on December 1, 1964. Cards from the first series feature the word "Houston" in the banner that would normally contain the club's name and logo, and players are depicted in their Colts hats. From the second series on, the name "Astros" appears (without a logo) and player images feature capless or profile shots, or airbrushed images. A single Astros Rookie Stars card (#553) from the 7th series features images of three youngsters wearing the familiar Astro star/H cap. These photos were captured in spring training that year.
The player's image is surrounded by a boldly-colored border, which is thickest at the bottom where it contains the player's name and position. A pennant containing the team name and logo appears in the lower left corner.
Backs are blue with statistics appearing in a white field and a cartoon factoid about the player along the top.
With its bright colors, pennants and good selection of images, the 1965 set has to be considered one of the nicest of the decade.
Standard wax packs contained 5 cards (plus a stick of gum) and sold for 5 cents each. Boxes contained 24 packs. Cases contained 24 boxes.
Wax wrappers came in four designs - one advertising the embossed insert set, one advertising the transfers, on labeled "All the Top Major League Stars" and another labeled "Top Major League Stars".
Wrappers featured one of 4 side panel ads: 1) a general advertisement for Bazooka chewing gum, 2) an opportunity to join Bazooka Joe's "Magic Circle Club" (membership included a ring with the member's initial) for 175 Bazooka comics or 35 cents and 5 comics, 3) a cowboy boot ring with a compass, magnifying glass and other features for 150 comics or 35 cents and 5 comics, or 4) an 'exploding' battleship toy for 175 comics or 35 cents and 5 comics.
All wrapper designs are known to exist with all ad options except there is currently no visual confirmation of the "All the Top Major League Stars" design with the club membership ad.
Wrappers advertising the transfer inserts were available with side panel instructions for applying the transfers.
Wax boxes came in three varieties - embossed, transfers and plain. Both versions of the Top Stars wrappers came in the plain box.
A wax case.
The Embossed insert set contained 72 cards, each of which depicts a player's profile in raised relief (i.e. embossed). The surface of the cards have a gold foil finish along with a red background for National League players and a blue background for American Leaguers.
The iron-on transfers are fragile pieces of paper with the image of a popular player along with his name, team and position in red or blue bars along the top and bottom. The blue and red variations do not correspond to the different leagues.
The transfer featuring the Mets' Ron Hunt can be found showing his position as shortstop or, correctly, second base.
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The transfers were printed in long strips.
Evidence exists that the embossed inserts (and wrappers and boxes) came with at least series 1 cards and that the transfers came at least with series 6. We know that series 3 came in the "Top Major League Stars" wrappers without any inserts and that series 5 also contained no inserts and came in one of the two plain wrapper versions.
Also, while it is not confirmed, it appears likely that some transfers were overproduced compared to the others. The transfers of Gary Peters, Chuck Hinton, Bob Chance and Pete Ward, to name a few, seem to exist in huge quantities compared to others like Dean Chance, Tom Haller, Jim King, Dick Radatz and others which appear to be quite rare.
Series 7 wax boxes bore a sticker announcing the set had come to an end.
In 1965, for the final time, Topps issued small penny packs which contained a single card and a stick of gum. Boxes contained 120 packs.
Cello packs contained 12 cards, but no gum, and were sold for 10 cents each. Depending upon the series, cellos contained the same inserts as their wax counterparts (or lacked an insert like their wax counterparts, such as is the case with this 5th series cello). Boxes contained 36 packs.
500-card vending boxes were available as usual.
We have no extant imagery to confirm it, but it is highly likely that 1965 cards came in 3-cell rack packs as well as in multi-count wax grocery packs. This is so because each packaging option was available in earlier years.
The 1966 set contains 598 cards issued across 7 series. It contains 477 basic player cards and a variety of specialty subsets.
Included among the 477 basic player cards are the ten players from the 1964 Topps All Star Rookie team. Each is designated by a small gold trophy on their card.
* - For unknown reasons, Mike Brumley's card does not feature the trophy inset.
224 - Bob Chance, Senators 1B
118 - Hal Lanier, Giants 2B
266 - Bert Campaneris, A's SS
460 - Richie (Dick) Allen, Phillies 3B
55 - Tony Conigliaro, Red Sox OF
305 - Rico Carty, Braves OF
340 - Tony Oliva, Twins OF 523 - Mike Brumley, Senators C*
290 - Wally Bunker, Orioles RHP
18 - Bill McCool, Reds LHP
Series 1: 1-109
Image of second Series 1 slit needed.
Each series, was printed on a 264-card full sheet which was divided into 2 individual 'slits' or smaller, 132-card half sheets. In series 1, each slit contains 10 different rows of 11 cards for a total of 110 cards, but because the series 1 checklist is appears in 2 rows, the series contains 109 unique cards. Each slit features 2 repeated rows, giving each slit 22 double-printed cards. This produced a total of 44 cards printed in 50% greater quantities than the rest. With only one slit known, we can know for sure the identities of only 22 of these 44 cards. However, using card population counts on eBay and other sites, it seems likely that the other 22 are from those rows led by the Astros Rookies Stars card and Turk Farrell. The known over-printed cards are:
8 - N.L. ERA Leaders
102 - Steve Boros
49 - Orioles Rookie Stars 43 - Mike Shannon
63 - Ty Cline
29 - Felix Mantilla
97 - Pedro Gonzalez
6 - N.L. RBI Leaders
1 - A.L. Batting Leaders
51 - Billy Bryan
69 - Bill Virdon
65 - Tony Kubek
37 - Fred Gladding
57 - Cardinals Team Card
81 - Don Buford
3 - A.L. Home Run Leaders
39 - Gerry Arrigo
86 - Les Narum
106 - Gene Oliver
66 - Bill Rigney
76 - Sam McDowell
30 - Jim Bouton
Of the 109 unique cards in series 1, 83 are basic player cards (including the Conigliaro and McCool All Star Rookies, above), and the remaining 26 belong to one of several subsets.
Cards 1-12 feature AL and NL leaders in 6 statistical categories from 1964 - batting, home runs, RBI, ERA, strikeouts and pitching (AKA victories). AL leader cards appear in red and NL in blue. Card backs list list the top 50 or so performers in that category from 1964.
Series 1 contains three team cards - the Twins, Cardinals and Cubs. Card backs display the club's 1964 hitting and pitching leaders, and provide a detailed breakdown of each pitcher's record against the other 9 clubs in the league.
For reasons which are unclear, the set doesn't contain a team photo card of the Astros.
Three manager cards appear in series 1 - Herman Franks/Giants, Bill Rigney/Angels and Gil Hodges/Senators.
Card backs feature a narrative account of some the manager's career highlights.
Series 1 includes six 2-player Rookie Stars cards featuring youngsters with little or no MLB experience. Included are cards for the Astros, White Sox, Orioles, Red Sox, Braves and Phillies
Series 1 includes the checklist cards for both Series 1 and Series 2.
Cards listed on each checklist do not correspond exactly to cards in that particular series. Each checklist included less than all the cards from that particular series, and checklists to series 3, 4, 5 and 6 included cards from the following series to offer kids a glimpse of what was to come.
A variation exists of card #79, the first series checklist. Card #61, Chris Cannizzaro, can be found listed as either "Cannizzaro" or "C. Cannizzaro".
Series 2: 110-196
Series 2 contains 88 cards, and each series 2 slit has all 8 rows different rows of 11 cards plus a repeated block of 4 rows. Together, a full 264 card sheet contains each card exactly 3 times, with no over- or short-prints. With 87 unique cards (not counting a reprint of the series 2 checklist, a series 1 card), 67 are basic player cards (including All Star Rookie Lanier) while the rest belong to various subsets. These series 2 slits are proof copies - evidenced by the many missing design elements. Even though each is missing nearly all of one row and one column, the impacted cards are visible on the other slit so we can still tell the precise arrangement on each slit.
Cards 132-139 depict highlights from the 1964 World Series between the Cardinals and the Yankees. Cards 132-138 each recap a specific game, with card backs offering a brief narrative summary of the contest, offensive statistics for each club and a line score. Card 139 depicts the victorious Cardinals celebrating and features a series composite box score on the reverse.
Series 2 contains the Dodgers, A's and Tigers team photo cards.
Series 2 contains three manager cards - Johnny Keane/Yankees, Dick Sisler/Reds and Casey Stengel/Mets.
Series 2 features five 2-player Rookie Stars cards. Included are the Cardinals, Pirates, Indians, Senators and Angels.
Series 2 contains the series 3 checklist.
Series 3: 197-283
Like series 2 before it, series 3 contains 88 cards, arranged on printing sheets in 8 rows of 11. Each series 3 slit has all 8 rows plus a repeated block of 4 rows. Together, a full 264 card sheet contains each card exactly 3 times, with no over- or short-prints. With 87 unique cards (not counting a reprint of the series 3 checklist, a series 2 card), 75 are basic player cards (including the Chance and Campaneris All Star Rookie cards) and the rest belong to various subsets.
Series 3 features team photo cards of the Pirates, White Sox and Senators.
Three manager cards are included in series 3 - Walter Alston/Dodgers, Billy Herman/Red Sox and Lum Harris/Astros.
Series 3 has five 2-player Rookie Stars cards featuring the Twins, Yankees, Reds, Tigers and Giants.
Series 3 features the the series 4 checklist.
Series 4: 284-370
Image of second Series 4 slit needed.
Series 4 follows the same pattern as series 2 and series 3 - it contains 88 cards, with each slit having all 8 rows plus a repeated block of 4 rows. Together, a full 264 card sheet contains each card exactly 3 times, with no over- or short-prints. While the image above cuts off the top row, we know, based upon established patterns, that the top row begins with Mickey Mantle. Similarly, while we do not have the other slit, we know that, top to bottom, the rows (identified by their leading cards) are ordered Yellen/Carty/Stewart/Lynch/Mantle/Gentile/Bauer/Cepeda/Yellen/Carty/Stewart/Lynch. With 87 unique cards (not counting a reprint of the series 4 checklist, a series 3 card), 76 are basic player cards (including All Star Rookies Bunker, Cary and Oliva) and the rest belong to various subsets.
Series 4 features team photo cards of the Angels, Reds and Phillies.
Series 4 contains three manager cards - Birdie Tebbetts/Indians, Hank Bauer/Orioles and Bobby Bragan/Braves.
Series 4 includes five 2-player Rookie Stars cards - A's, Mets, Dodgers, Cubs and White Sox.
Series 4 contains the 5th series checklist.
Series 5: 371-446
Series 5 continues contains 77 cards. Each slit contains the 7 different rows of 11 cards with 5 duplicate rows. This resulted in 33 cards being printed in 1/3 greater quantity than the other 44. Pictured above is an image of a full 264-card sheet. The 33 over-printed cards are:
433 - John Bateman
373 - Curt Simmons
379 - Giants Team Card
384 - Johnny Klippstein
440 - Tom Tresh
418 - Johnny Edwards
380 - Rocky Colavito
407 - Lee Maye
375 - Dave Wickersham
432 - Jim Grant
376 - Jim Landis
388 - John Blanchard
429 - Don Demeter
403 - Red Sox Team Card
414 - Al Lopez
425 - Wayne Causey
400 - Harmon Killebrew
394 - Jim Hannan
441 - Denny Lemaster
374 - Angels Rookie Stars
424 - Gary Bell
413 - Hal Reniff
439 - Moe Drabowsky
392 - Bob Friend
416 - Jim Brewer
385 - Carl Yastrzesmki
423 - Jesse Gonder
437 - Chico Cardenas
393 - Ed Kirkpatrick
427 - Bob Saverine
421 - Twins Rookie Stars
417 - Ed Brinkman
377 - Willie Stargell
With 76 unique cards (not counting a reprint of the series 5 checklist, a series 4 card), 63 are basic player cards and 13 belong to various subsets.
Series 5 contains team photo cards of the Giants, Red Sox and Braves.
Series 5 includes 3 manager cards - Mel McGaha/A's, Al Lopez/White Sox and Harry Walker/Pirates.
Series 5 includes six 2-player Rookie Stars cards representing the Angels, Cubs, Reds, Astros, Twins and Cardinals.
Series 5 features the series 6 checklist card.
Series 6: 447-522
Series 6 A Slit Image Needed
Series 6 B Slit Image Needed
Series 6 was issued with 77 different cards (76 unique, because the 6th series checklist is a 5th series card). Each slit contains the seven different rows of 11 cards each with 5 duplicate rows each. The result is that 33 cards are printed in 1/3 greater quantity than the remaining 44. No known images of complete or partial slits exist, and efforts thus far to reconstruct either slit have yielded limited results. Until and unless more information is acquired, it is impossible to know with certainty what the layout of either slit was and which 33 cards were over-printed.
1965 series 6 cards are more plentiful in general than some other 6th series "semi-high number" cards from the 1960s. Of the 76 unique cards, 57 are basic player cards (including All Star Rookie Allen) and the rest belong to one of several subsets.
Series 6 includes two team photo cards - the Indians and Yankees.
Series 6 has three manager cards - Bob Kennedy/Cubs, Gene Mauch/Phillies and Sam Mele/Twins. Kennedy's card identifies him as the Cubs' 'Head Coach' - at the time, the Cubs were using their 'College of Coaches' approach to managing at the major and minor league level, and that's a whole other story.
Series 6 features thirteen 2-player Rookie Stars cards - Mets, Dodgers, Braves, Senators, Orioles, Cardinals, Angels (2x), Tigers, Giants, Indians, Red Sox and Phillies.
The series 7 checklist appears in series 6, and can be found in two varieties - on one, more of a gap appears between the text and the bottom of the card than on the other. The version featuring the wider gap was printed with the 6th series, and the one with the smaller gap was printed with series 7.
Series 7: 523-598
Series 7 B Slit Image Needed
Whether because of distribution factors or printing volume, the 1965 series 7 run is one of the least scarce "high-number" series of the decade. Cards from series 7 are almost as common as those from earlier series and carry almost no premium. A 77-card series, four of the seven rows were printed three times each across the 264-card full sheet, while the remaining three rows were printed four times each. As with series 5 and 6, this means 33 cards were are 1/3 more common than the other 44. We only know of a single slit image which makes it impossible to know with certainty which of the 33 cards were over-printed. However, card counts strongly suggest that they are the cards in the rows headed by Joe Gaines, Al Downing and Johnny Wyatt.
Because of the reprint of the series 7 checklist (a series 6 card), series 7 contains 76 unique cards. Of these, 57 are basic player cards and 20 belong to a subset.
Series 7 contains the Mets and Orioles team photo cards.
Series 7 includes two manager cards - Chuck Dressen/Tigers and Red Schoendienst/Cardinals.
As with most final series in the 1960s, the 1965 7th series contains a variety of Rookie Stars cards.
5 clubs - the A's, Mets, Indians, Dodgers and Red Sox - have expanded 4-player cards.
Four clubs - the White Sox, Cubs, Giants and Tigers - are featured on 2-player cards.
4 clubs - the Angels, Astros, Yankees and Twins - are given 3-player cards.
Finally, the AL and NL are each represented by a 3-player Rookie Stars card.
Hall of Famers Joe Morgan (16), Steve Carlton (477), Jim Hunter (526) and Tony Perez (581) make their debut in the 1965 set, as do Luis Tiant (145), Denny McLain (236), Tug McGraw (533) and Mel Stottlemyre (550).
Making their last appearances in 1965 are Hall of Famers Warren Spahn (205), Yogi Berra (470) and Nellie Fox (485), as well as other notables including Tony Kubek (65), Don Larsen (389), Roy Sievers (574) and future NBA Hall of Famer Dave DeBusschere (297).
Also making his final appearance was legendary manager and noted orator, the "Old Perfessor" himself, Casey Stengel (187).
This "salesman's sample" strip of three 1st series cards features an advertisement for the series on the reverse.
This 'box topper' would have been folded in three places to create small square of perhaps 4" and placed on top of the packs in a wax or cello box. Because it advertises the transfers, we know it was likely a series 6 insert.
The 1965 set has a number of variations related to the color of ink used for players' names, positions, and even the surrounding border. A few examples are shown here. If you happen to find one of these, calm down - you haven't discovered a rare and valuable item. None of these errors were ever corrected.