They’re all a bit long in the tooth now, these old pieces of cardboard. Enough time has gone by to make Topps baseball cards from the 1960s truly vintage. Not enough time has gone by, though, to render them prohibitively expensive for those who still want nice cards for their buck.
The cards issued in the 60s have a lasting appeal. Printing technology improved and so did the images coming out of those wax packs.
You’ve got Mantle, Mays and Clemente. But there are other, less pricey cards that should be in the binders of any collector with an appreciation for the game’s history.
Here are 15 cool 1960s cards to consider adding to your collection–or to honor if they’re already safely tucked away. Best of all, most can be purchased for well under $100 in ungraded, EX/NM condition. Click the title of each to see them on eBay.
: Maz slayed the mighty Yankees with one swing at Forbes Field just a few months after this card was produced. His home run is among the five most famous in history. If you’re in Pittsburgh, it’s probably number one.
The ’60 Maz was in first series that year and the fact that he’s a Hall of Famer makes the price pretty sweet (not to mention the chaw of tobacco). A very nice one shouldn’t cost more than $25.
1961 Topps Ron Santo: Lik
e the pain of Cubs fans themselves, Santo’s rookie card exudes promise. An excellent career was just starting, but Santo would never taste the World Series. Still, he was an enormously popular figure–almost the 21st century version of Harry Caray as a Cubs broadcaster.
Because of that, you’ll always find a buyer for a Santo rookie–just look in Chicago. A good deal at $40-50.
: The ’61 Yankees aren’t the ’27 Yankees, but they are still revered among fans. Mantle, Maris, Yogi, Ford. One of the all-time great teams.
Most team cards aren’t sexy but this one is pretty iconic when you look back on things. Not hard to find in nice shape at $35-45.
1962 Topps Maris Blasts 61st:
Not Maris’ regular issue card, but an especially important one in light of the steroid era.
This card captures the moment many fans still con
sider the greatest home run season ever and you can imagine how cool it must have been for a kid to pull this one as the summer of ’62 was unfolding. Maris cards are still very popular and at $40-$50, it’s a bargain.
1963 Topps Stan Musial: Stan the Man first showed up on baseball cards in the late 1940s. By ’63 he was wrapping up his long and amazing career.
It’s worth buying this card just to turn it over and look at his stats from a career that took him from post-WW II America to the start of Vietnam. You should be able to land one for $75-$100.
1964 Topps Tony La Russa rookie card: 
Law degree. Utility infielder. World Series manager.
A lot of people don’t even realize LaRussa had any baseball cards. An easy card to find and an easy one to buy with the kn
owledge that he’s a future Hall of Famer…and apparently once a supporter of the All-American crew cut. $30-40.
1964 Topps Lou Piniella rookie card: Another Hall of Fame manager’s rookie card in the same set. Both from the same town. Both were still managing up until a few years ago. What are the odds?
If you’re buying LaRussa, you might as well sweeten the pot with Lo
u. The first of a few Piniella rookie cards Topps produced in the 60s will cost $30-40 in nice shape.
1965 Topps Masanori Murakami: Who? Unless you’re a serious fan or really know your 1965 Topps, this one might escape you. Murakami was the first Japanese player to appear on a mainstream U.S. baseball card set.
Japanese fans and collectors can’t get enough of this card but given the influx of Japanese players to the majors since 2001, it’s a cool slice of history everywhere and often available for under $30 in nice condition.
1965 Topps Warren Spahn: Another guy
who appeared in those early Bowman sets and was still chucking it in the ’60s. This is Spahnie’s last card. He’s a Met, of all things, but few will remember Montana as a Chief or Favre as a Viki
ng.
He is still listed in the price guides as “HOF.”
Another great “career stats” card. $30-$50.
1966 Topps Sandy Koufax: If the world were fair, Koufax would have pitched into the 1970s. The world is not fair. Sandy’s 11 year run on cards ended with this one.
All Koufax cards have risen in value, especially in recent years, so while we’re stretching the budget a bit, this one is not only puts the bow on his career, it’s not nearly as expensive as most other Koufax cards.
1967 Topps Carl Yastrzemski: His Triple Crown year. Little did we know in 1967 that he’d be the last for quite awhile.
The Impossible Dream. Fenway Park. Yaz. It doesn’t get any better for New England baseball fans.
Great little slice of history, too. $65-80.
1968 Topps Denny McLain: 
1968 was the year of the pitcher and no matter what’s happened to this guy since that magical 1968 season, it’s still jaw-dropping. The last 30-game winner in the major leagues
Things were never the same for him afterward, but to Tiger fans, the memories of that season were are sweet indeed. $10-15.
1968 Topps Bob Gibson: An ERA of 1.12? Even if they made the hitters swing with Little League bats, that’s impressive. Gibson was in the middle of his incredible career and the Cardinals were en route to a date with Detroit in the Series.
Gibson cards are a little underrated but beloved by Cardinals fans. This is a steal at $35-$45.
1969 Topps Tom Seaver: Can you really name more than six or seven players from the ’69 Miracle Mets? 40 years later, they don’t exactly roll off the tongue unless you’re a die-hard Mets fan from way back–or a student of the game. This was not a lineup of stars, but Seaver was as big as it gets.
Just coming into his prime then, Tom Terrific symbolizes the franchise to this day. You really can’t collect vintage cards without this one and it’s easy to find. $40-60.
1969 Topps Ernie Banks: Cub fans thought they’d won the pennant in late August. They were sure of it. There wasn’t as much cynicism then. It all unraveled in September, though.
This is one of Banks’ best cards–and his most affordable since it’s from the first series. The ’69 set is so pure and despite not leading the Cubs to the promised land, this card is still a little ray of hope. $40-$50.
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