1960 Topps high numbers aren’t quite as difficult to find as others in the decade but they still present some serious challenges for collectors. This is the first of a seven-part series on 1960s Topps high numbers in which we provide a list of the cards that have had the fewest number of NM-MT, Mint and Gem Mint grades assigned by Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA) and a list of the high numbers with the fewest total graded cards. The focus here is on commons and it’s hoped that this helps builders of graded and non-graded sets see which cards might be harder to find and worth a little extra expense.
Below are lists ranking the 20 1960 Topps high number commons that are the hardest to find in higher grades according to the PSA Population Report. The percentage of PSA 8, 8.5, 9, 9.5 and 10 cards graded vs. the total number of that card reveal that the Tommy Davis rookie card, #509, has the fewest cards graded 8-10 compared to the total number of Davis cards that PSA has examined.
Under that chart is another listing the fewest total cards graded (A-10) in the high number series as of April 21. While admittedly unscientific it reveals a top 20 list of the cards that might be worth picking up no matter what the grade because demand may be higher than the supply. Marty Kutyna, who is also hard to find in the 1961 series, leads the pack as PSA graders have seen only 158 of them (considering that some may have been resubmitted for possible upgrades, the number could be even smaller).
There have been hundreds of the star cards in the seventh series graded and most are readily available, albeit more expensive. It’s the commons that often provide high grade set collectors with their biggest challenges.
Cards 507-572 (1960 Topps)
Percentage of PSA 8-10 Cards vs. Total Graded
Rank Card No. Name Percentage
1 509 Tommy Davis 31.35
2 522 Ken Hunt 35.19
3 539 Gene Baker 36.11
4 536 Wynn Hawkins 37.38
5 531 Sandy Amoros 37.63
6 544 Bill Monbouquette 40.09
7 520 Don Buddin 40.09
8 528 Ben Johnson 40.68
9 530 Mike McCormick 41.48
10 511 Ken Walters 41.67
11 532 Mike Garcia 42.08
12 535 Whitey Lockman 42.31
13 525 Marv Breeding 42.86
14 550 Jim Landis 43.19
15 543 Elio Chacon 43.33
16 526 Paul Giel 43.50
17 508 Billy Consolo 45.54
18 516 Marty Kutyna 45.57
19 512 Joe Gibbon 47.31
20 517 Charley James 47.55
Cards 507-572 (1960 Topps high numbers)
Fewest total number of cards listed PSA Grades A – 10
Rank Card No. Name Total
1 516 Marty Kutyna 158
2 530 Mike McCormick 176
3 528 Ben Johnson 177
4 511 Ken Walters 180
5 539 Gene Baker 180
6 525 Marv Breeding 182
7 512 Joe Gibbon 186
8 531 Sandy Amoros 194
9 508 Billy Consolo 202
10 517 Charley James 204
11 536 Wynn Hawkins 206
12 535 Whitey Lockman 208
13 543 Elio Chacon 210
14 550 Jim Landis 213
15 515 Stan Lopata 220
16 532 Mike Garcia 221
17 514 Steve Barber 222
18 520 Don Buddin 222
19 526 Paul Giel 223
20 507 Dick Stigman 224
[…] collector demand may be higher than the supply. Marty Kutyna, who is also hard to find in the 1960 Topps high numbers series, is a rare visitor to PSA as they’ve seen only 227 of them (considering that some may have […]