1968 Topps Posters Were A Large Addition For Collectors

In the 1960s, it was not unusual for young sports fans to put posters of their favorite players on the walls or doors of their bedrooms. Topps decided to play to that hero worship in 1968 by releasing a set 0f 24 posters.

“Hang ’em on your wall!” and “Hang ’em in your room” were the slogans on the five-cent packs, as Topps released the posters not as an insert, but as a standalone product. Topps had produced 5-inch by 7-inch pin-up inserts for its 1967 baseball product, but the 1968 version was larger. They measured 9¾ inches wide by 18 1/8 inches deep.

The 1968 Topps Baseball Posters featured a large color photograph, with a star situated at the bottom that contained the player’s name, team and position. The star power was evident in this set, with 12 future Hall of Famers included, plus Pete Rose. Richie Allen, who came close to enshrinement through the Veterans Committee, also is part of the set.

The posters were folded over several times to fit their 1 1/2″ foot height into the small wax pack, which also contained a stick of Topps gum.  When unfolded, they are large enough to where a full set would have done a good job covering a youngster’s room in 1968.

Predictably, the most valuable 1968 posters are of Hall of Famers Mickey Mantle, Roberto Clemente, Willie Mays and Hank Aaron. According to the latest edition of The Standard Catalog of Vintage Baseball Cards, a near-mint Mantle goes for $80, Clemente tops out at $60, while Mays and Aaron command $50. Rose also can be had for $50.

The Standard Catalog notes that unless the paper is split at the folds, they are not considered in grading. None have been submitted to PSA for grading, although two complete box tops and one box top cutout were sent in for authentication. Mantle graced the top of that box, and since 1968 would turn out to be his final season, collectors tend to put a premium on his items.

Topps decided to go with smaller posters in 1970, returning them to wax packs in the flagship product as a bonus — and also as a peace offering to fans upset by the doubling of pack prices from a nickel to a dime. And in 1972, Topps again issued posters as a separate product, producing another set of 24 stars.

There are nearly 250 listings for the 1968 posters and box tops on eBay.

1968 Topps Baseball Posters Checklist

1  Dean Chance

2  Max Alvis

3  Frank Howard

4  Jim Fregosi

5  Jim Hunter

6  Roberto Clemente

7  Don Drysdale

8  Jim Wynn

9  Al Kaline

10  Harmon Killebrew

11  Jim Lonborg

12  Orlando Cepeda

13  Gary Peters

14  Hank Aaron

15  Richie Allen

16  Carl Yastrzemski

17  Ron Swoboda

18  Mickey Mantle

19  Tim McCarver

20  Willie Mays

21  Ron Santo

22  Rusty Staub

23  Pete Rose

24  Frank Robinson

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About Bob D'Angelo

Bob has been a sportswriter and copy editor for more than 45 years and a blogger for two decades. He is celebrating his 60th year of card collecting, and still counts his 1965 Topps Mickey Mantle as his favorite. You can reach him at [email protected].