Vintage Set Break of the Week: 1965 and 1966 Topps

Seven series, 598 cards, short printed high numbers. The similarities are many between the 1965 and 1966 Topps issues. At the same time, the sets carry a much different feel. The 1965 set has bright colors and those nifty little team pennants. The 1966 set design has less noise and more subdued color tones.

The seemingly more popular 1965 set features four HOF rookie cards: Morgan, Carlton, Hunter, and Perez. The 1966 set seems to lag behind the ’65 and ’67 Topps issues in terms of hobby popularity, perhaps in part to the lack of major star power in its featured HOF rookie cards: Jenkins, Palmer, and Sutton.

While great pitchers in their own right, these hurler’s rookie cards don’t carry the same kind of hobby pop as Morgan or Carlton (1965). If you ask a set collector, though, the ’66 high numbers are far tougher to track down in high grade than the ’65 high numbers. The star power itself, though, is certainly there. Both sets feature Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, Roberto Clemente, and Sandy Koufax.

BurlsSports.com’s Set Break of the Week is a double feature with one set of each being broken. Overall, both sets are are mostly in the VG-EX to EX-MT range, with key star cards mostly falling between VG-EX and EX.

Some of the key cards from the ’65 Topps set include: #16 Joe Morgan RC PSA 6 EX-MT, #160 Roberto Clemente SGC 60/5 EX, #170 Aaron PSA 4, #207 Rose PSA 4, #250 Mays PSA 5, #300 Koufax EX, #350 Mickey Mantle VG-EX, #477 Steve Carlton RC PSA 3, #526 Catfish Hunter RC EX , #581 Perez VG-EX.

The condition for the ’66 Topps key cards is as follows: #1 Willie Mays PSA 4,#30 Pete Rose EX, #50 Mickey Mantle VG-EX, #100 Sandy Koufax VG-EX, #126 Palmer PSA 4, #254 Jenkins RC EX, #288 Sutton RC PSA 4, #300 Roberto Clemente PSA 5, and #500 Hank Aaron EX.

If you haven’t participated in a group break, each spot in the break is sold at a fixed price–one spot for each card in the set. When all spots are sold, the cards are distributed randomly to the participants. Some will get the key cards for a fraction of their value, while others take home vintage commons for set building or trade bait. In order to ensure transparency, the break randomization is broadcast live online for all participants to view.

The price for each break is $5.50 per slot. Whichever break sells out first, will be broadcast first. To purchase slots in the break or to find out more, you can access the ’65 Topps break page here and the ’66 Topps break page here.

Burl’s Sports has recently acquired an impressive run of complete vintage sets that will be broken in the coming months, including a complete run of Topps sets from 1952-72, Goudey sets from 1933-36, 1939-1941 Play Ball and 1941 Double Play.

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About Justin Burleson

Justin Burleson owns Burl’s Sports which operates mainly online at BurlsSports.com and eBayas well as a few local card shows in Tennessee. Watch for his Vintage Set Breaks here on a regular basis. Justin gives away slots in his set breaks to his Facebook friends. Also, you can follow him on Twitter or reach him at [email protected].