Finished building the 1961 Topps Set - updated with 59/60 Topps set builds

SidePocket · March 17, 2013 2:20AM

January 2014 update -

The 59 set is about 65% done but seems to have more cards that are tough to find centered than the 61 set did. The high numbers may be a little easier than 61's though. Here's some pics of some of the star cards:

The 60 set is about 50% done. Both sets are getting harder to find cards for. I'm keeping Gregory Morris busy, he seems to have a lot of set breaks.

Finally finished this set in pretty much EX+ to NM condition, mostly raw. The high numbers were tough to find centered and cost almost as much as the star cards. Took a couple years but really enjoyed building this classic Topps set.

Some star scans:

Some MVP cards - I love the color on these. Hard to find without print dots.

A couple of my favorite non star cards:

And the tough high number All Star cards:

mattinglymint23 · March 17, 2013 2:28AM

Fantastic job. Great set. Really well done. Enjoy!
That's an impressive effort too. What were your sources?

Piggs · March 17, 2013 2:30AM

Great job and congrats Mark. The Sporting News cards have always been one of my favorites but boy are the tough on centering, yours look amazing. How many from the set do you actually have graded? Thanks for sharing. Doug

CNote · March 17, 2013 2:34AM

That's a lot of big names in one set. I know there have been threads about the set with the most HOFers, but seeing scans really puts it into perspective.

SidePocket · March 17, 2013 2:38AM

I bought everything on EBay, trying to minimize shipping costs by looking for set breaks to get multiple cards shipping discounts. About 20 cards are graded, 7's and 8's, although I cracked some cards out. Interestingly I bought the Mantle MVP card raw on eBay pretty cheap because it was disclosed as trimmed, but when I sent it to PSA it came back a 7!

Piggs · March 17, 2013 2:45AM

Score on the Mantle MVP, and it's spot on centered too. Congrats

heritage · March 17, 2013 2:51AM

Wow you did a very nice job with this set. I am still working on my set.
I am down to 45 cards or so and 27 are hugh numbers but will get it done.

YogiBerraFan · March 17, 2013 3:07AM

Congrats on your set, well done

MrVintage · March 17, 2013 3:23AM

Beautiful set. Congrats!!!!

MisterBungle · March 17, 2013 3:45AM

Congratulations!!

I've been working on this set since the 1970s
and still need 5 more cards.

Nice to see someone with a bit more
determination get the job done.

~

Stone193 · March 17, 2013 4:07AM

Congratulations Mark!

The 61T set is a favorite of mine. Tho I've never considered it since it's so large - the keys you've posted are sweet!

What's next?

jgrigali · March 17, 2013 4:25AM

Congrats! Very impressive!

Downtown1974 · March 17, 2013 4:28AM

Love it! 1961 has to be my favorite Topps set from that decade. Great job!!!

Mickey71 · March 17, 2013 5:15AM

Nice job. Because of your attention to detail in regards to centering; your set has great eye appeal. The 61 is a classic year with Mantle and Maris.....plus the MVP cards look great with the different colors.

Mickey71

jay0791 · March 17, 2013 6:08AM

just awesome.

many would grade out very hi

japhi · March 17, 2013 6:44AM

I collect hockey, and I'm amazed at how nice old BB sets are. The images on that set are so much nicer than hockey cards from the 80s. Awesome well centered set!

SidePocket · March 17, 2013 7:36AM

Mike, next up are both 59 and 60 Topps. I'm at about 20% on both. I'm also slowly building 63 (my favorite but VERY tough) and 67. Then 65 and 66 are after that. 64 is almost done but in VG condition since most of the cards are from when I was a kid and they're pretty beat up.

I'll post some pics of the 59's in a minute.

Bosox1976 · March 17, 2013 8:31AM

Fabulous!

Dboneesq · March 17, 2013 8:44AM

Mark ... for some reason the '61 set was one of my least favorite sets from the 60's. I think you just changed my mind. WOW! The centering on those cards is amazing. No wonder it took you so long to build that set. CONGRATS!

vettfanatic · March 17, 2013 8:45AM

I just finished building a raw 61 set myself. I have to admit yours looks much nicer then mine however. The last card I picked up was Bob Cerv. That set was a blast to build. I worked on it off and on for about 10 years, but finally finished it. Looking at your cards makes me want to upgrade a few now. Thanks for posting.

Jeff

MrKnowthanx · March 17, 2013 12:31PM

What a gorgeous set. Love the Base Card design and would love to own the Mantle and Maris from that year too.

stown · March 17, 2013 8:36PM

Awesomeness!

bishop · March 17, 2013 10:10PM

Congratulations on finishing a great set, and good luck on the 59s and 60s, two more good ones

Brick · March 17, 2013 11:30PM

Tremendous.

heritage · January 17, 2014 12:26PM

Mike, next up are both 59 and 60 Topps. I'm at about 20% on both. I'm also slowly building 63 (my favorite but VERY tough) and 67. Then 65 and 66 are after that. 64 is almost done but in VG condition since most of the cards are from when I was a kid and they're pretty beat up.

How are you doing on your sets?

JoeBanzai · January 17, 2014 1:48PM

Great job!

76collector · January 17, 2014 2:26PM

I really like that set. Probably my favorite Maris card. Congratulations on completing the set !

fiveniner · January 17, 2014 9:01PM

Nice Collection.I had a 61 set and sold it a year ago or so when I thought I was getting out of the hobby.Sorry I did even though it was not anywhere near my favorite set as the design was to drab compared to the 59 and 60 set.The 61 set however was a very memorable year as the Race between the Yanks and Tigers in which the Yankees took off in Sept and won 110 games to the Tiger 101 games plus the race between Mantle and Maris Homerun herorics.The set was not easy by any means easy to put together when you got to the high #s which were even high back in the very early 80s when I built mine.I would cost me 5 times as much to put one together now.

Finished building the 1961 Topps Set - updated with 59/60 Topps set builds

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