Almost a Third of the 1961-62 Topps Set

45Normally, the 1961-92 Topps (don’t call it O-Pee-Chee) Hockey Set is not one I go after. I’m too fixated on 1963-64 Parkhurst and 1957-58 Topps when I go to card shows in search of vintage. But my local card shop recently acquired some 1961-62 Topps, and the prices were fair (around half  or less of “hi” Beckett). It’s hard to walk away from that when the cards have decent corers, great gloss, no creases and clean backs–especially in a larger quantity. (Pictures after the jump).

03 #3 – Earl Balfour

04#4 – Dallas Smith

066 – Dick Messner

08#8 – John Bucyk

09#9 – Jerry Toppozzini

12#12 – Don McKenney

17 #17 – Don Head

25

 #25 – Elmer Vasko

31

#31 – Dollard St. Laurent

33

#33 – Murray Balfour (no relation to Earl)

35

#35 – Bill (Red) Hay

40#40 – Bronco Hovarth

 

45#45 – Doug Harvey (coach)

46 #46 – Albert Langlois

47#47 – Irv Spencer

52#52 – Larry Cahan

54#54 – Dean Prentice

58#58 – Pat Hannigan

59#59 – Ted Hampson

These 19 cards bump me up to 27 out of 66. A few of the cards I bought way back in 2011 have creases or stains, so I might have to upgrade those. But overall, this seems to be a very attainable set. Only five cards hit triple-digits–Bobby Hull, Stan Mikita, Jean Ratalle, Rod Gilbert and that pesky checklist. Maybe I’ll pick up some more at the Sun-Times Sports Collectibles Convention in March.

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Author: Sal Barry

Sal Barry is the editor and webmaster of Puck Junk. He is a freelance hockey writer, college professor and terrible hockey player. Follow him on Twitter @puckjunk

2 thoughts on “Almost a Third of the 1961-62 Topps Set”

  1. Thanks for taking the trouble and time to post. These cards are classics for sure. I have close to a complete set as well. They are old school hockey cards – so different from today’s product. And when you look at them – and remember, this is pre- Photoshop, the care that the production people took to close crop player photos and superimpose them over black and white images with a tinted background quite seamlessly is very impressive.

  2. Very nice! I actually think that ’61-62 Topps is one of the best-looking sets of the decade. I’m getting near the end of it but it probably won’t be done this year.

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