1960-1969 Hockey Cards

The 1960s were another big decade for hockey cards. The 1960s hockey cards offered collectors the most mainstream choices compared to any other period to date. In addition to Topps and Parkhurst, O-Pee-Chee rejoined the ranks.

The 1960-1969 hockey sets include the rookie card for Bobby Orr, which is the most popular rookie from the decade. Other top rookie offerings include Stan Mikita, Dave Keon, Rod Gilbert, Jean Ratelle, Bernie Parent, Jim Pappin, Phil Esposito, Gary Cheevers, Tony Esposito, and Serge Savard.

1964-65 Topps Hockey Cards

1964-65 Topps Hockey marked the first time Topps used the Tall Boy format for a sports card set. The release also had an expanded checklist divided into two series. Key rookies include Marcel Paille and Gary Dornhoefer.

Product Details

There were a number of notable firsts in the 1964-65 Topps Hockey set. It was the first time all the teams in the NHL were included in a Topps issue. It was also the first time the company printed more than 100 cards in a complete set. Most notably, though, 1964-65 Topps Hockey was the first time they used the Tall Boy format in a sports card set.

The biggest distinction about the cards is the larger size. They measure the same 2 1/2 inches as standard cards, but are more than 4 1/2 tall. The bigger size allows for a large picture of a player, with the team name above and the name and position below. The team name is presented with a curved bottom edge, and the information at the bottom is inside a solid-colored strip. A white border surrounds the card, with the corners of the main area rounded. The backs have a card number inside a black circle, with the player's name stretching outward. The team name and position appear below the name, with a single line of stats from the previous season. A short biography on the player follows, along with a French translation. On the right side is a cartoon about the player, with a bilingual caption.

All six NHL teams are included in the set, with players scattered throughout the set, rather than in series like in previous years' sets. Most teams are also represented by their head coaches. Two cards midway through the set feature checklists, and the final six cards name All-Star players. The set was printed in two series, with cards 55 and higher making up the scarcer series. As a result of the uneven distribution of the cards between the series, 11 Series 2 cards were short-printed.

Notable rookie cards in the set include Marcel Paille, Gary Dornhoefer, Pit Martin, Roger Crozier, Jim Pappin, Rod Seiling and Lou Angotti. Other key cards in the set include the All-Star cards of Tim Horton and Stan Mikita, which are among the short-prints.

How We Grade:

Gem Mint (GMT): (10.0) A flawless card. To be in Gem Mint condition, a card’s borders must have a ratio of 50/50 side to side and top to bottom. 

Mint (MT): (9.0-9.5) A perfect card. Well-centered with parallel borders which appear equal to the naked eye. Four sharp, square corners. No creases, edge dents, surface scratches, paper flaws, loss of luster, yellowing or fading, regardless of age. No imperfectly printed cards – out of register, badly cut or ink flawed – or card stained by contact with gum, wax or other substances can be considered truly Mint, even if new out of the pack. Generally, to be considered in Mint condition, a card’s borders must exist in a ratio of 60/40 side to side and top to bottom. 

Near Mint/Mint (NM/MT): (8.0-8.5) A super high-end card that appears Mint 9 at first glance, but upon closer inspection, may exhibit a very slight wax stain on reverse, slight fraying at one or two corners, or a minor printing imperfection. Centering must be app. 65/35 to 70/30 or better on the front and 90/10 or better on the reverse. 

Near Mint (NM): (7.0-7.5) A nearly perfect card at first glance, but upon closer inspection, may have slight surface wear, slight fraying on some corners, slightly out-of-register picture focus, a minor printing blemish or slight wax stain on reverse. Centering must be 70/30 to 75/25 or better on the front and 90/10 or better on the reverse.

Excellent/Near Mint (EX/NM): (6.0-6.5) Card may have visible surface wear or a printing defect. A very light scratch. Corners may have slightly graduated fraying. Picture focus may be slightly out-of-register. Card may have minor wax stain on reverse, may have very slight nothing on edges. Centering must be 80/20 or better on the front and 90/10 or better on the reverse.

Excellent (EX): (5.0-5.5) Corners are still fairly sharp with only moderate wear. Card borders may be off center as much as 85/15. No creases. May have very minor gum, wax or product stains, front or back. Surfaces may show slight loss of luster from rubbing across other cards. Dark bordered cards may have one or two small nicks.

Very Good/Excellent (VG/EX): (4.0-4.5) Shows obvious handling, but still looks nice. Corners may be rounded or have minor creases. No major creases, tape marks or extraneous markings or writing. Surfaces does exhibit loss of luster, but the printing is intact. May have paper wrinkles. May show major gum, wax or other packaging stains. All four borders visible, though the ratio may be as poor as 95/5. Exhibits honest wear. 

Very Good (VG): (3.0-3.5) A well-worn card, but exhibits no intentional damage or abuse. May be “Mis-cut or Off-Center” with no border visible. May have major or multiple creases, however, creases are not so deep as to show the underlying paper. This card is completely readable, has not been written on, and has no tape marks or holes. Corner rounding may extend well beyond the border. 

Good (GD) (2.0-2.5) Shows excessive wear, along with damage or abuse. Will show all the wear characteristics of a Very Good card, along with such damage as thumb tack holes in or near margins, evidence of having been taped or pasted, perhaps small tears around the edges or creases so heavily as to break the cardboard. Backs may show minor added pen or pencil writing or be missing small bits of paper. Still basically a complete card. 

Poor (P): (1.0-1.5) A card that has been tortured to death. Corners or other areas may be torn off. Card may have been trimmed, show holes from a paper punch or have been used for BB gun practice. Front may have extraneous pen or pencil writing, or other defacement. Major portions of front or back design may be missing. Not a pretty sight.