Lot # 1386: 1961 Topps Complete Set (587)

Presented is a very sharp-looking complete set of one of the era's most popular issues, crisp and clean throughout. The 1961 Topps set includes five different Mickey Mantle cards, and was Topps' first venture into the popular League Leader subset. The Most Valuable Player subset, an extremely difficult high-number run, and the rookie cards of Juan Marichal, Billy Williams, and Ron Santo also highlight this set. Includes both variations of #189, 273, 361, and 437, and all three variations of #98. Condition is 22% Nr/Mt to Nr/Mt-Mt, 49% Ex to Ex-Mt, and 29% Vg to Vg-Ex (approximately two-thirds Vg-Ex and including a couple lesser, couple with a slight miscut, and one altered). We have selected four cards for grading and encapsulation by PSA. Keys: #2 Maris (Ex-Mt), 10 B. Robinson (Nr/Mt-Mt), 35 Santo RC (Vg-Ex), 44 AL HR Ldrs (Ex+), 80 Killebrew (Vg-Ex), 120 Mathews (Vg-Ex), 141 B. Williams RC (Vg-Ex), 150 Mays (Ex-Mt), 160 Ford (Nr/Mt), 200 Spahn (Ex-Mt due to centering), 211 Gibson (Ex), 228 Yankees Team (30/70 T/B, otherwise Nr/Mt), 260 Drysdale (Nr/Mt-Mt), 272 Tom Morgan (unauthenticated pen signature, otherwise Ex), 287 Yastrzemski (Ex), 290 Musial (95/5 L/R, otherwise Ex+), 300 Mantle (VG-EX 4), 307 Mantle WS Gm. 2 (Vg-Ex+), 344 Koufax (Ex+), 350 Banks (95/5 T/B, otherwise Ex), 360 F. Robinson (Ex), 388 Clemente (NM 7), 401 Ruth Hits 60th (80/20 L/R, otherwise Nr/Mt-Mt), 405 Gehrig Benched (Nr/Mt+), 406 Mantle Blasts HR (Ex-Mt), 415 Aaron (Ex), 417 Marichal RC (EX-MT 6), 425 Berra (95/5 T/B, otherwise Nr/Mt), 429 Kaline (Ex-Mt), 443 Snider (Vg-Ex), 460 Hodges (Nr/Mt-Mt)475 Mantle MVP (Vg+), 478 Maris MVP (Nr/Mt), 482 Mays MVP (Ex), 484 Aaron MVP (Ex+), 517 McCovey (Ex+), 576 Maris AS (Nr/Mt), 577 Aaron AS (trimmed, otherwise Nr/Mt), 578 Mantle AS (NM 7), and 579 Mays AS (Nr/Mt). 1961 will always be remembered as a "magical year" in baseball history, and a high-quality, mid- to high-grade complete set of 1961 Topps as offered here will always be a highly prized "time capsule." Total: 593 cards (complete set of 587 plus six variations).