Lot # 1543: 1961 Topps Near-Complete Set (541/587)

Presented is a very sharp-looking near-complete set of one of the era's most popular issues, consisting of 541 different cards (out of 587 in the set). Includes a duplicate of #571 McCovey. This 1961 Topps set includes two 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 card Billy Williams also highlights this set. Condition is 32% Ex-Mt to Nr/Mt (including 2% Nr/Mt-Mt), 61% Vg-Ex to Ex, and 7% Gd to Vg (including a few miscut, a couple with a slight trim, and a couple that measure a bit small). Twelve cards have been professionally graded and encapsulated by PSA. Keys: #10 B. Robinson (Vg-Ex), 30 Fox (NM 7), 120 Mathews (Ex), 141 B. Williams RC (Ex+), 160 Ford (NM 7), 177 Larsen (NM-MT 8), 180 Richardson (NM 7), 200 Spahn (85/15 T/B, otherwise Ex-Mt), 211 Gibson (NM-MT 8), 228 Yankees Team (85/15 T/B, otherwise Ex+), 307 Mantle WS Gm. 2 (Ex), 360 F. Robinson (Ex-Mt), 380 Minoso (Ex), 401 Ruth Hits 60th (Ex), 405 Gehrig Benched (Vg-Ex), 429 Kaline (Ex-Mt), 430 Mazeroski (EX-MT 6), 443 Snider (NM-MT 8), 482 Mays MVP (Ex), 484 Aaron MVP (Vg-Ex), 495 Howard (NM 7), two 517 McCovey (EX-MT+ 6.5 and Ex), 528 (NM-MT 8), 545 Wilhelm (NM-MT 8), 553 (NM 7), and 578 Mantle AS (measures a bit narrow, otherwise Ex). Missing the following 46 cards for completion: #2 Maris, 35 Santo, 44 AL HR Ldrs, 80 Killebrew, 150 Mays, 260 Drysdale, 287 Yastrzemski, 290 Musial, 300 Mantle, 344 Koufax, 350 Banks, 388 Clemente, 406 Mantle Blasts HR, 415 Aaron, 417 Marichal, 425 Berra, 440, 463 Braves Team, 471, 475 Mantle MVP, 478 Maris MVP, 480, 494, 525, 531, 539, 540, 541, 542, 543, 546, 547, 550, 552, 555, 560, 562, 563, 566, 568, 571, 575, 576 Maris AS, 577 Aaron AS, 579 Mays AS, and 580. 1961 will always be remembered as a "magical year" in baseball history, and a high-quality, mid- to high-grade near-complete set of 1961 Topps as offered here will always be a highly prized "time capsule." Total: 542 cards (near set of 541 plus one duplicate).