1961 Topps Football expanded to accommodate players from both the National Football League and the upstart American Football League, which had only begun play the previous season. The set checklist boasts 198 total cards, three of which are checklists. Cards measure the standard, 2-1/2 by 3-1/2 inches. The set is anchored by a bevy of future Hall of Fame players including Johnny Unitas (#1), Bart Starr (#39), Y.A. Title (#58) and Jim Brown (#71), to name a few. The set also contains key rookies of Don Maynard (#150), Jim Otto (#182), Tom Flores (#186), John Brodie (#59) and Henry Jordan (#45). Other rookies include Boyd Dowler (#43), Johnny Robinson (#139), Art Powell (#151) and Lionel Taylor (#190).
Design
1961 Topps Football card fronts feature a player photo in either a close-up head shot or a posed action picture. The player is superimposed over a solid-colored background. A black box at the bottom of the card, includes the player's name, position and team. A white border surrounds the card. The cards vary between a vertical and horizontal orientation. The backs of the cards are once again split into two parts. In the upper left-hand corner, the card number is displayed. It is followed by the player's name, position and team. A few lines of vital statistics appear between two thin lines. What appears below that depends on the player. Some have a box with year and lifetime statistics, while others have a short biographical write-up. The rest of the card features a cartoon that had to be scratched off to see.
Each NFL team is featured on a team card that has a team photograph surrounded by a gridiron design that resembles the markings on a football field. There are also cards that capture highlights from the 1960 season scattered throughout the set, however these only apply to the NFL teams. The numbering sequence of the cards is once again, as the previous year, arranged by team. The quarterbacks are first, then the running backs and others. The team card appears numerically after the last player from each NFL team, with a highlight card, when applicable, following that. The only exception to the rule is card #132, which features Milt Stock of the Cleveland Browns but follows the Redskins numerically.
Printing and Distribution
1961 Topps Football was released in two series. NFL teams comprised card numbers 1-132, while AFL players were printed in the second series with card numbers 133-197. The AFL players are slightly more difficult to find and star players do command a slight premium, particularly card #166, belonging to Jack Kemp. The most common distribution was in the form of one-cent and five-cent wax packs.
Inserts
A textured team sticker was also included in each wax pack. There are forty-eight total stickers with 15 belonging to NFL teams, nine to AFL teams and 24 to college teams. There are also 12 team stickers that have two different variations, nine AFL teams and three college teams.
Errors and Condition Issues
A small handful of uncorrected error cards have been identified within the 1961 set. Some of the more notable ones relate to the misspelling of names. The letter "c" is omitted from Tom Franckhauser's last name on card #27, Charley Conerly's is misspelled "Charlie" on card #94 and Sonny Jurgensen's name is also mispelled "Jurgenson" on card #95. Many vintage hobbyists debate whether or not the cards featuring Houston Oiler players should be considered errors as they are all pictured wearing pink uniforms.
Common condition issues impacting the 1961 Topps Football card set include chipping on the blue-border on the back of the cards. The solid color background on the card front is also susceptible to flaws including print dots.
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Key 1961 Topps Football Cards
Jim Brown #71
Johnny Unitas #1
Checklist #198
Don Maynard RC #150
Jim Otto RC #182
1961 Topps Football Set ChecklistBase Set Checklist
Featuring 198 cards
Base Set Checklist
2 Lenny Moore
3 Alan Ameche
4 Raymond Berry
5 Jim Mutscheller
6 Jim Parker
7 Gino Marchetti
8 Gene Lipscomb
9 Colts Team
10 Bill Wade
11 Johnny Morris RC
12 Rick Casares
13 Harlon Hill
14 Stan Jones
15 Doug Atkins
16 Bill George
17 J.C. Caroline
18 Bears Team
19 Eddie LeBaron IA
20 Eddie LeBaron
21 Don McIlhenny
22 L.G. Dupre
23 Jim Doran
24 Bill Howton
25 Buzz Guy
26 Jack Patera RC
27 Tom Frankhauser RC
28 Cowboys Team
29 Jim Ninowski
30 Dan Lewis RC
31 Nick Pietrosante RC
32 Gail Cogdill RC
33 Jim Gibbons
34 Jim Martin
35 Alex Karras
36 Joe Schmidt
37 Lions Team
38 Paul Hornung IA
39 Bart Starr
40 Paul Hornung
41 Jim Taylor
42 Max McGee
43 Boyd Dowler RC
44 Jim Ringo
45 Henry Jordan RC
46 Bill Forester
47 Packers Team
48 Frank Ryan
49 Jon Arnett
50 Ollie Matson
51 Jim Phillips
52 Del Shofner
53 Art Hunter
54 Gene Brito
55 Lindon Crow
56 Rams Team
57 Johnny Unitas IA
58 Y.A. Tittle
59 John Brodie RC
60 J.D. Smith
61 R.C. Owens
62 Clyde Conner
63 Bob St. Clair
64 Leo Nomellini
65 Abe Woodson
66 49ers Team
67 Checklist
68 Milt Plum
69 Ray Renfro
70 Bobby Mitchell
71 Jim Brown
72 Mike McCormack
73 Jim Ray Smith
74 Sam Baker
75 Walt Michaels
76 Browns Team
77 Jim Brown IA
78 George Shaw
79 Hugh McElhenny
80 Clancy Osborne
81 Dave Middleton
82 Frank Youso
83 Don Joyce
84 Ed Culpepper
85 Charley Conerly
86 Mel Triplett
87 Kyle Rote
88 Roosevelt Brown
89 Ray Wietecha
90 Andy Robustelli
91 Sam Huff
92 Jim Patton
93 Giants Team
94 Charley Conerly IA
95 Sonny Jurgensen
96 Tommy McDonald
97 Bill Barnes
98 Bobby Walston
99 Pete Retzlaff
101 Chuck Bednarik
102 Tom Brookshier
103 Eagles Team
104 Bobby Layne
105 John Henry Johnson
106 Tom Tracy
107 Buddy Dial RC
108 Jimmy Orr RC
109 Mike Sandusky
110 John Reger
111 Junior Wren
112 Steelers Team
113 Bobby Layne IA
114 John Roach
115 Sam Etcheverry RC
116 John David Crow
117 Mal Hammack
118 Sonny Randle RC
119 Leo Sugar
120 Jerry Norton
121 Cardinals Team
122 Checklist
123 Ralph Guglielmi
124 Dick James
125 Don Bosseler
126 Joe Walton
127 Bill Anderson
128 Vince Promuto RC
129 Bob Toneff
130 John Paluck
131 Redskins Team
132 Milt Plum IA
133 Abner Haynes
134 Mel Branch UER
135 Jerry Cornelison UER
136 Bill Krisher
137 Paul Miller
138 Jack Spikes
139 Johnny Robinson RC
140 Cotton Davidson RC
141 Dave Smith
142 Bill Groman
143 Rich Michael
144 Mike Dukes
145 George Blanda
146 Billy Cannon
147 Dennit Morris
148 Jack Lee UER
149 Al Dorow
150 Don Maynard RC
151 Art Powell RC
152 Sid Youngelman
153 Bob Mischak
154 Larry Grantham
155 Tom Saidock
156 Roger Donnahoo
157 Laverne Torczon
158 Archie Matsos RC
159 Elbert Dubenion
160 Wray Carlton RC
161 Rich McCabe
162 Ken Rice
163 Art Baker RC
164 Tom Rychlec
165 Mack Yoho
166 Jack Kemp
167 Paul Lowe
168 Ron Mix
169 Paul Maguire UER
170 Volney Peters
171 Ernie Wright RC
172 Ron Nery RC
173 Dave Kocourek RC
174 Jim Colclough
175 Babe Parilli
176 Billy Lott
177 Fred Bruney
178 Ross O'Hanley
179 Walt Cudzik
180 Charley Leo
181 Bob Dee
182 Jim Otto RC
183 Eddie Macon
184 Dick Christy
185 Alan Miller
186 Tom Flores RC
187 Joe Cannavino
188 Don Manoukian
189 Bob Coolbaugh
190 Lionel Taylor RC
191 Bud McFadin
192 Goose Gonsoulin RC
193 Frank Tripucka
194 Gene Mingo RC
195 Eldon Danenhauer
196 Bob McNamara
197 Dave Rolle UER
198 Checklist UER
AD1 Jim Martin / George
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