1961 Topps Football Cards

There are 198 cards in the 1961 Topps football card set. The first series, cards 1-132, contains only NFL players; the second series, cards 133-198, contains only AFL players. The price guides value second series commons higher than first series commons, but in reality it is easier to find second series cards in high grades.

I have not seen an uncut sheet of 1961 Topps football cards, but the 132-card first series would have fit an even two times on a full 264-card sheet, and the 66-card second series would have fit an even four times. Hence there are no short prints or double prints in either series.

One oddity in the 1961 Topps set is that most of the Houston Oilers are pictured in pink uniforms. The Oilers actually wore light blue. The set also has one "first": it is the first football card set to include "in action" or "highlight" cards.

Rookie cards of Pro Football Hall of Famers in the 1961 Topps set: Henry Jordan, Don Maynard, Jim Otto.