1961 Topps Football Cards

1961 Topps football card wrapperThere 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. Packs of both first series and second series cards included "flocked sticker" inserts.

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, Johnny Robinson.

Image Set #Card Title/Players Pro Team Position College Honors Notes Grades available at Nearmint Sports Cards
1961 Topps John Unitas 1961 Topps 1 John Unitas Baltimore Colts quarterback Louisville Pro Football Hall of Fame 1979, Ravens Ring of Honor 2002
1961 Topps Lenny Moore 1961 Topps 2 Lenny Moore Baltimore Colts halfback Penn State Pro Football Hall of Fame 1975, Ravens Ring of Honor 2002
1961 Topps Alan Ameche 1961 Topps 3 Alan Ameche Baltimore Colts fullback Wisconsin College Hall of Fame 1975, Heisman Trophy 1954
1961 Topps Raymond Berry 1961 Topps 4 Raymond Berry Baltimore Colts end SMU Pro Football Hall of Fame 1973, Ravens Ring of Honor 2002
1961 Topps Jim Mutscheller 1961 Topps 5 Jim Mutscheller Baltimore Colts end Notre Dame
1961 Topps Jim Parker 1961 Topps 6 Jim Parker Baltimore Colts guard, tackle Ohio State College Hall of Fame 1974, Outland Trophy 1956, Pro Football Hall of Fame 1973, Ravens Ring of Honor 2002
1961 Topps Gino Marchetti 1961 Topps 7 Gino Marchetti Baltimore Colts defensive end San Francisco Pro Football Hall of Fame 1972, Ravens Ring of Honor 2002
1961 Topps Gene Lipscomb 1961 Topps 8 Gene Lipscomb Baltimore Colts defensive tackle
1961 Topps Baltimore Colts Team 1961 Topps 9 Baltimore Colts Team Baltimore Colts
1961 Topps Bill Wade 1961 Topps 10 Bill Wade Chicago Bears quarterback Vanderbilt
1961 Topps Johnny Morris 1961 Topps 11 Johnny Morris Chicago Bears halfback UC Santa Barbara Rookie card
1961 Topps Rick Casares 1961 Topps 12 Rick Casares Chicago Bears fullback Florida ex+
1961 Topps Harlon Hill 1961 Topps 13 Harlon Hill Chicago Bears end North Alabama Since 1986, the Harlon Hill Trophy has been awarded to the Division II College Football Player of the Year. Vg-ex
1961 Topps Stan Jones 1961 Topps 14 Stan Jones Chicago Bears guard Maryland College Hall of Fame 2000, Pro Football Hall of Fame 1991 ex
1961 Topps Doug Atkins 1961 Topps 15 Doug Atkins Chicago Bears defensive end Tennessee College Hall of Fame 1985, Pro Football Hall of Fame 1982, Saints Hall of Fame 1995
1961 Topps Bill George 1961 Topps 16 Bill George Chicago Bears linebacker, guard Wake Forest Pro Football Hall of Fame 1974
1961 Topps J.C. Caroline 1961 Topps 17 J.C. Caroline Chicago Bears defensive back Illinois College Hall of Fame 1980
1961 Topps Chicago Bears Team 1961 Topps 18 Chicago Bears Team Chicago Bears The Bears played the CFL's Montreal Alouettes in an exhibition game in 1961.
1961 Topps Big Time Football Comes to Texas 1961 Topps 19 Big Time Football Comes to Texas The game pictured here was played on Dec 4, 1960, in New York. L.G DuPre scored three touchdowns for the Cowboys, and the game ended in a 31-31 tie. PSA 8
L.G. Dupre Dallas Cowboys halfback Baylor
Walt Kowalczyk Dallas Cowboys fullback, defensive back Michigan State
Eddie LeBaron Dallas Cowboys quarterback Pacific College Hall of Fame 1980, Commanders Ring of Fame
Dick Modzelewski New York Giants defensive tackle Maryland College Hall of Fame 1993, Outland Trophy 1952
Tom Scott New York Giants defensive end Virginia College Hall of Fame 1979
1961 Topps Eddie LeBaron 1961 Topps 20 Eddie LeBaron Dallas Cowboys quarterback Pacific College Hall of Fame 1980, Commanders Ring of Fame
1961 Topps Don McIlhenny 1961 Topps 21 Don McIlhenny Dallas Cowboys halfback SMU McIlhenny played 3 games for the Cowboys in 1961, then finished the season with the San Francisco 49ers.
1961 Topps L.G. Dupre 1961 Topps 22 L.G. Dupre Dallas Cowboys halfback Baylor
1961 Topps Jim Doran 1961 Topps 23 Jim Doran Dallas Cowboys end, defensive end Iowa State, Buena Vista Doran was the first Dallas Cowboy to be chosen for the Pro Bowl. He was the Cowboys' only Pro Bowl selection in 1960, the team's first season.
1961 Topps Bill Howton 1961 Topps 24 Bill Howton Dallas Cowboys end Rice Packers Hall of Fame 1974 PSA 8
1961 Topps Buzz Guy 1961 Topps 25 Buzz Guy Dallas Cowboys guard Duke Rookie card

Guy's full name was Melwood Norman Guy.

This section contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

First 10 of 14761 related items found on eBay. See more.
Image of eBay item 1961 TOPPS FOOTBALL JIMMY BROWN #77 AND PAUL HORNUNG # 38 HIGHLIGHT CARDS 149.00
Image of eBay item 1961 Topps Football # 40 Paul Hornung Packers - EX 17.50
obo
Image of eBay item 1961 Topps Football #59 John Brodie, San Francisco 49ers, RC, EX 14.99
obo
Image of eBay item 1961 Topps Football Card #1 Johnny Unitas Colts LOW GRADE G/F/P 34.95
obo
Image of eBay item 1961 Topps Football Card #42 Max McGee-Green Bay Packers Vg Card 4.50
Image of eBay item 1961 TOPPS FOOTBALL #1-200 COMPLETE YOUR SET FREE SHIPPING 3.00
Image of eBay item 1961 topps football cards, complete your set 3.00
Image of eBay item 1961 Topps Football #1 Johnny Unitas SGC 7 NM - Colts HOFer 🏈🔥 119.99
Image of eBay item 1961 Topps Football Card #101 Chuck Bednarik-Philadelphia Eagles Ex Card - SD7 13.99
obo
Image of eBay item 1961 TOPPS FOOTBALL #18 CHICAGO BEARS TEAM CARD + FREE MYSTERY CARD! 🔥 6.99
obo
🏈 See more related items on eBay: Active Listings, Completed Listings, Recent Sales.