Complete Topps High Number Guide: What Are They & Why Are They Valuable
Topps Baseball High Number Guide
Discover what Topps "High Number" cards are, why they are important, which years are the most rare, and what players are the most valuable
What Are "High Number" Baseball Cards?
If you are a vintage sports card collector, especially a set builder, you have likely heard the term "high number" cards. What exactly does this mean? Per the Topps website "High numbers or high series refers to the subset of cards within a particular set released later in the production run, typically with a higher number. This means they may have had a lower print run and are often harder to find than the earlier cards".
To simplify, Topps released cards in series throughout the baseball season. Series 1 cards were released in the spring, when the baseball season started, and subsequent series were released throughout the year. This was done to keep kids interested in buying cards throughout the season. The last series of cards (or "high numbers") was typically released in the fall, the same time football season started. Many children turned their interest to the newly released football cards of the year and sales of the final series of baseball cards lagged. Topps noticed this and began printing less cards in the final series release of the season.
Example: 1959 Topps
Series 1: 1-110
Series 2: 111-198
Series 3: 199-286
Series 4: 287-374
Series 5: 375-440
Series 6: 441-506
Series 7: 507-572
Why Are "High Numbers" Important?
Being that Topps printed less cards in this series compared with other series, high number cards are generally much rarer and more difficult to find compared with cards released from other series. This makes most cards, even commons, considerably more valuable than cards released in earlier series.
Which Years Are Most Valuable?
Although every Topps set has a final series, not every year has valuable high numbers. This has to do with print runs, as certain years had higher production vs. other years. From 1952 through 1969, years where the "high numbers" carry a significant premium are: 1952, 1953, 1955, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1966, and 1967
1952 Topps High Numbers
1952 Topps is considered by many collectors to be the most important post-war set produced. It was the first mainstream issue that Topps created. Part of the allure is the story behind the high numbers and some of the cards included in the series.
The "high number" cards (from series 6) did not sell well, and many cases of inventory were returned to Topps. They tried to sell the cases for deep discounts, but by 1960 there were still some 300-500 cases of series 6 left in their warehouse. Room was needed so executives ordered the cases be disposed of. Cases were loaded onto a barge and dumped into the Hudson River. Included in this high number series 6 were many legends, including first year Topps cards of Mickey Mantle, Jackie Robinson, Ed Matthews, and Roy Campanella! As a result ALL high number cards carry a high premium; both stars and commons.
The 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle is one of the most valuable and sough after cards in the hobby. Low grade examples sell for $25,000+, with an SGC 9.5 recently selling for $12.6 million in 2022.
High Numbers: Cards #'s 311-407
Key Players: Mickey Mantle (#311), Jackie Robinson (#312), Roy Campanella (#314), Pee Wee Reese (#333), Bill Dickey (#400), Eddie Matthews (#407)
1953 Topps High Numbers
It is tough to follow the legendary 1952 Topps, but the "high number" series of the 1953 Topps put forth a solid effort. Cards from this series command a significant premium and are tough to find in nice condition. The main highlights from this series includes a beautiful second year Topps card of Willie Mays and rookies of Jim Gilliam and Johnny Podres.
High Numbers: Cards #'s 221-280
Key Players: Willie Mays (#244), Jim Gilliam RC (#258), Johnny Podres RC (#263), Milt Bolling RC (#280)
1955 Topps High Numbers
Although not quite as rare as high numbers from the previous 2 sets discussed, 1955 Topps makes up for it in star power. Included in the 1955 Topps "high numbers" is the highly sought after rookie of Roberto Clemente and important cards of Hall of Famers Willie Mays, Yogi Berra, and Duke Snider.
High Numbers: Cards #'s 161-210
Key Players: Roberto Clemente RC (#164), Phil Rizzuto (#189), Willie Mays (#194), Yogi Berra (#198), Duke Snider (#210)
1959 Topps High Numbers
The high numbers from 1959 Topps stand out compared with the rest of the set. On the back of the card, the colored box around the card number is black, along with the font in the biography. Compare that with the non high numbers, where the box and font is green. The rookie card for the intimidating and dominate Bob Gibson is included in this run. It, along with the Mickey Mantle All-Star card, are the most valuable and desirable cards in the 1959 high numbers.
High Numbers: Cards #'s 507-572
Key Players: Bob Gibson RC (#514), Hank Aaron All-Star (#560), Willie Mays All-Star (#563), Mickey Mantle All-Star (#564)
1960 Topps High Numbers
There are not any key rookies in the 1960 Topps high number series, but there is a lot of start power still. All-Star cards of Mantle, Mays, Aaron, and Maris are included. High numbers from this set carry a slight premium.
High Numbers: Cards #'s 507-572
Key Players: Mickey Mantle All-Star (#563), Willie Mays All-Star (#564), Roger Maris All-Star (#565), Hank Aaron All-Star (#566)
1961 Topps High Numbers
1961 Topps features one of the lower print runs of high numbers. As a result, mid to high grade cards, even the commons, typically sell for a significant premium. There are many short prints of common players and team cards, but the highest valued cards are the Sporting News All-Star cards, which feature many of the games top players.
High Numbers: Cards #'s 523-589
Key Players: Minnesota Twins team (#542), Pittsburgh Pirates team (#554), Roger Maris All-Star (#576), Hank Aaron All-Star (#577), Mickey Mantle All-Star (#578), Willie Mays All-Star (#579)
1962 Topps High Numbers
Like 1961, the 1962 Topps high number series was also printed in lower numbers compared with other Topps sets. While the All-Star cards appear in an earlier series, series 7 contains short prints of a few Hall of Famers. The biggest draw is the Rookie Parade subset, a set of 8 multi-player rookie cards. Card #594 features Bob Uecker; the legendary announcer's rookie is one of the most valuable cards in the run.
High Numbers: Cards #'s 523-598
Key Players: Bob Gibson SP (#530), Willie McCovey SP (#544), Cubs team (#552), Twins team (#584), All "Rookie Parade" cards (#591-598)
1963 Topps High Numbers
1963 Topps has less high numbers than most of the other years, but this set contains one of the most valuable rookie cards of the 1960s; Pete Rose. His multi-player first year card is the key card in the set and is part of the high number series 7. A few other Hall of Famers are part of this series, including the tough to find Roberto Clemente and Willie Stargell Rookie Card.
High Numbers: Cards #'s 523-576
Key Players: Nellie Fox (#525), Pete Rose RC (#537), Roberto Clemente (#540), Duke Snider (#550), Tigers team (#552), Willie Stargell RC (#553)
1966 Topps High Numbers
1966 Topps contains some of the most difficult high numbers to find of all the 1960s sets. Although there aren't a ton of Hall of Famers, there are numerous short prints within the high numbers, making many commons extremely valuable. Willie McCovey and Gaylord Perry are the headlining names, but cards of Denny McLain, Billy Williams, Horace Clark, and Twins & Tigers team cards all sell for significant value.
High Numbers: Cards #'s 523-598
Key Players: Twins team (#526), Robin Roberts (#530), Denny McLain (#540), Horace Clark (#547), Willie McCovey (#550), Billy Williams (#580), Tigers team (#583), Gaylord Perry (#598)
1967 Topps High Numbers
The 1967 Topps "high number" series is absolutely loaded with Hall of Famers and rookies. Boasting rookies of both Tom Seaver and Rod Carew, it doesn't stop there. All the cards within the series sell for a significant premium, and the Brooks Robinson card is one of the more valuable in the set. There are also some minor stars which carry large premiums, even over their own rookies cards. This includes players such as Jim Bunning, Rocky Colavito, Maury Willis, and Norm Cash, to name a few. Cards from this set are plagued with condition and centerin issues, making high grade examples quite valuable.
High Numbers: Cards #'s 534-609
Key Players: Norm Cash (#540), Jim Bunning (#560), Rod Carew RC (#569), Maury Willis (#570), Rocky Colavito (#580), Tom Seaver RC (#581), Brooks Robinson (#600), Red Sox team (#604), Tommy John (#609)
