1969 Topps Basketball Set
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Fast Facts
Year(s) Issued: 1969
Number Cards: 99
Card Size: 2-1/2″ x 4-11/16″
Common Card Value (Good Condition): $20
Scarcity Rating: (1 to 10, 10 scarcest): 4
Full 1969 Topps Basketball Checklist
Keys For Collectors
- It was the first official release for Topps since their inaugural 1957 Topps Basketball issue.
- Cards were distributed in 10-card packs that included gum and a pin-up insert
- The cards were oversized issues — also known in the hobby as ‘tall-boys’, a trend that would continue for several years. This was something that Topps first tried in 1965 with Football cards.
- Due to licensing issues, Topps was not allowed to use team logos on the cards.
- The set features the rookie card of Lew Alcindor (aka Kareem Abdul-Jabaar)
- The cards are widely available- PSA has graded on average about 500 cards per player, although due to the odd size, cards are more difficult to find in mint condition.
- In addition to Alcindor RC, the set features rookie cards of John Havlicek, Connie Hawkins, Elvin Hayes, and Willis Reed, among others.
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The 1969 Topps Basketball set marked a return to basketball cards for Topps, making it their first basketball issue since their inaugural 1957 Topps Basketball release. Topps would produce basketball cards for each season up until 1980-81. It also marked the first national basketball card release since the 1961 Fleer Basketball set.
Cards were issued in 10 card packs and featured a new twist–in that the cards were oversized, length-wise. Because of this, and for many oversized issues for Topps in later years, the cards are often referred to as ‘tall-boys’ throughout the hobby. Storage of the cards had always been an issue as the cards don’t fit in the typical regular-size top-loaders, although holders are now widely available. This, however, does lead to condition issues across the set.
It should be noted that Checklist card #99 is impossible to find in perfect condition, given that many collectors marked it off back in the day and that it was the last card on the corner of the printing sheet.
The cards definitely have a late 60’s vibe–one might venture to call the cards ‘groovy’? A player photo is displayed within a circular color background, flanked by four cartoon basketball plays in each corner of the card. The colored text for the player’s name and team name make for a very interesting design.
The holy grail of the set is the rookie card of one Lew Alcindor, who of course would later on to become Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. The card is not rare–it has been graded over 3000 times by PSA, but given the level of collector demand, the prices for higher grade Alcindor rookies has skyrocketed of late.
Topps also tried something a bit different by including insert ‘ruler’ cards of players in the set. These ‘ruler’ cards feature a cartoon photo of the player standing beside a ruler, marking their height. They fold out to nearly ten inches lengthwise. This is just more proof that people were obsessed with the height of players during this era.
A 1969 Topps Basketball Wilt Chamberlain card
John Havlicek 1969 Topps Basketball rookie card.
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The backs of the cards feature more than the typical regular-size cards, given that there is a bit more real estate to work with. A player bio, summary, and stat line are supported by a cartoon figure and a fact (albeit sometimes ambiguous) about the player. As we can see with the Alcindor rookie, Lew ‘came to the NBA with the most impressive set of credentials in history’.
All in all, the 1969 Topps Basketball set is an incredibly popular set that has grown in prominence over time. It is anchored by the Alcindor rookie card, along with a cavalcade of big-name stars and other hall of fame rookie cards.
1969 Topps Basketball Key Cards
Wilt Chamberlain #1 (HOF)
The 1969 Topps Chamberlain card captures Wilt at the tail end of his career, but even during the 1969 season, he posted over 27 points per game, along with more than 18 rebounds. Remember that ’60s vibe I was talking about? Well, nothing screams more 60s than the sweet headband and colorful starter jacket that Wilt is wearing on this card. Priceless.
Connie Hawkins #15 (RC, HOF)
‘The Hawk’ had a short career, playing in the NBA for only seven seasons, but in that time, he left quite an impression. Hawkins was accused in a point-shaving scandal that barred him from the NBA early in his career, thus missing out on playing in the NBA during the prime of his career. Vintage basketball collectors highly desire his rookie card.
John Havlicek (#20) (RC, HOF)
John Havlicek was a key member of the Boston Celtics teams that won eight championships during the 1960s and 1970s. And amazingly, Havlicek’s teams went an unrivaled 8-0 in the NBA Finals. Havlicek was an All-Star in thirteen consecutive seasons from 1966 through 1978. Not only was he an offensive firepower, he also was a tremendous defender, finishing as a first-team NBA All-Defender for five seasons. His 1969 Topps rookie card is probably undervalued, as Havlicek tends not to get the same name recognition as other players in the era.
Lew Alcindor #25 (RC, HOF)
I love this card. The oversized 1969 Topps cards are a bit annoying just because of storage purposes, but for history, this rookie card of Lew Alcindor (aka Kareem Abdul-Jabbar) is one of the most iconic and well-known cards in the vintage basketball hobby. Plenty of these cards are available (PSA has graded over 2200), but because of the awkward size and age of the cards, finding mint versions is a big challenge.
Bill Bradley #43 (RC, HOF)
A great all-around basketball player, Bradley won two championships with the New York Knicks and gained popularity as a three-term Senator from New Jersey. His rookie card is one of the more valuable cards in the 1969 Topps set.
Oscar Robertson #50 (HOF)
Robertson (aka “The Big O”) was a twelve-time NBA all-star and is featured here as a member of the Cincinnati Royals. Robertson is still the only NBA player in history to rank in the top ten in points per game and assists per game.
Elvin Hayes #75 (RC, HOF)
This is the rookie card for Elvin Hayes. In each of his first four seasons, Hayes averaged more than 25 points per game and over 14 rebounds. Hayes was a twelve-time all-star; he eventually played with the Bullets, where he played with Wes Unseld to win a Championship in 1978.
Earl Monroe #80 (RC, HOF)
The rookie card for Earl ‘The Pearl” Monroe; Monroe first dazzled with the Baltimore Bullets and ultimately went to play for the New York Knicks. With the Knicks, Monroe and Walt Frazier were a legendary backcourt which ultimately would win the NBA title in 1973.
Jerry West #90 (HOF)
Although West’s 1969 Topps card caught West near the latter half of his career, at the time, West was still averaging above 30 points per game and cementing his legacy as one of the best to ever play the game.
Walt Frazier #98 (RC, HOF)
Walt Frazier was the larger-than-life backcourt leader for the New York Knicks from 1967 to 1977, winning two NBA Championships and seven consecutive All-Star berths from 1970 to 1976. The Frazier RC is one of the more valuable rookie cards in the set.
1969 Topps Basketball Checklist
1 – Wilt Chamberlain
2 – Gail Goodrich
3 – Cazzie Russell
4 – Darrall Imhoff
5 – Bailey Howell
6 – Lucius Allen
7 – Tom Boerwinkle
8 – Jimmy Walker
9 – John Block
10 – Nate Thurmond
11 – Gary Gregor
12 – Gus Johnson
13 – Luther Rackley
14 – Jon McGlocklin
15 – Connie Hawkins
16 – Johnny Egan
17 – Jim Washington
18 – Dick Barnett
19 – Tom Meschery
20 – John Havlicek
21 – Eddie Miles
22 – Walt Wesley
23 – Rick Adelman
24 – Al Attles
25 – Lew Alcindor
26 – Jack Marin
27 – Walt Hazzard
28 – Connie Dierking
29 – Keith Erickson
30 – Bob Rule
31 – Dick Van Arsdale
32 – Archie Clark
33 – Terry Dischinger
34 – Henry Finkel
35 – Elgin Baylor
36 – Ron Williams
37 – Loy Petersen
38 – Guy Rodgers
39 – Toby Kimball
40 – Billy Cunningham
41 – Joe Caldwell
42 – Leroy Ellis
43 – Bill Bradley
44 – Len Wilkins
45 – Jerry Lucas
46 – Neal Walk
47 – Emmette Bryant
48 – Bob Kauffman
49 – Mel Counts
50 – Oscar Robertson
51 – Jim Barnett
52 – Don Smith
53 – Jim Davis
54 – Wally Jones
55 – Dave Bing
56 – Wes Unseld
57 – Joe Ellis
58 – John Tresvant
59 – Larry Siegfried
60 – Willis Reed
61 – Paul Silas
62 – Bob Weiss
63 – Willie McCarter
64 – Don Kojis
65 – Lou Hudson
66 – Jim King
67 – Luke Jackson
68 – Len Chappell
69 – Ray Scott
70 – Jeff Mullins
71 – Howie Komives
72 – Tom Sanders
73 – Dick Snyder
74 – Dave Stallworth
75 – Elvin Hayes
76 – Art Harris
77 – Don Ohl
78 – Bob Love
79 – Tom Van Arsdale
80 – Earl Monroe
81 – Greg Smith
82 – Don Nelson
83 – Happy Hairston
84 – Hal Greer
85 – Dave DeBusschere
86 – Bill Bridges
87 – Herm Gilliam
88 – Jim Fox
89 – Bob Boozer
90 – Jerry West
91 – Chet Walker
92 – Flynn Robinson
93 – Clyde Lee
94 – Kevin Loughery
95 – Walt Bellamy
96 – Art Williams
97 – Adrian Smith
98 – Walt Frazier
99 – Checklist 1-99
