1962 Topps Football Set Sets Record at $1.47 Million

1962 Topps Football becomes the most valuable football set in the hobby

The 1962 Topps Football set has reached a new benchmark in the hobby. A near-complete example, missing just one card and graded as 175 of 176, sold for $1.47 million in Mile High Card Company’s Fall Auction, establishing a new record for football card sets.

The collection was ranked No. 1 on the PSA All-Time Finest Set Registry and carried a remarkable GPA of 9.337. According to Mile High Card Company, the lot drew 54 bids before finishing at its record price.

Anchored by Hall of Famers and NFL legends including Jim Brown, Bart Starr, Johnny Unitas and Mike Ditka, the 1962 Topps Football release has long been regarded as one of the most desirable football sets in the hobby. The auction result now places it at the top of the football set market.

Mile High Card Company reports a wave of record prices

The 3,100-lot auction produced several additional record-setting sales across vintage baseball, football and multi-sport material. MHCC president and CEO Brian Drent said the level of demand went beyond expectations.

“We knew there would be heavy bidding due to the opportunities this auction offered, but the level of interest and the number of world-record prices realized exceeded all predictions. It was a spectacular event!” Drent said.

Among the most notable results was the breakup of a 1909-11 T206 Polar Bear Back near-complete set ranked No. 1 on the PSA Set Registry. The collection brought a combined $529,913, led by the rare Ray Demmitt card, graded PSA 6, which sold for $176,385. A Bill O’Hara card graded PSA 4 realized $33,906, both record prices.

Six-figure set sales highlight the auction

Several other sets crossed the six-figure mark, underscoring the strength of the auction’s top-end material.

• 1958 Topps Complete Master Set, ranked No. 3 on the PSA Set Registry, sold for $360,913.
• 1975 Topps PSA-graded near-complete set, ranked No. 4, sold for $184,587.
• 1963 Post Cereal hand-cut PSA-graded complete set, ranked No. 2, sold for $161,390.
• 1965 Topps complete PSA-graded set, ranked No. 12, sold for $138,459.
• 1934 Batter-Up complete set, ranked No. 1, sold for $111,343.

Other complete and near-complete sets also reached five-figure totals, adding to a broad auction that featured strong bidding across multiple eras.

Related coverage includes 1962 Topps Football Set Sells for Record $1.47 Million.

Individual cards set new records across eras

Beyond the set sales, several individual cards posted standout prices and new benchmarks. The top result among singles was a 1933 Sport Kings Gum No. 2 Babe Ruth graded SGC 9, which sold for $833,138. The card is described as the only MINT 9 graded by SGC and one of only one by PSA.

• 1952 Topps No. 261 Willie Mays, SGC 8, MBA Silver Diamond - $194,831.
• 1961 Topps All Star No. 578 Mickey Mantle, PSA 10 - $111,343.
• 1952 Topps No. 311 Mickey Mantle, MBA 2.5 GOOD+ - $100,991.
• Goudey No. 149 Babe Ruth, PSA 5.5, MBA Silver - $98,212.
• 1957 Topps No. 119 Bart Starr, MBA 9, Silver Diamond - $61,197.
• 1960 Topps No. 300 Hank Aaron, PSA 8.5 - $55,163, more than double the previous record.
• 1954 Parkhurst No. 65 Johnny Bowers, PSA 9, MBA Silver Diamond - $33,861.
• 1975 Topps Mini No. 228 George Brett, MBA 10, Silver Diamond - $31,306.
• 1948 Leaf No. 79 Jackie Robinson, MBA 4 - $31,230.

Football cards draw strong attention beyond the set record

The football side of the auction also produced notable individual sales. A signed 1976 Topps No. 148 Walter Payton rookie card, graded PSA 6 with a 9 autograph grade, sold for $89,080.

Other football and football-related highlights included a 1954 Bowman No. 89 Willie Mays graded PSA 9 at $69,846 and a 2000 Playoff Contenders No. 144 Tom Brady autograph card graded Beckett 8.5 with a 10 autograph grade at $49,597.

With the 1962 Topps Football set now setting the standard at $1.47 million, the auction further reinforced the strength of high-grade vintage football material at the top of the hobby. The result also adds another milestone to a set already packed with some of the most recognizable names in football card history.