We have made the decision to break up an EXTRAORDINARY 1963 Topps set
- the #4 Master Set on the PSA Set Registry. The 1963 set is a
particularly difficult set to complete in high grade due to Topps' poor
quality control in the era which resulted in
considerable print defects. The large and colorful border at the bottom
simultaneously lends a distinctive design element and a condition
challenge, as they are extremely susceptible to
chipping and wear.
The example offered here is card #347, Joe Torre, graded NM-MT 8. Many forget that Joe Torre was a genuinely great player before he became a Hall of Fame manager. 1963 was his breakout season in which he was named to his first of 9 All Star Games in his career. His Topps card from that season shows the 22-year-old catcher in his batting stance, focused on the pitcher. Great corners and fantastic centering here. The right edge is slightly soft, but the other three are strong. Minor registration issue with the green bottom border, common with this set.
Only 14 of the more than 550 examples graded by PSA have ever received a higher grade than the NM-MT 8 offered here.