the complete guide to 1969 topps basketball

At a Glance

ABOUT THE SET

1969 Topps contains 99 cards measuring 2 1/2" x 4 11/16". This was Topps’ first basketball set since 1957 and the introduction of “tall boy” cards.

UNIQUENESS

Each pack included a “Topps Ruler” insert which was folded in half in the pack. Topps was not allowed to include the team logo on the cards due to licensing issues.

KEY Rookies and HALL OF FAMERS

The set contains 30 Hall of Famers including the rookie cards of Lew Alcindor (Kareem Abdul Jabbar), John Havlicek, Willis Reed, Walt Frazier, and Bill Bradley.

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Top 10 cards

UNIQUENESS

Topps created a 24 card set of “rulers,” inserting one into each pack of 1969 Topps basketball cards. The rulers measured 2 1/2 x 9 7/8. The rulers were not printed on the same sheet as the cards. In fact, Topps used a much thinner card stock making the rulers more condition sensitive. Their is also a missing card #5 from the set list. It is believed this was supposed to feature Bill Russell but Topps pulled the ruler after Russell announced he was retiring.

CHECKLIST

*HOFers are in bold

  1. Wilt Chamberlain

  2. Gail Goodrich RC

  3. Cazzie Russell RC

  4. Darrall Imhoff RC

  5. Bailey Howell

  6. Lucius Allen RC

  7. Tom Boerwinkle RC

  8. Jimmy Walker RC

  9. John Block RC

  10. Nate Thurmond RC

  11. Gary Gregor RC

  12. Gus Johnson RC

  13. Luther Rackley RC

  14. Jon McGlocklin RC

  15. Connie Hawkins RC

  16. Johnny Egan RC

  17. Jim Washington RC

  18. Dick Barnett RC

  19. Tom Meschery

  20. John Havlicek RC

  21. Eddie Miles RC

  22. Walt Wesley RC

  23. Rick Adelman RC

  24. Al Attles

  25. Lew Alcindor RC

  26. Jack Marin RC

  27. Walt Hazzard RC

  28. Connie Dierking RC

  29. Keith Erickson RC

  30. Bob Rule RC

  31. Dick Van Arsdale RC

  32. Archie Clark RC

  33. Terry Dischinger RC

  34. Henry Finkel RC

  35. Elgin Baylor

  36. Ron Williams RC

  37. Loy Petersen RC

  38. Guy Rodgers

  39. Toby Kimball RC

  40. Billy Cunningham RC

  41. Joe Caldwell RC

  42. Leroy Ellis RC

  43. Bill Bradley RC

  44. Len Wilkins

  45. Jerry Lucas RC

  46. Neal Walk RC

  47. Emmette Bryant RC

  48. Bob Kauffman RC

  49. Mel Counts RC

  50. Oscar Robertson

  51. Jim Barnett RC

  52. Don Smith RC

  53. Jim Davis RC

  54. Wally Jones RC

  55. Dave Bing RC

  56. Wes Unseld RC

  57. Joe Ellis RC

  58. John Tresvant RC

  59. Larry Siegfried RC

  60. Willis Reed RC

  61. Paul Silas RC

  62. Bob Weiss RC

  63. Willie McCarter RC

  64. Don Kojis RC

  65. Lou Hudson RC

  66. Jim King RC

  67. Luke Jackson RC

  68. Len Chappell RC

  69. Ray Scott RC

  70. Jeff Mullins RC

  71. Howie Komives RC

  72. Tom Sanders RC

  73. Dick Snyder RC

  74. Dave Stallworth RC

  75. Elvin Hayes RC

  76. Art Harris RC

  77. Don Ohl

  78. Bob Love RC

  79. Tom Van Arsdale RC

  80. Earl Monroe RC

  81. Greg Smith RC

  82. Don Nelson RC

  83. Happy Hairston RC

  84. Hal Greer

  85. Dave DeBusschere RC

  86. Bill Bridges RC

  87. Herm Gilliam RC

  88. Jim Fox RC

  89. Bob Boozer

  90. Jerry West

  91. Chet Walker RC

  92. Flynn Robinson RC

  93. Clyde Lee RC

  94. Kevin Loughery RC

  95. Walt Bellamy

  96. Art Williams RC

  97. Adrian Smith RC

  98. Walt Frazier RC

  99. Checklist 1-99

Topps Rulers Checklist

  1. Walt Bellamy

  2. Jerry West

  3. Bailey Howell RC

  4. Elvin Hayes RC

  5. No Card #5

  6. Bob Rule RC

  7. Gail Goodrich RC

  8. Jeff Mullins RC

  9. John Havlicek RC

  10. Lew Alcindor RC

  11. Wilt Chamberlain

  12. Nate Thurmond RC

  13. Hal Greer

  14. Lou Hudson RC

  15. Jerry Lucas RC

  16. Dave Bing RC

  17. Walt Frazier RC

  18. Gus Johnson RC

  19. Willis Reed RC

  20. Earl Monroe RC

  21. Billy Cunningham RC

  22. Wes Unseld RC

  23. Bob Boozer

  24. Oscar Robertson