Card back countdown: #12 - 1965 Topps

When it comes to the 1965 Topps set, I'm like a lot of collectors. It's my favorite of the 1960s.

Actually, I go back and forth between whether the '65 or '67 set is my favorite. I might like the front of the '67 set better. I know the '65 set has that pennant, but I find the clean look of the '67 cards rather intoxicating.

So that's why the backs for the 1965 set are so important. If '65 is going to keep up with the greatness of the '67s, it's got to have a supreme card back. And it does.

Here it is:

Topps has not used the color blue for its card backs very much. So when it does, it really stands out. Any card back that uses blue will become an instant favorite of mine.

I'm nobody special in saying that blue is my favorite color. I've always been attracted to teams that wore blue -- the Royals, the Houston Oilers, the Buffalo Sabres. And, of course, that Dodger Blue team. All of them had a built-in color advantage.

The back of the Torborg card above is more turquoise than blue. Here is a better example:

Wow. That card sure can light up a room. Love it.

Also, as if you haven't noticed, the cartoon is the star of the show on the back. I like that Topps dedicates the whole upper third of the card to the cartoon. And the emphasis on each initial of the player's name ties the whole card back together. The cartoon subjects also seemed to be VERY HAPPY in 1965. Lots of smiling.

I wish I could point out some innovation that caused this card back to be ranked so highly on the countdown. But the fact is, I just like the look of it. And the color has a lot to do with it.

If you are a card back historian, then you know this must mean good things for another card back that used a lot of blue. And you are absolutely correct.

But we'll stay with the '65 set for now.

I may not be 100 percent sure if it's the best card set of the '60s. But I'm positive it's the best card back of the '60s.

Best of the set:

I basically have only Dodgers from this set, so I'll skip this segment again.

(previous card back countdown selections):

50. 1978 SSPC Yankee Yearbook
49. 1993 Score
48. 1999 Skybox Thunder
47. 2000 Upper Deck
46. 1999 Skybox Premium
45. 1953 Johnston Cookies Braves
44. 1995 Topps
43. 1997 Fleer
42. 1992 Pinnacle
41. 1989 Bowman
40. 1977 Kellogg's
39. 2004 Topps
38. 2004 Topps Total
37. 1992 Topps
36. 1992 Donruss
35. 2008 Upper Deck Documentary
34. 1963 Fleer
33. 1955 Bowman
32. 2006 Topps
31. 1961 Topps
30. 1955 Topps
29. 1967 Topps
28. 1970 Topps
27. 1969 Topps
26. 1966 Topps
25. 1963 Topps
24. 1911 T205
23. 1962 Topps
22. 1981 Topps
21. 1981 Donruss
20. 1958 Topps
19. 1977 Topps
18. 1974 Topps
17. 1957 Topps
16. 1988 Score
15. 1993 Upper Deck
14. 2004 Upper Deck Timeless Teams
13. 1971 Topps