Description

There is no question that the Carlton card that stands above all others in terms of demand is his 1965 Topps rookie card (#477). Like many rookie cards made during the 1960s, Carlton shares the limelight with another player. In this case, it is fellow pitcher and teammate Fritz Ackley. The Carlton card is one of four Hall of Famer rookies that reside in the set, along with debuts of Joe Morgan, Catfish Hunter, and Tony Perez. Amazingly, all four players and rookies are somewhat overlooked in their own way, especially Carlton and Morgan, who remain two of the most underrated players of the period. The Carlton rookie itself, while not overly difficult to find in high grade, does have a few obstacles that are worth noting. The white borders are well defined, so centering is something that can’t be ignored if you are searching for PSA NM-MT 8 or better examples. Chipping along the reverse is not uncommon, nor is the presence of print defects in the somewhat dark background on the front.