1968 Topps #261 Dave Duncan
About Dave Duncan
Card #261, part of the set's third series, is not Duncan's rookie card. By the time it appeared, Duncan had become Oakland's primary catcher in the team's first season after relocating from Kansas City. He caught the bulk of the schedule in 1968, valued for his defense and game-calling even as his batting average sat below .200, as he settled into an everyday role behind the plate.
David Edwin Duncan, born September 26, 1945 in Dallas, Texas, was a catcher who played 11 major league seasons for the Kansas City/Oakland Athletics, Cleveland Indians, and Baltimore Orioles from 1964 to 1976. Signed by the Athletics out of San Diego's Crawford High School, he debuted in 1964 as an 18-year-old, then developed through the minors alongside future stars Rick Monday and Reggie Jackson. Duncan became Oakland's primary catcher in the early 1970s, earning a selection to the 1971 American League All-Star team and helping the Athletics win the American League West in both 1971 and 1972, then the 1972 World Series championship. Known more for his defense and game-calling than his bat, he finished his career with a .214 batting average, 109 home runs, and 341 RBIs over 929 games. After retiring as a player in 1977, Duncan built a long second career as a pitching coach, most notably alongside manager Tony La Russa for three decades with the White Sox, Athletics, and Cardinals.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 327 | 14 | 98 | 141 | 36 | 17 | 13 | 8 | 0 |
| SGC | 11 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Graded population — a scarcity guide, not a price. Data as of 2026-09-04. Half grades fold down for both graders (8.5→8); PSA qualified slabs (OC, ST, PD, MC and the like) are not counted. Slabs of the yellow team-letter #49 and #66 are 1968 Milton Bradley game cards and are not counted here.
Find this card
Search T206 Cards Shop 1968 Topps cards Live auctions Buy It Now on eBay Sold prices
As an eBay Partner Network affiliate, T206Cards.com may earn from qualifying purchases.
Related cards
Team card: #554 Oakland Athletics
More Oakland Athletics cards:
- #18 Mike Hershberger
- #38 Tony Pierce
- #62 Chuck Dobson
- #79 Ted Kubiak
- #109 Bert Campaneris
- #127 Paul Lindblad
- #146 Sal Bando
- #164 Ramon Webster
- #183 Bob Kennedy
- #199 A's 1968 Rookie Stars
- #224 Jack Aker
- #244 John Donaldson
- #282 Rick Monday
- #303 Dick Green
Frequently asked questions
What is the 1968 Topps #261 card?
It is card #261 of the 598-card 1968 Topps Baseball set, picturing Dave Duncan of the Oakland Athletics.
How many cards are in the 1968 Topps Baseball set?
598 cards, tracked as 606 collectible states. The numbers run from 1 to 598 without a gap and no printed number carries two different cards; eight cards - six of the seven checklists, #10 AL Pitching Leaders and #400 Mike McCormick - carry a catalogued print variation that the master set counts separately.
Sources: Trading Card Database, PSA CardFacts, Cardboard Connection, BaseballCardPedia, Baseball Almanac, Beckett, Baseball-Reference, the SABR BioProject and the National Baseball Hall of Fame, PSA & SGC population reports. Card data compiled and maintained by T206Cards.com. Page last updated 2026-10-12.