A Twist: what Topps card BACK is your favorite

[Vintagevault13]

There have been some great discussions recently regarding the favorite sets from the 50's, 60's, and 70's. As I looked through some cards this weekend, I began thinking about the sets with the best backs. As a kid collecting in the 70's, backs were just as important to me as the fronts because that is how I learned about players and baseball history. I absolutely absorbed stats, trivia, etc. and I still remember some of my favorites to this day. I will get this started with my favorites:

1950's: 1952 - easy to read. Some very entertaining write-ups included.
Great start for Topps.


1960's: 1968 - don't like the fronts, but the yellow color on the back
works well.

1970's: 1970 - like the 68's, the fronts are not good, but the back may be
Topps best yet.

The rest of the 70's backs were bad to me. Too many used green
and all were tough to read (especially as I am getting older!). The
73's backs look good but had too many OC issues.

[1963Topps Set]

For the 1960s, you can't beat the 1963 backs. Easy to read, cute cartoons and yearly stats. Second would be 1967.

[Mark70Z]

1970 - for sure... Oh, and I like the front of this issue as well.

[ALR-bishop]

http://i1267.photobucket.com/albums/jj555/Bishop539/img289.jpg
http://i1267.photobucket.com/albums/jj555/Bishop539/img289-1.jpg
http://i1267.photobucket.com/albums/jj555/Bishop539/WhitenOldClothes858_zps7b8b3a31.jpg
http://s1267.photobucket.com/user/Bishop539/media/WhitenOldClothes846_zpsfb0b7093.jpg.html?sort=3&o=62
http://i1267.photobucket.com/albums/jj555/Bishop539/dd83856c-688d-4863-acfb-d7e5aeb0f98d_zps938c32ea.jpg
http://i1267.photobucket.com/albums/jj555/Bishop539/img430_zps6b627868.jpg
http://i1267.photobucket.com/albums/jj555/Bishop539/img367.jpg
http://i1267.photobucket.com/albums/jj555/Bishop539/img193.jpg
http://i1267.photobucket.com/albums/jj555/Bishop539/img211.jpg
http://i1267.photobucket.com/albums/jj555/Bishop539/img175.jpg
http://i1267.photobucket.com/albums/jj555/Bishop539/img058.jpg

[toppcat]

1970 for sure.

[con40]

By decade, my favorites are:

1955 Topps: Bright stock, good illustrations, nice design, and one of the only years until 1992 to use more than two ink colors.

1963 Topps: Bright stock, light ink color and solid design

1970 Topps: Bright stock, great color choices and another solid layout

1980 Topps: Most of the '80s backs are pretty much the same basic format, so the first of the decade gets the nod. Also, the blue ink gives decent contrast on the gray stock

[1963Topps Set]

I see big Jim was showing his wife his tool!

[rats60]

By decade, my favorites are:

1955 Topps: Bright stock, good illustrations, nice design, and one of the only years until 1992 to use more than two ink colors.

1963 Topps: Bright stock, light ink color and solid design

1970 Topps: Bright stock, great color choices and another solid layout

1980 Topps: Most of the '80s backs are pretty much the same basic format, so the first of the decade gets the nod. Also, the blue ink gives decent contrast on the gray stock

I prefer the blue of the 1965 backs over the 63s. I agree with your other 3 choices.

[KCRfan1]

http://i1267.photobucket.com/albums/jj555/Bishop539/img289.jpg
http://i1267.photobucket.com/albums/jj555/Bishop539/img289-1.jpg
http://i1267.photobucket.com/albums/jj555/Bishop539/WhitenOldClothes858_zps7b8b3a31.jpg
http://s1267.photobucket.com/user/Bishop539/media/WhitenOldClothes846_zpsfb0b7093.jpg.html?sort=3&o=62
http://i1267.photobucket.com/albums/jj555/Bishop539/dd83856c-688d-4863-acfb-d7e5aeb0f98d_zps938c32ea.jpg
http://i1267.photobucket.com/albums/jj555/Bishop539/img430_zps6b627868.jpg
http://i1267.photobucket.com/albums/jj555/Bishop539/img367.jpg
http://i1267.photobucket.com/albums/jj555/Bishop539/img193.jpg
http://i1267.photobucket.com/albums/jj555/Bishop539/img211.jpg
http://i1267.photobucket.com/albums/jj555/Bishop539/img175.jpg
http://i1267.photobucket.com/albums/jj555/Bishop539/img058.jpg

Jim O'Toole was excited to hit the mound!

[darkhorse9]

1951 Red Back...I like to be a non-conformist

[bradmar48]

Easy question for an old collector.
The backs of the 1956 Topps by a wide margin.
Back in 56 when I collected them any boy knew what was on the backs better than the picture on the front. Lots of info in the cartoon captions.

[ALR-bishop]

http://i1267.photobucket.com/albums/jj555/Bishop539/img649_zpsb2561caf.jpg

see 145

http://i1267.photobucket.com/albums/jj555/Bishop539/img685_zps70082e89.jpg

http://i1267.photobucket.com/albums/jj555/Bishop539/WhitenOldClothes817_zps17a9c805.jpg

http://i1267.photobucket.com/albums/jj555/Bishop539/WhitenOldClothes821_zps97cb079d.jpg
http://i1267.photobucket.com/albums/jj555/Bishop539/img335.jpg

[horzverti]

One of my favs are the 1971 O Pee Chee backs. I really need to finish this set.

[CW]

My single favorite back from all of Topps' issues is the 1954 Ted Williams #250. All cartoons...

[SMPEP]

My favorite back: EASY!

The 1952 Topps Pete Reiser Grey Back.

Finding it: IMPOSSIBLE!!!! (Now on 5 years looking for one)

Cheers,
Patrick

[SMPEP]

Al - I suppose the 1958 Bouchee is listed on the back of teh Washington Senators card; and that the non-bouchee version is one of teh check lists from teh second series. Or is this a new variation?

[ALR-bishop]

He was listed in the first checklist and dropped on the second. I had wondered for a long time if some proof or actual card of Bouche was created before they pulled or eliminated it. But if it existed it surely would have turned up by now.

He had a card in 57 and in 59 after reinstatement. I wonder if he would have ever been permitted to play again if it had happened today

I have one in my set, but it is a Mr Lemke creation

http://i1267.photobucket.com/albums/jj555/Bishop539/img192.jpg

[Cliff Bowman]

My least favorite Topps back is 1976 because the stats are very difficult to read, even though it is one of my favorite sets because of the fronts.

[1963Topps Set]

Can you post the back of the 1958 Bouchée card?

[Exhibitman]

1954 Topps and 1971 OPC.

[cardsfan73]

One of my favs are the 1971 O Pee Chee backs. I really need to finish this set.



I just picked up several 71 OPC cards for my Cardinals collection.. Love the backs on these!!

[cardsfan73]

By decade

1950s: I like 1959 Topps, I get the bios, the cartoon & year by year stats. I am a big stat guy so that matters a lot to me!

1960s: 1967 Topps (honorable mention 1960 Topps but having only the previous season & life time stats hurts them in my opinion)

1970s: 1971 OPC


Thanks,
Scott