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robw1959
12-15-2018, 01:10 PM
What is your favorite baseball card set among the following Topps and Bowman issues?

Exhibitman
12-15-2018, 08:31 PM
I fell in love with 1954 Topps as a kid. I've assembled and broken it up a few times. For my money, the best designs and images of the Topps golden age.

https://photos.imageevent.com/exhibitman/dropins/websize/1954%20Topps%20Mays.jpg
https://photos.imageevent.com/exhibitman/miscellaneous5/websize/1954%20Williams%201.jpg
https://photos.imageevent.com/exhibitman/miscellaneous5/websize/1954%20Topps%20Berra.png
https://photos.imageevent.com/exhibitman/miscellaneous4/websize/1954%20Topps%20Rosen%20signed%201.JPG
https://photos.imageevent.com/exhibitman/miscellaneous4/websize/1954%20Topps%20PSA%204%20Robinson%201.JPG
https://photos.imageevent.com/exhibitman/miscellaneous4/websize/1954%20Topps%20250%20Williams_%20Ted.jpg
https://photos.imageevent.com/exhibitman/miscellaneous4/websize/1954%20Topps%20Aaron%20PSA%203_1.jpg

egri
12-16-2018, 05:45 AM
About 4 and a half years ago, when I was getting back into the hobby, I quickly decided that I wanted to complete a signed postwar era set. I narrowed it down to a few finalists (1953, 1956, 1957, 1959, 1960, 1961 and1967), and sent some singles out from each TTM. As they came back, I was struck by the detail of the oil paintings of the 1953s, and, being a history dork, the amount of it the men had lived through (Wayne Terwilliger was a Marine who landed at Saipan, Tinian and Iwo Jima; Mickey Grasso was captured by the Germans at Kasserine Pass and spent two years as a POW, etc). It was also the last set to feature the Boston Braves, as the move was announced after the first two series were printed. I picked that as the set to complete and never looked back. As a Red Sox fan, my only gripe is there is no Ted Williams, because of Korea.

bnorth
12-16-2018, 06:07 AM
Mine is the 55 Bowman with 53 Topps being a close second.

1963Topps Set
12-16-2018, 06:40 AM
1956 Topps all the way with 1963 Topps a close second for obvious reasons.

vintagebaseballcardguy
12-16-2018, 08:09 AM
1953 Topps

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commishbob
12-16-2018, 08:37 AM
My first memories of cards come from the Topps 1958 set. A girl in my neighborhood on Long Island had some and I remember them distinctly (her less so :D )

The next year, 1959 I received cards in my basket at Easter. I was hooked on them and spent every cent I could come up with on buying more of them. I have been a collector, to some extent at least, ever since. That '59 set will always be my favorite.

56Horsehide
12-16-2018, 10:41 AM
While I love all 1956 to 1960 Baseball cards, and like very much all the rest, I am going with 1956 Topps.
Jim

jchcollins
12-16-2018, 11:34 AM
I've always thought that the '56 set was the apotheosis of the Topps bubble gum era. Yeah, I realize it's a bandwagon set these days and that everyone loves it, but my opinion was formed back in the late 1980's when there was a lot less hobby literature at least that I could readily get my hands on as a kid. The Clemente from that set might as well be card porn, it's incredible. Beyond that I don't think there is really a bad looking card in the set. Also just something about how the colors pop, and the way the action photos still have a vintage look to them because they were tinted. The Carl Furillo is another one, head shot with the brown collar from his warmup jacket showing, and the action shot is him scoring on Yogi Berra in the '53 World Series.

Beyond that on this list, I'd have to probably say '67 Topps because it's just such a clean and uncluttered look. The stars from that set just jump out at you and they are all classic.

Those are my 2 favorites, but all in all - there are attributes from just about all 50's and 60's Topps sets that I love. '62 Topps is another. I love that look of the peeled back photo on the wood grain and then BOOM there are the names. Subtle but bold at the same time. Ryne DUREN. Mickey MANTLE. Classic.

VintageVinnie
12-16-2018, 03:45 PM
For me, '54 Topps all the way. When they are all assembled in a binder, the colors really pop. Mays, Jackie, Duke..RC's of Kaline, Banks, Aaron and Ted Williams book ending the set..I love it. My only gripe is no Mantle or Stan and too many manager cards, but still my favorite.

mgunn70
12-16-2018, 04:23 PM
I had to pick the 1969 set. It has the last card of Mickey Mantle, plus several near to last cards of some of the greatest 50s and 60s players (Mays, Clemente, Aaron etc) coupled with the stars I grew up watching in the 70s and 80s as a kid (Ryan,Bench,Jackson,Rose etc)

BillP
12-16-2018, 05:37 PM
tough call. Going to go with 67

drmondobueno
12-16-2018, 06:02 PM
This set was the first I chased whenever I got my hands on money. The Maris card, 61 homers just rung my bell. Has not changed all these years later. Love the Ruth subset too. Great stuff.

TexasDan
12-16-2018, 08:28 PM
I went with 56 Topps as I am currently working on the HOFers and I chose that set over 54 Topps (I like the colors quite a bit).

jason.1969
12-17-2018, 07:49 AM
Not sure there's a dud in this entire set. And as a Dodgers fan it has special significance as it captures our first world championship.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20181217/3a6da954514a139711d9d0f97eddb38e.jpg

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spec
12-17-2018, 01:55 PM
What's up with the George Shuba card?

jason.1969
12-17-2018, 04:03 PM
It's a custom. I wanted my frame to include everyone who was part of the 1955 WS champion squad, but Shuba had no card in the set. There are also some other cards whose teams I changed back to Dodgers.

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3bcollection
12-18-2018, 01:44 PM
For me it’s the 72 Toppshttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20181218/fb7d561a5e6326a608e89e20ce5b5d1d.jpg


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VintageVinnie
12-18-2018, 09:19 PM
Those 72's look GREAT in a binder. I noticed you have the circle rings. I find the squarer rings work better and you prevent damage when opening/closing, storing etc. Just my 2 cents, but again, great set!

Chris Counts
12-21-2018, 10:16 AM
I'm surprised to see that 1952 Topps is only tied for sixth place. I agree with the Top 5 except for 1953 Topps, which I've always though was overrated, like the '52 Topps. It's nice to see the '56s get so much love — it's a truly great set.

Promethius88
12-21-2018, 01:43 PM
1953 Bowman Color. The color and photography is just beautiful and simplistic in its design. In 1953 it must have been similar to what collectors felt like when 1989 Upper Deck was introduced... just so different than what they were used to. One day I will actually take the plunge and collect the set.
Close second is not a typical favorite but the 1961 Topps set. Many people hate the "head" shots but I like many of the up close pics. The color on a nice example just explodes off the card. Another set pretty simplistic in it's design. Not a bunch of stuff on the pic or on the borders to distract or obstruct the photos. Add in the MVP cards, World Series cars and the Sporting News cards and its like multiple sets in one!

leaflover
12-23-2018, 01:53 PM
What about the '48-'49 Leaf set? Joe DiMaggio, Babe Ruth, Stan Musial, Satchel Paige, Jackie Robinson, Bob Feller and Ted Williams all in the same set.
Plus 4 home runs in one game, Pat Seerey. He is in no other set. Also RC's of
Kell, Newhouser and Doby. Wagner chewing tobacco. All in just 98 cards.

What a set!!!

MarcosCards
12-28-2018, 08:39 AM
Here’s a vote for the 1961 Topps set! Yes, I agree, it has too many head shots🙂. But what it lacks in glitz and gloss, it makes up for with — I dunno — overall class.

Here’s one of my favorite cards from the set — #296, Wes Covington. As a nine year old kid in 1961, I was mesmerized by all the detail in the card. Look - a glimpse at a major league bat rack! And oooh, all that creamy white lumber - maybe belonging to Aaron, Matthews, or Adcock. Look at that huge black forearm and bicep as Wes pulls a couple war clubs out before proceeding to the on-deck circle. He knows the camera is on him - so he gives a little smile. Thanks Wes. Lastly, that kid in the stands wearing the red shirt looks to be about my age in 1961. When examining the card I used to envy him and his view of the game - and maybe a leaning peak into the dugout!

What a card! What a set! What great memories!

OlderTheBetter
12-30-2018, 10:25 AM
For overall photography, design and player selection I voted for 1971.

But my favorite is 1968 with 1969-72 a close second. These are the first sets that I collected as a youngster and are the only ones that have any nostalgic appeal for me. Without that they're just cardboard that people pay crazy dollars for.

I collect 1968-72 only. If I acquire other cards via trade or short sale then the money is used to upgrade those sets.

If I inherited a 1952 Mantle he'd be on the market before you could blink.

Bram99
12-30-2018, 12:06 PM
1.) 1949 Bowman - The set marks the start of post-WWII production of color cards. It is just beautiful. To me, the cards are pieces of art. A great set of 240 cards (252 or 324 with variations, depending on whether you consider white/gray card stock a variation). There are 25+ hall of famer's in the set. I think over 2/3rd of the set is rookie cards. Big name rookies include many of the biggest negro-league players who broke into the majors around the same time - Jackie Robinson (there's a debate on what his RC is, but this is from the same year as the Leaf was printed and the '47 Bond Bread is a regional issue), Larry Doby, Satchel Paige, Roy Campanella, plus Duke Snider, Richie Ashburn, Robin Roberts, Early Wynn, Bob Lemon. Many other minor RC's including Hodges, Furillo, Roe, Raschi, Trucks, Joe Gordon. The colors are amazing. It's so good that it's the only set where I have started a complete doubles set.

2.) 1954 Topps: Cool design with a lot going on: a head shot / pose and an action shot in the various card-colored backgrounds, a logo of the team, with a signature as well. The backs in cream and green with a comic strip are beautiful. If I had to pick the #1 card back - this set wins.

3.) 1948-49 Leaf - for all of the reasons others stated plus short-prints are extremely hard to find, and the cards look like an art deco design that Andy Warhol might have designed (he didn't). Check out Honus Wagner who supposedly didn't want his T206 card helping sell tobacco, but in this card he is "grabbing a dip" to put in his mouth. Also, there's a Babe Ruth, printed in the year after his death (the cards are really from 1949).

4.) 1953 Bowman Color - just simple, relatively short with only 160 cards, but best photography of any set in the era. Look at the Pee Wee Reese #33 with Rizzuto sliding under him, the Berra #121 in the dugout...the pictures capture the era in a beautiful way. Check out also the multi-player cards of Yankee greats - #44 with Berra and Mantle, #93 with Rizzuto and Martin.


5.) 1963 Topps - great to look at in a binder. Crisp pictures, great card design, interesting colors on the borders, tough high-number series.

Close runners up: 1956 Topps, 1972 Topps.

Least favorite card sets of this era:
1968 Topps - what is that wicker/thatch design?
1967 Topps - similarly simple design to the 1953 Bowman, but in this case for me it falls flat.


Tony

robw1959
01-06-2019, 06:08 PM
Poll closes in just 8 days . . .