What 2 cards are the nicest looking cards of all time? One vintage and one post war!!
 

For me it would be the 52 Topps Mickey Mantle and for vintage I would say Nap Lajoie's T206 action pose.

Please feel free to add some pictures!!!:)

You too! :)

TexasLeaguer

Lolllll I know but I can only add links because I lack some computer skills.

Ok I'll bite...

I've always liked this Hubbell because of his pose, the building and fence in the background, and the overall balance of the image. I love it.

Prewar - Cobb Bat Off

Postwar - 52 Mantle

All opinion of course;

prW - N162 King Kelly
ptW - '53 Bowman Musial

Pre: T227 Cobb
Post: 53 Topps Paige

Strictly on best-looking...

PreWar: D304 Cobb

PostWar: 1953B Mantle

postwar would be one of these two

It's these two. End of discussion.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8481/8...9ea7dae5_z.jpg
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8471/8...f6f88133_z.jpg

Attachment 98102

Attachment 98103

I have to admit the 53 Topps Mantle is very very nice!!!

Pre: T205 Matty
Post: 1963 Parkhurst Gordie Howe

Prewar: 34 Goudey #37 Lou Gehrig
Postwar: 53 Bowman Color Stan Musial

Pre-war- Cobb Bat off Shoulder
Post-War- (this should be a change-up)- 1971 Kelloggs Willie Mays

Nope, the 1974 Gary Matthews already has that covered.

prewar: T3 Turkey Red Tris Speaker

honorable mention to the 1914/1915 Cracker Jack Ty Cobb

postwar: 1955 Topps All-American Jim Thorpe

honrable mention to the aforementioned '53 Topps Mick and '53 Bowman Color Pee Wee Reese

'53 Reese BC without a doubt

I'm with Jerry. 1934 Goudey Gehrig #37 and 1953 Bowman Musial.

It's funny you mentioned that- Mathews is the one of the commentators for the Philadelphia Phillies (my team) and I have to admit-I like him and that card and will be adding one to my collection very shortly thanks to that post!

Some really nice looking cards guys!!!:D

Prewar:

http://photos.imageevent.com/exhibit...0bat%20off.jpg

Postwar:

http://photos.imageevent.com/exhibit...20Williams.jpg

Honorable mention:

http://photos.imageevent.com/exhibit...20Clemente.jpg

I was also thinking 56 clemente for post war...there are so many beautiful 50's cards though!!!

T206 Johnson Port. - Pre War
1953 Bowman Mantle - Post War
Had them both, wish I had them back. :(
That's the cost of a new house, 2 new jobs a wife and 2 kids. (plus the rest of my collection)

Pre-War:T3 Cobb. Now, being a Cubs fan, it's hard for me to include any Tiger - but this card truly is perfect.
(Scan courtesy of Mile High)

Post-War: I'm going to go with a basketball card, 1986-87 Fleer Michael Jordan RC

.

1 - T3 cobb
2 - 1952 Topps Mays

T3 Addie Joss

53 Bowman Color Musial

Tom C

Pre-War, gotta be N162 Kelly (not mine, but really wish it was!)
Attachment 98192

Post-War, there are many near ties in my mind, but love the '54 Topps Williams #250, including back with the comic style history
Attachment 98188Attachment 98190

Honorable mention- love the '53 Mays' front/art.
Attachment 98191

my 2
 

1) 1914 cracker Jack Christey Mathewson

2) 1971 Topps Thurman Munson


john-

my vote for pre-war but there are many...



http://luckeycards.com/pt205cobby80sgc.jpg

All 100 T3's would be on my list, so to pick 1 or 2 is rough.
The Cobb & Speaker were mentioned earlier.
So here is one of my favorite common T3's.....a true work of art.

http://www.qualitycards.com/pictures/30808955.jpg

Pre-war (don't own this card so borrowed the image off of eBay):

http://i.ebayimg.com/t/T206-PIEDMONT...jMg~~60_57.JPG

Post-war (don't have a high quality scan of mine--PSA 4--so borrowed this image):

http://www.legendaryauctions.com/Ite...54201a_lg.jpeg

Couldn't decide on THE nicest, so I'm showing these two that are right up there for me.

Post 52 B Mantle...Pre CJ Cobb

Pre-war

I don't know how to post scans (embarrassingly) but all know these:

1957 Topps Mantle

CJ Joe Jackson

http://photos.imageevent.com/uffda51...oundAlbum.jpeg

Certainly one of the best looking 19th century cards.

These bad boys get my votes. Not my cards:

http://www.legendaryauctions.com/Ite...32831_med.jpeg http://bbcemporium.com/wp-content/up...o-Clemente.jpg

The K-Bat O'Rourke and the T206 Cobb Bat Off are my two favorite pre-war images. '52 Mantle is my post-war choice.

I like your style, Jake.

Prewar it's the Four Base Hits King Kelly
Postwar (for me anyway) it's the 1956 Lincoln Mutual Dick Stuart

<a href="http://s22.photobucket.com/user/nudan92/media/1947-1961%20Lincoln%20Baseball/DickStuartCardSmall.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b331/nudan92/1947-1961%20Lincoln%20Baseball/DickStuartCardSmall.jpg" border="0" alt="1956 Dick Stuart Mutual Card photo DickStuartCardSmall.jpg"/></a>

Best looking boxing cards IMO

http://photos.imageevent.com/exhibit...ohnson%201.jpg
http://photos.imageevent.com/exhibit...0Die%20Cut.jpg

I like these Post-War/Pre-War portraits of Berra and Durham. Ruth and DiMaggio action cards turn me on.
Funny thing...They all are from New York.

These 2 get my vote

Pre-War:

http://www.huntington-rogers.com/img...ile_berger.jpg

Post-War (scan courtesy of SCP Auctions):

https://catalog.scpauctions.com/LotI...1/116a_lg.jpeg

God, those were the two I was going to pick. I really want both.

Prewar, I also like the Cobb T206 bat off shoulder.

Post war, I might go with either the 1953 Bowman Color Roy Campanella, or Mickey Mantle from the same set. I also love two Clementes, the 1958 Topps, and the 1973 Topps.

I have to say I am also partial to this '53 Bowman Color Ralph Kiner.

http://imageshack.us/a/img685/6275/5...lorsmusial.png

This is my first vintage graded card. One of my all-time favorite players from my favorite ever baseball card set. What's not to love?

Exhibitman

Very nice looking boxing cards!!!:)

My post war favorite:

At least two people here know what they're talking about.:)

oldjudge

Geezzzz that is a super nice looking 6!!!!

Adrian--Buy the card, not the grade

Oldjudge

I can see that I mean that is probably one of the finest Mantle's I have ever seen. Can't believe it is a 6. To be honest it looks almost just as good as the 8.5 up for sale in the REA auction. Just a little more off centered.

My two..
 

I own neither...

http://i947.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps04bc5ec9.jpg

And I hate to be cliche BUT...it sure is pretty..THAT IS(WHEN THE COLOR S STRIMG/DEEP BLUE THROUGHOUT AND CENTERED). :)

It is a beautiful example oldjudge.

Amen Ben. I do own this one, and I really enjoy it!

I just love these two...

http://www.collectorfocus.com/images...ewson-piedmonthttp://www.collectorfocus.com/images...satchell-paige

If I can be so bold to offer honorable mention, they would be...

http://www.collectorfocus.com/images...-t3-turkey-redhttp://www.collectorfocus.com/images...berto-clemente

margoaepi

Very nice Cobb!!! It sure does bring baseball to life!!!

Pre-War: Congrats to those of you who picked the correct card - the T206 WaJo portrait, of course (although I actually prefer the T204 WaJo).

Post-War: Several of you are close with your Mantle choices, but no cigars! The correct Mantle choice is his 1959 Bazooka card, which blows all the other Mantles away!

Val

Val,
I would agree. The '59 Bazooka is my favorite Mantle card.

I own originals of both, but the images are not of my copies.

Vintage:

http://i1323.photobucket.com/albums/...ps5332134f.jpg

Post War:

http://i1323.photobucket.com/albums/...psac989d4f.jpg

I have to agree with Adrian. My eye is not yet as developed as the longtime collectors of this forum, but if that's a six, it's one of the most beautiful sixes I've ever seen.

By the way, guys, I am really enjoying this thread. Lots of beautiful cards. One day, I will own many of them. :p

my two picks, today

Pre war: 1940 Playball Jimmie Foxx (don't ask me why - it is just a clear photo of one of the great sluggers of all time)

Post war: 1952 Topps Gus Zernial (love the baseball bat covered in baseballs)

Pre and Post
 

Rob---great Musial

The Ruth is actually an ugly card but I am a set collector and it comes from the only pre war set ( 1923 Fleer) that I collect

http://i1267.photobucket.com/albums/...539/img075.jpg
http://i1267.photobucket.com/albums/...g?t=1367846812

I could list too many to count, but just want to make point the sometimes the most beautiful are not HOFers, in fact I think the greater the player the more it seems to swing aesthetics. For example, I can't see any way the Walter Johnson portrait in yellow is the very best t206--at best it's tied with about 50 other portraits and action shots. Is it really more beautiful (beyond value), to cite just one example, than this?
http://www.net54baseball.com/attachm...1&d=1367854827

ALR-bishop

Looks as do Ruth had a sour candy on that picture with the face he is making!!!:D

While I agree the beauty is in the eye of the beholder, I totally agree with this comment above. Thus, I present the most beautiful pre-war card of all time:

<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/QEoD4Fjw8U3Y1nE30jpZdEbbPrYp6YHrRqcN_cfzkkQ?feat=e mbedwebsite"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-AtyVyMKClD8/UHDpTCDSpcI/AAAAAAAAMc4/70-RO72FPzw/s800/Howard_Del_PSA_5.jpg" height="800" width="481" /></a>

But, even with the "greater the player" bias described above, this post-war card takes the cake:

<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/IjCL5QNd6WwWmOuS38oFLQqkeaCMs5QvE_4UUJp_Kq8?feat=e mbedwebsite"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-6812gZzSXGg/UGhN_7q1U7I/AAAAAAAAL0A/Pkk5ZtA4FRU/s800/Mantle.jpg" height="476" width="800" /></a>

I would like to add a Gehrig DeLong to the mix. Not my card certainly not in my price range.
http://www.net54baseball.com/attachm...1&d=1367861524

Love the Del Howard. Glad I have it in a PSA 6. If value went on beauty, I guess it would be worth $1200 not $200.

Turkey Red Cobb
53 Bowmen Reese
53 toops Berra (the only time in looked good):)

e92 Christy Mathewson
1956 Ted Williams

Amazed it took so long for someone to mention that Matty. Nice choice!

http://www.collectorfocus.com/images...isty-mathewson

That '53 Bowman Color Stan Musial is one of my all-time favorite vintage cards, and will be one of the first ones I own. That's a beauty, can't believe it's not been graded (or was it graded and subsequently freed from it's plastic cell?)

E92 Matty
 

Yes, yes, yes - E92 Mathewson is a beauty

and I love the 1967 Panini Cassius clay

Near perfect centering is a MUST!

Any T3 card & most any 1953 Topps card
 

I agree with Jay on any of the one hundred 1910-11 T3 cards. The Bob Bescher T3 always puts a smile on my face though. I'm also a fan of the 1953 Topps set, and I think the best examples from that set have already been mentioned. I also like the 1958 Topps Batting Foes card with Mantle & Aaron.

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...psd2f69cfa.jpg
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...psdbbf9121.jpg

I would pick this Ruth photo. I like the Japanese postcard version because you can see the crowd and newspaper photographers really close to the action right in the background.

Then for postwar I'd pick the 53 Bowman Musial or this card. Since the 53 has already been shown I'll pick the 52 Bowman Musial.

Impossible to pick just one T3, but I'll throw this one into the mix (always loved the pastel colors and the Mushroom Bat).

Also wanted to throw in my favorite of the Topps 3D, though it's definitely an "acquired taste".

I'm usually too undecided on this, but I would lean in this direction any day!!

Love both of these cards for sure-

Sincerely, Clayton

Thanks Bill! It was in a BVG 4.5 (yeah, that company that "overgrades by a full grade" haha) and is now in an 8-pocket sheet in a binder

:)