Ugliest Set Ever
 

This is not a light topic, to which I have given considerable thought. After looking at more vomitus cards than I ever cared to, my vote is in: the 1918-20 W-Unc. "Big Head's", a set so crude and ugly that only its' creator could love it. Upon, reflection, though, I don't think 1918 was exactly a banner year for baseball cards, as it was the final year of WWI and collectors probably had few choices. Any other nominations?

Hands down:

1921 W9316

It looks like they hired a four-year-old to paint the "images" of the players.

E91.

Eclipse Imports is tough to beat for ugly.

+1 Add to the fact that they are hand cut, they are a hot mess.

by "hand cut", again, usually the work of a four-year-old. I think the more appropriate description for most is "hand torn". There are not too many examples that were "neatly cut".

An eye for ugly
 

I've always thought the W512 and W513 strip card sets were pretty darn ugly. But then again, I have at various points collected (except for the Eclipse) all the sets that have been mentioned, so what does that make me? Perhaps a connoisseur of ugly old cards.

Brian

I think I have to concur with this assessment.

1943-49 MP and Company

+1. Everyone has mentioned some pretty ugly sets. I would add the tattoo eclipse proofs!

Another vote for this one. I actually like the Big Head set. It's like they made it that way on purpose, and the Eclipse set is growing on me although I understand why many believe that it looks awful.

Edit: Added some of the ugliest Ruth cards, some mentioned in this thread. The Schutter is often mentioned as an ugy set also, and threw in the ML Die Cut as it's one of those generic player "sets."

Hmm, ugliest huh? Here are two issues that are pretty bad but maybe not the "ugliest" when you consider the strip cards and MP&Co cards that are out there:

E91
N284 (with exception of Von der Ahe)

Some of the players look like they are twins in both issues.

I know this is heresy in some circles, but..........1975 Topps (since the OP didn't specify prewar).

I always found those quite cool. My dad has a bunch of them so when we were little seeing those appeared to be "old" cards.

I can see how people would find the multi-color borders distracting though.

I hate 72 Topps. I don't mind 75 although some of the color combos are rather loud.

Too bad Ruth, Gehrig, DiMaggio, Paige, Josh Gibson...didn't have their run of cards like Mantle, Mays or even their predecessors like Cobb, Wagner etc.

A lot of the ones mentioned are definitely bad, but for me Ive always frowned at the T207. Just my opinion and I know some here love them.

My first two thoughts when I saw the title of this thread are well represented:

1) M&P

2) Big Heads

The M&Ps have only the faintest resemblance to the actual players, so I give them the win.

Not mine anymore but another vote for w9316 like this Baker...(blank back)

http://luckeycards.com/pw514fleerove...w9316baker.jpg

T206's
































Just kidding...I understand that could be considered prosecutable hate speech on this board.

That W9316 Baker looks like Eleanor Roosevelt! IMHO - :)