Which Nolan Ryan… if can only choose 1
 

I would welcome thoughts and rationale to help me decide which Nolan Ryan to add as “the” card for my Hall of Fame collection

Of course, it’s a balance of card aesthetics along with price/value.

I usually don’t like to get the multi-player cards for my collection - but his 68 card is just so iconic in the hobby. Or I could look to add the card where he was with the Angels and his career REALLY took off.

Here are the candidate cards that I am considering - love to hear your thoughts and point of view around this Net54 water cooler!

The 74 card is a cool one for me. Others here have mentioned this as well.

It is Nolan at his best…..smoking hot fire coming atcha bub, see if you can hit it.

Totes McGotes! Did you happen to see the “Facing Nolan” special on him yet? I watched it last night. Was at times a little campy but overall, a good take! The interviews with hitters who faced him were the best…. Brett, Carew, Rose, etc.

They were/are in awe of him!

I'd also go with the 74.

The 68 is great, but a Nolan Ryan card in a HOF collection isn't about Jerry Koosman.

The other advantage of the 74 is that it'll only set you back a few bucks. A HOF collection has some very pricey cards in it, might as well conserve where you can.

The 1968 is such an iconic card. Koosman was no slouch either. Theres over 8200 strikeouts on that card

The Nolan Ryan vs. Robin Ventura incident just had an anniversary (Aug. 4, 1993).

What a classic ass woopin' that poor young and foolish Robin received on that night. :D

Butch.

If you don't want to go with the '68, then my choice would be the '71. I think it is a great looking card of Nolan.

Agree with Scott. I have always liked his '71 and it is hard to find a one in this condition...and has a nice action shot.

Count me in as a "71" fan also, black borders are tough but what a sharp looking card.

For me, the '74 is one of the best cards of all time. Truly phenomenal!! It sums up the intensity of the player in a single, split-second photograph. The 1971 is pretty awesome, too. Especially if it's housed in a slab to protect the black from chipping away if the wind blows too strongly. Both of those cards give you exactly what you want, an action shot of 'The Ryan Express.'

The rookie card, IMO, end of story.

Which Ryan
 

The 71, no question:) Trent King

I have to go along with JollyElm on this; both are fantastic cards. The 1968 is iconic, but it will set you back a few bucks.

71 & 74, also this one.
_

71 and 69 are best IMO

The 71 is a great photo and design, but Nolan was not very good as a Met. I’d go for the 74. Also a great photo, and from his prime era, and cheap to boot. The 68 is good for making money, but it’s an ugly card.

1971 all day if you do not with his cameo appearance on the Koosman card. :D

Always liked this too

I like the 74 better than the 71 for simple reason you have a larger image of Nolan in the 74 than the 71. The image on the 71 is just too small for me. 74 winds hands down in my book.

71’ OPC for me.

Love the 68 for obvious reasons, however that 71’ photo is awesome. Then add in the superior photo back of the OPC over Topps and it wins the race in my mind.

Now if Topps would have been smart and made the 94’ card the Ventura punch shot then I would have picked that. :D

But that RC Cola sign in the background screams 1971.

The 71 is an epic image, but he is so small. I like the 74 for the image as well, but the 1980 wins the best Ryan card award from me. Closer action shot and the AS designation (Surprisingly his only one where they were on the base card). The OPC makes for an interesting variation, but I like the Angels banner better.

1971 is it for me. Nice action shot as a Met. He still has 24 years left in his career. The advertisement clinches it.

A favorite special card is "Ryan Saves The Day" from the 1970 set. Is there a better action shot?

In this order:

1971 Topps - great image of Nolan as well as the advertisement in the background, love the black borders, and no one knew then the career that lies ahead.

1974 Topps - another great image, but with the Angels where he really came into his own. Just mehh on the card design in general though.

1976 Topps - not an action image, but boy, you don't want to mess with that guy. Even sitting in the dugout in the shade, he screams intensity.

Love the cases being made for best Ryan card… hard to argue with any of these choices!

But I think, for the first and maybe only time, I think I might go with the 2 player RC - it’s just such an iconic card to me.

I may have 1-2 complimentary cards eventually alongside it (maybe 74 and 76, to give 2 diff looks)

Thx for all of the feedback… but keep the great arguments coming! Enjoy hearing how others decide eye appeal for themselves

(I’ll post the card I chose once done, probably tomorrow)

Jeff

'71 - Not even close.

And here it is… my newest HOF iconic card. Many thanks to Ne54 Ian for a great and super friendly transaction!

That's a nice looking card. Nicely centered. I would put it in my collection.

71 for me is the card, but the 1980 comes in second followed by the 68.

Hard to vote for the multi player cards for me