What's the best Topps card post 1956
 

I think there's a very strong argument that the 10 best cards Topps ever made were all produced before they shrunk the size of their cards in 1957. Despite a 65 year window of production since the shrink, it feels like there aren't many truly iconic cards that have been printed on the smaller stock.

If you have to pick just one, what's your choice as the best base card Topps has produced since 1957?

I am thinking the 1964 Rose. All time hit king. Probably the biggest player in the introduced in the small card era.

Ok, I will bite. I have to say the 1972 Topps card #33 of Billy Martin. It comes from one of my favorite sets and portrays so much more than just the image of a scrappy, fireball manager who was once described as a brawling, drinking, pugnacious runt of a man. In 1969 while manager of the Minnesota Twins, he got in a bar brawl after a game in Detroit with his best pitcher (Dick Boswell - a 20 game winner that year) and later had to explain to everyone why Boswell got 20 stitches and couldn't travel with the team, missing 18 days of baseball.

He was hired by the Detroit Tigers in 1971, would lead them to the AL East title in 1972. During a period of time, the Tigers were in a losing streak, Billy pulled the batting order out of a hat and the Tigers won. He was fired in 1973 for purportedly ordering his pitchers to retaliate when the other team threw beanballs at his team.

His 1972 card depicts this raucous, rebellious "runt" - a man who never saw a fight he didn't like - holding a bat and giving the finger. The image seems to sum up his attitude pretty well as he was of one of the most colorful characters of that era.

When I think of cards from 1957-1980, this is one of the first that comes to mind.

Without a doubt - the 1971 Topps Thurman Munson - hands down.

This and the 1978 Reggie are 2 of the most eye appealing cards I have ever seen. 79 Rose is another masterpiece.

Without being bias of my PC. These two are absolutely my favorites. The '58 batting foes to me is just an absolutely stunning card in every aspect.
And Hanks '61 just has something about it that is addicting to the eye to stare at. Something about the background and colors they chose just make it pop so much.

Aside from these I would definitely give honorable mentions to Willies '58, Clemente's '57 and Ernies '67https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...5c188e4cf5.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...fdd7824b92.jpg

If the question is iconic, the rose and Ryan rookies are pretty iconic. If the question is subjective appeal, it doesn’t get much better for me than the 65 Mays and Aaron.

The '71 Munson is the '53 Pee Wee Reese of Topps cards.

I agree that Topps' most iconic cards were from 1956 or earlier.

I am not a fan of multiplayer cards, so I might go with the 1980 Rickey Henderson Rookie.

I’ll go with another Athletic rookie from approximately a decade earlier. A well-centered 1969 Topps Reggie Jackson rookie card. Unfortunately, most rookies in the 60s and 70s were multiplayer cards. Not Reggie.

Some great mentions above - '71 Munson, '78 Reggie, '80 Rickey, '58 WS Batting Foes. I'll nominate Topps 1976 Johnny Bench:

Some great cards already nominated. I'll add the 1960 Topps Yaz RC.

https://www.tcdb.com/Images/Large/Ba...27748RepFr.jpg

1967 Topps Tom Seaver RC. High number short print of one of the greatest pitchers of all time.

For images the 1965 Topps Sandy Koufax and Hank Aaron cards can't be beat in my opinion.

https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4MNGsLWpv...0/IMG_0001.jpg
That Mantle All Star is at the top of my list, too. This one is a close second:

https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kKLJGpt8Z...28262%2529.jpg

And let me throw a bone to another personal favorite:

https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-06r5h6wSk...0/IMG_0002.jpg

These are all great, I think a top 20 list would do these more justice and then a vote to rank them.

One of my favorite Koufax cards below

https://i.ibb.co/d41H5fq/AEC70849-E0...-C388853-A.jpg

I'll add these two.
 

Love the smile

https://i.imgur.com/TZjiOnal.jpg?2

Love the stretch

https://i.imgur.com/v3JNg6il.jpg

Agreed! yours posted just before mine :D

Love that Covington Bob, looks good next to the 61 Aaron also.

Best Topps card post 1957?
 

Lots of good calls here. Any late 50s/early 60s Hank Aaron, the 59 Roberto,
and Koufaxes are wonderful. I will add the 1970 Topps Johnny Bench- just a
great card. Trent King

Whoops! One more
 

I forgot the 66 Topps Leaders card with Aaron/Clemente/Mays. That's a
decent outfield:)

Trent King

Agree, like the Aaron

All good choices.

I also like the 58AS Mantle.

I think his 62 and 65 cards are very nice as well.

The 59 Musial needs an honorable mention. Though not a ton of eye appeal, we finally got a topps card of the man!

Really!?
 

Some GREAT cards pictured and nominated, but the best most iconic card post 1956 is really a no-brainer to me and I am shocked it hasn't been suggested yet!

The OP asked for best base card. The best Topps card post 1956 is definitely the 3D Clemente.

My favorite player doing what he did best, lead off and distract the pitcher prior to stealing 2nd base

Although I don't own one, I'll nominate the '68 Topps Seaver.

I agree!

These are my 'Top 10' (mostly 1970's stuff) from an old thread...

Attachment 528825

Love that Dave Kingman card!!

Mike

78 Reggie might be the best looking card ever

I was on my way to grab a scan of the Dodger Sluggers when I saw the Klu. Then I thought, "My favorite Clemente is the '57." Now I can't decide.

The 57 Kluszewski is a classic, one of my favorites.

Covington was a personal favorite of mine, too. The first major league game I saw was in Shibe Park in 1963. Jack Sanford of the Giants would have pitched a one-hitter against the Phils except that Wes Covington had four hits on his own. Not enough, though. The Giants still won.

I agree with you 100%. From 57-80 Henderson takes the top spot with ease. Number 2 would probably go to Nolan's 68 rookie.

+1 on 1978 Reggie #200

I think it’s a
 

1961 topps dice game Mickey mantle

But if you limit it to base cards: 1962 topps mantle especially in high grade. If just going for coolest card I’d go with the 1957 Dodgers Sluggers. Love that card with a crisp image it’s so awesome.

A couple of favorites.