Best of 1978 Topps

[brewing]

List (highly encouraged to post pics) your top 5. The criteria of your selection is up to you (photo, great season, error, first card, favorite player, etc.).

We'll do each year starting from 1980 to 1952. I'll start a new year about once a week. I'll close voting a month after the first post of the thread and tally up the results.

With these basic rules...
1. You can only vote for a player's card twice during his entire run (Let's not make this a Mantle and Ryan love fest). Consider that when making your selections.

2. Provide a reason for each choice if you're the first person making that selection. You are encouraged, but it's not necessary to restate the point if someone already said it.

3. Pick only 5. We are going through 29 years, limiting to only Topps regular releases, tough decisions will be made. List honorable mentions if you desire, but they will not be counted in the final tally.

[brewing]

Even though I started in 1980, there seemed to be a ton of 1978's available in my neighborhood. I'm fond of this set only because of the childhood memories.


The best pitcher in 1978, Louisiana Lightning in action!



The Cobra was a star in 1978, ugly uniform, but I like the photo of him waiting for is turn in the cage. Parker also won the MVP this year. One of my favorite All Star Logos that Topps used.


Along with Parker, Rice was one of the most feared sluggers during this era. This is his MVP year too.



Jackson in full action, in the classic home uni. Has the All Star logo and I am loving those stir-ups.



This card is cool to me. Rookie trophy, ballcap on under the helmet, wristbands, and no batting gloves.

Honorable Mention:
Gary Carter and Carlton Fisk both have their mouths open with one at bat and the other catching.
Molitor/Trammell rookie card, should be 2 HoFers. My dislike of the combined rookie cards kills it for me.
Rod Carew

[nolemmings]

I will try and include in my 5 one common card and one that is peculiar to the design or not as often seen. I'm poaching the scans, mostly from Ebay, and do not know how to control their size.

1. Guidry--already shown. Great shot of Gator issued during the best season I can recall from a pitcher.

2. Murray--already shown. Love the way he's looking right at you and the rookie cup.

3. Thurman Munson. The classic backstopper looking like a leader.


4. Sparky Anderson. I like the design concept of contrasting player vs. manager. Skipper of the Big Red Machine during this time.


5. Roy Howell. I picked this as my common man for 1978. I love cards where the photographer beautifully frames the subject, the background captures part of the baseball experience (e.g.the ball park and not some washed out non-descript blurry background) and the player's gear is prominently displayed--here the logos and colors of a team in its infancy.


FWIW, I do not regard the 1978 set very highly. I hated it when it came out for being lazy in design--a script team name? Lots of muddy photos too, although every Topps set still has its gems. It has grown on me more over the years though, but is still my least favorite set of the decade (as if anyone cares).

[savedfrommyspokes]

The 78 set is not my favorite either, but I do have a few cards that are classics for me.

I began collecting in late 78, so although I did not open packs that year, I acquired many of these as gifts, etc.
1. Growing up in New England, Thurman was long my favorite player and this card is one of my favorite Thurman cards(71 being the favorite) because of the pose.
2. To have this 78 Reggie card was the goal of every boy in my school (even the Red Sox fans) in the late 70s...I can still remember how I felt the first time I saw a copy of the card and eventually traded the equivalent of an arm and leg for one.
3. My cousin gave me my first copy of a Tom Johnson card...Tom was my Uncle's roommate one season in the minor leagues.
4. The Wynegar card has a great "action" image.....
5. As I enjoy variations, the 78 (not 79) Bump Wills with the black circle is my favorite 78 Topps card

[JasonL]

In my opinion, this may be the best card of the 1970s, let alone the 1978 set.
captures a legend perfectly and has tremendous aesthetic value.

[Samsdaddy]

Another vote here for the regular Reggie Jackson card as well as his record breaker card, #7, which I cannot post since I do not have a scanner.

I did not collect this set as a kid and I am not sure why. I started in 1975 and had plenty from that year through 1977. I am not a huge fan of the style of this set but the Reggie card is sweet, no doubt.

[mattsedate]

Originally Posted by nolemmings

I will try and include in my 5 one common card and one that is peculiar to the design or not as often seen. I'm poaching the scans, mostly from Ebay, and do not know how to control their size.

1. Guidry--already shown. Great shot of Gator issued during the best season I can recall from a pitcher.

2. Murray--already shown. Love the way he's looking right at you and the rookie cup.

3. Thurman Munson. The classic backstopper looking like a leader.


4. Sparky Anderson. I like the design concept of contrasting player vs. manager. Skipper of the Big Red Machine during this time.


5. Roy Howell. I picked this as my common man for 1978. I love cards where the photographer beautifully frames the subject, the background captures part of the baseball experience (e.g.the ball park and not some washed out non-descript blurry background) and the player's gear is prominently displayed--here the logos and colors of a team in its infancy.


FWIW, I do not regard the 1978 set very highly. I hated it when it came out for being lazy in design--a script team name? Lots of muddy photos too, although every Topps set still has its gems. It has grown on me more over the years though, but is still my least favorite set of the decade (as if anyone cares).

I like it.

[brewing]

Any comments on this 2020 version of best of 1978 Topps?

[rats60]

Reggie Jackson
Felix Milan
Len Randle
Kent Tekulve
Eddie Murray