Favorite Post War Set

[Rhotchkiss]

I understand this is not a pre war topic, and have no issue with it being moved if the higher power(s) so feel.

Discussion on the 1956 Mantle Thread, especially the “Topps > Bowman” post- made me think about what post-war sets I like the most.

Personally, 1950-1953 bowman are my favorite sets. I love the smaller sizes (except 1953), I think they look the best, and they have some of the most major cards/players in the hobby. Or, maybe it’s just I am a pre war guy and these are the closest post-war examples, in size and date, to pre war.

I also love the 1975 Topps set - normal and mini

What is your favorite post war set(s) and why?

[Seven]

The run that Bowman had from 1951-1954 produced some of my favorite looking cards. Their portraits and artwork were incredible. The 1952 Topps set is iconic, and I do love the way many of the cards look but I feel like the set gets too much hype, and doesn't even contain Mantle's true rookie. I really enjoy the 1955 Topps set as well. Even though it doesn't have my favorite player, I still think it's a beautiful set. It's hard to pick just one. It's like choosing a favorite child.

Best looking? I think it's the Red Heart Dog Food, hands down. Those colors really pop. I'm going to go with that one!

[brunswickreeves]

Great topic! I personally love the 56 Topps cards because they're relatively affordable and I give these away from my PC each year to each baseball and softball player aging out from my local Cal Ripken program. They appreciate them as cool old treasures and I hope it sparks passion and interest in the next generation of vintage collectors. Some Net54ers have also contributed cards over the years, for which I’m grateful.

[packs]

I really like the 1958 Topps set. Some really beautiful images. I've always liked the Clemente from this set. The portraits look great against the solid background colors.

[the 'stache]

Originally Posted by packs

I really like the 1958 Topps set. Some really beautiful images. I've always liked the Clemente from this set. The portraits look great against the solid background colors.

The ‘58 Clemente is one of my all-time favorite cards. The batting stance just pops with the bellow background. Plus, I love the typography.


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[Section103]

In order:

51 Bowman
56 Topps
71 Topps
75 Topps
70 Topps

[Chris Counts]

My favorites are 1953 Bowman, 1956 Topps and 1957 Topps, but I also really like the 1950-52 Bowmans. I've long been curious who painted all those little masterpieces. Between baseball, football and non-sports cards, they must have created a thousand different images.

[hammertime]

1963 Fleer
1965 Topps

[LEHR]

Baseball only, my favorite post-war sets (in no order):

1971 Topps - Love the black borders, facsimile autographs, and the photography used for the 1971 issue was exceptional overall with many cool action shots.
1960 Topps - I love the horizontal design, two player photos, and use of color, including the backs.
1955 Bowman - I love the woodgrain TV design as well as the simple but complementary back design. These cards have tremendous eye appeal to me in high-grade and scream 1950's Americana.
1954 Topps - My favorite back design of any post-war issue.

[the 'stache]

Originally Posted by Chris Counts

My favorites are 1953 Bowman, 1956 Topps and 1957 Topps, but I also really like the 1950-52 Bowmans. I've long been curious who painted all those little masterpieces. Between baseball, football and non-sports cards, they must have created a thousand different images.

I love the ‘55 and ‘56 sets, too. And the ‘52. And…

I just love them all. There are gems in every single set from the ‘51 Topps set all the way to the 1980 set.


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[Exhibitman]

Favorite 'classic' set has always been 1954 Topps, ever since I was a kid.



Also the 1968 Atlantic Oil set (shown is contest winning SSP Davis):

[Neal]

52 Bowman or 57 Topps

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[tkd]

I like 1958 Topps. Beautiful variety of colors, character and design. I also like the amount of star power in the set. They also look great with autographs.

[Hirbonzig]

1953 Bowman Color and
1967 Topps are my favorites.

[Mark]

Topps 56 and 67, partly because I collected them when I got started and partly because of the design /look, content on the back, and the players represented.

[robinsonmantle]

1948 Leaf
1952 Bowman
1975 Topps


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[puckpaul]

My favorites are 55 topps, 50-52 Bowman, 48 Leaf, and the 54 Wilson Franks. But the 52-53 Topps are great. Pretty much like all of them up to 1975 (except 74….ugly set).

[BearBailey]

1957 topps
1954 bowman
1975 topps

[vintagerookies51]

For me, it’s
1. 1952 Topps
2. 1951 Bowman
3. 1949 Leaf
4. 1956 Topps
5. 1965 Topps

[Mark17]

1965 Topps
1962 Post Cereal
1967 Topps

Love these designs and the photos, generally, but the Topps QA people kept botching things with my Twins.

In 1965, they made only one error while assigning border colors. The Twins were dark purple, but they made Mudcat Grant royal blue. And, they mis-spelled HOFer Jim Kaat.

In 1967, Topps made two errors while assigning team name colors. The Twins were kelly green, but Killebrew was printed yellow (same as Orioles) and Killebrew-Allison, Twin Terrors, was printed dark purple, same as the White Sox.

My Twins team sets have these really annoying anomalies in my otherwise favorite Topps sets.

[Aaron Seefeldt]

1948 Leaf by far my favorite







distant 2nd for 1980 Topps - 1st set I collected as a kid

[powell_am]

Like a lot of others — I love the 52 Topps, 53 Topps, 56 Topps but probably have 51 Bowman above them all…amazing rookies including Mantle and Mays

[JollyElm]

My endless love is the 1972 Topps set.

Back in the day, though, it was anything found at the bottom of a Kellogg's cereal box (if I was able to get up early enough and pry the new box of Frosted Flakes open before my brothers reached the kitchen).

[ClementeFanOh]

I'm with Hirbonzig, 53 Bowman Color is timeless and 67 Topps is simple and
clean. The 75 Topps set is growing on me

Trent King

[jtq81]

52 Topps
67 Topps
48 Leaf

I'm not sure which set I dislike most. 55 Bowman or 57 Topps. I actually own a decent 57 Topps set with every card graded EX-MT or higher. I do like the Brooks Robinson RC.

[skelly423]

I've got 1952 Topps at the top of my list by a decent margin.

The rest of the list is pretty interchangeable, but rounding out my top 5 I've got
1950 Bowman
1949 Leaf
1952 Bowman
1953 Bowman

[the 'stache]

I’d have to go, probably in order (though a few might change positions):

1953 Bowman Color. No type, no nothing but glorious full color photography of golden era players on those glorious wool blend uniforms and those iconic old ballparks. Tough to get well centered, but they present beautifully.

1960 Topps. I love the horizontal presentation, and the beautiful full color pictures making up the majority of the front. Some odd my favorite cards come from this set.

1975 Topps. Great selection of rookies and Hall of Famers, and the colors make for spectacular cards.

1957 Topps. I’m working on this one, slowly, in mid grade. What a set!!!!!!

1953 Topps. Those hand drawn portraits are just glorious. 1953 is the greatest year on vintage, hands down. Two iconic sets.

1980 Topps. I’ve always loved the design, and the A.L. and N.L. All Star banners at the top were cool. The Rickey card is an all-time favorite.

1971 Topps. They’re so condition sensitive with the black borders showing even the most minor chipping, but what a set! The Thurman Munson first solo card will be mine. The ‘71 Topps Clemente is one of my favorite cards on my collection.

1954 Bowman. This set is really growing on me. I’m going to add a nice Mickey Mantle ‘54 Bowman if it kills me.


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[bcbgcbrcb]

My favorite is 1964 Topps Stand Ups.

[Kawika]

1953 Topps is my favorite post-war set. A veritable museum of baseball art.


1957 Topps is #2. First year I busted packs and got hooked on cardboard. It was grand to be a kid in the 'fifties in New York.



Tough to choose a #3. Will go with '53 Bowman. Terrific photography and a super-clean look.