Worst Topps Design 1952-1976

[iwantitiwinit]

Thought I'd take a quick poll on the worst Topps design/appeal from 1952-1976 a few selections. I voted for 1965, ugh.

[orioles70]

Topps created the standard size in 1957 and it is a beauty and one of my favorites. I recently completed it after purchasing the literal last card in rhe set...Yankee Power Hitters. But Topps must have used up all that creativity in 1957 and phoned in the 1958 and 1959 designs...take your pick...either 1958 or 1959...both are awful.

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[MarcosCards]

A lot of this boils down to aesthetics – and personal preference - of course. But I think the nostalgia factor also comes in to play. For me, the 1959‘s were during my collecting wheelhouse time period. They take me back in such an awesome way! Also, I like the rich background colors – except the pink. I voted for the 1974 set design - truly uninspiring.

[Griffins]

so many choices from '58-62. I think '65 is one of the best though.
'57 and '69 have decent designs but horrible photography/reproduction

[jchcollins]

Out of those listed I'd pick '74. I think the '58 set is underrated.

[Harliduck]

I agree, I LOVE 65...one of my top sets although the high cards are not exciting like other years...

For me it's easy...58 Topps. Can't stand them. I have owned, currently owned, or worked on every set from 54 up EXCEPT the 58's. Lack of rookies, the design, the massive amount of head shots...you name it. I know one day I will have to tackle the set and I am 99% sure I will just buy it complete.

To me there isn't a bad issue in the 60's...69 being my favorite for many reasons...and I grew up on the 70s but would admit the 73 and 75s are blah. I rarely pull out those sets to look through...

[darkhorse9]

How could you ignore the horrific 1964 set? It's easily one of the most boring sets ever produced by anyone

[BillP]

Originally Posted by Harliduck

I agree, I LOVE 65...one of my top sets although the high cards are not exciting like other years...

For me it's easy...58 Topps. Can't stand them. I have owned, currently owned, or worked on every set from 54 up EXCEPT the 58's. Lack of rookies, the design, the massive amount of head shots...you name it. I know one day I will have to tackle the set and I am 99% sure I will just buy it complete.

To me there isn't a bad issue in the 60's...69 being my favorite for many reasons...and I grew up on the 70s but would admit the 73 and 75s are blah. I rarely pull out those sets to look through...

I for one have warmed up to 58. To hard to collect, like the colors, have gotten over the headshots. For me outside the diamond cut 69 set, it's 61. I have all the sets around it but I think it's drab and can't motivate myself to collect it. same with 61 fb.

[Jim65]

Not on the list but I always thought 73 Topps was uglier than Rosie O'Donnell

[clydepepper]

I love the '65 design!

I'd vote for the 1960 for worst.

Not a fan of either 1966 or 1972, though the later had the distinction of being original.

[smrtn240]

Originally Posted by Jim65

Not on the list but I always thought 73 Topps was uglier than Rosie O'Donnell

https://images.app.goo.gl/WyfxHDMAhJbh2ZfE9



Ouch!

[hcv123]

How varied personal taste is. So before looking at your list. I envisioned cards from each year and came up with a list of contenders in my head. My list was 1961, 1966, 1968 and 1974. Of those, only 1968 and 1974 were on your list (which I likely would have narrowed down to anyway). It's close to me - I have memories of buying, flipping, etc. 1974's that puts them a bit higher for me - although admittedly the design leaves much to be desired (saving grace - some of the action poses). Thinking of the monotonous borders and overproduction of the 68's finally led my vote there - I see a bit more than 1/3 of voters are agreed - that's a pretty good consensus for net 54!

[rhettyeakley]

I voted 1968, a close second was 1974 (bad production quality that year as well).

I am shocked that 1965 is even in consideration and am also pretty surprised 1958 is up there as well. I mainly collect the Topps issues autographed and I don’t think they could have made a better set for that than the 1958 set. The color background makes the autograph really pop! As far as autographs go the 1975 set is my least favorite towards that end, but it is a pretty neat set in and of itself.

[KendallCat]

1963 and 1967. 63 is boring and the rookie cards with the floating heads is strange imo.

[BillP]

Originally Posted by rhettyeakley

I voted 1968, a close second was 1974 (bad production quality that year as well).

I am shocked that 1965 is even in consideration and am also pretty surprised 1958 is up there as well. I mainly collect the Topps issues autographed and I don’t think they could have made a better set for that than the 1958 set. The color background makes the autograph really pop! As far as autographs go the 1975 set is my least favorite towards that end, but it is a pretty neat set in and of itself.

I'd vote for any set that has so many diamond cuts. To me that's 69.

[Hxcmilkshake]

This is like asking me to pick the kid I love the least.

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[lowpopper]

The ugliest sets may be the best investments. Buy low while you can.

[JollyElm]

1959 is nothing but a huge eyesore and 1970 is as boring and drab as it gets. Yawn. I will take the 1965 and 1974 designs any day of the week. Great stuff!!

[Gary Dunaier]

The 1958 is my least favorite design because of its solid background.

But I've always wondered if Topps did that because of the Dodgers' and Giants' move to California, and since the majority of player photos were taken in New York it would have been just too weird to have Ebbets Field and the Polo Grounds in the background. (I don't know if this backs up my theory or not, but their team cards identify them as "1957 Dodgers," "1957 Giants" whereas the other team cards are identified not by date but by city.)

[jchcollins]

Due respect but ‘78 is yawn-inducing, and ‘79 may be worse. I like colorful cards, so would again give much love and support to both ‘75, and (the best set of the decade) the mod-squad looking ‘72s. I hated them as a kid who had first started collecting in the 1980’s, but love them now.

Older than that I will also voice opinion for colorful over popular. In this regard, ‘58 and ‘61 Topps are high on my list. Yes, the backgrounds could be be considered dull on 1958 as compared with the ‘57 Topps photos, but truth is the color for the photography on that set was all over the place, and many cards are drab and boring looking to me, with the faded-out background taking up most of the card. At least with ‘58 the color pop is right there. ‘61s get no love because of the missing caps and sometimes boring as all get-out portraits, but there are a number of super colorful cards that just speak to me. Eddie Mathews, Duke Snider, Yogi...and the Aaron base card from that set is an under appreciated work of art, IMO.


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[taul166]

Hi, I don't mean to change the subject off Topps.

But, has a similar poll been conducted for the Bowman sets from 1948 thru 1955? If so, can someone point me to a link. If not, what do folks think?

I have collected Topps sets from the late 1950s thru 1960s, but am thinking about a Bowman set project.

[egri]

Originally Posted by taul166

Hi, I don't mean to change the subject off Topps.

But, has a similar poll been conducted for the Bowman sets from 1948 thru 1955? If so, can someone point me to a link. If not, what do folks think?

I have collected Topps sets from the late 1950s thru 1960s, but am thinking about a Bowman set project.

A few years ago asked what everyone’s favorite Bowman design was, and the 1953s were the runaway favorite. For my least favorite, probably the 1955s. I really don’t like the wood grain borders; it just feels very dated to me.