Best Cards of the Fifties

[Doug]

Here's an interesting youtube video put out by Topps with their take on the top two cards from each year between 1950-59:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pT40t...eature=related

Here's the list for people that don't have time to watch the video:
1950: Bowman Ted Williams (runner up), Bowman Jackie Robinson (winner)
1951: Bowman Willie Mays (runner up), Bowman Mickey Mantle (winner)
1952: Topps Ed Mathews (runner up), Topps Mickey Mantle (winner)
1953: Bowman Pee Wee Reese (runner up), 1953 Topps Satchel Paige (winner)
1954: Topps Ernie Banks (runner up), 1954 Topps Hank Aaron (winner)
1955: Topps Sandy Koufax (runner up), 1955 Roberto Clemente (winner)
1956: Topps Hank Aaron (runner up), 1956 Topps Mickey Mantle (winner)
1957: Topps Mickey Mantle (runner up), 1957 Topps Yankee Power Hitters (winner)
1958: Topps World Series Batting Foes Mantle/Aaron (runner up), Topps Roger Maris (winner)
1959: Topps Bob Gibson (runner up), Topps Mays' Catch Makes Series History (winner)

[Doug]

I agree with the list for the most part, but if I got a vote here's what I would change:

1953: I don't have a problem with the cards they picked, but I would have reversed the order on the argument that the '53 Bowman Reese is more iconic than the '53 Topps Satchel Paige.

1956: I would have picked the Topps Jackie Robinson (since it was his last card) as the runner up over Hank Aaron.

1957: I would have went with the Topps Brooks Robinson (runner up) and Frank Robinson (winner).

1959: I would have picked the Topps Bob Gibson (winner) and the Topps Stan Musial (runner up).

How about everyone else?

[HRBAKER]

I would have to include some non-Topps cards on my list, not that they would of course.

[Doug]

I guess they had no choice but to include Bowman cards for '50 and '51. I'm honestly surprised the '53 Bowman Reese made it since Topps made the list. I figured they would have gone with the '53 Mays or Mantle. They did seem to get a dig in by making it the runner up to the '53 Topps Satchel Paige though.

[Chris Counts]

While I am endlessly fascinated with lists, this one is a joke. First of all, I don't understand what "best" means here. Does it mean the best player, the most valuable card or the best-looking card? Second, the survey assumes that, with the exception of 1950 (when there was no Topps set) and 1951 (when Bowman the main card producer), made the "best" cards of the 1950s. As far as I'm concerned, the only title Topps wins is The Company That Produced The Most Cards. The best players can be found in sets from many manufacturers, the most valuable cards, with a few exceptions, were produced by regional meat companies, and by far, Bowman produced the best-looking cards. The list is also top-heavy with rookie cards, which as far as I'm concerned, are the most overhyped thing in the hobby. The list is merely a creative marketing gimmick by Topps ...

[HRBAKER]

Originally Posted by Chris Counts

While I am endlessly fascinated with lists, this one is a joke. First of all, I don't understand what "best" means here. Does it mean the best player, the most valuable card or the best-looking card? Second, the survey assumes that, with the exception of 1950 (when there was no Topps set) and 1951 (when Bowman the main card producer), made the "best" cards of the 1950s. As far as I'm concerned, the only title Topps wins is The Company That Produced The Most Cards. The best players can be found in sets from many manufacturers, the most valuable cards, with a few exceptions, were produced by regional meat companies, and by far, Bowman produced the best-looking cards. The list is also top-heavy with rookie cards, which as far as I'm concerned, are the most overhyped thing in the hobby. The list is merely a creative marketing gimmick by Topps ...

What Chris said.

[Doug]

Originally Posted by Chris Counts

While I am endlessly fascinated with lists, this one is a joke. First of all, I don't understand what "best" means here. Does it mean the best player, the most valuable card or the best-looking card?

According to the video they selected the cards based on "overall collectiblity", "historical significance" and "coolness factor". I can get the historical significance one, but I'm not quit sure what defines "overall collectibility" and "coolness factor".