What is your favorite set of the 1950s

[1963Topps Set]

As stated, my all time favorite is the 1956 Topps set. It blows away anything else made.

[39special]

'53 Bowman color.'55 Topps is a close second.

[Vintagevault13]

I like the 1957 set. Many of the cards have awesome shots of the iconic stadiums of the day in the background.

[the 'stache]

The 1953 Bowman Color set is the best set made from this era. It's perfection. It's beauty comes from its simplicity-no names, no positions, no team names. Just glorious 1950s baseball. The uniforms, the stadiums, the players. The photography is as aesthetically pleasing as any I've ever seen. The only way it could have possibly been better is if it had been released just a few years later so Clemente, Aaron, Kaline and Banks could have been in it. Still, as a Braves fan, the Mathews and Spahn are two beauties I cannot add fast enough.

Soon.


The 1953 Bowman set. Glorious.

For Topps, it's hard to say. The '54 set is great. The '52 set is iconic. But I think I'd have to pick the 1956 Topps set, too.

Look at this beauty. It was love at first site.


1956 Topps. Taking the '55 concept, and kicking it up a notch. Bam!

I also really like the 1957 Topps set, too. In a way, you could say it was the birth of the modern baseball card era, as it adopted the standard size we see today.

[glynparson]

It's 1952 Topps some days 1953 bowman. I also love the Connie Mack and current all star sets put out by topps in 1951 and also an honorable mention for 1953 topps. Definetly my favorite decade for cards.

[Paul S]

Originally Posted by 39special

'53 Bowman color.'55 Topps is a close second.

Those would be my thoughts as well. 52 Bowman, although a bird of a different color, ain't too shabby either.

[vintagebaseballcardguy]

Topps: '53 first and foremost. I also love '54, '55, and '56!
Bowman: '53 Color for all the reasons Bill mentioned. I just totally missed this set for the longest time. Now I can't get enough of it!

[vintagebaseballcardguy]

Originally Posted by the 'stache

The 1953 Bowman Color set is the best set made from this era. It's perfection. It's beauty comes from its simplicity-no names, no positions, no team names. Just glorious 1950s baseball. The uniforms, the stadiums, the players. The photography is as aesthetically pleasing as any I've ever seen. The only way it could have possibly been better is if it had been released just a few years later so Clemente, Aaron, Kaline and Banks could have been in it. Still, as a Braves fan, the Mathews and Spahn are two beauties I cannot add fast enough.

Soon.


The 1953 Bowman set. Glorious.

For Topps, it's hard to say. The '54 set is great. The '52 set is iconic. But I think I'd have to pick the 1956 Topps set, too.

Look at this beauty. It was love at first site.


1956 Topps. Taking the '55 concept, and kicking it up a notch. Bam!

I also really like the 1957 Topps set, too. In a way, you could say it was the birth of the modern baseball card era, as it adopted the standard size we see today.

Bill, regarding your '53 Color comments, I couldn't agree more. I would add Ted Williams to the list of could have beens....

[Bestdj777]

It's hard to narrow it to just one, so here are my top 10, somewhat in order:
1. 1951 Wheaties
2. 1959 Bazooka
3. Red Heart Dog Food
4. Oklahoma Today
5. 1953 Stahl Meyer
6. 1954 New York Journal
7. 1959 Venezuelan
8. 1959 Home Run Derby
9. 1952 Topps
10. 1951 Berk Ross

[Beatles Guy]

'53 Bowman Color, hands down. Though a special nod to '57 Topps. I love uncluttered fronts.

[WillBBC]

I'm a huge fan of '53 and '59 Topps and I love the goofiness of '55 Bowman. Such a sign of the times.

[vintagecpa]

I always preferred the 1958 set.

[rats60]

1955 Topps and 1953 Bowman.

[jason.1969]

1957 Topps has been my favorite since I got my first card from it, Ted Williams, 25 years ago.

As already noted, I like that the cards went down to standard size and see the photos as almost as good as 1953 Bowman but with the advantage (to me) of names on the front. Also, as compared to 55/56 Topps, I like that nearly all cards are portrait vs landscape. This works better when I build card displays.

Lately I have also become very fond of 1955/56 Topps and haven't yet found enough difference between the two to choose a silver medalist.

[Mark70Z]

It has to be the 1957...B. Robby rookie; love it.

Next would be '56 then '58

[tonyo]

My favorite changes week to week.

These have all held a place of admiration at one time or another:

52 bowman
53 bowman color
54 bowman
52 topps
53 topps
56 topps
57 topps

I love the 53 topps mays but I would like the set even better if it were ALL portraits. ( same with the 58's).

[the 'stache]

Originally Posted by Beatles Guy

'53 Bowman Color, hands down. Though a special nod to '57 Topps. I love uncluttered fronts.

We think alike, Jason.

When I did a correction of Hank Aaron's '57 Topps card a few weeks ago (flipping the picture so he was no longer a right handed hitter batting lefty), I saved a variation with no typography on the front. I thought the end result was just stunning-eerily similar to the '53 Bowman Color set.



Oh, how I would love it if Topps were to release a '57 Topps reprint with no type on the front. It would be gorgeous. Maybe then, too, they could clue us all on on who the heck was taken out of the Mickey Mantle picture.

[Jayworld]

1951 Bowman, followed closely by the 1952 Bowman. Being a graphic designer, I just love to collect the "art" painted cards

[frankh8147]

I would go 1956 Topps #1 and 1952 Topps #2

[MattyC]

I go with the 51, 52, 53 Bowmans as top tier. I honestly can't separate them in my preference. Looking at large groups of those cards together, they are like art.

52 and 56 Topps come right after, for me. Then 57.

[campyfan39]

56 hands down for me

[Section103]

There are more sets in the 50s that I love than any other decade. With that said, 51 Bowman is my clear cut favorite of the decade and of any set.

[1963Topps Set]

Interesting that no one picked the 1959 Fleer set. I could never get around an entire set of cards based on one player. The card design was nothing to brag about either. The photos were rather blah too. The least appealing set of the 1950s, in my opinion.

[Vintagevault13]

Originally Posted by 1963Topps Set

Interesting that no one picked the 1959 Fleer set. I could never get around an entire set of cards based on one player. The card design was nothing to brag about either. The photos were rather blah too. The least appealing set of the 1950s, in my opinion.

I am not surprised. To be honest, I don't think many collectors consider the 1959 Fleer a "set" (e.g. Topps, Bowman) in that it did not include the current players of the day.

[dabigyankeeman]

The 1950's BY FAR to me is the best era ever for card design and overall look and feel.

My favorite set would be 1956, with 1957 very close behind. Love the 53 Bowmans but I want names on the front, I cant identify everyone.

[curtis-cards]

I love the colors of the '59 Topps set. '57 Topps is very appealing to.