Should We do a 1972 or a 1970 Topps Baseball Set?

[K-Nole]

So my 12 year old son and I finished our 1971 Topps baseball complete set.

So now we are trying to decide which to do next.

We have from 1973 on to today, so the 1972 is the OCD thing to do. But that set is just so dang huge. It would take us forever to get them all.
The 1970 is more realistic as far as # of cards, but it is the NON OCD thing to do!!

Which would you advise us to do??

[Jayworld]

Do the non-OCD thing. Life works out better that way….

1970 is not a bad set, and the backs are nice.

[Econteachert205]

I built both recently. The 70 set is really underrated and fun.

[Griffins]

I really love '70 since it was the first packs I opened, but what about jumping around a bit to get a different selection of players?
'67 is the best set of the '60's IMO, but it's got some tough sp's. '65 is really nice too, and won't be too tough. The latter has some players you won't see in '70- Mantle, Berra, Koufax, Stengal, Roberts, etc.

[NateMack]

Do the 72 set! 72 is one of the most colorful and craziest Topps sets ever and a beauty. The 70 Topps set is much less exciting and the gray color makes me yawn! One vote for the huge 72 set!

[skelly]

I am a fan of both sets. Although the 1970 set has its critics, I think the backs might be the best topps has ever done. With that said, I agree with the previous poster who said to maybe mix it up. Personally I think both the 61 & 65 topps sets look fine in a collector grade / vg condition. Maybe show your son 4 or 5 different sets and let him make the call on your next project.

[savedfrommyspokes]

I had so much fun building the 72 set raw years ago, that it was one of the first sets I finished as a graded set. While I enjoy the 70 set, the 72 set is one of my favorites.

[k-dog]

I don't build sets and I was born in 1970 so those cards will always be important to me. HOWEVER! The 72 set has so many cards that I have owned and over time sold....then bought again(multiple times actually)! You won't go wrong with either one. Good luck and enjoy your quest!

[cdn_collector]

Having that gap between 71 and 73, is giving my OCD fits. It's just *screaming* 1972. Having said that, I understand that set to be tough because of the high numbers (I have absolutely no experience with 1970s sets), so I can also understand the more realistic approach.

All that to say, is it an option to collect both at the same time? Focus on the 1970 set, but opportunistically collect 1972 and move back to 1970 whenever it becomes "too much"?

Just a thought.

Richard.

[K-Nole]

The OCD thing is DAD. Zack is more of the, "let's just do both slowly" side.

Since I am also collecting Pre War, I tend to let him do his set building on his own, I just help with the $$ aspect.
So, yes, we will probably just take the side of, both, slowly and hope Dad's OCD doesnt kill him :-)

[autograf]

Both great sets............1972 is my favorite of the two. I actually bought a second 1972 set at the National this year and am upgrading mine. I will have it up on ebay for sale in a couple weeks in about EX or so condition. PM me if it's something you might be interested in. I also like 1970 too though. Think the photos are a little cleaner on a lot of the 1970's although the gray border is pretty bland. High numbers in both series are pretty tough and I think you'll find some of the 1970 High numbers to be more expensive than the 1972's. The 'Traded' cards in 1972 are pretty cool............good luck!

[rsdill2]

My vote goes for 72. It's size makes it appear a daunting task and I remember when I was building mine not really being a fan because of the never ending list of high numbers I needed. But it has really grown on me in the last couple years. Comparatively, 70 isn't a whole heck of a lot easier. I'd say high numbers from each set are comparable in cost and availability but in the 70 set you have Bench and Ryan which will set you back more than any 72 high will.

In the end, choose which design you like best - you really can't go wrong with either. The 72 design is polarizing - some love it, some hate it. Most people just look at the 70 set as a rather dull issue and neither love nor hate it.

Or, as some have suggested, you can do them at the same time. Getting to about 70-80% completion of any 60s/70s set is pretty easy, after that it just depends on how much you want to spend tracking down stars and high numbers.

[kailes2872]

I just bought (and way overpaid) for a collection. The specialty of the collection was large 60's and 70's lots of mostly commons.

There are 3 lots of 70's - One is more like a near complete set (I know that Aaron and Gibson, and Ryan are in that one for sure just off of memory) The other is around 600 cards if I remember and the other is around 450.

I also got a 72 lot of around 385 cards. No stars, no high numbers.

Depending on which one that you want, I can work something out with your if you want - before I go to ebay and have to figure out card by card what is there or not...

Let me know if interested. Shoot, you could do both!!

The common lots are pretty crisp and fairly high grade.

[BearBailey]

It's easy to start both and then choose 1 to finish once you get close.
Both great sets, I completed both, 72 is more loved, 70 is underrated.

[hcv123]

It was one of the first sets I collected as a kid. I just love the psychedelic like borders - so "out there" compared to other topps issues from the same time frame. So what if it is larger and harder (possibly). Isn't that part of the fun of collecting? Could it be any harder than the 1971 you just finished?

[brob28]

Complete the '72 set that way when done and you decide you might as well complete the last set to close out the decade, it will be the smaller '70 set!

[Exhibitman]

Originally Posted by NateMack

Do the 72 set! 72 is one of the most colorful and craziest Topps sets ever and a beauty. The 70 Topps set is much less exciting and the gray color makes me yawn! One vote for the huge 72 set!

+ 1. So many cards and so interesting high series. Traded cards with three HOFers? Boyhood photos? In action cards? Color variations? Billy Martin flipping the photographer the bird? Hoyt Wilhelm age 90 and still pitching? Great set!