The Top 20 Players of the Topps Era

[rats60]

When I sold off my Topps sets, I had always intended to go back and buy an example from every Topps set. However, the project would have always started with a 1952 Topps Mantle and that never happened. So, I am lookung to revisit this project on a budget.

The run would include the top 20 players and one card from each year from 1954-1974 (excluding 1971). I am excluding 1951-1953 due to cost and asthetics. I am also going to exclude rookie cards. I want to avoid head shots and pick cards that are an astheticly pleasing example of the set.

First is a list of the top 20 players. This is my initial list:

Willie Mays
Ted Williams
Stan Musial
Roberto Clemente
Sandy Koufax
Henry Aaron
Mickey Mantle
Mike Schmidt
Johnny Bench
Yogi Berra
Frank Robinson
Bob Gibson
Joe Morgan
Tom Seaver
Jackie Robinson
Carl Yastrzemski
Eddie Mathews
Ernie Banks
Warren Spahn
Al Kaline

Next would be cards to fill in the years. I want my set to start with a 1954 Topps Yogi Berra and end with a 1974 Topps Mike Schmidt. The only other cards that I am set on are a 1956 Topps Clemente and 1965 Topps Mantle as I already have those cards.

I realize that I am locking myself into Jackie Robinson for 1955 unless I don't include him, then I would go with Ted Williams. I already have both those cards. I also have Willie Mays cards from 1966-1970, so I will probably choose one of those years.

Finally, I am excluding 1971 Topps since I have a raw set and I will be buying graded cards PSA 6-7 to fill in this run. I am not interested in buying a duplicate.

Thoughts? Is there anyone you would choose and who would you replace? Are there any cards that you think are musts for this run?

[tiger8mush]

Great idea and nice list!

If I had to be picky I'd consider (perhaps you already did) one of these:
Willie McCovey, Billy Williams, Jim Palmer, Whitey Ford or Bob Feller
over
Ernie Banks or Sandy Koufax.

But probably splitting hairs.

ETA: Likely can't add Feller due to 1956 already being taken by Clemente

[tiger8mush]

For Seaver I like 1968 (or 1974 but that is reserved for Schmidt).

[Bigdaddy]

I'd sub Nolan Ryan for Eddie Matthews, and maybe Rose for Banks.

[tiger8mush]

Here is one possible arrangement:
(forum pic max is 18 so I didn't include 1954 nor 1974)

1954 - Yogi Berra

1955 - Jackie Robinson

1956 - Roberto Clemente

1957 - Ted Williams

1958 - Al Kaline

1959 - Sandy Koufax

1960 - Stan Musial

1961 - Carl Yastrzemski (not his RC)

1962 - Warren Spahn

1963 - Eddie Mathews

1964 - Bob Gibson

1965 - Mickey Mantle

1966 - Hank Aaron

1967 - Willie Mays

1968 - Tom Seaver (not his RC)

1969 - Ernie Banks

1970 - Frank Robinson

1972 - Joe Morgan

1973 - Johnny Bench

1974 - Mike Schmidt

[JollyElm]

To add a bit of coolness to it, maybe try to fit in as many (HOFer) MVP-year cards as you can. All sorts of avenues to go down in that manner.

[jupiter451]

We all know WAR as a modern stat, but you can find the all-time career list here:

https://www.baseball-reference.com/l...R_career.shtml

The top 20 who have cards from your years 1954-1974 are:

5 Willie Mays+ (23) 156.1
7 Henry Aaron+ (23) 143.2
11 Stan Musial+ (22) 128.6
14 Ted Williams+ (19) 121.8
21 Mickey Mantle+ (18) 110.2
22 Tom Seaver+ (20) 109.9
23 Frank Robinson+ (21) 107.3
24 Mike Schmidt+ (18) 106.9
31 Joe Morgan+ (22) 100.6
32 Warren Spahn+ (21) 100.1
33 Carl Yastrzemski+ (23) 96.5
34 Eddie Mathews+ (17) 96
35 Phil Niekro+ (24) 95.9
37 Roberto Clemente+ (18) 94.9
42 Al Kaline+ (22) 92.7
45 Steve Carlton+ (24) 90.2
46 Gaylord Perry+ (22) 90
47 Bob Gibson+ (17) 89.1
50 Robin Roberts+ (19) 86.2
56 Fergie Jenkins+ (19) 84.1

Interesting to see some names that are not all that hot in collecting, e.g.,
Phil Niekro
Gaylord Perry
Robin Roberts
Fergie Jenkins

Others who don't seem to make the cut:
Koufax
Bench
Berra
J. Robinson
Banks
Rose

[rats60]

Originally Posted by JollyElm

To add a bit of coolness to it, maybe try to fit in as many (HOFer) MVP-year cards as you can. All sorts of avenues to go down in that manner.

This is a great idea. I am thinking that I will go for the year after their big year. 1967 Frank Robinson with his Triple Crown stats, 1968 Yaz with his Triple Crown stats, 1969 Gibby with his 1.12 ERA, etc.

[Balticfox]

Originally Posted by tiger8mush

Here is one possible arrangement:
(forum pic max is 18 so I didn't include 1954 nor 1974)

That selection absolutely won't do because you picked at least eight avoidable head shots.

Originally Posted by rats60

I want to avoid head shots and pick cards that are an astheticly pleasing example of the set.

So avoid head shots!

[tiger8mush]

Originally Posted by Balticfox

That selection absolutely won't do because you picked at least eight avoidable head shots.

Woops, I failed to take that into consideration. Back to the drawing board, thanks for pointing that out!

[rats60]

Originally Posted by Bigdaddy

I'd sub Nolan Ryan for Eddie Matthews, and maybe Rose for Banks.

Ryan doesn't really fit the years. He would be a later card. Rose for Mathews could work as he would be a good choice for 1964, but then there is the WAR consideration.

[Bigdaddy]

Originally Posted by rats60

Ryan doesn't really fit the years. He would be a later card. Rose for Mathews could work as he would be a good choice for 1964, but then there is the WAR consideration.

If you are looking for prime production in those years, Schmidt doesn't fit either. His career didn't really start until 1974. But I still like him.

[tiger8mush]

Arrangement rev B:

1954 - Yogi Berra

1955 - Jackie Robinson


1956 - Roberto Clemente


1957 - Ted Williams


1958 - Warren Spahn


1959 - Al Kaline


1960 - Hank Aaron


1961 - Sandy Koufax


1962 - Stan Musial


1963 - Ernie Banks


1964 - Eddie Mathews


1965 - Mickey Mantle


1966 - Willie Mays


1967 - Frank Robinson


1968 - Carl Yastrzemski


1969 - Bob Gibson


1970 - Johnny Bench


1972 - Joe Morgan


1973 - Tom Seaver


1974 - Mike Schmidt

p.s. I like Seaver's 1974 action shot, but you said Schmidt is a lock at 1974.

[rats60]

Originally Posted by tiger8mush

Great idea and nice list!

If I had to be picky I'd consider (perhaps you already did) one of these:
Willie McCovey, Billy Williams, Jim Palmer, Whitey Ford or Bob Feller
over
Ernie Banks or Sandy Koufax.

But probably splitting hairs.

ETA: Likely can't add Feller due to 1956 already being taken by Clemente

Good suggestions. I agree Feller doesn't really fit. If I decide to go back to 1951 later, he would be one of the three. I really like Ford and he would fit with the MVP/ Cy Young theme, but who do I cut? Spahn is my 4th pitcher, but is Ford better? Or do I cut a position player? Ford was better at run prevention, but Spahn pitched longer and has the higher WAR plus 363 wins. The other 3 have multiple Cy Youngs and Koufax and Gibson both have MVPs + 2 WS MVP. I don't think I could cut Banks who has 2 MVPs as a power hitting SS. I also like McCovey, but not better than Banks and he may not fit into the year theme. Same with Palmer.

I like a lot of your card choices, but there are a few of the head shots that I wouldn't pick. I am thinking about using Jolly's suggestion and there are cards in your list that would work well with that.