Top Ten Icons in the "Topps era"...1952 to present?

[mintonlyplz]

I would think collectors' perception of a player would have a significant correlation to the price of his cards...the other factors influencing price being scarcity of a player's cards as well as the aesthetics of the presentation (card design playing a role here). Here are mine in order. It will be interesting to see the rankings as well as inclusion or exclusion of players.


1. Mickey Mantle
2. Hank Aaron
3. Sandy Koufax
4. Willie Mays
5. Roberto Clemente
6. Nolan Ryan
7. Reggie Jackson
8. Bob Gibson
9. Stan Musial
10. Pete Rose

I noticed that my list was dominated by players who I watched growing up (watching less baseball now since free agency and steroid use) and by National Leaguers being from a National League city.

I would define an icon as a player who is/was influential (Bob Gibson's ERA of 1.12 in 1968 moved baseball to lower the mound the following season)...widely known...and/or stands the test of time through career achievements(record unapproachable). To put Pete Rose's career base hits total into perspective...if a player has 200 hits a season for 21 consecutive seasons...that player would still be 56 hits short and 200 hits in one season is not easily achieved. Or Nolan Ryan's career strikeout mark...if a pitcher fans 300 batters in a season for 19 consecutive seasons...that hurler would fall 14 strikeouts shy of 5714 KKs. And this remarkable feat of 300 strikeouts in a season has been accomplished ONLY 33 times in baseball history...and Nolan Ryan has 6 of those!