Best Looking set of all time

[ZenPop]

With a nod to the T3s...(which I agree are the most glorious looking set)... the proof is in the pudding: These sets are just awesome... something awesome about all of them (for instance... LOVE the Bowman 50-52... the 50s are like little paintings... the lack of any type on the front enhances the beauty even more... )

Row 1: The 1909-11 T206, 1911 T205, 1910-11 Turkey Red Cabinet Cards, 1912 T207, 1914 Cracker Jack,

Row 2: 1933 Goudey, 1934 Goudey, 1935 Diamond Stars, 1941 Playball,

Row 3: 1950 Bowman, 1951 Bowman, 1952 Bowman,

Row 4: 1952 Topps, 1953 Bowman, 1953 Topps, 1954 Topps, 1956 Topps.

[frankh8147]

Pre-war- R309-1 Goudey Premiums (I especially like the Ruth- it's just a parger than life image which I think perfectly portrays the babe.

Post war- another vote for 1956 Topps

[VoodooChild]

I'm going to go a little "outside the box" here. I know this is not a pre-war set, but I have a background in photography. There are cards that I collect strictly for the photo regardless of the player. For me, baseball card photography started to turn the corner with the 1973 Topps set. There a many cards in that set where the photographers got creative with the action shots:

[dabigyankeeman]

Originally Posted by VoodooChild

I'm going to go a little "outside the box" here. I know this is not a pre-war set, but I have a background in photography. There are cards that I collect strictly for the photo regardless of the player. For me, baseball card photography started to turn the corner with the 1973 Topps set. There a many cards in that set where the photographers got creative with the action shots:

Wow, i thought i was the only one who appreciated great action shots on cards no matter who the player is!! Great choice VoodooChild!!!! 1971 also had a lot of action shots, in fact 1971 is really the first set since 1956 that had a lot of action shots in it. For that reason, i consider 1971 a milestone set. My alltime fav is still 1956, what great action and backgrounds on so many of those.

[oldjudge]

Goodwin's Champs, N162, hands down. Poll is worthless without this set included.

[ZenPop]

Speaking as a designer, I'm going to go thumbs down on the '73 set action shots. The backgrounds are too cluttered... and the featured player often gets lost.

I do get (I think) your main point... that this (and the '71 & '72 set) tried to do something different... but it just doesn't work for me...

To each his own...

[VoodooChild]

Hey John, I hear you on the '73's, but I think there might have been some limitations with lenses and film speed back then. I don't think there were large aperture 800mm lenses and 3200 speed film back then to make focused stopped action and "blurred" backgrounds possible. I'm just giving props for the effort for actually thinking about camera angles, composition, capturing different game situations, and playing with depth-of-field (slightly out of focus foreground/in focus background). It's the fist time I saw that with baseball card photography was the point I was trying to make.

[ZenPop]

Originally Posted by VoodooChild

Hey John, I hear you on the '73's, but I think there might have been some limitations with lenses and film speed back then. I don't think there were large aperture 800mm lenses and 3200 speed film back then to make focused stopped action and "blurred" backgrounds possible. I'm just giving props for the effort for actually thinking about camera angles, composition, capturing different game situations, and playing with depth-of-field (slightly out of focus foreground/in focus background). It's the fist time I saw that with baseball card photography was the point I was trying to make.

That makes sense to me... I'm probably spoiled by the Conlon photography (the Cobb sliding shot comes to mind) of dynamic photography...

Maybe I'll take a look at the '73 set again...

Cheers!

[ullmandds]

poll has some weird options..55 bowman...REALLY?

[auggiedoggy]

Originally Posted by ullmandds

poll has some weird options..55 bowman...REALLY?

Ya, I know. C46 is not even on the list! An obvious oversight.

[ElCabron]

The correct answer is, of course, N162.

By country:

United States: N162
Cuba: 1923-24 Billiken
Mexico: 1945 issue (unnamed for now)
Nicaragua: 1957 Cocibolca
Puerto Rico: 1951-52 Denia
Venezuela: 1931 Diana

That's how my eyes see it, anyway.

-Ryan

[PolarBear]

Originally Posted by VoodooChild

I'm going to go a little "outside the box" here. I know this is not a pre-war set, but I have a background in photography. There are cards that I collect strictly for the photo regardless of the player. For me, baseball card photography started to turn the corner with the 1973 Topps set. There a many cards in that set where the photographers got creative with the action shots:

I love the 73's for the same reason. The Luis Alvarado is my favorite card in the set.

[dabigyankeeman]

I love it when an interesting background or colorful background is in focus and really part of the picture. It makes the card way more attractive to me.

[the 'stache]

Originally Posted by VoodooChild

I'm going to go a little "outside the box" here. I know this is not a pre-war set, but I have a background in photography. There are cards that I collect strictly for the photo regardless of the player. For me, baseball card photography started to turn the corner with the 1973 Topps set. There a many cards in that set where the photographers got creative with the action shots:

Jason C, you forgot the best looking card of the set.

Originally Posted by JasonL

drooling over your PSA 8 53Bowman Campy and Mathews cards! awesome stuff.

Jason L.,

Unfortunately those are not mine. I found those on the web. I have the Kiner, but it's a PSA 6. I'll upgrade that and add the rest in time. This is one set I plan on finishing.

Here's my Ralph:



It has nice eye appeal, but I'd like a 7 that's a little more centered.

[VoodooChild]

Bill.....The best part about the '73 Clemente is the back - Showing exactly 3,000 hits!