1956 or 1957 Topps? Which would you choose?

[Mountaineer1999]

http://www.net54baseball.com/showthread.php?t=206939

[Peter_Spaeth]

57 hands down. Especially all the ones posed on grass or with the dugout as background.

[ALR-bishop]

Hands down and hands up

[the 'stache]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

57 hands down. Especially all the ones posed on grass or with the dugout as background.

The ones with ghosts in the background are the best.

I love both sets, but the '56 is one of my favorite Topps issues of all-time, so I'd have to go with that.

[jasonc]

I could see how everything is one way or the other, as both sets are really nice, but they are both so different.
I will vote for 1956, the bigger cards, the player selection and the artwork are fantastic.

The 1957, however, has the Brooks RC, one of the my favorite cards.

[arexcrooke]

I'll weigh in with my opinion. Personally I love both sets. My preference is for the 1956. I really like cards that are horizontal. I'm currently working on a HOF set from 1956 and am loving it. However I will also be working on a 1957 HOF set when j get done with the 56s.
Let me give you another way of looking at which set to chose:
If you are actually looking to collect (I don't know if you do or are going to start) and the 56s are you favorite then take the 57s and then build your own 1956 set. If you enjoy the thrill of collecting this could be an option as you get both sets eventually and you get to build the set you have admitted to liking more.
Just my .02

[Filthy]

Well, I just wanted to update the thread, as I have now actually gone through everything, and made my decision. (Which was pretty easy actually, after seeing what all was there.)

This wasn't just the 2 sets...but an entire collection. so last night, I had a chance to look over everything. Ill post it below, as I don't think it needs its own thread.

1956 Topps- Complete set I chose this set, mainly because I just love the overall look, but more importantly it was my Uncle that was putting together this set about 30 years ago, and he would take me to card shows as a kid..to find these cards. (As it was pre internet days) So, there is sentimental value here more than anything. What I didn't know, previous to now was that he also had a shoebox full of duplicates/triples of a lot of the cards. When I found the box, I assumed that it would be doubles/triples of commons. There were 220 extra 1956 cards in the shoebox including (2) Hank Aarons, (2) Ted Williams, (2) Ernie Banks (3) Sandy Koufax and one extra card #135..Mickey Mantle!

I'm not well versed in graded cards, so don't want to assume on condition..but it looks like, he was putting together a set, and then upgrading as he found nicer examples. (I would guess most of them to be between 3-5, with a few that might be able to pull a 6 or 7) but fortunetly for me, it looks like when he was upgrading.....without selling/trading the previous lower grade card. (Just moving them to the final resting place...the shoe box) But pics are provided.....

[Filthy]

As far as "all the other stuff.....

-Stack of 1953 singles (14 cards all "commons" except for Roy Campanella)
- 1955 Double Headers
-The other complete set of 57' Topps set
-Stack of 58' Topps (20-30 cards)
-6 pages of 1959 Topps, including several duplicates of no name Rookies
-Tons and Tons of 1950s Movie cards. Probably 1,000+ cards.
-Cowboy Western cards (25 or so)
-President Cards
-Elvis Presley Movie cards (12-15 cards)
-Complete Set of some Movie Star/rock star from the 50s. (Elvis, James Dean)
-Some kind f 1950s War cards, with planes, guns, military etc... (100+)

Either way, just thought I would share. It was cool just to go thru a lot of this stuff.. (Feel free to comment, or share any info that you might have on some of the non sports stuff as well) I didn't think it warranted its own thread.

[Filthy]

Originally Posted by Mountaineer1999

http://www.net54baseball.com/showthread.php?t=206939

Thanks for the link. I'm definitely leaning more towards the 56 set, but those that prefer the 57' are pretty adamant about doing so.

[BearBailey]

1957 for me, great set, great photography, tremendous rookies. I certainly like the 1956 set but to me the 1957 set is the best of the 50s.

[bnorth]

I like the 57's way better. Besides the 55 Bowman set I do not care for the horizontal cards.

[Econteachert205]

This is a great choice to make. People are passionate on both sides but both are great sets so you really can't lose. i would personally pick the 56 and buy the major rookies from 57 at a later date.

[DBesse27]

57's look washed out to me, and boring. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy a simple design, like 64, 66, 67 Topps. But 57 is dull.

[PolarBear]

The 57 is a more iconic set. I agree, the photography isn't up to 53 Bowman standards, but the muted colors make it look all the more like a vintage set.

57 is the winner hands down.

[RTK]

'57, great cards. Almost ahead of their time with great photography.

[GregC]

I'd vote 56. Eaxh card in that set looks like a miniature work of art. The vibrant colors, portrait/action image combo, a stunning Mantle/Koufax/Clemente/Aaron/Mays...

[Griffins]

Another vote for '56. The photography in '57 is muddy.