the better looking 64 rose!

[mrmopar]

Ditto.

Another great example...The 71 Topps Thurman Munson is arguably the best looking card ever made. In fact, you could make the argument that any multiplayer card is less attractive than the single player cards for those players that typically followed the next year. Seaver, Ryan, Lynn, Dawson, Ripken, etc.

Originally Posted by brian1961

I have always favored the 1964 Topps Pete Rose over the 1963. Having gotten both of them in their respective year of issue, even as a kid I noticed the re-use of the same picture. However, it was a "no-brainer" for me as a 9-year-old way back then in the spring of 1964---the card of Pete Rose, and only Pete Rose, was one hundred times better, aesthetically, than the '63.

So many of these discussions are predicated on the notion that the rookie card is the most important, most significant, most valuable, and relegates any of his other cards/coins/items to substandard, poor second cousins, and a "oh yeah, that's nice too." How ridiculous! Particularly when the concept of rookie card collecting was simply a popular collecting theme that started to take off in the middle years of the organized adult hobby. It was about the late 70s when the theme started gaining more momentum. Funny, that coincided with dealers sniffing out a way to may a lot more moulah out of collectors by jacking up the price of the rookie cards of the stars of the time. Tunnel-visioned collectors figured the much higher asking prices meant the rookie cards were much more significant than they thought, and fed on the frenzy for these cards, like throwing high octane fuel on a raging fire.

It got so bad that the better-looking cards of the players, and even the genuine scarce regional cards became nonentities, forever to be in the shadow of the rookies. What a bunch of dumb ass thinking.

A popular saying of today is appropriate, "it is what it is." I'm genuinely glad that I did not fall for this fallacious way of judging what's a cardboard gem. I'm far from alone, though we're likely to remain in the minority. That's OK; less competition for me at what remains on my sights.

Just another reason why I'm so glad I have other hobbies! ---Brian Powell

This response might be taken as a verbal M-80 by some; fine, a nice 5th of July leftover firecracker!