Favorite Baseball Card Set

56Horsehide · #1 12-16-2018, 11:41 AM

While I love all 1956 to 1960 Baseball cards, and like very much all the rest, I am going with 1956 Topps.
Jim

jchcollins · #2 12-16-2018, 12:34 PM

I've always thought that the '56 set was the apotheosis of the Topps bubble gum era. Yeah, I realize it's a bandwagon set these days and that everyone loves it, but my opinion was formed back in the late 1980's when there was a lot less hobby literature at least that I could readily get my hands on as a kid. The Clemente from that set might as well be card porn, it's incredible. Beyond that I don't think there is really a bad looking card in the set. Also just something about how the colors pop, and the way the action photos still have a vintage look to them because they were tinted. The Carl Furillo is another one, head shot with the brown collar from his warmup jacket showing, and the action shot is him scoring on Yogi Berra in the '53 World Series.

Beyond that on this list, I'd have to probably say '67 Topps because it's just such a clean and uncluttered look. The stars from that set just jump out at you and they are all classic.

Those are my 2 favorites, but all in all - there are attributes from just about all 50's and 60's Topps sets that I love. '62 Topps is another. I love that look of the peeled back photo on the wood grain and then BOOM there are the names. Subtle but bold at the same time. Ryne DUREN. Mickey MANTLE. Classic.

VintageVinnie · #3 12-16-2018, 04:45 PM

For me, '54 Topps all the way. When they are all assembled in a binder, the colors really pop. Mays, Jackie, Duke..RC's of Kaline, Banks, Aaron and Ted Williams book ending the set..I love it. My only gripe is no Mantle or Stan and too many manager cards, but still my favorite.

mgunn70 · #4 12-16-2018, 05:23 PM

I had to pick the 1969 set. It has the last card of Mickey Mantle, plus several near to last cards of some of the greatest 50s and 60s players (Mays, Clemente, Aaron etc) coupled with the stars I grew up watching in the 70s and 80s as a kid (Ryan,Bench,Jackson,Rose etc)

OlderTheBetter · #5 12-30-2018, 11:25 AM

For overall photography, design and player selection I voted for 1971.

But my favorite is 1968 with 1969-72 a close second. These are the first sets that I collected as a youngster and are the only ones that have any nostalgic appeal for me. Without that they're just cardboard that people pay crazy dollars for.

I collect 1968-72 only. If I acquire other cards via trade or short sale then the money is used to upgrade those sets.

If I inherited a 1952 Mantle he'd be on the market before you could blink.

Bram99 · #6 12-30-2018, 01:06 PM

1.) 1949 Bowman - The set marks the start of post-WWII production of color cards. It is just beautiful. To me, the cards are pieces of art. A great set of 240 cards (252 or 324 with variations, depending on whether you consider white/gray card stock a variation). There are 25+ hall of famer's in the set. I think over 2/3rd of the set is rookie cards. Big name rookies include many of the biggest negro-league players who broke into the majors around the same time - Jackie Robinson (there's a debate on what his RC is, but this is from the same year as the Leaf was printed and the '47 Bond Bread is a regional issue), Larry Doby, Satchel Paige, Roy Campanella, plus Duke Snider, Richie Ashburn, Robin Roberts, Early Wynn, Bob Lemon. Many other minor RC's including Hodges, Furillo, Roe, Raschi, Trucks, Joe Gordon. The colors are amazing. It's so good that it's the only set where I have started a complete doubles set.

2.) 1954 Topps: Cool design with a lot going on: a head shot / pose and an action shot in the various card-colored backgrounds, a logo of the team, with a signature as well. The backs in cream and green with a comic strip are beautiful. If I had to pick the #1 card back - this set wins.

3.) 1948-49 Leaf - for all of the reasons others stated plus short-prints are extremely hard to find, and the cards look like an art deco design that Andy Warhol might have designed (he didn't). Check out Honus Wagner who supposedly didn't want his T206 card helping sell tobacco, but in this card he is "grabbing a dip" to put in his mouth. Also, there's a Babe Ruth, printed in the year after his death (the cards are really from 1949).

4.) 1953 Bowman Color - just simple, relatively short with only 160 cards, but best photography of any set in the era. Look at the Pee Wee Reese #33 with Rizzuto sliding under him, the Berra #121 in the dugout...the pictures capture the era in a beautiful way. Check out also the multi-player cards of Yankee greats - #44 with Berra and Mantle, #93 with Rizzuto and Martin.

5.) 1963 Topps - great to look at in a binder. Crisp pictures, great card design, interesting colors on the borders, tough high-number series.

Close runners up: 1956 Topps, 1972 Topps.

Least favorite card sets of this era:
1968 Topps - what is that wicker/thatch design?
1967 Topps - similarly simple design to the 1953 Bowman, but in this case for me it falls flat.

Tony

Chris-Counts · #7 12-21-2018, 11:16 AM

I'm surprised to see that 1952 Topps is only tied for sixth place. I agree with the Top 5 except for 1953 Topps, which I've always though was overrated, like the '52 Topps. It's nice to see the '56s get so much love � it's a truly great set.

Promethius88 · #8 12-21-2018, 02:43 PM

1953 Bowman Color. The color and photography is just beautiful and simplistic in its design. In 1953 it must have been similar to what collectors felt like when 1989 Upper Deck was introduced... just so different than what they were used to. One day I will actually take the plunge and collect the set.
Close second is not a typical favorite but the 1961 Topps set. Many people hate the "head" shots but I like many of the up close pics. The color on a nice example just explodes off the card. Another set pretty simplistic in it's design. Not a bunch of stuff on the pic or on the borders to distract or obstruct the photos. Add in the MVP cards, World Series cars and the Sporting News cards and its like multiple sets in one!

leaflover · #9 12-23-2018, 02:53 PM

What about the '48-'49 Leaf set? Joe DiMaggio, Babe Ruth, Stan Musial, Satchel Paige, Jackie Robinson, Bob Feller and Ted Williams all in the same set.
Plus 4 home runs in one game, Pat Seerey. He is in no other set. Also RC's of
Kell, Newhouser and Doby. Wagner chewing tobacco. All in just 98 cards.

What a set!!!

MarcosCards · #10 12-28-2018, 09:39 AM

Here�s a vote for the 1961 Topps set! Yes, I agree, it has too many head shots🙂. But what it lacks in glitz and gloss, it makes up for with � I dunno � overall class.

Here�s one of my favorite cards from the set � #296, Wes Covington. As a nine year old kid in 1961, I was mesmerized by all the detail in the card. Look - a glimpse at a major league bat rack! And oooh, all that creamy white lumber - maybe belonging to Aaron, Matthews, or Adcock. Look at that huge black forearm and bicep as Wes pulls a couple war clubs out before proceeding to the on-deck circle. He knows the camera is on him - so he gives a little smile. Thanks Wes. Lastly, that kid in the stands wearing the red shirt looks to be about my age in 1961. When examining the card I used to envy him and his view of the game - and maybe a leaning peak into the dugout!

What a card! What a set! What great memories!

View Poll Results: Considering artwork and players only (not market value), which set is your favorite?
Bowman Baseball 1948	0	0%
Bowman Baseball 1949	2	1.14%
Bowman Baseball 1950	1	0.57%
Bowman Baseball 1951	7	4.00%
Bowman Baseball 1952	1	0.57%
Bowman Baseball 1953 (Both Color and Black & White Combined)	16	9.14%
Bowman Baseball 1954	1	0.57%
Bowman Baseball 1955	5	2.86%
Topps Baseball 1951 (Both Red Backs & Blue Backs Combined)	0	0%
Topps Baseball 1952	10	5.71%
Topps Baseball 1953	15	8.57%
Topps Baseball 1954	11	6.29%
Topps Baseball 1955	5	2.86%
Topps Baseball 1956	31	17.71%
Topps Baseball 1957	15	8.57%
Topps Baseball 1958	2	1.14%
Topps Baseball 1959	3	1.71%
Topps Baseball 1960	3	1.71%
Topps Baseball 1961	1	0.57%
Topps Baseball 1962	3	1.71%
Topps Baseball 1963	3	1.71%
Topps Baseball 1964	0	0%
Topps Baseball 1965	4	2.29%
Topps Baseball 1966	1	0.57%
Topps Baseball 1967	14	8.00%
Topps Baseball 1968	3	1.71%
Topps Baseball 1969	3	1.71%
Topps Baseball 1970	1	0.57%
Topps Baseball 1971	14	8.00%
Voters: 175. You may not vote on this poll

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