Okay, now I'm going to piss some people off! (LOL)

[swarmee]

I don't think you'll make enemies with that post. Those years suck, save the few HOF rookie cards.

[cesarcap]

These are good cheap sets which was issued when my baseball collecting bug started. Actually, started in 75 and lasted until 80 in my prime formative years. They are not expensive nor collectible as vintage, but I still enjoy them nonetheless.

[cardsagain74]

The fact that you have to include Eckersley and Dawson in that list (to make it reasonably long enough) proves your point

[sox1903wschamp]

Let's not forget the Bird.....For a little colorful flavor

[mortimer brewster]

I agree to a certain extent. I believe Topps got very complacent with their product from the mid 1970's thru 1982. They needed competition and got it in 1981 from Fleer and Donruss (two crappy sets but got better as years went by).

A few additional thoughts:

I think the design of the 1980 set was very nice, but they blew it on the backs. All of the highlights mentioned were from 1978. It's like 1979 does not exist.

I don't judge a set by the number of rookie cards in it. I am an old fashioned set collector (1983 and prior) and find joy in collecting all sets.

If you were a youngster who started collecting in the late 1970's chances are the sets you grew up with are your favorites.

[Mike D.]

I find it amusing how many posts we’re getting lately about why what other people collect isn’t good. Are we really out of productive conversations?

[jchcollins]

I don't disagree on the whole, though I do like the '76 Topps set, and the little cartoonish position icons on the fronts.

[mintacular]

Originally Posted by Mike D.

I find it amusing how many posts we’re getting lately about why what other people collect isn’t good. Are we really out of productive conversations?

Mike, I kind of was using this topic starter to learn more about these sets and perhaps start to like them more, although clearly I have a strong opinion AT THIS POINT and was looking for a contrarian point of view.

One of the freeing things about collection over the years is NOT GIVING A CRAP if someone else likes your own preferences. I'm sure if I collected in the late 70s I would be more apt to like them