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

[Exhibitman]

I was 10 when the 76 set was issued and it was the first time in my life that my Yankees won anything, so it was a magical baseball year for me. The set is a childhood favorite. I still love the design.



After all, every favorite set is preferred by those who like it best.

[mrmopar]

It sounds like any one of many posts from people who are in it for the money. There isn't a lot of money to be made in that era, aside from high grade cards, and that is a whole other category of collecting for the money in my opinion. I have always collected what I found interesting without regard for value, other than my budget didn't allow me to buy super expensive things when I was younger.

Now that I have the funds to potentially buy some of the better stuff, it has no interest to me at those prices. I bought my most wanted "big money" card finally within the last 2-3 years, when I found a "bargain" copy of the 33 Goudey Ruth #181 and really wish I had splurged much sooner and gotten it for much less. There are a few cards left that I always wanted that I will probably never own simply because I am not willing to spend the money they would cost (52 Jackie, 63 Rose are two prime examples that are probably not bank breakers for a decent copy, but just are not worth the money it would take). I have never done this to make money and am certainly not going to start now.

Starting in 1978, I have good memories of the player and cards in those mid 70s to very early 80s set. I will agree that everything got fairly boring (82-85). The 86 design was a mix up, but then they recycled 62 the following year and went back to boring for a few more years. I still like 74-81 as a great run of set designs.

[Bigdaddy]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

I was 10 when the 76 set was issued and it was the first time in my life that my Yankees won anything, so it was a magical baseball year for me. The set is a childhood favorite. I still love the design.

After all, every favorite set is preferred by those who like it best.

Hey Adam, I was 10 in 1976 and started collecting in 1977, first baseball and then football in the fall. So I've got an affinity for the 1977 and 1978 sets. I especially remember opening wax packs and getting excited when I saw an All-Star logo peaking through the stack of cards.

Personally, the '76-'78 sets for me are royalty. They filled up the biggest part of my collection for years and were the cards I carried around and traded with the kids in the 'hood. Not a lot of rookies - though in those days, that was not what we were chasing. We got excited for Ryan, Seaver, Bench, Rose, Garvey, Carew, Reggie, Yaz, Schmidt and Stargell. Those were the cards of my youth.

[Exhibitman]

Exactly!

[Touch'EmAll]

I remember as a young kid in 1972 kids had cards at the bus stop and were touted around school. So the next year was my start - and all the way thru 1979. Nobody gave a bleep about rookie cards. Like a prior post mentioned, everyone wanted the stars - Reggie, Ryan, Seaver, Bench, Schmidt, Carew and the like. The ones I really wanted had the little "All Star" emblems. I was lucky and grew up half hour away from Anaheim Stadium and my folks took us to games - saw Nolan Ryan in his prime. My dad even made a special point to take me to the game where they officially clocked Ryan at 100.3 mph - still in Guiness Book! They clocked him when the ball went over home plate, not like now when they clock right after release. The ball slows down about 7-8 mph between mound and home plate. Like my grandmother said, "It's all about the memories."

[Econteachert205]

Pat, the 1977 set is one worth giving a second look to. Particularly the all star cards. Brett is a beautiful card.

[Gr8Beldini]

Do we really need rookie cards for a set to be nice? Take the rookies out of '75 and you have a real ugly set with bad photography. 1976 and 1977 are beautiful... just don't have the rookie star power. I say that's a good thing. We get to put together two vintage, beautiful sets, in top condition without breaking the bank. Look again. Check out that '77 George Brett card, and that '76 Aaron, and the '77 Reggie, and bask in the ugliness of the '76 Munson, and (perhaps the nicest card of the '70's - if not all-time), the '76 Johnny Bench, or the '77 Morgan, '77 Kingman, '77 Fidrych, which rivals the '76 Bench, '76 Aaron & Seaver Record Breakers, '76 & '77 Yount cards are awesome, as are the '76 & '77 Fred Lynn cards, '76 Fisk, '77 Seaver, '76 Palmer... I could do this all night. Ignore '76 & '77 and you really are missing something.

[Exhibitman]

The 1976 Joe Morgan is one of my all-time favorite cards.