Favorite/best and least fav/worst '53 to '79 vintage complete sets?

[cardsagain74]

Going to pick them for each decade, and an overall too.

Tossing out the '52 Topps here, both because it's too easy and to focus on everything that doesn't create second mortgages to get.

My choices:

'50s

Best: '55 Topps +1. Amazing rookie cards and stacked superstar breakup value (along with the '54 T, the best combination of those factors for the entire '53- range ). I like the design of the '55 better, though. BUT, can anything really win awards without a Mantle? So, I'm going to cheat on this one. A '55 Topps set with the '56 Mantle. The design and (literally) many of the pics are basically the same anyway!

Worst: '59 Topps. There aren't any "bad" sets in the '50s, but something to had be chosen. I know this one has its share of following, but I'm not a fan of the lowercase design either.

'60s

Best: '67 Topps. I am biased here, because I feel that Seaver and Carew are underappreciated HOFers. But beyond their rookies, there's also some of the most sought after and valuable high numbers from the decade

Worst: '64 Topps. Where do I begin. Basic design, and yep I know the '67 has that too. But that's where the similarities end. No rookie card punch, awful breakup value, basically no high # bonus value, and even a Mantle that isn't very prized. Yet you'll still pay $1500-$2500 for a grade 3-5 set. If I complete my '52 to '85 run, this is my bite the bullet one. It will be tough to pay more than pocket lint for it

'70s:

Best: '75 Topps. Am a sucker for the originality of the colors, and the fact that this was the "vintage" set I always wanted as a teen. So unique and plenty of HOF rookies. All found for a very reasonable price in grade 5-7.

Worst: '74 Topps. Combines the worst breakup value, design, star power, and rookie card punch (relative to what you pay for it) of the decade. You get pretty much the same thing with a '76 for half the price.


My overall choices for the era:

Best: '55 Topps +1

Worst: '64 Topps

[Cliff Bowman]

For me, 1950’s best 1956 worst 1958, 1960’s best 1967 worst 1960, 1970’s best 1977 (sentimental reasons) worst 1971 (dislike the backs).

[ALR-bishop]

57/67/72......58/60/76-79...sorry Cliff.....67

If sets other than Topps are involved, then the 53 Bowman color set jumps to the top for the 50s

[rats60]

I mostly agree with you, except the 1965 Topps is my favorite of the 60s.
50's
1955
1957
1956

60s
1965
1963
1967

70s
1975
1971
1972

Worst
1953
1954
1964
1978

[brewing]

Best
1956 Has the players and full color images.

1969 Has clean design, All Star cards, easy to read backs, and the best WS cards Topps has EVER produced.

1971 Mostly because this is the 1st set that had game photos on base cards. I'm not a big fan though because the borders suck almost as bad as the backs. 1978 is my runner up, clean design and cool AS labels. I want to like 1976, but their backs were impossible to read when I had great eyesight.

Worst
1955 It is lacking in players. B&W action shots don't help either. 1958 was considered too, but they do have the best looking AS cards.

1968 Burlap, barf!!!!

1979 The eye sore Topps logo.

[rats60]

Originally Posted by brewing

1955 It is lacking in players. B&W action shots don't help either.

The action shots are in color in 1955. It is 1954 that has them in black and white.

[jgannon]

Originally Posted by brewing

1969 Has clean design, All Star cards, easy to read backs, and the best WS cards Topps has EVER produced.

Yeah, those World Series cards are GREAT!

[Harliduck]

50's

Best - 1957
Worst - 1958

60's

Best - Tie for me - 1966/1969
Worst - 1962

70's

Best - 1970
Worst - 1975

[jchcollins]

Most of the superlatives have already been covered, so I will skip descriptions. My favorites are ‘56, ‘65, and ‘72.

I don’t really hate anything else, although I will say I’m generally less enamored with ‘57 Topps than most people. Overall they just strike me as dull, and in terms of color they don’t hold a candle to the ‘53 Bowmans.


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