Touring (backwards) through the sets of the '50s

[G1911]

Of the 3 photographic 50's Topps sets, 1957 > 1959 > 1958. Love the 57 design, clean and unobtrusive. I don't like the lower type case and the amount of the card taken away from the photo and given to the design on the 1959's, but it's a nice one still. 1958 I have almost completed as well, but solid backdrops are not as nice as the full photos on Topps other vintage sets. The All-Stars are awesome, as is the lack of a tougher SP series.

1953 and 1956 are the best of the decade overall, in my book.

The 1958 Brooks Robinson is probably the ugliest 1950's card by any manufacturer.

[cardsagain74]

Originally Posted by G1911

1953 and 1956 are the best of the decade overall, in my book.

The colors of the '53 are my favorite (still love the contrast between their brightness and the somewhat darker feel of the '52).

And the backgrounds of the '56s are some of very favorite parts of any cards (of any era)

[cardsagain74]

1958

This is probably the most forgotten set of the '50s. Nothing stands out too much, though the Mantle/Aaron WS batting foes is one of the most coveted combo cards of the era.

My version has no backstory this time. But the noticeable factor is how it's about the most VG-EX set you'll ever find. Mantle is a 4. The avg grade is 3.99. The top 10 cards are all close to that, and 90% of the total set is between a 3 and 5 (with 5% above and 5% below).

Even the only PSA graded card is a 4

But hey, who doesn't love seeing the famous Brooks face here?

494/494

Avg condition: 3.99

Top 10 cards w/ grade:

150 Mickey Mantle: 4
1 Ted Williams: 3
47 Roger Maris: 3
52 Roberto Clemente: 4
418 World Series Batting Foes (Mantle, Aaron): 5
5 Willie Mays: 4
30 Hank Aaron: 4.5
187 Sandy Koufax: 3.5
487 Mickey Mantle All Star: 3.5
310 Ernie Banks: 5.5

[BillP]

My biggest challenge in collecting this set was finding the combo mantle/aaron card focused, the williams #1 focused and the team card variations. I ended up liking the set a lot more. In particular against the scd black background. At least most of the star cards are head shots, so that's consistent.

[commishbob]

These cards were my gateway into collecting. I was a kid living on Long Island in 1958 when I discovered the cards through a girl in the neighborhood who was a baseball fan. We look back at these designs and sometimes regard them as dull and unimaginative but back then TV and newspapers were filled with black and white images. These colorful things were amazing to me.

I asked for and got my first packs at Easter of ‘59 and by 1960 I was a ‘full set builder’. I’ve had a love affair with the late 50s through early 60s sets ever since.

[jchcollins]

Originally Posted by BillP

My biggest challenge in collecting this set was finding the combo mantle/aaron card focused.

Agreed, and that is usually a horrible card for ugly print snow as well.

[ALR-bishop]

1957/1958

[Seven]

John, I'm very much enjoying this. Love all the stuff you're posting!

[cardsagain74]

Originally Posted by jchcollins

Agreed, and that is usually a horrible card for ugly print snow as well.

I don't remember if it's the whole series, but the snow seems so prevalent in everything numbered around the Mantle/Aaron. To the point where it's like PSA doesn't even really penalize anything but the higher grades for it on those particular cards.

[jchcollins]

Originally Posted by cardsagain74

I don't remember if it's the whole series, but the snow seems so prevalent in everything numbered around the Mantle/Aaron. To the point where it's like PSA doesn't even really penalize anything but the higher grades for it on those particular cards.

I was lucky enough about 5 years ago to find a technically lower grade copy of the Mantle / Aaron without much print damage. I’ll take that over an otherwise NM copy that looks like a snowstorm any day.

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