Most Iconic Modern Set

[steve B]

Now that's a very interesting question.

Can a set be "iconic" without a major star rookie? Or just a very popular star on his most accessible card?

T206 - Wagner
33 Goudey - the Ruths and Gehrig.
52 Topps - Mantle (not rookie of course, but a fairly tough card and an early one for him.


Or, like those as well, is it a set that best represents the era it was issued in?

The way things developed would make that challenging.

89 Upper Deck - Griffey of course, but looking at it from the details, it's more of a 90's set than 80's sort of transitional, as it was eclipsed by the technical stuff that began with the 93 finest Refractors. Those to me are sort of THE cards of the 90's
84 Donruss represents the 80's a bit better, but while it was BIG when it came out, it hasn't aged well. Not that any of the mid-late 80's card sets have. 1980 Topps has held up pretty well, but its closer to being a 70's set just like the UD is more like a 90's set.

2011 Topps? With Trout? Design and production wise, it's a solid set for the time, and it's got Trout.

Lots of ways to approach it, all of them both right and wrong all at once.

[G1911]

From the modern Discords, I gather that it is 1989 Upper Deck, 1992 Bowman and 1993 Topps Finest.

1987 Topps is extremely popular for the design among the modern crowd, more than I realized.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by G1911

From the modern Discords, I gather that it is 1989 Upper Deck, 1992 Bowman and 1993 Topps Finest.

1987 Topps is extremely popular for the design among the modern crowd, more than I realized.

2018 Topps Update is pretty big among the ultramoderns.

[G1911]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

2018 Topps Update is pretty big among the ultramoderns.

I think the difference here is that it is a few rookie cards being currently hyped by investors. In 10 years it will be forgotten when nobody cares anymore beyond 1 or 2 rookies, like 2001 Topps. To be iconic, I think there needs to be some historical import to the set beyond "happens to have rookie of X in it, pump it".

[packs]

Not as appreciated as the 89 UD set but I’ve always thought the 1993 Pinnacle set was one of the best looking sets of the era.

[JustinD]

Thanks for the explanations, I did not really piece the connection to prospecting. The insight is appreciated!

[Elberson]

1984 donruss
1984 fleer update
1989 upper deck
1992 bowman
1993 finest
1993 SP

My top 6 but in no order

[JustinD]

Originally Posted by G1911

From the modern Discords, I gather that it is 1989 Upper Deck, 1992 Bowman and 1993 Topps Finest.

1987 Topps is extremely popular for the design among the modern crowd, more than I realized.

I can't imagine 89' Upper Deck not being the top set myself. It is the advent of what the ultra modern card has become and holds the most popular modern card by any logical measure.

1987 Topps would be the most infamous set for me. It can be easily argued it was the first true set of the over produced junk wax period and brought an entirely different hobby.

[butchie_t]

For me either 89 Upper Deck or 92 Bowman would be ok by me.

[JustinD]

Honest and non sarcastic question for the crowd,

Why does 1992 Bowman keep coming up? Is it a specific memory or time trigger?

I only ask, because I have always considered it one of the worst sets of the 90s for the awful photography and the RCs that look like funny graduation pics. That said, that was during my college years when I was not collecting so I have no attachment with sentiment on those sets. I feel like I am missing something in understanding.

[jacksoncoupage]

Originally Posted by JustinD

Honest and non sarcastic question for the crowd,

Why does 1992 Bowman keep coming up? Is it a specific memory or time trigger?

I only ask, because I have always considered it one of the worst sets of the 90s for the awful photography and the RCs that look like funny graduation pics. That said, that was during my college years when I was not collecting so I have no attachment with sentiment on those sets. I feel like I am missing something in understanding.

This is exactly why.

I can't overstate how immensely popular 1992 Bowman was beginning a month or so after release. One of those major hobby points that those around at the time all remember. At a long period in 1992-93 the Frank Thomas foil was $50. Production was scaled back and considered (at the time) a huge design improvement over recent years.

Plus, it had a hugely collectible checklist full of major prospects at the time but also went on to be the card for several HOF players with other RC options. You can "thank" this set (and 1997 Bowman Chrome) for the Bowman/prospecting culture of today.

[G1911]

Originally Posted by JustinD

Honest and non sarcastic question for the crowd,

Why does 1992 Bowman keep coming up? Is it a specific memory or time trigger?

I only ask, because I have always considered it one of the worst sets of the 90s for the awful photography and the RCs that look like funny graduation pics. That said, that was during my college years when I was not collecting so I have no attachment with sentiment on those sets. I feel like I am missing something in understanding.

1992 is when Bowman really adopted a Rookie Card focus. Bowman is a hot product every year for the rookie focus and has been for a long time now, a players first Bowman card is a big deal and a Bowman rookie is among his most popular options alongside a Topps base. There is a rush on Bowman Chrome pretty much every year, that has followed the 1992 Bowman basic concept of rookie heavy (though they are in uniforms, mostly photoshopped, now). 1992 Bowman is thus a pretty big delineation line in hobby history shaping cards today. It's an iconic, historically important set for the modern crowd.