Worst Topps set for photos?

[D. Bergin]

I used to really dislike the 1973's, but they've grown on me through the years. Now I like how weird and interesting their choice of photos was. Would be even better if it wasn't for that thick white border, which I've never liked about the set either.

Absolutely love the card of Terry Crowley barreling towards Thurman Munson, with the ball just coming into the frame.

I'm going to have to go with the 1958's for worst. The horrible big heads (or little bodies) on the monochromatic backgrounds, along with the giant fonts.

The ironic thing is it was probably a nightmare for the graphic designers to put together, compared to the beautiful, yet simple 1957's that came the year before.

[BillyCoxDodgers3B]

It's refreshing to see that I'm not alone in not particularly caring for the '58's. The backgrounds in the '57's are so much of what made that set both perfectly of its era yet timeless to collect. The colors pop magnificently and have aged so nicely over the decades. And the backgrounds work so well with the jerseys.

[timn1]

Long ago I did a run of Topps sets all the way back to 1956, but I could never bear to spend money on the 1958s - I kept putting it off. And then I started selling my sets to make money for prewar cards, and never did do it. On the other hand, The 1957 set is the only one I have always kept because it's so beautiful.

The comedown in Topps quality between these two years was horrendous!

Originally Posted by BillyCoxDodgers3B

It's refreshing to see that I'm not alone in not particularly caring for the '58's. The backgrounds in the '57's are so much of what made that set both perfectly of its era yet timeless to collect. The colors pop magnificently and have aged so nicely over the decades. And the backgrounds work so well with the jerseys.

[Balticfox]

In further defence of the 1958 cards, they have the most whimsical and thus the best backs of any Topps Baseball set:



Plus the set includes the single best shot of one of my very favourite players:

[Balticfox]

Originally Posted by timn1

The 1957 set is the only one I have always kept because it's so beautiful.

I used to think that the 1957 set was rather boring because of the uninteresting design but I agree that it's chock full of fabulous player pics. Here are the last three cards I picked up from the set:



And of course the Lucky Penny card (without which no 1957 Topps Baseball set is complete) takes the 1957 set over the top!

(Sadly not mine.)

[ALR-bishop]

And a Lucky Penny to go with the card . And other inserts

[perezfan]

Here's another vote for 1958 being the worst set in terms of aesthetics. Far too many boring head-shots and photos that all look the same. There are a few exceptions, but the vast majority of the '58 set is a snooze-fest.

[BillyCoxDodgers3B]

Someone mentioned the recycled head shots from 1954-56. Yes, that gets old in a hurry, but the action shots on the '56s are a bit of a saving grace most of the time. Definitely my favorite of those three years. That was the only vintage set I went after as a youngster, and I'm sure glad I did it when things were still cheap. Although I haven't collected unsigned cards in about 35 years, I will die with those '56s. I rarely look at them, but like knowing they're there. I'd have gone after the '57s as well, but had a kid-sized budget and just happened to land face first into the '56 Mantle via a trade, so the decision was almost made for me by that lone acquisition.

[Balticfox]

Originally Posted by ALR-bishop

And a Lucky Penny to go with the card . And other inserts

Wow! A 1957 Baseball salesman's sample card! But why did the crew at PSA merely authenticate it without putting a number on the label?

And I love the actual Bazooka-Blony Lucky Penny and all the unnumbered insert cards! I actually need two Lucky Pennies as well as two "Lucky Penny"cards since these were also distributed with the Robin Hood cards in 1957 and I have a full set of these.

And all those insert cards! Do you know how many different insert cards were distributed in 1957 Baseball packs?

[Balticfox]

Originally Posted by D. Bergin

I'm going to have to go with the 1958's for worst. The horrible big heads (or little bodies) on the monochromatic backgrounds, along with the giant fonts.

The ironic thing is it was probably a nightmare for the graphic designers to put together, compared to the beautiful, yet simple 1957's that came the year before.

Originally Posted by BillyCoxDodgers3B

It's refreshing to see that I'm not alone in not particularly caring for the '58's.

I have mixed feelings about the 1958 Topps issue. I rather like the basic design of the fronts with the player photo silhouetted against the brightly coloured background with team logos at the bottom. But in general the photo selection is really lousy. Far too many head shots. The set would have been much improved with many more waist up or thigh up shots. But the 1958's have my favourite card backs for any Topps Baseball issue up to at least 1970!