The most attractive 1956-1980 Topps Baseball cards

[Zach Wheat]

1956 Topps Mantle - pic provided. One of my favorites with the guysin red duplicated.

[gonzo]

Two favorites of mine:

1971 Topps Thurman Munson - the clean, timeless 1971 card design, with a great action shot, play at the plate, headfirst slide, both helmets off, a cloud of dust, Munson as immovable as a fire hydrant, and the classic Topps All-Star Rookie trophy. It’s a 70s callback to Cobb sliding into Austin.

1977 Topps “1976 Championship” with Pete Rose busting for third past Larry Bowa, Garry Maddox in the background following through on a throw, red, black, white, and grey on an almost abstract background of green outfield fence plus green AstroTurf, separated by a slender warning track. It’s a work of art that captures the feeling of a mid-70s baseball playoff game.

[toppcat]

1971 Topps is my favorite front design and this is my favorite card image from the set. Sometimes a picture really does say a thousand words:

[icollectDCsports]

The first one of these I ever saw was the one I got out of a pack in 1974. Such a surprise to see this cool, special design. I still love the look of this card.

[deweyinthehall]

Originally Posted by icollectDCsports

The first one of these I ever saw was the one I got out of a pack in 1974. Such a surprise to see this cool, special design. I still love the look of this card.

I always thought Topps went out on a limb with this one - a sturdy limb, but a limb nonetheless. What would have happened had Hank broken his leg in spring training??

[ALR-bishop]

A favorite

[rats60]

1956 Topps Roberto Clemente is the most attractive Topps card with him making a great play in the background, unlike the Mantle card which was a photoshop failure.

[icollectDCsports]

Originally Posted by deweyinthehall

I always thought Topps went out on a limb with this one - a sturdy limb, but a limb nonetheless. What would have happened had Hank broken his leg in spring training??

Yep. But I’m glad they did. It was cool to get this card so soon after it the record breaking HR happened, having no idea that a specially designed card had already been released.

[deweyinthehall]

Originally Posted by toppcat

1971 Topps is my favorite front design and this is my favorite card image from the set. Sometimes a picture really does say a thousand words:

When I first saw that card as a kid I thought - was he playing in a desert?? The angle makes the infield dirt seem endless.