The most attractive 1956-1980 Topps Baseball cards

[Eric72]

I saw the "iconic" lists on the main page. It got me thinking. The Topps monopoly ran from 1956 through 1980. During that time, they released 25 base sets and more than a few inserts. Some of them, such as the '61 Wes Covington and '56 Mickey Mantle, look great to me. Some of the '64 Topps stand-ups also catch me eye.

What are some of your favorites?

Pictures encouraged, but not necessary.

[deweyinthehall]

This is a great idea for a thread.

Because I could easily go into a deep rabbit hole with something like this, I limited it to those sets I own (1965-1980) and memory alone - if I started going through albums it'd never end.

I tend to like cards that offer nicely framed action shots or posed shots where the player is expressive.

From 1980, Mario Guerrero - nice image of him turning the DP and those A's whites are some of the nicest unis ever....

[deweyinthehall]

From 1979, this shot of Gossage is one of their best action shots ever, IMHO.

[deweyinthehall]

I have always LOVED this image of Rice...

[deweyinthehall]

A great, gritty action shot of Pudge...

[deweyinthehall]

Hal McRae...loving every minute of it...

[deweyinthehall]

Not action and not expressive, but the composition of this Stottlemyre card, combined with the red/blue border really makes it pop...

[deweyinthehall]

Could have gone with Reggie, but I've always liked this '74 Cedeno...

[deweyinthehall]

Topps didn't really know how to manage action shots yet in 1973, so even though it's not framed great, still a favorite, and again gotta love those A's whites...

[deweyinthehall]

Realizing I am sort of flooding here, I'll keep the rest to this single post -
1972 - since I first held it as a kid I have loved this Dick Green - the sharpness of those hi numbers, the detail in the image, something about it...
1971 - nice perspective and a nice smile
1970 - again, love it when players are expressive
1969 - Always been a little intimidated by Bill White here, with that cocked eyebrow..
1968 - Nice shot, made better by the home whites
1967 - A manager, but still a very nice card
1966 - Joyous Yaz!
1965 - A great shot of one of the most memorable characters the game ever produced

[Eric72]

Great cards. Tremendous pictures.

I think we, as collectors, occasionally forget the commons and minor stars. Those images can sometimes be just as good, if not better, than the HOFers.

[thetahat]

This belongs in the Louvre

[Beercan collector]

Always liked the 76 Bench, with the dust, determined focus and a chest protector that’s the equivalent of a lobster bib

[Balticfox]

These two Warren Spahn cards are among the most attractive in their respective sets:

[Peter_Spaeth]

To me nothing tops the green tint version of the 57 Mantle.

[Lucas00]

I know many n54ers don't like the 58 headshots but the 58 Mays is one of my absolute favorite standard topps cards ever.

I also really adore the 61 Aaron, the combination of colors pleases my eye so much.

[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 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.

[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.

[Eric72]

Originally Posted by 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.

I always liked that action shot. For many years, I had not seen the photo from which the card was created. Younger me thought, “man, every single copy of this card has that same smudge.”

[DeanH3]

I have to agree with the 61 Aaron as well. Just love the pose, color and background.

[Bigdaddy]

Two Topps cards that I find attractive and representing seasons past in baseball.

[GasHouseGang]

Just a few. I've always liked the combo cards.

[Gorditadogg]

For me, the 1967 Topps set is the best. The photos are so clear, and they cover the entire card. Looking at them makes me feel I am back at the ballpark, watching batting practice before the game. It's hard to pick out my favorites from the set, but here are a couple I like that feature all-time great announcers.

[deweyinthehall]

Originally Posted by Gorditadogg

For me, the 1967 Topps set is the best. The photos are so clear, and they cover the entire card. Looking at them makes me feel I am back at the ballpark, watching batting practice before the game. It's hard to pick out my favorites from the set, but here are a couple I like that feature all-time great announcers.

The Shannon was so nice, they used it twice! Admittedly, it does look nicer in the 67 set than the "Quick - get me any usable photo you have of the guy" 1969 set....

[Gorditadogg]

Originally Posted by deweyinthehall

The Shannon was so nice, they used it twice! Admittedly, it does look nicer in the 67 set than the "Quick - get me any usable photo you have of the guy" 1969 set....

The 69T design was really weak, wasn't it. Topps tried to copy '67 but just made it look cheesy, with the rounded corners and the big ball with the player's name in it.

Sent from my SM-S906U using Tapatalk

[Neal]

My favorite Topps card of all time

3 HOFers on one card

IysiRUauAUiFT92M6wsUvw.jpg

[G1911]

Always love this one of Wes Covington at the bat rack. 1961 had some terrible photos with the expansion and the large number of capless headshots, but its a clean card design and when they used a good photo, they came out great.

[Bigdaddy]

Originally Posted by G1911

Always love this one of Wes Covington at the bat rack. 1961 had some terrible photos with the expansion and the large number of capless headshots, but its a clean card design and when they used a good photo, they came out great.

Two thoughts on the '61 Covington (which is a fav of mine also):

• The more lumber on a card, the better
• I wonder if any of the bats on that card survived until today