Vote - best Topps set

[Jacklitsch]

Respectfully disagree.

Favorite: 1959 (The last year I actively collected. I think it was about then when I noticed that girls had different parts)

Next: 1953 (The first year I actively collected)

[JasonL]

I fully respect and honor that opinion. The historical perspective and context for each person can be very personal and that's what is so great about this hobby.
For me, not having such a connection, the 59's are viewed entirely through an objective, more distant lense.
The flipside is that I have that kind of conneciton for 1984 Fleer. Honestly no barnburner of a set, but I am more fond of it because that was my second intro to cards, but the first real substantial time I started collecting more aggressively.

[Flange]

My hat is off to 1967 for the bright color palette that reminds me of Kodachrome which itself has proven so easy to love. 1966, by comparison, looks drab and muddy with poor flesh tones. The players in 67 look to have blood in their veins. Also appreciate any photos taken at spring training right after wind sprints. Nothing like a sweat soaked, gasping closeup. Fred Gladding comes to mind.

The photo quality in 67 is higher than most of the 60s, although 65 is good, and the overall quality control of the printing process is good. In my experience 67 had few mis-cuts and centering problems and the images are free of dust, dirt, smears, printer lines and other crap that plagues other years like 1961. (did they ever clean the printing presses and plates that year?) 69 had lots of miscuts.

68 is tough to like, although the color quality is close to 67 the burlap border is big and fugly. I'd like to know how they chose that. If that was the best idea they had I wonder what they rejected.

The layout for the 63s works for me. Big Photo, small photo, bright colors that go to the edges at the bottom, easy to read card backs. I really like them/

Speaking of card backs, 61's are the worst. What joker thought that tiny black on green statistics was a good idea. I need a magnifying glass to read them.

[brickyardkennedy]

Have to go with 1957. Maybe it's because that's the first year I started buying baseball cards and so nostalgia factors into my opinion, but '57 is it!

[Northviewcats]

Hello Everyone,

My favorite set from the 1960s is 1961. The design was so simple, it reminds me of the default layout for Power Point presentations, just three boxes. A large photograph on top, and two smaller boxes, on the lower left the player's name and position, on the right the team. The colors are solid and bright. There is no confusion. The focus on the back is on the statistics, not commentary; and the cartoons on the back are fun to read and taken as a whole give an interesting insight into the life of a baseball player. I know there are a lot of portraits and not many action photos. I remember that when I collected the set as a kid I was drawn to the action photos. My favorites were Jerry Adair, Hank Aguirre and Bill Mazeroski, but now I've grown to love all the head shots. I would argue that the 61 Mick is the most recognizable card in the Mantle cannon. In the portraits the personalities of the players is really revealed.
The set pays homage to the great moments of the game: Ruth's 60th Homer, Hornsby's .424 average, Chesbro's 41 wins and the feats of Mathewson, Johnson and others. The set is loaded with Hall-of-Famers and history. Like all sets there are faults, for example, the manager cards are silly and it is difficult to find perfectly centered cards. Nevertheless, when you look at the set in an album its symmetry, artistry and design are striking. Take a moment to examine below one page from my set and you will see what I mean.

Best wishes,

Joe

[GRock]

My favorites per decade

1953
1965
1971
1980

[yanksfan09]

50's: 1953 great artwork w/1952 (right there with it)

60's: Maybe 1969, nice basic design

[MCoxon]

Great question

1950s: 1957
1960s: 1965
1970s: 1971

[1963Topps Set]

1956, 1963, 1971

1964 gets no love.

1968 does not get the respect it deserves.

1960 is also incredible.

1972 is also wonderful.

[ALR-bishop]

Bob has been thinking it over since post 5. He is getting close.

[nsaddict]

53..55..57..63..65..67

[Zach Wheat]

I would have to vote for the 1956 Topps set. I like the look of the cards with a portrait overlaid on an action shot. It includes one of my favorite Mantle cards as well. And only 340 cards too! Easy to collect a set....

Z Wheat