Best Cards of the Fifties

[HRBAKER]

I would have to include some non-Topps cards on my list, not that they would of course.

[Doug]

I guess they had no choice but to include Bowman cards for '50 and '51. I'm honestly surprised the '53 Bowman Reese made it since Topps made the list. I figured they would have gone with the '53 Mays or Mantle. They did seem to get a dig in by making it the runner up to the '53 Topps Satchel Paige though.

[Chris-Counts]

While I am endlessly fascinated with lists, this one is a joke. First of all, I don't understand what "best" means here. Does it mean the best player, the most valuable card or the best-looking card? Second, the survey assumes that, with the exception of 1950 (when there was no Topps set) and 1951 (when Bowman the main card producer), made the "best" cards of the 1950s. As far as I'm concerned, the only title Topps wins is The Company That Produced The Most Cards. The best players can be found in sets from many manufacturers, the most valuable cards, with a few exceptions, were produced by regional meat companies, and by far, Bowman produced the best-looking cards. The list is also top-heavy with rookie cards, which as far as I'm concerned, are the most overhyped thing in the hobby. The list is merely a creative marketing gimmick by Topps ...

[HRBAKER]

Originally Posted by Chris Counts

While I am endlessly fascinated with lists, this one is a joke. First of all, I don't understand what "best" means here. Does it mean the best player, the most valuable card or the best-looking card? Second, the survey assumes that, with the exception of 1950 (when there was no Topps set) and 1951 (when Bowman the main card producer), made the "best" cards of the 1950s. As far as I'm concerned, the only title Topps wins is The Company That Produced The Most Cards. The best players can be found in sets from many manufacturers, the most valuable cards, with a few exceptions, were produced by regional meat companies, and by far, Bowman produced the best-looking cards. The list is also top-heavy with rookie cards, which as far as I'm concerned, are the most overhyped thing in the hobby. The list is merely a creative marketing gimmick by Topps ...

What Chris said.

[Peter_Spaeth]

In no particular order
53T Mantle
54B Mantle
58T Mantle
Dan Dee Mantle
Red Heart Mantle
52 Red Man Williams
54T 1 Williams
52T Mays
54 Wilson Franks Williams
54T Mays
52B Musial
53BC Musial
52T Jackie
53T Jackie
55T Koufax
57T Frank Robinson
53BC Ford
53BC Berra
54T Aaron
58T YL Aaron
55T Clemente
53BC Spahn

[Doug]

Originally Posted by Chris Counts

While I am endlessly fascinated with lists, this one is a joke. First of all, I don't understand what "best" means here. Does it mean the best player, the most valuable card or the best-looking card?

According to the video they selected the cards based on "overall collectiblity", "historical significance" and "coolness factor". I can get the historical significance one, but I'm not quit sure what defines "overall collectibility" and "coolness factor".

[HRBAKER]

Originally Posted by Doug

According to the video they selected the cards based on "overall collectiblity", "historical significance" and "coolness factor". I can get the historical significance one, but I'm not quit sure what defines "overall collectibility" and "coolness factor".

Evidently being manufactured by Topps or Bowman was a key component of "coolness."

[paul]

I think the 50 Bowman Feller should be on any list of best cards from the 50s. It's one hell of a card.

[Doug]

Originally Posted by paul

I think the 50 Bowman Feller should be on any list of best cards from the 50s. It's one hell of a card.

Thanks for pointing that one out. I'm not a Bowman collector so I hadn't ever seen that card before. It is definitely a good looking card for sure!

[paulcarek]

A handful of my favorites, many of which have already been mentioned:

1950: Bowman Feller and Rizzuto
1952: Bowman Musial and Mantle, Topps Roberts (the big grin just says "baseball" to me for some reason)
1953: Bowman Color Musial, Mathews
1954: Topps Williams #250, Bowman Doby (great color, majestic Yankee Stadium setting)
1955: Topps Aaron
1956: Topps Clemente, Banks, Kaline, Robinson (love this set)
1957: Topps Clemente, Snider
1958: Topps WS Batting Foes, Brooks Robinson

Of the above, I'd put the '50 Bowman Feller, '52 Bowman Musial, and '56 Topps Jackie on my "all-time" list, regardless of decade.