Most attractive Topps cards 1952-1979

[Eric72]

What card do you consider the best-looking pre-1980 Topps single? I’m trying to zero in on something different (for me) to pick up at the Philly Show. Leaning towards a 1971 Topps Thurman Munson; however, want to see if something else may strike a chord. Pictures highly encouraged.

[luciobar1980]

Originally Posted by Eric72

What card do you consider the best-looking pre-1980 Topps single? I’m trying to zero in on something different (for me) to pick up at the Philly Show. Leaning towards a 1971 Topps Thurman Munson; however, want to see if something else may strike a chord. Pictures highly encouraged.

Man, that is a tough question. A few that come to mind:

53 Mantle
56 Clemente
64 Rose
73 Clemente

[BobC]

Originally Posted by Eric72

What card do you consider the best-looking pre-1980 Topps single? I’m trying to zero in on something different (for me) to pick up at the Philly Show. Leaning towards a 1971 Topps Thurman Munson; however, want to see if something else may strike a chord. Pictures highly encouraged.

I've always been partial to the '61 Topps hi series All Star cards where they have the player portraits looking like they're popping out of the front page of the Sporting News, especially the Mantle. Not a cheap card, but one of the best Mantles.

[Vintageloz]

One of my favs

[skelly423]

I always liked this card, but it blew me away the first time I saw it in hand.

[deweyinthehall]

Not that there's much value here...you could probably get all of these for $5 or less. I always loved the "living the dream" joy on the faces of Rice and Simmons faces in the 1978 set; the gritty determination of Pocoroba; and the almost perfect composition of the '78 Jackson (possibly one of the best looking cards ever). I zeroed in on 1978 because it's my favorite/first set.

[luciobar1980]

Originally Posted by Vintageloz

One of my favs

He said Topps

[vansaad]

I'm partial to this one.

[luciobar1980]

Originally Posted by vansaad

I'm partial to this one.

This is a great one too. I just think the color of the Yankees logo and mantles uniform work so well together.

[campyfan39]

53 Campy

[hcv123]

1952 Mays
1971 Clemente
1956 Mantle

[DeanH3]

A few favorites of mine that won't set you back an arm and a leg.

[BillP]

I ve always been partial to these 5:

1962 mays
1965 mantle
1966 gaylord perry
1967 yaz
1967 colavito

[paulcarek]

Some fantastic (and affordable) options in this set. I particularly like this one.

[Seven]

56 Mantle is an absolute Beauty, but I'm biased.

I love Ted Williams card from 56 as well. The colors really pop on the card.

[Eric72]

A couple people have mentioned the '56 Topps Mantle. I agree, it's a great-looking card. I picked one up about 7 years ago for much less than it goes for these days.

[Gorditadogg]

53T Satchell Paige for sure. That one is the Mona Lisa of baseball cards.

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[G1911]

The painted 1953 action shots only in the last two series. Cal Hogue stands out for me.

I don't think aesthetic value has anything to do with a favored superstar being on it, not all the best looking, or even most of them, just happen to be the ~30 biggest names.

[Eric72]

Originally Posted by G1911

The painted 1953 action shots only in the last two series. Cal Hogue stands out for me...

That is quite an attractive card. Thanks for the suggestion.

[egri]

[IMG] [/IMG]

And some of the 1957 Topps, though I wish the photographer had asked Ted Williams to step into the sunlight.

[egri]

Originally Posted by G1911

The painted 1953 action shots only in the last two series. Cal Hogue stands out for me.

I don't think aesthetic value has anything to do with a favored superstar being on it, not all the best looking, or even most of them, just happen to be the ~30 biggest names.

Originally Posted by Eric72

That is quite an attractive card. Thanks for the suggestion.

[IMG] [/IMG]

[ClementeFanOh]

Cool topic! I'll go with these 3, although there many possibilities:

1) 57 Roberto Clemente- perfect card

2) 57 Ted Klu- captures him to a "t" "when it was a game"

3) 64 Topps Hank Aaron- pure class

Trent King

[Kevvyg1026]

Back when I was opening wax packs, I loved seeing this Clemente card. Then a few years later, action shots such as these, appealed to me.

1968_150.jpg

1971_513.jpg

1971_agee.jpg

[tonyo]

Here's another Clemente vote.

someone posted this a few years ago and pointed out the great action shots in this set. it nudged me to purchase the Clemente. When I received it, decided to put together the set raw in "good/vg" condition.

38 lots later, then selling 1381 duplicates in one fell swoop, I had the complete set for net about $320.

took me about 5 months total. sold the dups on 2-6-10 .

That was probably the most fun I've had collecting. opening all those lots every few days, continually replacing cards with the slightly better condition ones that came in new lots. I just bought lots till the set was complete. Biggest lot was 346 cards for $20.

fond memories

p.s. the card pictured isn't the one in my set

[Bigdaddy]

Some very good picks above. One I haven't seen mentioned yet is the 1976 John Bench:

[Mark17]

Card number 400 (of 407) in the 1957 Topps set. The final card of the great Brooklyn Dodgers. Even without Robinson, who retired the year before, this card will feature 3 Hall of Famers once Hodges gets in.

[Peter_Spaeth]

One of Topps' best IMO.

[Kutcher55]

52 Feller and Mays
53 pee wee Reese (topps not bowman)
54 Aaron
57 Brooksie
58 Maris
69 Mantle WL
71 Clemente and Yaz
72 Alex Johnson
76 Brett
78 Reggie Jackson
Basically any Nolan Ryan card (the guy loved posing for cards)

[GasHouseGang]

1952's are pretty sweet.

[Bigdaddy]

Originally Posted by Mark17

Card number 400 (of 407) in the 1957 Topps set. The final card of the great Brooklyn Dodgers. Even without Robinson, who retired the year before, this card will feature 3 Hall of Famers once Hodges gets in.

One of my most favoritest cards. Registration is key on this one.

And to go along with it, a great photo of a ballplayer preparing for work on the grass of Ebbets Field- dirty uniform, no batting gloves, multiple bats in hand:



The only thing missing is a lunch pail.

[Gr8Beldini]

And some of the 1957 Topps, though I wish the photographer had asked Ted Williams to step into the sunlight.[/QUOTE]

...and the Mantle, Mays, and Aaron cards are all dark and drab as well. I always thought the Duke Snider card from the '57 set was as nice a card as Topps ever produced. Vibrant color. No obstructing card design (i.e. 1959 Topps)... just Ebbetts Field and the Duke. Fairly reasonably priced also.

[Kutcher55]

Agree the 57 Snider is a beautiful card.

I have always appreciated the Mick card as well. It has a certain mystique.

The Bobby Richardson RC is also quite divine with the courthouse and setting sun in the background.

[GasHouseGang]

I just recently picked up the 1957 Topps Bobby Richardson from a board member.

[nat]

Given the ratio of scrubs to stars in MLB, it would be very surprising if the most aesthetically pleasing card was a card of a star player.

I don't have a particular card to nominate at the moment, but there are tons of really interesting action shots in 73.

As for "stepping into the light", I read an interview with a Topps photographer who said that Topps liked cards with lots of shadows (IIRC, especially under the brim of the hat) because it made the cards look more dramatic. And the photographers hated this, because it made them look like bad photographers.

[brian1961]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

One of Topps' best IMO.

Agreed.

[brian1961]

Among a few that come to mind:

1971 Thurman Munson

1952 Johnny Mize

1964 World Series Game 1 ---Sandy Koufax

1964 Topps Giant -- Dean Chance

1970 Topps Giant -- Frank Howard

1956 Topps Mantle and Clemente, already mentioned, but I'll second the motion

1960 Mickey Mantle

--- Brian Powell

[commishbob]

I chose a favorite image from each decade. Nearly all the '57 Dodgers cards taken at Ebbets Field are pretty special. I love the Neal card with the scoreboard and wall signage behind him.

I remember the '61 Covington from when I was a beginning collector. The unique pose and wonderful Braves uni stood out. The Aaron is terrific as well but there's something about Covington at the bat rack ith fans behind him in the stands that just makes this card extra special in my eyes.

My Orioles bias may be in play with the third card but I have always felt it's the coolest card of the 70s and it's really my favorite for several reasons, the pose, his expression, the rookie award bowl, Just a very attractive card.

[bnorth]

I like the All Star cards, especially the American League ones with the red backgrounds. The 58 Mantle All Star is my favorite Mantle card.

Too new and technically many many cards but I really like this Topps All Star card. Just put it in the frame this morning and now need to figure out a place to put it.

[jchcollins]

Picking just one is going to be a subjective task by its nature, and you could be all over the place with different eras. I won't post pics because most of them have been shown already - but from the decades I collect - here are are some quick top of my head choices. There could be many more...

'56 Mantle
'65 Koufax
'72 Clemente
'82 Traded Ripken

[Casey2296]

Originally Posted by brian1961

Among a few that come to mind:

1971 Thurman Munson

1952 Johnny Mize

1964 World Series Game 1 ---Sandy Koufax

1964 Topps Giant -- Dean Chance

1970 Topps Giant -- Frank Howard

1956 Topps Mantle and Clemente, already mentioned, but I'll second the motion

1960 Mickey Mantle

--- Brian Powell

Love the 64 Koufax WS Game 1
_

[egri]

Slightly OT, but I'll never understand how Topps could knock it out of the park on Brooks Robinson's rookie card, but then whiff completely with him the following year.

[ASF123]

Originally Posted by egri

Slightly OT, but I'll never understand how Topps could knock it out of the park on Brooks Robinson's rookie card, but then whiff completely with him the following year.

Ha, I’ve wondered the same thing. Maybe the ‘58 photo of him apparently in mid-belch was the only one they had.

[Neal]

Two of the greatest Topps cards ever made

[GasHouseGang]

And the best thing about the 1956 Aaron is you get Willie Mays too.

[todeen]

Originally Posted by commishbob

I chose a favorite image from each decade. Nearly all the '57 Dodgers cards taken at Ebbets Field are pretty special. I love the Neal card with the scoreboard and wall signage behind him.



I remember the '61 Covington from when I was a beginning collector. The unique pose and wonderful Braves uni stood out. The Aaron is terrific as well but there's something about Covington at the bat rack ith fans behind him in the stands that just makes this card extra special in my eyes.



My Orioles bias may be in play with the third card but I have always felt it's the coolest card of the 70s and it's really my favorite for several reasons, the pose, his expression, the rookie award bowl, Just a very attractive card.

Totally agree with the 1961 Wes Covington. I wish that pic had been a bigger name player.

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[brian1961]

Just to sprinkle on some others:

1952 Topps Mickey Mantle -- mesmerizing

1959 Bazooka Mantle -- same

1960 Bazooka Mantle -- same

1961 Bazooka Mantle -- fabulous portrait

1961 Topps Dice Game, actually 1963, as was proved to us all on Net54baseball Postwar (Pre-1980) What a great-looking card, even in glorious black 'n white. Had they colorized them with the process done at the time, the card would be worth a good 50% more than its' already zooming price!

Good hot stove league discussion. Cheers! ---Brian Powell

[Carter08]

Originally Posted by skelly423

I always liked this card, but it blew me away the first time I saw it in hand.

So many good options but plus one for me on this.

[quinnsryche]

1957 Topps Mantle

[gustomania]

Originally Posted by Casey2296

Love the 64 Koufax WS Game 1
_

I also love the 64 Koufax



But my favorite overall is the 56 Koufax, just love this card….

[JollyElm]

If you're talking about pure joy, you can't go wrong with this Yaz...

s-l1600-17.jpg

How can anyone not smile while viewing it???