Most of the best baseball card set

[Georj]

If you could pick just one baseball card set with the most of the best baseball cards in it, which would you choose. What I mean is which set in your opinion has the most iconic, best posses, most quirky, best action shots in it without regard to cost. If I had to choose just one I think I would eliminate most of the sets that just have head shots in them just because there isn't many interesting photos in them. Based on this criteria I think I would probably pick the 1973 set as the one with the most of the best. There are so many interesting photos that are quirky (cars in the background, airbrushing galore, great action shots (Bill Freehan)), colorful (Thurman Munson) and iconic at the same time. Let me know what you think with your reason for picking it.

[rats60]

Any set would be t206. For postwar it would be 1955 Topps if I could only pick one. Roberto Clemente and Sandy Koufax RCs and no Mickey Mantle. The only down side is no Stan Musial card, but no 50s sets had all the stars unfortunately. 1958 was the closest with a Musial AS but no regular card, but by then Jackie Robinson was retired. 1955 still gets most of the top stars Mays, Williams, Robinson, Aaron, Kaline, Banks, Berra.

[packs]

I like the 1961 Topps set. Features more or less every major star of the time and the design is great. Not to mention an iconic year for baseball in general.

[nolemmings]

Originally Posted by packs

I like the 1961 Topps set. Features more or less every major star of the time and the design is great. Not to mention an iconic year for baseball in general.

I agree. That set could have been improved a little-- better shot selection on major stars Mays, Banks and Killebrew for example--but the card and set design are great. Highlight cards of Ruth, Gehrig, Walter Johnson, Matty and Hornsby are a nice added touch- now if they could have just swapped out the Haddix no-hitter and 26 inning tie cards for say, anything by Ty Cobb and Ted Williams (and maybe add Joe D's 56 game streak), that would have been icing on the cake.

It was indeed an iconic year for baseball, and an innovative one for Topps also-- first extensive use of checklists and league leaders, along with a neat set of MVPs. The high-number AS yielded a pretty good crop too--12 HOFers plus Maris in that magical season.

[quitcrab]

I like the 68 set. Great upcoming 70s stars along with the super stars from 50s and 60s.

[MarcosCards]

Yes, the ‘61 set is awesome for all the reasons you mention. I don’t know if it’s just my ‘61 collection, but it seems like they they’re lacking the gloss of other early 1960 Topps sets.

[Exhibitman]

Well if the set is a gift, 1954 Topps all the way. Always has been my favorite. Aaron, Banks, Kaline RCs. Classic cards of most of the big stars. Two Ted Williams cards. Action and portraits, great colors.



Honorable mention 1956 Topps. After the Unity it had everyone who was willing to be on a card (Musial), great design, nice action and portrait combo.

1954 followed by 1961. I love the art format and size of the 54 set. Just visually exciting to look at and has two Ted Williams cards. The 61 set just has a classic baseball card look to it and is easy on the eye. Like someone already mentioned it has every star of the day in it.