The 100 Greatest Modern Era Cards (1948-1993)...
 

...as written about in 1993. :D

I was going thru some of my junk stuff this afternoon and found a bunch of old Beckett magazines. I found the 100th Anniversary issue from 1993 (which is really odd, I stopped buying cards in 1990 and my last Beckett was as such, I have no idea how I got this issue!) and found this article. Pretty cool...and I'd say I agree with a lot of the cards, and it is funny how time has changed in the last 20 years and some cards didn't pass the test of time. Here goes, and the comments are theirs, not mine, and they did mention this was NOT always a pricing issue, but it's "importance to the hobby" -

#1 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle

"The hobby's crown jewel of post war cards. Even copies graded at Fair to Poor draw a premium."

#2 1968 Topps Ryan/Koosman

"Even after his retirement, this card will remain a beauty."

#3 1963 Topps Pete Rose RC

"Among the first cards to boom from speculative interest..."

#4 1948 Leaf Babe Ruth

"The last card issued during his lifetime, it's also considered the Babe's final regular season issue."

#5 1954 Topps Hank Aaron RC

"We can think of 755 reasons to admire this card."

#6 1954 Bowman Ted Williams

"The most important variation among modern issue's...and that includes the Billy Ripken fiasco."

#7 1948 Leaf Joe DiMaggio

"Joe D's last regular issue cards."

#8 1951 Bowman Mickey Mantle RC

"We are talking about the true rookie card here."

#9 1984 Donruss Don Mattingly RC

"The Hitman remains the key card in a set that ushered in a new term into the hobby....scarcity."

#10 1955 Topps Roberto Clemente RC

"...and often difficult to find in top condition."

#11 1952 Topps Willie Mays

"The midrange number makes premium copies a rarity."

#12 1989 Upper Deck Ken Griffey Jr.

"The first card in a landmark set that many collectors believe ushered in the premium set era."

#13 1948 Leaf Jackie Robinson

"Jackie was a player."

#14 1951 Bowman Willie Mays RC

"This is Willie's only RC..."

#15 1984 Fleer Update Roger Clemens

"A tough, tough card of this generations best pitcher."

#16 1984 Fleer Update Kirby Puckett

"A tough, tough card..."

#17 1955 Topps Sandy Koufax RC

"This card offers collectors the first look at perhaps the games greatest lefty's."

#18 1967 Topps Tom Seaver RC

"...this is one tough high numbered card to secure..."

#19 1990 Leaf Frank Thomas

"Surprised? You shouldn't be!"

#20 1982 Topps Traded Cal Ripken Jr

"This is one of the first non rookie cards to surpass a previously released RC in value..."

#21 1948 Bowman Stan Musial

"This RC is impressive..."

#22 1972 Topps Mike Schmidt RC

"...this card is a high number only adds to its appeal."

#23 1969 Topps Reggie Jackson RC

"...was indeed the straw that stirred the A's..."

#24 1952 Topps Andy Pafko

"One of the hobby's most popular #1 cards..."

#25 1958 Topps Roger Maris RC

"Who could have known just 3 years after pulling this card from packs he would be chasing Babe Ruth?"

#26 1983 Topps Ryne Sandberg

"...the best second baseman to have taken the field."

#27 TIE 1975 Topps George Brett RC

"this card was paralleled to..."

#27 TIE 1975 Topps Robin Yount

"...this card..."

#29 1948 Bowman Yogi Berra RC

"Not the most attractive card, but still a winner..."

#30 1954 Topps Ernie Banks RC

"Hey, wouldn't it be great to own two?"

#31 1968 Topps Johnny Bench RC

"...it may be some time before baseball sees another like him."

#32 1980 Topps Ricky Henderson

"Maybe he is not the most popular player in the game..."

#33 1969 Topps Nolan Ryan

"It's Nolan's first card by himself..."

#34 1954 Topps Al Kaline RC

"...won the AL Batting Crown at the tender age of 20."

#35 1953 Bowman Pee Wee Reese

"One of the first horizontal cards to catch the collectors attention..."

#36 1951 Bowman Whitey Ford RC

"this RC leads off a condition sensitive set..."

#37 1990 Score Bo Jackson

"somewhere in the middle of the Bo hype of 1990 surfaced a rumor suggesting this card was a short print. Wrong."

#38 1963 Fleer Maury Wills RC

"This card was a real coup for Fleer..."

#39 1986 Donruss Jose Conseco

"By the middle of the 86 season, a $100 price tag still was considered a good deal!"

#40 1953 Topps Mickey Mantle

"The Mantle craze during the mid 80's fueled demand for this card."

#41 1959 Topps Bob Gibson

"A difficult high numbered card to find centered."

#42 1948 Leaf Satchel Paige RC

"A rookie card AND a short print of the legendary hurler who beat age..."

#43 1992 Fleer Rookie Sensations Frank Thomas

"This single card represents the peak of what the 90's appear to be in baseball cards. Insertmania."

#44 1954 Topps Ted Williams (#250)

"Ted actually opens and closes the 54 set..."

#45 1989 Fleer Billy Ripken Error (F Face)

"There may not have been a more talked about card in the hobby in the last 15 years..."

#46 1965 Topps Steve Carlton RC

"...an artist on the mound..."

#47 1979 Topps Ozzie Smith

"A very difficult card to find centered."

#48 1955 Topps Harmon Killebrew

"This is a great shot of the Killer as a youthful looking slugger..."

#49 1974 Topps Dave Winfield RC

"It's hard to believe this is the same guy Steinbrenner thought was finished years ago..."

#50 1962 Topps Roger Maris

"Who else to open the 62 Topps set?"

#51 1983 Topps Traded Darryl Strawberry

"One of the most eagerly awaited cards of the 1980's..."

#52 1957 Topps Frank Robinson RC

"Robby was a complete player in his day..."

#53 1956 Topps Mickey Mantle

"The Mick calls 56 his favorite season."

#54 1960 Topps Carl Yazstrzemski RC

"Print marks on some cards make this a great find in true Mint condition."

#55 1957 Topps Brooks Robinson RC

"Brooks didn't play HS ball!"

#56 1984 Fleer Update Dwight Gooden

"Everyone wanted a Gooden card in 1984!"

#57 1985 Topps Mark McGwire RC

"provoked a minor controversy on whether the card is or isn't his RC."

#58 1972 Topps Carlton Fisk RC

"The RC of a HOFer is never a bad thing to have in a collection."

#59 1962 Topps Managers Dream

"One of the greatest of Topps classic combo cards..."

#60 1985 Donruss Tom Seaver Error

"...represents one of the more embarrassing moments in Donruss history..."

#61 1952 Topps Eddie Mathews RC

"The last card in an extremely difficult high series."

#62 1949 Bowman Duke Snider

"The first card of the Duke..."

#63 1977 Topps Dale Murphy RC

"This was among the hottest cards just as the hobby was about to explode into the 80's..."

#64 1953 Topps Willie Mays

"This card is by far the second most valuable in the 53 set behind Mantle..."

#65 1949 Bowman Roy Campanella RC

"...a very popular figure with collectors more than 30 years after the accident..."

#66 1967 Topps Rod Carew RC

"Topps actually Double Printed this high numbered scarce card..."

#67 1969 Topps Mickey Mantle "White Letter" Variation

"Variations are one thing...but on a Mantle?"

#68 1965 Topps Joe Morgan RC

"Little Joe possessed a rare blend of speed and power..."

#69 1959 Fleer Ted Williams "Ted Signs for 1939"

"A short print, this card gained notoriety quickly when it was revealed the issue had been withdrawn early in the production process."

#70 1976 Topps Dennis Eckersley RC

"...more collectors have come to appreciate the closer's contributions..."

#71 1970 Topps Nolan Ryan

"This may be the most difficult Ryan issue to find of them all."

#72 1988 Score Rookies Roberto Alomar

"This card fueled the surge of the '88 Score Rookie/Traded set..."

#73 1958 Topps Stan Musial All Star

"Yes, it's a Triple Print."

#74 1978 Topps Molitor/Trammell RC

"Are they HOF material? Hard to say..."

#75 1970 Topps Thurman Munson RC

"He played hurt, and he played hard."

#76 1966 Topps Jim Palmer RC

"posted World Series wins in three different decades..."

#77 1981 Topps Fernando Valenzuela RC

"Fernandomania"

#78 1953 Topps Satchel Paige

"The only chance to obtain the ageless wonder on a Topps card."

#79 1959 Topps Sparky Anderson RC

"As a player, Sparky failed to slug a HR..."

#80 1973 Topps Roberto Clemente

"Clemente's final card, and one that features his full career stats."

#81 1962 Topps Lou Brock RC

"Brock caused havoc whenever he reached base..."

#82 1981 Topps Joe Charboneau

"Referred to so often as the downside of RC hype that he has become a living cliche'."

#83 1981 Fleer Graig Nettles "C" Error

"Fleer returns to the card market and becomes immediately known for an error card."

#84 1983 Fleer Ron Kittle

"There are collectors who remember ripping through boxes of 83 Fleer proudly announcing how many "Kittle's" they received!"

#85 1987 Fleer Barry Bonds RC

"The best RC of the best all around player in the game today."

#86 1977 Topps Andre Dawson RC

"...among the classiest players to swing a bat..."

#87 1990 Upper Deck Reggie Jackson Auto Card

"This was the first high profile autographed chase cards. The concept worked, and worked well."

#88 1978 Topps Eddie Murray RC

"...an intelligent man..."

#89 1985 Donruss Kirby Puckett RC

"He is fun to watch, isn't he? Store this card in a bulletproof, nuclearproof, screwdown holder!"

#90 1991 Topps Stadium Club Frank Thomas

"Hobbyists waited hoping pack prices would plummet. They didn't."

#91 1982 Fleer John Littlefield Error (Reversed Negative)

"Whoops! It remains one of the most rarest error cards in existence."

#92 1983 Topps Wade Boggs RC

"It's hard to say if this card will ever be as popular as it was in the late 80's."

#93 1987 Donruss Opening Day Barry Bonds Error

"Hey, that's not Barry, that's Johnny Ray!"

#94 1985 Fleer Roger Clemens RC

"A collector can't go wrong picking up this card..."

#95 1987 Fleer Will Clark RC

"...another example of a card that dominated the hobby..."

#96 1974 Topps Willie McCovey "Washington Nationals"

"Topps jumped the gun..."

#97 1983 Topps Tony Gwynn RC

"...first card of a great player..."

#98 1989 Upper Deck Jerome Walton RC

"From $15 to 15 cents almost overnight. This certainly is an infamous card in the hobby."

#99 Upper Deck Dale Murphy Reversed Negative

"Takes a backseat to Billy Ripken..."

#100 1992 Bowman Frank Thomas

"Hype or reality? Whatever, it's the key card in a developing set..."





Sorry for some of the after post war cards...but I couldn't exclude them from this list. I'd say if a published list of the top 100 post war cards currently it would be a bit different! #1 would still be the same...:o

100
 

Interesting list. Thanks for taking the time to post it John

yep, enjoyed reading...and agree with a lot of it!

$100 for an 86D Canseco is a good deal indeed...for the seller.

John... Appreciate you taking the time to post the listing; so nice to view. Of course I think there should be "multiple" Brooskie cards on the list, but other than that pretty good!:D

Having just acquired the 1967 Topps Brooks...I would agree with that! The SP and the horde story behind that card alone trumps several cards on this list. Of course, if this list was done today there would be several dropping off, and several added.

It's funny. As soon as I started reading the OPs starting statement I remembered this article in Beckett. It was the first time I ever really realized there was cards before the 80's and they looked awesome. I saw three cards on that list over 20 years ago that I thought maybe someday I might see one in person. Now all three in my personal collection. 53 Topps Satchell Paige, 53 Bowman Pee Wee Reese, and 48 Leaf Stan Musial.
Kind of odd I still haven't picked up that 86 Canseco though. ;)
Drew

Loved seeing the Jerome walton. I started collecting in 1988, and got my first job at wild bills card shop in Crofton Md. I will never forget that 89 UD set and the crazy prices people were coming in paying for Jim Abbott, Todd Zeile, Dwight Smith, and of course Walton. I was only 13 at the time and got paid a box of 1989 topps per day I worked lol.

Topp 100
 

John,

Nice list. Kind of neat reading it. I would have included the '91 DS C Jones Rookie card. They of course wouldn't have know how good Chipper was going to be at that time. What other additions would people make to the list??

Z Wheat

There are, in my opinion, three sets I'd consider up for the title of most beautiful ever created: the T3 Turkey Reds, the T206, and the 1953 Bowman Color. Yet this list of the best 100 cards of the modern era contains only the '53 Bowman Color Reese? How are the Roy Campanella, Stan Musial, Ed Matthews and Mickey Mantle cards not included...any of them?

http://www.vintagecardprices.com/pics/68610.jpg

Iconic set. Hall of Fame player. Baseball's Golden Era. For my money, one of the most beautiful cards ever produced.

Bill, IMO, although some of the cards they listed are quite beautiful, it doesn't seem to me that in general they necessarily gave aesthetics all that much weight. - Paul

Awesome list. Thank you for posting. This would be an awesome set to tackle.

I have to agree with you here...the Mantle is unreal...but the Musial I think is the best Stan the Man card ever produced. One day I plan on tackling this set, but I won't be waiting on Stan. Been looking for the right deal here for a while now.

I wonder if anyone put this together as a set when the article was first written. Getting the 52 Mantle is always going to be a biggie...but it wouldn't surprise me if this was done or attempted. What a great idea. I just went thru and counted...I currently have 54/100. Some of the easy ones I don't have, and of course there are some biggies I would need...lol.

Interesting to see how many other users have out of the 100 listed, I have less than half on the list at 47.

I have 44 so I would have a long way to go.

I think I have around 15-20 of these. I am not exactly sure what is in my childhood collection so may have a few more or less.