[Harliduck]

I was talking to a guy at our local shop over the weekend and he was just getting into vintage Topps set collecting. First thing he asked was what sets are the hardest by decade? Doing sets from all decades, it was a fun talk. I would love to hear others perspective on this for fun...what's your opinion? Here is mine -

Ranked by degree of difficulty
Factors - Cost, Scarcity, High Numbers, HOF Rookies, Series, Number of cards in set, ect...


1970s

1. 1971 Topps (Condition sensitive, High numbers, 752 Cards, HOF Stars)
2. 1972 Topps (High numbers, 787 Cards, Stars/Traded in High's, HOF Stars)
3. 1970 Topps (High numbers, 720 Cards, Nolan Ryan, Bench, HOF Stars)
4. 1973 Topps (Last set by Series, Schmidt RC, HOF Stars)
5. 1975 Topps (Regular or Mini's, Brett & Yount RC, other HOF RCs)
6. 1978 Topps (No series, Murray, Molitar, Morris RCs)
7. 1974 Topps (No series, Winfield RC, Aaron Specials)
8. 1976 Topps (No series, second year cards)
9. 1979 Topps (No series, Smith RC)
10. 1977 Topps (No series, low cost stars, poor RC's (Murphy)

1960s

1. 1961 Topps (SP High numbers, All Stars, HOF RCs & Stars, 6 Mantles)
2. 1963 Topps (SP High numbers, HOF RC's & Stars, Rose RC)
3. 1966 Topps (SP High numbers, HOF RC's & Stars)
4. 1967 Topps (SP High numbers, HOF RC's & Stars)
5. 1962 Topps (High numbers, HOF RC's & Stars)
6. 1960 Topps (High numbers, HOF RC's & Stars)
7. 1964 Topps (Semi Tough High numbers, HOF RC's & Stars)
8. 1965 Topps (HOF RC's & Stars)
9. 1968 Topps (HOF RC's & Stars, Ryan RC)
10. 1969 Topps (HOF RC's & Stars)

1950s

1. 1952 Topps (SP High numbers; Mantle, Mathews, ect..)
2. 1957 Topps (SP Mid Series, 6 HOF RCs, HOF Stars, 407 Cards)
3. 1954 Topps (Aaron, Banks, Kaline RCs, 2 Williams, HOF Stars)
4. 1959 Topps (SP High numbers, HOF RC's & Stars, 572 Cards)
5. 1955 Topps (High numbers, HOF Stars; HOF RCs, only 206 Cards)
6. 1953 Topps (SP High numbers, Low HOF Stars)
7. 1956 Topps (342 Cards, HOF Stars, Mantle)
8. 1958 Topps (494 Cards, HOF Stars)


Top 10 Toughest Topps Sets Postwar -

1. 1952 Topps
2. 1957 Topps
3. 1954 Topps
4. 1961 Topps
5. 1963 Topps
6. 1966 Topps
7. 1959 Topps
8. 1955 Topps
9. 1967 Topps
10. 1953 Topps




OK...just one set collectors experienced OPINION...pick me apart! Again, this is Ranked by toughest to complete...not aesthetics.