Best set among 56, 65, 71
I voted '56.
That said, to me the 1971 set is the most aesthetically pleasing set ever from Topps. It's got an amazing mix of action shots (Vada Pinson, Thurman Munson, Nolan Ryan) and great poses (Clemente, Rose). It also has a majority of the '60s hall of famers (Aaron, Mays, Clemente, F. Robinson, B. Robinson, B. Gibson) and a ton of the new blood players (Rose, Ryan, Reggie Jackson, Seaver)
But for a collector, I think you have to go with the '56 set as the most iconic because of the colors, the last year of the larger card size, the mix of actions and pose on the same card, and the great player examples. Easily the best Mantle and the best Clemente cards every from Topps, and maybe the best Mays and the best Aaron (not in value, obviously with the '52 Mantle and the Mays/Clemente/Aaron rookies, but on pure aesthetics)
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