Most Iconic Modern Set

[pokerplyr80]

Curious what comes to mind as the most iconic modern (1980 or later) set.

Prewar has to be t206 with Goudey and CJ next in my opinion.

Postwar 1952 topps.

Modern, I'm not really sure. 89 Upperdeck comes to mind. 93 Finest refractors and 1996 leaf signature series if you consider insert sets. 90 leaf, 93 SP, 84 Donruss perhaps.

What others would you put on the list, and which is #1?

[steve B]

Now that's a very interesting question.

Can a set be "iconic" without a major star rookie? Or just a very popular star on his most accessible card?

T206 - Wagner
33 Goudey - the Ruths and Gehrig.
52 Topps - Mantle (not rookie of course, but a fairly tough card and an early one for him.


Or, like those as well, is it a set that best represents the era it was issued in?

The way things developed would make that challenging.

89 Upper Deck - Griffey of course, but looking at it from the details, it's more of a 90's set than 80's sort of transitional, as it was eclipsed by the technical stuff that began with the 93 finest Refractors. Those to me are sort of THE cards of the 90's
84 Donruss represents the 80's a bit better, but while it was BIG when it came out, it hasn't aged well. Not that any of the mid-late 80's card sets have. 1980 Topps has held up pretty well, but its closer to being a 70's set just like the UD is more like a 90's set.

2011 Topps? With Trout? Design and production wise, it's a solid set for the time, and it's got Trout.

Lots of ways to approach it, all of them both right and wrong all at once.

[G1911]

From the modern Discords, I gather that it is 1989 Upper Deck, 1992 Bowman and 1993 Topps Finest.

1987 Topps is extremely popular for the design among the modern crowd, more than I realized.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by G1911

From the modern Discords, I gather that it is 1989 Upper Deck, 1992 Bowman and 1993 Topps Finest.

1987 Topps is extremely popular for the design among the modern crowd, more than I realized.

2018 Topps Update is pretty big among the ultramoderns.

[G1911]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

2018 Topps Update is pretty big among the ultramoderns.

I think the difference here is that it is a few rookie cards being currently hyped by investors. In 10 years it will be forgotten when nobody cares anymore beyond 1 or 2 rookies, like 2001 Topps. To be iconic, I think there needs to be some historical import to the set beyond "happens to have rookie of X in it, pump it".

[packs]

Not as appreciated as the 89 UD set but I’ve always thought the 1993 Pinnacle set was one of the best looking sets of the era.

[JustinD]

Originally Posted by G1911

From the modern Discords, I gather that it is 1989 Upper Deck, 1992 Bowman and 1993 Topps Finest.

1987 Topps is extremely popular for the design among the modern crowd, more than I realized.

I can't imagine 89' Upper Deck not being the top set myself. It is the advent of what the ultra modern card has become and holds the most popular modern card by any logical measure.

1987 Topps would be the most infamous set for me. It can be easily argued it was the first true set of the over produced junk wax period and brought an entirely different hobby.

[butchie_t]

For me either 89 Upper Deck or 92 Bowman would be ok by me.

[JustinD]

Honest and non sarcastic question for the crowd,

Why does 1992 Bowman keep coming up? Is it a specific memory or time trigger?

I only ask, because I have always considered it one of the worst sets of the 90s for the awful photography and the RCs that look like funny graduation pics. That said, that was during my college years when I was not collecting so I have no attachment with sentiment on those sets. I feel like I am missing something in understanding.

[todeen]

I am echoing what others say:
1989 UD
1993 Topps Finest
1993 SP
1996 Topps Chrome

More recent the 2011 Topps will be remembered for its Diamond Anniversary parallels.

My ultra modern set choice is 2022 Logofractor. Wow! I love the MLB logo refractor on the cards.

I don't think any set 2012-2021 will be iconic.

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[pokerplyr80]

I forgot to mention 1992 Bowman. I do remember that being a huge deal at the time, and pretty tough to find the packs for sale.

I also love the design of the 87 topps set, and it's loaded with rookies. I wouldn't mind breaking a box just for fun.

[rhettyeakley]

For me it would be 1989 Upper Deck and 1987 Topps.

1987 is when the hobby really just took off like crazy for the masses and the ‘89 Upper Deck set for all the reasons already mentioned

(although 1988 Score really was the baby step towards the UD set having been printed on slick board stock with player photos on front and back…but the set was hideous and had a “cheap” feel to it)

[Bcwcardz]

1989 UD
1984 Donruss
1884 Fleer Update
1992 Bowman
1990 Leaf
1993 Finest
1996 Topps Chrome

It’s hard because I don’t know if I’m being sentimental on a couple of these but I feel strongly on 80 percent as being pretty iconic sets for their time.


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[Bcwcardz]

[QUOTE=Bcwcardz;2351777]1989 UD
1984 Donruss
1984Fleer Update
1992 Bowman
1990 Leaf
1993 Finest
1996 Topps Chrome

It’s hard because I don’t know if I’m being sentimental on a couple of these but I feel strongly on 80 percent as being pretty iconic sets for their time.


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QUOTE]


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[isiahfan]

Don't really consider update/traded/parallel/insert sets as iconic....just don't fit my definition. I also don't think 1993 SP holds anything great as it was never a valuable set until Jeter blew up.

75 TM
84 D
89 UD
90 L - but not any more
92 B
96 LSS

Maybe a Tiffany or Chrome....but not my jams

[Lobo Aullando]

No mentions of '91 Stadium Club yet.

It almost sold out instantly with the first printing, and when you could find it, it was $5 a pack. Then another print run hit, and Topps made god-knows how much money.

To me, that was the last step of the '89 Upper Deck -> '90 Leaf -> '91 Stadium Club progression. (BTW, my vote goes to '89 Upper Deck.) Maybe because all the remaining packs have bricked up it doesn't inspire warm feelings anymore.

[saucywombat]

Loved 91 Stadium Club

[jacksoncoupage]

Originally Posted by isiahfan

I also don't think 1993 SP holds anything great as it was never a valuable set until Jeter blew up.

Totally untrue. This set was red hot in late 1993. Same with Select Traded. 1993 SP was the second hottest product after Finest for 1993. It was considered loaded with huge prospects (foils) and the Platinum Power Piazza was huge. Set always ranked highly between 1993 and when Jeter blew up due to several other prospects and the design/quality.

It caused a frenzy for 1993 SP Football as well.

To the topic, I don't think it fits in the top tier of iconic modern sets but definitely a runner up to the 1989 UD, 1990 Leaf, 1991 Stadium Club and 1992 Bowman.

[BearBailey]

I think 1989 upper deck it is. But some great sets mentioned, 1990 leaf, 1991 stadium club, 1992 bowman, 1993 finest. Surprising to me no mention of 1998 leaf rookie and stars or 2001 donruss. Both were great and amazingly difficult to put together complete sets of.

[todeen]

Originally Posted by isiahfan

Don't really consider update/traded/parallel/insert sets as iconic....just don't fit my definition. I also don't think 1993 SP holds anything great as it was never a valuable set until Jeter blew up.

Originally Posted by jacksoncoupage

Totally untrue. This set was red hot in late 1993. Same with Select Traded. 1993 SP was the second hottest product after Finest for 1993. It was considered loaded with huge prospects (foils) and the Platinum Power Piazza was huge. Set always ranked highly between 1993 and when Jeter blew up due to several other prospects and the design/quality.

It caused a frenzy for 1993 SP Football as well.

To the topic, I don't think it fits in the top tier of iconic modern sets but definitely a runner up to the 1989 UD, 1990 Leaf, 1991 Stadium Club and 1992 Bowman.

I think 1993 SP is iconic. I can remember every year after (94-99) that SP was one of the top sets released every year, especially when relics and autos were added. 1993 set the stage of expectations for what followed.

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