Basketball Project...Input requested for card design

[Phil68]

Guys,
Last November I started an interesting project. Basketball cards have had a very sporadic history, to say the least.
From 1958 until the late 60's, Topps abandoned hoops. Probably for the same reason that I don't make too many--they don't sell. Still, I enjoy them. I have begun small fantasy sets beginning with an 8-card run of 58-59 and a 5-card run of 59-60. Another small batch to represent 60-61 is due out soon. Basically, these are "what they may have looked like cards".
I took into consideration what execs may have been thinking given successes/failures they had experienced and what production techniques were available. While we enjoy the challenge of Topps '57 set today--it was NOT popular at all that year. Topps scrapped it the following year leaving us a major void in that end of the sportscard genre.
CARD DESIGN...
I figured to build some awareness of the expanding league, they would have featured large logos and try to build some familiarity with the visual aspects of the court. Next, they needed to "personalize" the players. Make the faces friendly and marketable as most fans had never seen these guys up close; hence the photos featuring their close-ups. The '58 set was born.
What would you suggest for elements of a 1960-1961 design?