3 best. 3 worst Topps issues

[nolemmings]

Sorry, but the 1973 were also released all at once. In some parts of the country they were released in series, but they were all printed at once and at least where I grew up in Minnesota, were all available at the same time.

[JollyElm]

Originally Posted by nolemmings

Sorry, but the 1973 were also released all at once. In some parts of the country they were released in series, but they were all printed at once and at least where I grew up in Minnesota, were all available at the same time.

Sorry, but I don't buy it. The whole country had the set released in series...but not your town in Minnesota? Come on.

[nolemmings]

Sorry, but I don't buy it. The whole country had the set released in series...but not your town in Minnesota? Come on.

Um, you might want to re-think that.

[JollyElm]

That pack must have been issued after the season was over, sort of like those infamous 'Christmas' packs. The graphic on that pack is the same one used during the season, only it didn't have that "660 cards" verbiage on it.

1973 Topps Wrapper.jpg

I have never even once heard a person claim they were all released at the same time. Look anywhere--the PSA website, Beckett, etc.--they all say the same thing: they were issued in series. That is why Beckett always listed them in separate series.

[Cardboard Junkie]

best 52 60 72
worst 73 and anything recent.

[JollyElm]

I found a site that seems to explain the 1973 wrapper issue. Apparently when the final series (high numbers) was released in certain parts of the country, they also included cards from the earlier series--but only in the high series packs released late in the summer. It's clear that all 660 cards were not available in packs from the beginning of the season onward.

"The high series packs had a unique “All 660 cards” notation in a triangle that slightly overlapped the image of the catcher. This variation had 2 different panel offers and a production code of 0-451-90-01-3."

[Vintagevault13]

Best: 1952, 1965, 1957

Worst: 1970, 1968, 1962

[bnorth]

Originally Posted by nolemmings

Um, you might want to re-think that.

I know nothing about these packs but using anything in a GAI slab to prove it is real is not a good idea. They slabbed several made up fake packs. I would be amazed if the cards in the pack are the right year.

[vintagebaseballcardguy]

My favorites: 1953, 1957, 1965

My not so favorites: 1961, 1968, 1972

[K-Nole]

http://www.psacardfacts.com/Hierarchy.aspx?c=188

http://www.cardboardconnection.com/1...seball-cards-2

http://www.1973baseballcards.com/?p=1

[m.wright58926]

Lots of dislike for the 73 set, I actually like the little icons for the positions. I know many of the pics are bad, but it makes me laugh at times, the ridiculous distant shots of like 4 players converging around 2nd base...maybe spotting a huge vintage land yacht parked under the palms in the background...perhaps it was the rookie year of the Topps art director.

Anyways - 3 best:
1. 1955 Love 2 pics and horizontal format, 56 and 60 too
2. 1965 Pennants are cool
3. 1976 Like the bars, colorful like 75 but toned down some

Worst
1. 1968 Pinkish dot design???
2. 1970 Obviously
3. 1958 Why so bland sandwiched between 57 and 59?

[BradH]

I'm sure nostalgia plays into this a lot, so for me the Best would be:
1977 - First year I really collected as a kid and I loved the little pennants at the top.

Other favorites for me (in chronological order):
1953
1957
1965
1972
1983

Worst for me:
1966 - Too bland
1970 - I own it because it's my birth year, but that's the only reason
1973 - Didn't care for the little generic characters at the bottom
1982 - To me, the single worst design ever done by Topps. As a 12-year-old I was so disgusted by this set that it turned me off to modern cards - for one summer at least - and I actually started working on a 1957 set. So I guess I can at least thank the Topps folks for inadvertently turning me on to something else. (I purchased the '57 Mantle at a card show that summer and my dad about killed me - great memories.)

[kailes2872]

Originally Posted by BradH

I'm sure nostalgia plays into this a lot, so for me the Best would be:
1977 - First year I really collected as a kid and I loved the little pennants at the top.

Other favorites for me (in chronological order):
1953
1957
1965
1972
1983

Worst for me:
1966 - Too bland
1970 - I own it because it's my birth year, but that's the only reason
1973 - Didn't care for the little generic characters at the bottom
1982 - To me, the single worst design ever done by Topps. As a 12-year-old I was so disgusted by this set that it turned me off to modern cards - for one summer at least - and I actually started working on a 1957 set. So I guess I can at least thank the Topps folks for inadvertently turning me on to something else. (I purchased the '57 Mantle at a card show that summer and my dad about killed me - great memories.)

I hear you on the 82's. I had a paper route and as a 10 year old that year, I bought several 36 pack boxes and 2 500ct vending boxes. I put together 2 full and nearly a 3rd complete sets. Not only were the cards ugly and over produced, but 81 was the strike year so the the stats on the back were underwhelming - 4 guys tied for the AL home run lead with 22 - how lame. Ricky Henderson had 56 stolen bases to lead the AL after having 100 the prior year and 130 the year after. Of all years to have money in my pocket it had to be that abomination of an issue...

[nolemmings]

Darren,

The 1973 set was issued all at once where I lived, and I don't care what you believe. As a teenager who had collected for several years at the time, I was acutely aware of cards being issued in series over the years. The people at Ben Franklin, the only store within biking distance to sell baseball cards, more than once told me how they would not order more--the new series-- until the old supply had been sold, meaning I would usually have to encourage my friends to buy or just accumulate "doubles", as I generally had completed the series. So arrival of the new series cards was a big deal every year-- until 1973. They all came out at once.

Consider this. 1972 Topps high-numbers were printed in March 1972 or later, as the beautiful "traded" mini-set included Wise, Carlton and McLain playing for their new teams--no airbrush--and these players were not acquired until the end of February/early March. So we know that high-numbers from this set (and other years) were printed using photos taken from at least Spring training if not early season games.

Now look at 1973. The so-called "high numbers" include many airbrushes, e.g Earl Williams, Davey Johnson, Larry Hisle, of players who Topps could have corrected by Spring. Most importantly, McLain is a high number with an air-brushed Braves cap--and he had been released in March, having never played a game for Atlanta that season! Similarly, high-number Ken Reynolds is shown in an airbrushed Twins cap, and he had been traded to the Brewers in the Spring, having never pitched for Minnesota! Also high-number Jack Heidemann is shown with Cleveland, when he had been traded in the Spring to Oakland. So why are these guys appearing in the 1973 high series, in airbrushed caps no less, when they had been off those teams the entire season? Why, because the cards had been printed in the Winter of '72 and all at once.

[spec]

Originally Posted by nolemmings

Darren,

The 1973 set was issued all at once where I lived, and I don't care what you believe. As a teenager who had collected for several years at the time, I was acutely aware of cards being issued in series over the years. The people at Ben Franklin, the only store within biking distance to sell baseball cards, more than once told me how they would not order more--the new series-- until the old supply had been sold, meaning I would usually have to encourage my friends to buy or just accumulate "doubles", as I generally had completed the series. So arrival of the new series cards was a big deal every year-- until 1973. They all came out at once.

Consider this. 1972 Topps high-numbers were printed in March 1972 or later, as the beautiful "traded" mini-set included Wise, Carlton and McLain playing for their new teams--no airbrush--and these players were not acquired until the end of February/early March. So we know that high-numbers from this set (and other years) were printed using photos taken from at least Spring training if not early season games.

Now look at 1973. The so-called "high numbers" include many airbrushes, e.g Earl Williams, Davey Johnson, Larry Hisle, of players who Topps could have corrected by Spring. Most importantly, McLain is a high number with an air-brushed Braves cap--and he had been released in March, having never played a game for Atlanta that season! Similarly, high-number Ken Reynolds is shown in an airbrushed Twins cap, and he had been traded to the Brewers in the Spring, having never pitched for Minnesota! Also high-number Jack Heidemann is shown with Cleveland, when he had been traded in the Spring to Oakland. So why are these guys appearing in the 1973 high series, in airbrushed caps no less, when they had been off those teams the entire season? Why, because the cards had been printed in the Winter of '72 and all at once.

Todd is right on the money. I ended 16 years of collecting out of packs when Topps did not issue the 1973 set in series -- at least in the Boston/Brookline, Mass. area. Since 1959 I had purchased a box each time a series came out, discovering even at the age of 12 that that was the most efficient way to get all the cards in a series, at least when you lived in a rural area as I did until 1967. That strategy did not work when all 660 cards were distributed at once, so I just bought the entire set from a dealer.
Bo.b Richa.rdson

[BillP]

Originally Posted by spec

Todd is right on the money. I ended 16 years of collecting out of packs when Topps did not issue the 1973 set in series -- at least in the Boston/Brookline, Mass. area. Since 1959 I had purchased a box each time a series came out, discovering even at the age of 12 that that was the most efficient way to get all the cards in a series, at least when you lived in a rural area as I did until 1967. That strategy did not work when all 660 cards were distributed at once, so I just bought the entire set from a dealer.
Bo.b Richa.rdson

So Bob, you opened 7th series wax boxes in 66 and 67? I also live in Massachusetts and I can tell you in the Taunton/Lakeville area I never saw the last series. Shifted to Philly Football about late Aug / Sept. Rack Packs were around in grocery stores and Woolworth's but only early series.
Back to my questions, what do you remember about opening them, distribution wise.

thx billp

[ALR-bishop]

What amazes me is that a guy as astute as Anthony could be so wrong about 57 and 59

Todd-- I get what you say about 54, but it is even more true of the iconic 52 set which is also full of coaches, managers and guys who hardly played at the ML level, if at all.

[stlcardsfan]

You guys are only considering the fronts. 1970 has the best backs of any year! Clear, bright and ultra easy to read (especially when you get older). But I digress:

Best:

1967
1972
1965

Worst:

1958
1962
1968

[Tennken]

My best:

1. 1967
2. 1953
3. 1971

My worst:

1. 1970
2. 1968
3. 1969

[KCRfan1]

My favorites in no certain order:

1973
1952
1955

My least favorites in no certain order:

1979
1982
1978

More of my least favorites would be the junk wax from 1986 to present.

Fun thread, as we all have our own personal likes and dislikes.

[NateMack]

My 3 favorites are:
1. 54 Topps, surprising to hear that so many people dislike the set. I feel like each card is a work of art and the bright colors are amazing! A very great day when I got the Banks and Aaron RCs!
2. 56 Topps, these were the cards of legend when I was growing up and today. A truley amazing set and jam packed with all the stars again...
3. 58 Topps, the first set I completed when I got back into collecting after a lengthy stoppage, I really love the colors and with each of these 3 sets I love reading the backs of the cards as well!
- runners up: 55T, 53T, 52T, 59T, 72T, 64T, 65T

My 3 worst:
1970, gray borders make these cards very drab. Not much to look at
1968 Topps, differing front patterns and ugly design
1971 those black borders are a nightmare, every ding is magnified
- runners up: 73T, 74T, 76-79T, 62T

[nolemmings]

Originally Posted by ALR-bishop

...
Todd-- I get what you say about 54, but it is even more true of the iconic 52 set which is also full of coaches, managers and guys who hardly played at the ML level, if at all.

True to some extent Al, but not nearly as bad. By my count there were only about 15 managers/coaches out of 407 in the '52 set, about one out of 27 cards (asssuming I didn't miss some). In '54 there were 26 out of 250 cards, better than 1 in 10. I get what you're saying about the undistinguished players, but at least Topps rolled the dice and gave kids a chance to look at someone relatively within their age group and not those old coots who had long since hung 'em up.

Originally Posted by spec

Todd is right on the money. I ended 16 years of collecting out of packs when Topps did not issue the 1973 set in series -- at least in the Boston/Brookline, Mass. area. Since 1959 I had purchased a box each time a series came out, discovering even at the age of 12 that that was the most efficient way to get all the cards in a series, at least when you lived in a rural area as I did until 1967. That strategy did not work when all 660 cards were distributed at once, so I just bought the entire set from a dealer.
Bo.b Richa.rdson

Thanks Bob- nice to see someone else remembers.

[33rd Street]

1953 topps- I realize sets from the fifties suffer from the bowman/topps mini war but in 53 topps got a great Mantle in there a high number mays and that great Paige! Top it off with the best card (my opinion) of Robinson to open the set and I can live with no Snider, Musial etc. these cards just scream nostalgia to me. Little pieces of art.

1956 Topps- I guess you can tell I'm a 50's guy by now. Now that bowman's gone topps gets to load up this issue with every great except Musial. For eye appeal and collectabilty this is topps best issue in my opinion it's lacking any rookie class at all that little go go sox SS doesn't excite many collectors but there are 33 HOF's in this classic.

1957 Topps- last year for New York Giants and the bums! Set has it all, legends of the sport and a great rookie class. Centered 57's are some of my favorite cards.

Worst

1968-1970- nothing about these three years excites me. The only good thing that happened was Mantle never had a 1970 card! Thank god I didn't have to see the mick on some of the goffy early seventy issues with huge sideburns and polyester uniforms!!

1958 Topps- very colorful but the worst of the fifties in my opinion.

1974- this is topps worst issue ever in my opinion. Just so happens its the year I was born. Yuck.

[glynparson]

Best
1. 1952
2. 1953
3. 1955

Worst

1. 1990
2. 1976
3. 1973

[glynparson]

I was born in 1972 these are far from the first sets I collected. 1980 topps was the first one I put together. 1979 was the first year I bought a pack of cards. 1981 would be my favorite from my youth.

[onlyvintage62]

Originally Posted by JollyElm

Sorry, but I don't buy it. The whole country had the set released in series...but not your town in Minnesota? Come on.

It has been verified (even by Topps), that parts of the country had all the cards released at once. It was a marketing test to see how it would impact sales.

The reason being is that they were losing money by printing cards in series, as demand fell off by the 6th and 7th series.

I know that the entire states of California and Florida - at least- had the card released in one shot.