Poll: Which is the greatest Topps set of the 1970s?

[Mark17]

Originally Posted by rats60

1971 has the best photos. For someone collecting in 1971, the action shots were revolutionary for Topps. Having collected for a while, condition wasn't as big of an issue as I was taking good care of my cards. Maybe not to get PSA 10s, but an average of PSA 7 wasn't hard. 1971 also has high numbers, for the years 1970-1973, that seperates them from other years other that 1975. 1974 and 1976-1979 would be way below the other years for me.

When I was a kid, having my cards sorted by team and wrapped in rubber bands, condition wasn't an issue. The 1971s had the best backs too. The photos were varied and interesting, the black borders made the photos stand out... overall a quality design. 1970 was boring and what I would describe as business-like, 1972 was garish and more appropriate for comic books than baseball cards, 1973 had grainy photos, 1975 was colorful and tasteful, and the rest were pretty dull, design-wise.

[BillyCoxDodgers3B]

Originally Posted by Mark17

1972 was garish and more appropriate for comic books than baseball cards.

Exactly how I felt as a kid. I thought the design was childish. They've grown on me the past few years.

[ptr002]

1973 and 1975

[jchcollins]

For me either 1971 or ‘72.

‘71 with the black borders and killer photography is just unique. And ‘72 is a colorful set that to me just best represents the feel of the decade with the gothic, dripping team names.

There are many, many others - but some quick favorites that come to mind would be the ‘71 Reggie Jackson and Nolan Ryan, and the ‘72 Willie McCovey and Carl Yastrzemski…


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[jchcollins]

The ‘71 action shots to me make for some of the most aesthetically pleasing cards of all time.

How’s this for incredible? Alpo dog food sign on the wall in Connie Mack Stadium, dog between Chris’s legs, and Pete Rose on the basepaths!




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[BillyCoxDodgers3B]

That doesn't look like Rose to me. I also might be seeing #12 (Chaney) as opposed to 14 on his jersey.

[nolemmings]

1971 had the best visual appearance for me in terms of card design of the “favorites” discussed. Photo selection could have been better on some of the top players though– not anywhere near my favorite Aaron, Banks or Mays, and Gibson was hard to see (although kudos on the attempt). Second photo on back was neat surprise, but sacrificed the season stat lines for space savings and that was an irritant for me, who loved to study those.

1972 was an outstanding set, mostly due to creativity IMO. A little bold in design maybe, but I loved pretty much everything about it. I was a baseball geek who even liked the cards of the award plaques and also the Boyhood Photos of the Stars, which showed these guys at my age. Liked the traded cards too– a lot. Maybe they didn’t need to double up on both regular and “in action” cards of so many players but it was the start of a new era so I can understand why they jumped in. My only complaint was that somebody should have put the brakes on the air-brushers. I don’t mind the occasional blotted out cap, but most if not all of the efforts to paint a cap logo or uniform change were awful. I can’t understand how they could take or find so many new and interesting action photos to include but in combing their extensive catalog of shots they could not keep current on the regular photos.

1975: excellent player selection and photography, no doubt. The design was just the opposite–almost hideous. I sorted my cards by team, and Topps used mostly consistent banners, circles and team names that color coordinated each team from 1964-69 and 1971, 72, 74, 76+, so those displayed nicely. 1975 was fugly. A Tony Oliva orange over brown looked awful near a Rod Carew yellow over red, Blyleven red over blue and Larry Hisle yellow over green, for example. And then of course the team name could be yet a different color for each. No thanks.

[JollyElm]

Originally Posted by nolemmings

1971 had the best visual appearance for me in terms of card design of the “favorites” discussed. Photo selection could have been better on some of the top players though– not anywhere near my favorite Aaron, Banks or Mays, and Gibson was hard to see (although kudos on the attempt). Second photo on back was neat surprise, but sacrificed the season stat lines for space savings and that was an irritant for me, who loved to study those.

1972 was an outstanding set, mostly due to creativity IMO. A little bold in design maybe, but I loved pretty much everything about it. I was a baseball geek who even liked the cards of the award plaques and also the Boyhood Photos of the Stars, which showed these guys at my age. Liked the traded cards too– a lot. Maybe they didn’t need to double up on both regular and “in action” cards of so many players but it was the start of a new era so I can understand why they jumped in. My only complaint was that somebody should have put the brakes on the air-brushers. I don’t mind the occasional blotted out cap, but most if not all of the efforts to paint a cap logo or uniform change were awful. I can’t understand how they could take or find so many new and interesting action photos to include but in combing their extensive catalog of shots they could not keep current on the regular photos.

1975: excellent player selection and photography, no doubt. The design was just the opposite–almost hideous. I sorted my cards by team, and Topps used mostly consistent banners, circles and team names that color coordinated each team from 1964-69 and 1971, 72, 74, 76+, so those displayed nicely. 1975 was fugly. A Tony Oliva orange over brown looked awful near a Rod Carew yellow over red, Blyleven red over blue and Larry Hisle yellow over green, for example. And then of course the team name could be yet a different color for each. No thanks.

The 1971s were a bit before my time and just completely damaged when we got our hands on any, but the 1972 (I have also always had an odd appreciation for the trophy cards) and 1975 sets?? YOU NAILED IT!!!!

[campyfan39]

75 for the colors (brooks/brett/killebrew/gibson/yount/aaron, etc.)
73 for the action shots
71 for the black border
72 because it encapsulates that era

[Bigdaddy]

Does anyone remember - if you slowly leafed through a wax pack of '77 Topps, you could see the All-Star border before you could discern the player. And then you knew...you had struck gold with that pack.

[Harliduck]

I voted for 1972...(Jolly Em obsession has rubbed off on me through the years). Just love the unique style, and it was the most challenging to put together as a set collector. The sheer volume of cards and the fun challenge of the high numbers. I'm still on a constant mode of upgrading...so many centering issues makes it a fun challenge ( and I don't care about centering much...again, I'll reference Jolly as a bad influence...lol)


I easily could have gone 1975 as well, and am really surprised that is leading the poll. I grew up only knowing the "minis" and the normal size cards are still super odd for me to hold. I'm happy that I finally have completed both sets.


My first packs were 1979...love them for a different reason...but the aesthetics simply can't compare to the older 70s sets....

[alaskapaul3]

Such a bold style. Loved the TRADED and the IA cards. '72 Carew card was gorgeous too.

[robw1959]

Just a post to get this back on the front page where it belongs. Since the '75 and '71 sets are almost a dead heat, the next week of voting should provide some separation, I think.

[BioCRN]

Originally Posted by robw1959

Just a post to get this back on the front page where it belongs. Since the '75 and '71 sets are almost a dead heat, the next week of voting should provide some separation, I think.

77 is my fav (71 would be if the photos on some cards were sharper), but it's lining up where I expected it with 71/72/75 being the top dogs. If anything, I thought 72 would be much closer to 71/75 than it is.

[BillyCoxDodgers3B]

I suppose it's not much of a surprise that 75 is currently at the forefront. Before I had interest in signed cards, I would have been right on board with this set being at the top. They're gorgeous if you're not into having your cards autographed. Multi player RCs aside, they tend to look too busy with the real and facsimile autographs on them and then all the colors bouncing off them! But this poll is mainly reflective of unsigned card collectors, so it makes perfect sense to me that the set is the winner thus far.

[boysblue]

Lots of great sets, but for me 1975 is the winner--just love those bright colors.

[Iwantmorecards77]

For me (and apparently many others), it came down to 1971, 1972, and 1975. This is based on design and rookies (as a rookie card collector.) My favorite design of those years is 1972. I really like the bright colors of 1975 - reminds me of my grandmother's flashing Christmas tree lights back in the day. I also like the black borders of 1971. ...I ended up going with 1975.

The early 70's had some major stars and Hall of Famers, but the rookie class of 1971 and 1975 is stacked. '71 has: Baker/Baylor, Simmons, Blyleven, Concepcion, Foster, Garvey, Luzinski, Matlack, and even Grich in 7's and up are desirable. '75 has the iconic Brett and Yount, then add in Carter, Hernandez, Lynn and Rice. (4 Hall of Famers!)

A little surprised that 1978 isn't doing so well. Granted, the design isn't the greatest, but the rookie crop is impressive! Murray, Molitor, Trammell, Morris, Whitaker, Parrish (featuring a 2nd year Dale Murphy!) and throw in Ray Knight. That's 4 HOF rookies and perhaps one that should be...

[mariners69]

79 is my favorite set of the 70:s

79cello2.jpg

[robw1959]

Which one is best?

[BobbyStrawberry]

'71 closing the gap!

[dbrown]

Originally Posted by mariners69

79 is my favorite set of the 70:s

That pair of slabbed Bump Wills cellos is the coolest thing I've seen today. Haven't thought about that variation since about 1980.

[jiw98]

Black border 1971 set is my favorite with the 1972 set a close second.

[nat]

The consensus picks are all very good.

But my favorite is 73. The 73 set has two kinds of photos: extremely boring spring training posed photos, and amazing cool and frankly bizarre action shots. Vida Blue obscured by the hitter, the horizontal Frank Robinson card, Johnny Bench with his back to the camera, Willie Stargell's weird horizontal card, the Chris Chambliss card that might as well be a Jim Kaat card. Admittedly the posed photos are bad, but the refreshingly different action photos more than make up for it. Photos like that Vida Blue one haven't shown up on a baseball card before or since. I really respect Topps choice to take a chance on these strange action shots, and I enjoy the novelty of them.