1952 Topps vs. T206 "The Monster"

[Jim VB]

I thought it was a good question too. No reason to delete it.

The baseball card industry (printing, not collecting) has never been a straight line chart. It has always been a series of fits and starts. But in my mind, there have always been four iconic sets that started off each spurt in the industry: 1) Old Judge (N172), 2) T206, 3) 1933 Goudey, and lastly, 4) 1952 Topps.

[JasonL]

you need to add
#5) 1987 Topps (for ushering in the new modern age of truly overprinted cards)

good list, great question. My official on-topic response is: yes. 1952 is the modern equivqalent of the T206 set, for all the reasons listed in prior posts

[Jim VB]

Actually Jason, I consider the change you reference to have occured a little later. I think the next set that "changed" the card industry was the 1989 Upper Deck set. That really raised the bar in terms of quality.

But... by then the overprinting you reference was so prevalent that those years will never be rare or iconic.

[JasonL]

and I totally agree with the Upper Deck comment.

So would you say perhaps 1988 or 1990 Donruss instead of 1987 topps for overprinting?
Certainly 1988 Donruss or 1990 topps seemed tied for setting a new low for quality...

[Jim VB]

Originally Posted by JasonL

and I totally agree with the Upper Deck comment.

So would you say perhaps 1988 or 1990 Donruss instead of 1987 topps for overprinting?
Certainly 1988 Donruss or 1990 topps seemed tied for setting a new low for quality...

Oh no. I think you were correct and the overprinting began with the 1987 Topps.