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Why do the odd-years in the 60's....

...look better than the even-numbered years for Topps Baseball?

I was reading another thread about what sets people are working on. I collect almost all baseball sets from 1959-1968, but have focused on grading the odd-numbered years. I just think Topps disappointed a lot of kids in 1960, 1962, 1964 and 1966. Also 1968. I hate to bring up that 1968 Burlap issue, since so many collect it, but geez, that's one butt-ugly year.

I like the '59's and '63's because of the variation in use of bright colors, but not psychedelic like '60 and '72.

I like '65's because of the clear photos and waving-in-the-wind pennants, but find both '64 and '66 to be too rigid and block-like, not to mention the orange ('64) and pink ('66) backs vs. the blue backs on '65. Uggghhhh!

I think '61 just looks vintage, without being too boring. But compared to '60 and '62, it's at least a ground-rule-double. While '67 may be the best looking card design of all, with those photos and autos.

Why is it that Topps went yard in the odd-years but took big swings and came up "Dave Kingman" in the even years?

Comments

  • You beat me to it, I was going to post asking what were people's favorite issues from the 50's, 60's and 70's (through 75). It seems there is a bias on this board (and the registry maybe) regarding 65's, 68's, 75's, 71 (Masochists all) and 72's. I see where you stand, and you know I'm nuts about 62 (that curl in the picture over the position is so retro!). Of the 50's, I like the 57 myself. Nice understated set with great pictures.

    What do other people think?
    Call me crazy, but I collect 62 Topps BB.

    eBay auctions
  • My favorites

    1956 Fantastic pictures on background of portraits. Clemente, Ford, Mays & Mantle cards absolutely stunning
    1967 Beautiful photographs with autographs, cannot be beat
    1975 Wacky colors surrounding great photos
    1984 Donruss Right up there with 67's pictures & design, simple yet beautiful
    Orioles cards from 1960 to today.

    Be good my brothers.
  • Funny how what some people like, others do not.

    From the 1960's, my favorite three designs are 1964, 1966 and 1969. My least favorite are 1962, 1963 and 1965.

    From the 1950's, I like 1952 Bowman, 1954 Bowman and 1959 Topps. My least favorite are 1951 Bowman, 1953 Topps and 1956 Topps.

    Skycap


  • srs1asrs1a Posts: 398
    Agreed Skycap -- beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

    My favorites from the 60's are 63, 65, and 68.
    Dr S. of the Dead Donkeys MC
  • ydsotterydsotter Posts: 500
    1960 is an interesting issue being the only horizontal issue... with 2 pictures, multi colored name, and other contrasting colors... The backs are cool also.

    I recently saw a mazeroski... it has pink lemonade colors... that's a sharp looking issue.

    I like 1965 and 1967 best from the 1960's...

    What kind of photo do people like? I have always liked the portraits best... 66 aaron, the regal 65 mays, 71 banks, 66 koufax~
    -G
  • VirtualizardVirtualizard Posts: 1,936 ✭✭
    I love the '60 & '69 cards (the two sets I'm currently collecting and have listed on the registry). Although I haven't started it yet, the '65 set would be my next choice. Check out my '60 registry set scans. I think these cards are beautiful. I guess it is all in the eye of the beholder. image

    JEB.
  • nortynorty Posts: 201
    My favorite years are whatever comes in that is the highest grade. You'd be surprised how beautiful a really high grade 62 can look!
    Joe Tauriello
    Setbuilders Sports Cards
    Ebay: set-builders & set-builders2
  • I'm obviously partial to the '64 cards, but more for nostalgic reasons than the design. I still like their design, but my first two choices purely by design would be '63 and '61....
  • mrc32mrc32 Posts: 604
    Without a doubt I think 1954 is the best looking set of the of the last 50 years. The colors, the pics, the off center touch is neat. Just a very cool set.

  • Personally , I really like the burlap issue(1968 ) it has always been kind of a favorite of mine... But to each his own ... But as far as my least favorite Topps issue it would have to be 1970 with that awful, ugly battleship grey....
    Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass... it's about learning to dance in the rain.
  • My favorite year is 1960 followed closely by topps issues for 1952 through 1956, 1959, and 1963. I will give honorable mention to 1957 and 1962.
    Bill Roberts
  • thejamthejam Posts: 164
    i think 71s look great altho in weird way they are like 64s which i detest.
  • LJB17LJB17 Posts: 252 ✭✭


    << <i>my least favorite Topps issue it would have to be 1970 with that awful, ugly battleship grey.... >>



    How can you hate that lovely shade of grey? I guess it helps that I am color blind. I love the set. The All Stars are what make that set for me. Those were my first "vintage" cards as well, and great team cards here too.

    I wish Topps would bring back the "Team cards!"

    Looking for 77 cloth 9s and 10s.
    54 Red Hearts
    and now 64 Stand ups
  • My personal favorites:

    1957 Topps - as mentioned by others, great photos and simple, understated design. The only people who wouldn't like this set are the ones who like their cards "over the top".

    1964 Topps - I gravitate towards simplistic but these do have a slight amount of flair. I like how the photo doesn't simply crop off at the top. They actually crop just the background and let the player's cap extend upward. Gives it almost a 3-D look to it and draws focus away from the background.

    My least favorites are probably the '62s and '69s. The woodgrain of '62 is distracting to me and those big circles stuck to most everyone's forehead ('69) don't look that great to me.

    Just one man's opinion.





  • sjjs28sjjs28 Posts: 486 ✭✭✭✭
    I too am an ODD Guy -

    Im my humble opinion the 67 and the 65 sets are classic - clean and good simple eye candy....

    My least favorite is the 1968 (sorry, EJ) and the 60/61 equally.

    Steve Saldutti
    sjjs28@comcast.net
    Collector of 1964 Topps Stand Ups, 1965 Embossed, 1968 Topps Game and 1969 Topps Decals
    Registered Sets: 1964 Stand Ups, 1965 Embossed, 1968 Topps Game, 1969 Topps Decals
  • VirtualizardVirtualizard Posts: 1,936 ✭✭
    Looks like I collect 3 of the most disliked sets - '60, '69, & '70. image

    Oh well, I like them and that's all that counts! image

    JEB.
  • TipemTipem Posts: 881


    I guess that my favorite really makes me an oddball.I think that the 55 Bowman has to be my favorite along with the 56 set.The 55 Bowman with their cool tv design seems to bring create a nostalgic feeling for me when things must have been more simplier.Baseball was a nationally followed game(seems that we have forgotten that it is a game)that the simple man and his family could almost be a part of.I am only 45 so I haven't lived in that era,but it sure seems that times, and baseball,were so much more relaxed and less complicated.


    Just a thought

    Vic
    Please be kind to me. Even though I'm now a former postal employee, I'm still capable of snapping at any time.
  • ejguruejguru Posts: 618 ✭✭✭
    Steve: Since you dislike the burlap bags so much, maybe you can hand over card # 250 since I'm sure it is making you sickimageimage.
    I do like the fact that of the '68s, the weave varies from series to series. Also, I love to read the back of the Red Sox cards, analyzing how much they contributed to the previous season. If I had the funds to collect another set from the decade, (besides '65) it would be '62.

    I can't get over how many shots were taken at Yankee stadium. It's almost like Topps either got shots in March or waited until teams came to NY. Really wished all parks were included more equally. There must be a few expert collectors out there who can identify all ML parks from each year.





    "...life is but a dream."

    Used to working on HOF SS Baseballs--Now just '67 Sox Stickers and anything Boston related.
  • mikeschmidtmikeschmidt Posts: 5,756 ✭✭✭
    Vic:

    I agree with you on 1955 Bowman -- plus you have the cool umpire cards to boot!
    I am actively buying MIKE SCHMIDT gem mint baseball cards. Also looking for any 19th century cabinets of Philadephia Nationals. Please PM with additional details.
  • I agree with Marc and Vic. The 55 bowman's scream nostalgia. A very underappreciated set. I also love the 54 topps. In my opinion, they have the best eye appeal of all the Topps set's.

    Bill H.
    Interested in 1955 bowman baseball psa 7 and better!
  • VirtualizardVirtualizard Posts: 1,936 ✭✭
    How did this thread regarding '60s Topps baseball sets turn into "my favorite/least favorite set of all time"? In my opinion, any high grade 50's or '60s card in a PSA holder looks great!

    JEB.
  • BasiloneBasilone Posts: 2,492 ✭✭

    I dont mind....any talk about vintage PSA sounds good to me. My favorite is 1965 Topps....I keep coming back to them...again...and again.

    John
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