Rating "Historic Sets"

RayBShotz

Been thinking a lot lately about this topic since I started my 51' Bowman set.
Just wanted to get the thoughts of those of you out there who currently collect or have dabbled in "Historic Sets".
What are your favorites?

Pre-war Historic

1. T-206 Baseball - Benchmark antiquity
2. 1933 Goudey Baseball - Mythical Gum issue
3. T-205 Baseball - The Gold Standard

Post War

1. 1951 Bowman Baseball - Classic Painted Format Mantle & Mays Rookies
2. 1952 Topps Baseball - Classic; High Numbers Legendary; Most recognized Mantle
3. 1953 Baseball - Amazing artwork; Great Presentation

Just one man's opinion.
RayBShotz

CON40

Great thread!

I don't think you can overlook the Old Judge issues... it laid the groundwork for T206s and the entire industry! They even had variation SPs before anyone knew what SPs were!

My list would be:

Pre-War:
1887 Old Judge (the progenitor of our hobby!)
1933 Goudey (you can't beat cards with bubble gum!)

Post-War:
1952 Topps (if for nothing else, STATS!)
1953 Bowman Color (spelled the end of colorized sets)

Mantlefan

Post War:

1. 1952 Topps....first of the "Big cards"

2. 1953 Bowman...first great "photo set"

3. 1957 Topps...first of the "modern day sized cards" [and a beautiful set to boot!]

WinPitcher

my choices would be:

1 1952 Bowman

2 1955 Topps

3 1909 -10 ? T206 tobacco cards

edited to add non sports entry 62 Bubbles inc mars attacks

AlanAllen

A little football perspective:

Pre-War:
1. 1935 National Chicle - Head and shoulders above the rest
2. 1894 Mayo - just because it's the first all- football set
3. 1933 Sport Kings - The first mainstream cards of Grange and Thorpe

Post-War:
1. 1948 Leaf - Unparalleled RC selection, and excceedingly tough in high grade
2. 1952 Bowman Large - The '52 Topps of football
3. 1955 Topps All-American - The most popular vintage football set

"Modern Classics":
1. 1989 Score - Amazing RC selection, and transformed modern football cards. The '89 Upper Deck of football.
2. 1972 Topps - Popular set with great player selection and tough high numbers
3. 1984 Topps - The famous QB class of '83 RC's, and a bunch more HOF RC's.

Joe

murcerfan

I'd throw in the 1914 Cracker Jack set,
the 1954-5 Topps Hockey set,
and possibly a non-sport entry of the 1933 Indian Gum set

Vargha

Are we to start seeing "Die Bart, die!" posts anytime soon, Sideshow?

murcerfan

watch it krusty...
.............................or I'll frame you.

grilloj39

1) From a historical perspective I would say 1887 Old Judge with a different perspective...unlike baseball where players were segregated by race..boxing is the one true sport where integration was mostly prevalent and addition of African-American athletes on sportscards as early as 1887 (peter jackson).

2) 1952 Topps Baseball, it was topps' first issue and the design of the cards even by today's standards is flawless IMO.

3) 1964 Topps Hockey...it was the first year (from a historical perspective) in which the tallboy cards were introduced. Football and Basketball later followed suit.

murcerfan

it was the first year (from a historical perspective) in which the tallboy cards were introduced.

except T 200's , T222's, mecca's, '55 double headers, '51 topps all-stars, et.al.. of course

grilloj39

murcerfan...yes, there have been oversized cards in previous years...I was referring to the term "tall boys" for Topps issues. But thanks for pointing out that there have been large cards in the past.

regards,
JG

67standup

Favorites, not necessarily most expensive or most I'd like to own:

19th Century - 1888 Goodwin Champions

Pre WWII - 1933 Sport Kings

Post WWII to 1972 - 1964 Topps Stand-Ups

Modern - 1974 O-Pee-Chee baseball (such a tough underrated set)

Set to Own (scarcity considered) - 1967 Topps Stand-Ups and 1966 Punchout, 1970 Topps Cloth

Favorite Card - 1976 Aaron #1 and 1964 Yaz Stand-Up