Most Important Modern Sets?

Axtell

What sets would you rank as the top 5 most important sets of the modern era (say, 1980 on), especially in graded form, in any sport?

One that comes to mind is the 86-7 fleer basketball set, just due to its overwhelming popularity, scarce (compared to most modern issues) in high grade, and an abundance of HoF rookies.

Any other sets you can think of?

Stone193

Ax
The 89UD set.

mike

bowdowntome

1992 Collectors Edge.

BRING BACK PLASTIC CARDS!!!!!

Lothar52

89 score footballl

pandrews

1993 finest

1990 leaf?

1991 topps desert shield?

helionaut

I don't think any sets are really "important" like vintage sets were due to the dilution of having multiple companies and especially so many brands. From a checklist standpoint, 1992 Bowman is up there, and 1984 Fleer Update. 1984 Donruss. And 1997 and 1999 Bowman Chrome maybe, along with 1998 Leaf R&S but it's too early to tell yet. Various 2001 sets will be memorable with RCs of Pujols, Ichiro, Prior, Teixeira, Blalock, etc., but which one? Bowman Chrome, I guess.

From a hobby profile standpoint, 1993 Finest is a definite with refractors driving the first $50 packs of new cards. 1989 UD baseball is good, but it really comes down to 1 card. That spawned the whole upward trend of quality, scarcity and pricing. 1990 Leaf, 1991 TSC, 1992 Ultra were all big in their day, though their pricing is very depressed these days.

In other sports, 1986 Basketball, of course, but beyond that so many sets have aged badly. The initial UD sets in the various sports were all hot on release but overproduction killed them. SP Authentic from 1993 on, especially 1998 and 1999 FB, are "event" sets in 3 sports. I remember when 1989 Hoops was big with the Robinson card and all. Then the 1990 Pro Set FB with the hologram. 1996 UD Jersey cards. So many things get hot but none really had staying power because no good ideas go long without being abused.

Stone193

<< <i>1989 UD baseball is good, but it really comes down to 1 card >>


Helio
I don't know if this is semantics or what but I thought of important as the same as significant in spirit - I was thinking in terms of the sets that made some kind of "impact" - having said that - doesn't the 89UD set herald in the "Age of Premium Brand" packs/cards/sets?

Before they came out with a buck pack - the closest competitor was either a quarter or half buck? Can't remember?

mike

bowdowntome

What is the definition of an "Important" set?

In my opinion, this means "most inovative" or "trend setting", as far as card technologies go, not the most popular or most expensive.

In that light I'd throw sets like:

Action Packed football (Embossed cards)
Collectors Edge (plastic cards)
Finest (refractor technology)
Stadium Club (full bleed, great photography)
U.D. (quality that was affordable. I still ove the 1989-92 U.D. products, I don't care if the presses are still running today)
Whoever came up with patch inserts and auto's (like 'em or not)

All these card companies sets changed the way cards were made, IMHO.

lostdart58

For complete sets (factory sets)....... (small sets) 1992 Fleer Update (Piazza Rookie) or 1982 Topps traded (Ripken semi rookie) and of course the Topps 86 traded Tiffany (Bonds rookie)

The large set would be the 1985 Topps Tiffany (Clemens , McGuire rookie)

Futureman

The 1997 Upper Deck Legends autograph set has to be one of the top 5 sets in any sport from the 1990's (if not since 1980). The set has actually held it's value, and even increased. The autographs of some of the superstars are extremely SP'ed, and in most cases have wound up in private collections. When they do surface, they usually realize full book. (Maybe that doesn't mean much to some people, but there aren't many cards that get anything near the Beckett prices.) The set has a great look, with a good design, and quality photography. The autographs aren't on stickers either. '97 UD Legends is a classic, and there's no reason that will change.

envoy98

My votes would go to
89 UD Baseball
93 Finest Refractors Baseball
01 SP Authentic FB (first auto/patches)
90 Leaf BB
97 Legends Autographs Football

I really like 85 Topps Baseball, 84 and 85 & 86 Topps Football as well and the Diamond Kings inserts from the first elite series of baseball. Those would be my honorable mentions.

91 Desert Shield is great, but not a mainstream issue, so I left it off the list.

joestalin

Im going to go with 1998 and newer..

01 bowman chrome
99 bowman chrome
98 Leaf Rookies and Stars (the last of the pure non-auto/GU sets)
99 Ultimate Victory ( I really think there will be at least 3 HOF'ers in this rookie set)
00 GOTG....can't forget fleer, an amazing product that was selling 3X's cost BEFORE the product was even live. The last of the
auto sets that didn't use stickers and included a stellar linup at great pull odds.

Nice topic

JS

MajorDanby

my baseball list is...

1989 Upperdeck (First high end set to come out)
1990 Leaf (Didnt think a company could go even higher than upperdeck...next year, leaf came out)
1991 Stadium Club (fantastic photography, glossy)
1993 Finest (refractors...made the whole insert craze even crazier)

TheCARDKid

'89 Upper Deck has to be #1 or #2. It ushered in the premium era, had the most popular rookie card of the era, it was a huge set, the hobby was on fire at that time.

Besides that, I'd included...

86/87 Fleer basketball
1993 Topps Finest (the Refractor craze)
89 Score Football
1992 Bowman

iamthegreatcornholio

I like PA's choices,

regular sets - 89 UD, 90 Leaf

tough sets - 91 Desert Shield

inserts - 93 Finest Refractors

Brian