Hey, why not rank 1980s baseball card designs too?

Estil

TOPPS
=====
1. 1987: Very first complete set I bought (along with 1989), very clean colorful woodgrain bordered front, nice yellow/blue back.
2. 1989: Not the most popular design, I know, but it was one of the first cards I ever got, and I also love the back design too
3. 1983: Very colorful, very clever double picture design
4. 1981: I love colorful, bold designs, remember? Also final year of Topps' old "smiling" logo (though the current logo is on the pack wrappers)
5. 1982: Not sure why, but I like this design and the colors used for the teams.
6. 1985: I like both front (colorful, team logo) and back (Christmas colors, perhaps to mark the first year of "Christmas" factory sets?)
7. 1980: My birth year, nuff said
8. 1986: Okay as long as the black top borders aren't chipped too much
9. 1984: I love the red/white/blue back, but this double picture design is not nearly as strong as 1983's
10. 1988: *yawn*

FLEER
====
1. 1987: Very solid blue bordered design and red/white/blue back, almost as "80s" as the 1984.
2. 1984: The most "80s" of all major sets' designs, period. And a few creative pics just for good measure
3. 1986: Navy blue borders with colorful team plates, what more could you ask for?
4. 1985: So what if the centering was bad that year? At least it had nice colorful inner borders
5. 1982: Say what you will about the horrible fuzzy pictures, I do like the design otherwise and this is my favorite back design (very advanced for 1982)
6. 1989: Has its charm, but nothing really exciting, at least it was more interesting than 1988
7. 1988: Not a bad design, but IMO, this year was the weakest year for card designs, except for 1988 Score
8. 1981: Okay front, dismal back (loaded with errors) and couldn't even cut the cards straight that year
9. 1983: Just like the 1977 Topps set, very yawner as far as front goes, but the brown colored back is unique and has its charm

DONRUSS
=======
1. 1989: My favorite of all 1980s designs, with the colorful borders and memories (this and 1989 Topps were my first cards bought for me)
2. 1987: Even nicer black borders than 1985, with colorful team plate and logo
3. 1985: Black bordered beauties just like 1971 Topps, but at least you can buy a factory set and avoid the chipped borders.
4. 1984: Yes, its the most famous 1980s sets, but it wasn't the BEST design IMO.
5. 1986: The blue/black borders and colorful team plate has its charm
6. 1982: At least it was better than the following year, at least it was kinda unique and debuted the Diamond Kings
7. 1983: Laziest design change of all time (change ball to glove and move to other side, change back from blue to orange, that's it)
8. 1981: Another yawner, but at least unlike Fleer that year, they did a decent job making the cards (except for the thin stock)
9. 1988: This is the most boring design of all the 1980s sets; no wonder its still only worth $5 a factory set, if that

Estil

So, how would the rest of you rank these designs?

jamesryanbell

My favorites:

Best Fleer: 1984
Best Donruss: 1984 with 1985 close behind
Best Topps: 1983

blindflyer

Estil,

I think it's criminal that you have '84 Donruss ranked so low. To each his own, but that site is so clean, so simple, so well designed it's sick. To me, that set is far and away the coolest of the decade. Throw on top of that the fact that it actually has retained value, and it is the class of the decade in every way.

-t

hotmush

My two cents:
Topps: 1985
Donruss: 1984
Fleer: 1985

fiveniner

Best 1984 Donruss
2nd 1987 Topps
3rd 1985 Donruss

Stingray

Topps: 1984

Donruss: 1984

Fleer: 84 or 85

kcballboy

Topps - 80
Donruss - 87
Fleer - 87

colebear

Donruss:
86 Donruss (Reminds me of Max Headroom)
89 Donruss (End of the dark border run for Donruss)
84 Donruss (I was six and these cards were so cool and pricey and they still are!!)

Fleer:
83 Fleer (Reminds me of the old west)
88 Fleer (Very futuristic design)
86 Fleer (Very basic design and very clean apprearance compared to previous years)

Topps:
87 Topps (So ugly and smooth you have to love them)
81 Topps (Loved the cap in the corner)
86 Topps (Black borders with a team name big enough the blind can read)

even though I did not collect until 1987, 1986 is the best for most original designs)

baseballfan

topps 1980-1987
donruss 1986-1984
fleer 1986-1981

packman

My favorite sets/designs from the 1980s are as follows:

1. 1984 Donruss
2. 1989 Upper Deck
3. 1980 Topps
4. 1986 Topps

Stingray

<< <i>My favorite sets/designs from the 1980s are as follows:

1. 1984 Donruss
2. 1989 Upper Deck
3. 1980 Topps
4. 1986 Topps >>




Ah, forgot about 89 UD, good call!!

tennesseebanker

Donruss-86 84 85
Topps- 80 87 82
Fleer- 87 88 81
Honarable Mention to 89 Upper Deck

basestealer

My ranks are based on design and photography, rather than the rookies, players, or values of the sets

Topps:
1980
1983, 1984 tie
1988, 1989 tie

Donruss
1984
1987

Fleer
1984
1983
1987

Jdurg

I only cared, and still only care, about Topps cards so here's my ranking from best to worst.

1. 1985: A nice large area to house the actual photo, and a big, bold box to display the team name of the player. Very crisp.
2. 1987: The wood grain just looks really cool, and the yellow/blue back is attractive.
3. 1983: I like the inset photograph and the overall look of these cards.
4. 1984: This one falls slightly behind 1983 since 1983 had already done this basic design, but I like the way the back of the card looks.
5. 1986: The card almost has a 1970's style feel to it with the big, dark top half and the white bottom half.
6. 1981: Colorful card design that really looks like the styles used in the 1970's.
7. 1982: Kind of boring to me with too much space wasted by the funky disco-like border on the left hand side.
8. 1980: The only thing keeping this ahead of 1988 and 1989 is the facscimile autographs. I just have a thing for facsimilie autos.
9. 1988: One of the worst card designs I've seen, but on the bright side it left a lot of space for the actual photograph.
10. 1989: Bland and boring. 1988 is horrible but at least there was a LOT of space for the photos.

Brian48

I have a preference for these:

Topps:
1983
1986 (Hated it at first, but for some reason it has grown on me)
1987

Donruss:
1984
1985
1987

Fleer
1984
1985
1987

UpperDeck
1989

Leaf
1990

Score
1988

It seems 1987 was a real joy for me. It was first year where I really liked all releases from the big 3 (Sportflix don't count). Unfortunately, it was the other way around in 1988 although I sort liked what Score put out.

*EDIT: Stratch '90 Leaf off that list. Wrong decade.

Estil

<< <i>Estil,

I think it's criminal that you have '84 Donruss ranked so low. To each his own, but that site is so clean, so simple, so well designed it's sick. To me, that set is far and away the coolest of the decade. Throw on top of that the fact that it actually has retained value, and it is the class of the decade in every way.

-t >>



Retained its value? Believe me, it is nowhere near what it was at its late 80s peak value wise.

I didn't include 1989 Upper Deck since well, it would've won the Upper Deck category by default And ranking only two 1980s Score sets wouldn't have been all that interesting either (I like the 1988 BTW)

1989FleerBillRipkencollector

I like..

1987 Topps

1987 Donruss

Ive seen so many 89 Fleer cards so thats the only design I can remember. Ive been brain washed.

jhpfunk

I'll make my list simple:

Topps: 1981 (1983 close behind)
Donruss: 1984 (what else comes close?)
Fleer: 1985 (ditto)

CDsNuts

Top 5 (from a strictly aesthetic standpoint):

1- 89 Upper Deck
2- 88 Score
3- 81 Topps (I've always liked the stupid little hat)
4- 86 Topps
5- 87 Fleer


Lee

MeteoriteGuy

Topps:

1980
1987
1986

Donruss:

1987
1984
1986

Fleer:

1983
1987
1986

TZAHL

I'm not a big fan of 87 topps for some reason. Looks plain to me.

jamesryanbell

<< <i>I'm not a big fan of 87 topps for some reason. Looks plain to me. >>



same here. i think "cheap" when I see them.

ArnyVee

Donruss: 1984 Donruss, 1985 Donruss, 1987 Donruss

Fleer: 1987 Fleer, 1985 Fleer, 1984 Fleer

Topps: 1983 Topps, 1985 Topps, 1987 Topps

Overall Top 3: 1984 Donruss, 1983 Topps, 1985 Donruss

Honorable Mention: 1989 Upper Deck

Those are my rankings and I'm stickin' to 'em!

estang

Topps:
1. 1983
2. 1984
3. 1981
4. 1987
5. 1980
6. 1982
7. 1986
8. 1985
9. 1988
10. 1989

Donruss:
1. 1985
2. 1987
3. 1986
(never cared for Donruss except Diamond Kings -- not enough stats for me. Also, I don't get the 1984 design -- doesn't strike me)

Fleer:
1. 1987
2. 1984
3. 1988
4. 1986
5. 1983

1989 Upper Deck was probably the set of the decade for its innovation and technology.

tennesseebanker

What ? No Mention of Sportflics ?

bri2327

Topps- 1981, 1986, 1984

Fleer- 1984, 1985, 1986

Donruss- 1985, 1984, 1986

Robby

Topps 1987 ( Most Favorite Set of The 80's )
1983
1986

Fleer - 1984
1988
1987

Donruss -1987
1984
1985

Bunker

84 Donruss
83 Topps

larryallen73

I think '83 Topps is an under appreciated set.

bobsbbcards

Topps:

1983 '52 Topps Reprint Set

Donruss:

1984 Donruss

Fleer:

1987 Fleer Headliners

Estil

For those of you who just listed/ranked years only; be sure to explain WHY you ranked them as you did.

Volver

Ranking based on no other reason than first appearance/looks...

Topps
1984
1989
1980

Donruss
1984
1988
1985

Fleer
1987
1988
1984

I love the 1989 Upper Deck - groundbreaking

LJB17

I am shocked by the love for the 87 Topps set. That is an ugly card.

I like 82 Topps for the "In Action" cards, but 81 is up there as well.

84 Donruss is always great, but I have to admit I like the 82 and 83 as well.

82 Fleer was a cool set to me, but I think I will take 87. anyone who likes those 88 or 89 cards in on crack.

89 was Upper Deck's best set of the 80s by far! Also the worst.

Estil

<< <i>89 was Upper Deck's best set of the 80s by far! Also the worst. >>



In what ways?

bri2327

<< <i>

<< <i>89 was Upper Deck's best set of the 80s by far! Also the worst. >>



In what ways? >>



Think hard about that one and get back to us.

BobaFett72

1983 topps
1984 Donruss
1987 Fleer
1987 Donruss
1985 Donruss
1987 Topps (the love for this set is nostalgia for the 62' topps set)
1985 Topps
1986 Topps
1988 Score
1984 Topps.
totally forgot about 1989 UD! crisp, clean design & sharp photos;

Estil

You guys think I should do one for the major 1990s sets too?

BugOnTheRug

<< <i>Donruss 1984: Yes, its the most famous 1980s sets, but it wasn't the BEST design IMO. >>



I respectfully disagree 1,984%

Estil

<< <i>

<< <i>Donruss 1984: Yes, its the most famous 1980s sets, but it wasn't the BEST design IMO. >>



I respectfully disagree 1,984% >>



I can't help it if I like black (1985/1987 Donruss) or colorful (1989) borders better.

RedHeart54

1984 Donruss was a breakthrough compared to the previous three Donruss sets. The photography was phenomenal, the design was simple and then there was that Mattingly guy whose card probably single-handedly saved the company.

Blackborder

1986 Topps is the best Topps of the 80's.

Estil

<< <i>1984 Donruss was a breakthrough compared to the previous three Donruss sets. The photography was phenomenal, the design was simple and then there was that Mattingly guy whose card probably single-handedly saved the company. >>



I agree the 1984 Donruss was the "landmark" set of the 80s, but remember, this topic was to rank designs only, and personally, I liked the black or colorful borders better, and it just so happened the 80s had three such sets for Donruss; sorry! Not number of RC's, not scarcity, and for the most part, not photography. Only the design. I'm sure Mr. blackborder here knows what I'm talking about with those 1985 and 1987 Donruss sets, right?

viking7

82 Topps gets my vote.

BobaFett72

instead of creating a new thread, why not bump the one you already did

looks like a total cut and past job....
i was hoping in a year you'd have some new snappy comments

just pokin' fun at ya.....LOL

DrJ

To the top!

perkdog

1987 Topps
1985 Fleer
1985 Donruss

VitoCo1972

1986 Topps
1987 Donruss
1985 Fleer

Estil

<< <i>instead of creating a new thread, why not bump the one you already did

looks like a total cut and past job....
i was hoping in a year you'd have some new snappy comments

just pokin' fun at ya.....LOL >>



Well, I originally was going to bump it, but it was several months old so I figured what was the point? Besides, I was inspired to do so by the 60s/70s best design threads so I wanted the topic to start the same way.