Favorite Sets of the 70's

vintagefun

I'm considering putting together some 10% sets as a side project. Meaning, I have no interest in hunting down all 660 in a set, and would prefer to target the 66 (or so) cards from the set that I like best.

I really dig most of the 70's designs, and while I think I know my Top 3, it is a tight race, and I'd love to hear from the gallery. (not value based)

1. 1974 (just really like the pictures, love the Marichal leg kick, the Seaver follow through, so many other notables, but no Mays and no Clemente is a bummer).
2. 1971 (birth year and cool black borders)
3. 1977

It's tough. I really like the 73's and the 76's too. 75's, 70's and 72's have some appeal. 78 and 79 are outside looking in.

Thoughts?

TheMick6

Where you getting the cards graded or not? Even though I grew up in the 70's I've always seen them as Topps least desirable sets at least aesthetically. If I had to pick the top three from those years I'd say 71, 75 and 76. 1971 for the challenge and I think it's the best looking from those years, 1975 because of the Brett and Yount cards plus when you get those in high grade they do tend to have a nice look about them. The 1976's would be third and that's only cause i see the rest as kind of bland sets. Just curious but why only 10 percent of the set. When purchased raw you can get nice cards from 74 up pretty cheap.

PaulMaul

Starting with favorite and working down:

1. 1971
2. 1975
3. 1972
4. 1976
5. 1973
6. 1974

1974 is my most nostalgic year, but not my favorite....

jmaciu

Here are my top 3:

1. 1979 O-Pee-Chee: This is the first year that I really started buying cards, so this year is important to me. This set is brighter and I feel is on better stock than its Topps counterpart. Plus, I love the rough cut.
2. 1975 Topps Mini: I love the high level of color with this set, and the smaller cards are neat.
3. 1976 Topps: I like the design Topps used, and the action shots are nice. The Al Oliver and Johnny Bench cards are my favorites.

MiniDuff

It is a mediocre set IMO, but I have also always loved many of the photos in 1974, Seaver jumping off the page at me at the moment. 71 "RC Cola" Ryan is my favorite single card of the decade.

Love 75s as I collected them as a kid and it was the first set I completed and I somewhat fanatically collect minis now (I say somewhat as Henry (Mintmoondog) owns the true fanatic of minis title now and forever).

Have always loved 71s for the look and the challenge, but think the 72 set is far better looking.

jgrigali

I've always like 1973, cool action shots, last clemente. I have about 60% of it done in PSA 8.

GB5HOF

I love the 73's...

vintagefun

<< <i>Just curious but why only 10 percent of the set. >>



Mostly space concerns, but also if I do decide to go graded, I don't want to chase commons or pay grading fees for them.

Some of you may be familiar with Fun Way ...in which a fellow board member has amassed his favorite 30 cards from I think 56-85. It's an amazing thread of great pictures that I check out at least once a month.

This is the inspiration.

cjaccardi

I love the 1972 set. The design is amazing and screams the 70s

miwlvrn

1971 Topps or OPC hockey

...but you probably only mean baseball...

bziddy

1974 is my favorite 1970s set.

1974
1977
1978
1971
1970
1979

...then the others.

bunt

Agreed on 1972 - Funky 70's perfection.

mrpeanut39

Another vote for the 72s. It's like H.R. Pufnstuf and Lidsville and those other Sid & Marty Krofft shows in cardboard form.

robert67

tkd7

1971
1975
1972
those three stand out

the rest are all solid

Stingray

74 was the first set I collected, I think 73s are underrated, great action shots throughout. 75s are a favorite, but too many collecting it making it an expensive one to collect.

Downtown1974

Love the 72 and 75 sets. I think the 73 and 79 sets are my least favorite from that decade.

MrNearMint

Im an 80's child so I don't really have any kind of connection with the 70's sets, but also dont care for many of the designs.

I do however, love the 71 topps Nolan Ryan card. Probably one of the best looking cards or card poses EVER!!

longtimemetsfan

1973
1972
1975

The back of the 76's still bug me. You have to be in good light to see the stats.

Steelernation

'71
'75
NOT 76-79, all strike me as blah. ESP vs 72

VitoCo1972

<< <i>1971 Topps or OPC hockey

...but you probably only mean baseball... >>



the best mainstream 70's sets for sure! I'd throw 70 Topps/OPC hockey and 72 basketball in there as well. Personal fav is 74 hockey. For baseball I'd go 72/73

76collector

76
75
71
77

WalterSobchak

The sets I really like are '71, '75, '70, and '78. Probably in that order.

'74 and '79 do absolutely nothing for me.

The rest are OK.

daddymc

If I was doing this, I would do '75, '75 mini, '71, '76, then the rest.

soundgard

75 mini
71
72
70

parkerj

I used to prefer the 71s over all, but when i built the 73 set last year, after perusing thousands of these cards, they grew on me....mainly because the photos are so odd and strange choices. It was the first year they used action photos extensively and they just made some really odd choices...the alvarez with the parking lot in the background is a classic. Sometimes the player whose name is on the card is the third or fourth player on the card, and perhaps least prominently.

bishop

Topps 1971 Greatest Moments ( 55 cards)
Topps 1973 Pin Ups ( 24 items)
Topps 1974 Deckle ( 72 cards)

Stingray

<< <i>I used to prefer the 71s over all, but when i built the 73 set last year, after perusing thousands of these cards, they grew on me....mainly because the photos are so odd and strange choices. It was the first year they used action photos extensively and they just made some really odd choices...the alvarez with the parking lot in the background is a classic. Sometimes the player whose name is on the card is the third or fourth player on the card, and perhaps least prominently. >>



Got to love the Pat Corrales card!!

ClockworkAngel

This is exactly what I focus on. I have no interest in commons or the Registry....just the core HOF's, Rookies, etc

My focus is on PSA 9 and/or 10:

1. 1975 Topps Mini - So cool for different reasons. It's unique, rare in comparison to the regular issue, impossible to find in mint condition, and a one of a kind item for it's time. Not to mention the set is loaded with superstars and rookies

2. 1971 Topps - Ugly as hell when they are banged up, and the most gorgeous set going when found in true mint condition

3. 1973 Topps - Love this for reasons others have stated here

These 3 sets are my collecting/investing focus. I also get into anything and everything O-Pee-Chee

mrmopar

My order for the decade, strictly due to the overall card design (I'd need to reconsider if the player images were to be considered as well):

1977
1976
1978 (first year collecting, some sentimental value here)
1975
1971
1974
1970
1979
1973
1972 (I think this was one of the worst designs ever)

Brian48

For the '70s, there's really only two sets that I truly can say are my favorites. '75 Topps baseball and '79-80 Topps Hockey. Even without the Gretzky rookie, the '79-80 hockey set is one of the best looking sets I've ever collected.

jmoran19

3 way tie

1954

1. 1971 Topps Greatest Moments
2. 1976 Topps
3 1973 Topps - My dad and I completed this set one card at a time by hitting card shops/shows. Great photos but horrible paper stock.
4. 1971 Topps
5. 1975 Topps
6. 1972 Topps - Too big of a set or might have moved up one spot
7. 1977 Topps - Horrible paper stock
8. 1970 Topps - very blah to me but pretty good photos
9. 1979 Topps
10. 1978 Topps
Last 1974 Topps

I love all the 1970's sets with the exception of 70 and 74.

ClockworkAngel

Regarding the paper stock, which set do you feel is the worst in that decade? I have found 1973, 1974, and 1977 to be pretty bad

cjaccardi

You mean the alvarado card ? George Scott with the fake back ground is great too nod the boots card ! Crowley card makes me laugh. Love that set

PaulMaul

Alvarado

jmaciu

As a follow-up to the stock used, OPC appears to have a brighter and better-quality stock than Topps.

ClockworkAngel

<< <i>As a follow-up to the stock used, OPC appears to have a brighter and better-quality stock than Topps. >>



No way...never

hyperchipper09

1. 1978 Topps. My first wax packs
2. 1971 Topps. Black borders
3. 1978 Topps Football. My first football wax packs.

1954

The card stock for 73, 74, 77 and 78. I would put 77 down as the best out of the four. It is a tie between 73 and 74 being the worst. I love the 1973 Topps set though

CW

'71 is a cool set all around and a no-brainer choice.

What I'm about to say is completely biased and one-sided, since this was the year I started collecting as a kid and this set contains one of my favorite cards in the hobby, but 1977 Topps is one of the best from the 70s. The photography throughout the set is what I call baseball card perfect. So many cards just have that classic shot -- one that just seems to fit on a baseball card. It might not even be the best composition or angle, but that doesn't matter in baseball cards. I don't know how to explain it, but 1977 just has "it". Plus, if you're collecting a portion from each set, '77 offers the cool all-star subset -- not easy to complete in MINT grade, really tough to accomplish in GEM (if that's your thing).

I mean, come on.....

ClockworkAngel

CW, I agree. 1977 is a very underrated set. I love the all white thick borders with the colorful glossy picture in the middle of it.

It's really hard to pick some over other in the 70's. Without a doubt, my favorite era of cards to collect...

My revised order:

1975T Mini
1971
1973
1977
1975
1976
1972
1978
1979
1974
1970

The only sets I can say that I definitely don't care for are the 1970, 1974, and 1979. All the other sets are gorgeous at varying levels.

ddfamf

LOL - everyone hates '79 --- I'm surprised not many care for '78?

cjaccardi

<< <i>LOL - everyone hates '79 --- I'm surprised not many care for '78? >>



78 is ok

I think the worse is 1970 set, so damn ugly and boring

the 1971 in my opinion is right there as a lazy design boring just black , blah .

78-81 were really boring two , with 1982 as my favorite set of the 80s