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Opinions on best designed cards of 1980s

1957Braves1957Braves Posts: 318 ✭✭✭
in Trading Cards & Memorabilia Forum
Nice discussion topic for a Sunday evening; options of best designed cards of the '80s. My vote would be 1984 Donruss and 1987 Fleer. '87 Fleer had one of the first where the photo comes outside the inner border. Sharp looking cards.

Comments

  • 3BoyzTrading3BoyzTrading Posts: 798 ✭✭
    1989 Topps, it was the first box I bought and the design literally flows. Although the print quality lacks overall, the Tiffany set really punctuates and makes a statement as to what the eighties was about.
  • PMKAYPMKAY Posts: 1,372 ✭✭


    << <i>1989 Topps, it was the first box I bought and the design literally flows. Although the print quality lacks overall, the Tiffany set really punctuates and makes a statement as to what the eighties was about. >>



    Baseball baseball baseball....
  • BaseballfansBaseballfans Posts: 54 ✭
    I'll add 87 topps for its bat wooden borders & the mass Rookies selection during that time. And of course 1989 upper deck making pack cost more than $1 because of design and sharp photo.
  • jackstrawjackstraw Posts: 3,783 ✭✭✭
    I may be alone but I love 81 Topps... Last year for team cards and all star designated cards. I love the hat in the bottom left
    and has some good photography. Bruce Sutter is my favorite....
    Collector Focus

    ON ITS WAY TO NEWPORT BEACH, CA 92658
  • DanBessetteDanBessette Posts: 6,421 ✭✭✭
    Can I just say diamond kings subsets in general? Especially earlier 80s, with no borders.
  • StingrayStingray Posts: 8,843 ✭✭✭
    1984 Topps, though it borrowed from 83, I always liked it better.
  • slum22slum22 Posts: 2,594 ✭✭✭✭
    1986 Fleer Basketball is the modern classic from that decade. A big part of it was the design.
    Steve
  • lawnmowermanlawnmowerman Posts: 19,477 ✭✭✭✭
    I always loved 89 Bowman.

    1994 Pro Line Live

    TheDallasCowboyBackfieldProject

  • EchoCanyonEchoCanyon Posts: 2,288 ✭✭✭
    83 topps
  • stormtrooper80stormtrooper80 Posts: 317
    Basketball - 86 Fleer
    Baseball - 85 Donruss
    Football - 87 Topps
    Hockey - 84/85 Topps
  • 1957Braves1957Braves Posts: 318 ✭✭✭
    1980 Topps basketball was also great with the swell ideas of three tear-apart panels and, oh wait, that was dumb.
  • StingrayStingray Posts: 8,843 ✭✭✭
    Also have to go with 85 Topps Hockey, simple, but a nice design.
  • strat4454strat4454 Posts: 105 ✭
    1983 Topps 1984 Donruss 1987 Fleer
  • TomiTomi Posts: 643 ✭✭✭


    << <i>I'll add 87 topps for its bat wooden borders & the mass Rookies selection during that time. And of course 1989 upper deck making pack cost more than $1 because of design and sharp photo. >>




    +1 on 87 Topps. The wood grain borders are awesome. Too bad on the what could have been rookie crop. 80's def. had a lot of "going to be HOFers".
  • dytch2220dytch2220 Posts: 1,681 ✭✭✭
    1986 Topps Football....

    NOT!
    The N8 Collection: PSA Registry Sets & Showcases
  • 1957Braves1957Braves Posts: 318 ✭✭✭


    << <i>

    << <i>I'll add 87 topps for its bat wooden borders & the mass Rookies selection during that time. And of course 1989 upper deck making pack cost more than $1 because of design and sharp photo. >>




    +1 on 87 Topps. The wood grain borders are awesome. Too bad on the what could have been rookie crop. 80's def. had a lot of "going to be HOFers". >>




    Does anyone remember what the top of the market was on the unopened 1987 boxes? I thought Fleer was round $150 at some point perhaps?
  • DanBessetteDanBessette Posts: 6,421 ✭✭✭


    << <i>83 topps >>



    Forgot this! Definitely the best baseball set. And 1984 OPC hockey (or Topps) is one of the best looking sets of any sport, any decade.
  • TheDudeAbidesTheDudeAbides Posts: 400 ✭✭✭
    For me ... without question, 83 Topps. Followed by the 84 Fleer set. 83 Topps: Three top flight RC HOF'ers along with two pictures on the front, and a great design. 84 Fleer is a classic. 87 Topps is loaded with rookies, but most used PED's, that rookie class coulda, woulda, shoulda ...
    Collecting 64, 66, 67, 70 & 71 Baseball. Cubs, wax, cello & rack baseball.
  • rcmb3220rcmb3220 Posts: 1,108 ✭✭✭✭
    From a pure design standpoint I like 87 topps baseball. 86 fleer for basketball, I just wish I was into collecting basketball that year. So many trips to woolworths where I passed those over. 89 pro set was really nice for football, just don't look at them wrong or they get dinged.

    High quality examples of the black border cards like 85t football, 86t baseball and 87 donruss are good too. I never understood why people love the 84 donruss cards although I will say the handful of cards that actually have action photos are beauties.

    The worst has to be 81 donruss. We don't need to debate that.
  • TheMick6TheMick6 Posts: 582
    Always partial to 1980 Topps first packs I begged my parents to buy me as a kid.
  • summerof68summerof68 Posts: 748 ✭
    Without question 1983 Topps. Class all the way!
    "You tell 'em I'm coming...and hell's coming with me"--Wyatt Earp
  • vintagefunvintagefun Posts: 1,974 ✭✭✭
    Shocked by the amount of 87T votes. It was my least favorite of 87, let alone the decade.

    I like 80, 81 and 83 Topps, 85 and 86 Fleer, and 84 and 85 Donruss, but overall it'd be between 80 and 83 Topps, leaning towards 80.

    For Football I'd have to say 82 and 85.


    52-90 All Sports, Mostly Topps, Mostly HOF, and some assorted wax.
  • TomiTomi Posts: 643 ✭✭✭

    The worst has to be 81 donruss. We don't need to debate that. >>




    I would say the 88 Topps Baseball would be the worst.
  • grote15grote15 Posts: 29,742 ✭✭✭✭✭
    1983 Topps baseball for me~both in design (63-like) and because of a bumper crop of RCs.


    Collecting 1970s Topps baseball wax, rack and cello packs, as well as PCGS graded Half Cents, Large Cents, Two Cent pieces and Three Cent Silver pieces.
  • rcmb3220rcmb3220 Posts: 1,108 ✭✭✭✭


    << <i>The worst has to be 81 donruss. We don't need to debate that. >>




    I would say the 88 Topps Baseball would be the worst. >>



    The design was meh for sure, but not as outright bad as 81 donruss.
  • rcmb3220rcmb3220 Posts: 1,108 ✭✭✭✭


    << <i>Shocked by the amount of 87T votes. It was my least favorite of 87, let alone the decade.

    I like 80, 81 and 83 Topps, 85 and 86 Fleer, and 84 and 85 Donruss, but overall it'd be between 80 and 83 Topps, leaning towards 80.

    For Football I'd have to say 82 and 85. >>



    There are lots of issues with 87t for sure but design wasn't one of them. Overproduction on a whole other level, fuzzy corners and a disgraced rookie class to go along with the typical topps quality problems. The wood grain stood out from other issues and this set was the first in forever to feature team logos. The logos alone are enough to put them at the topps for me.
  • DanBessetteDanBessette Posts: 6,421 ✭✭✭
    I'll be the third to vote 85 topps as the best looking football set of the decade.
  • ldfergldferg Posts: 6,744 ✭✭✭
    85 topps football, 85 donruss baseball. I like the black borders.


    Thanks,

    David (LD_Ferg)



    1985 Topps Football (starting in psa 8) - #9 - started 05/21/06
  • 60sfan60sfan Posts: 311 ✭✭✭
    '89 Score - Football
    '83 Topps - Baseball
    '81 Topps - Basketball
  • BLUEJAYWAYBLUEJAYWAY Posts: 9,551 ✭✭✭✭✭
    83 Topps,85 Fleer, both have my vote.
    Successful transactions:Tookybandit. "Everyone is equal, some are more equal than others".
  • SteelernationSteelernation Posts: 362 ✭
    1983 topps. Tho I have no idea what 1985-6 or later cards really look like. Nothing more than a glance.
  • DodgerfanjohnDodgerfanjohn Posts: 491 ✭✭✭
    Really like 87 Fleer baseball and 1983 Topps.

    I see a few votes for 1981 Topps. Really? Really? It's one of the most hideous designs ever, following only 1981 Donruss for worst of the 80's, and probably one of the 5 worst designed mainstream sets off all time(competing with 1976 topps, 1977 topps, and anything from donruss and fleer issued in 1990-1992)
  • hammeredhammered Posts: 2,671 ✭✭✭
    I loved 89 Upper Deck
    The design seems outdated now, but at the time I it seemed pretty incredible
    Still, some iconic cards came from that set - Griffey, Ryan, Abbott, and I always liked the McGwire card
  • giantsfan20giantsfan20 Posts: 1,571 ✭✭✭✭
    1984,1985,1986 Donruss baseball

    Worst set has got to be 82 Fleer baseball poor design and pictures that are way out of focus.
  • StingrayStingray Posts: 8,843 ✭✭✭


    << <i>The worst has to be 81 donruss. We don't need to debate that. >>




    I would say the 88 Topps Baseball would be the worst. >>



    I actually like 88 Topps, it looks like a magazine cover IMO.

    I think 83 Topps really improved on the photography on this set, but because of the big headshot and the area used for the player and team name it makes the player photo small compared to other 80s sets.
  • jmaciujmaciu Posts: 1,289 ✭✭✭
    There is no question for me: 1983 Topps Baseball. Second for me is 1980 Topps Baseball -- I love the simple, clean design.

    Jmaciu's Collection
  • BaltimoreYankeeBaltimoreYankee Posts: 3,034 ✭✭✭✭✭
    1984 and '85 Donruss. I also liked '87 Topps as it was reminiscent of the classic '62 set.
    Daniel
  • summerof68summerof68 Posts: 748 ✭
    Haven't seen any votes for '82 Topps baseball yet--but I can understand why.
    "You tell 'em I'm coming...and hell's coming with me"--Wyatt Earp
  • PM770PM770 Posts: 320 ✭✭


    << <i>Really like 87 Fleer baseball and 1983 Topps.

    I see a few votes for 1981 Topps. Really? Really? It's one of the most hideous designs ever, following only 1981 Donruss for worst of the 80's, and probably one of the 5 worst designed mainstream sets off all time(competing with 1976 topps, 1977 topps, and anything from donruss and fleer issued in 1990-1992) >>



    This is funny because I not only 1981 Topps, but I like 1976 and 1977 as well.

    My favorites from the 80s are: 85 Fleer, 86 Fleer, 80 Topps, 88 Topps FB, 85-86 OPC HK,

    I'm surprised 1985 Topps FB is getting love. That design is horrible IMO. To each their own.
  • VictorLaszloVictorLaszlo Posts: 101
    Fortunate enough to have a shot at most everything in the 80's growing up.
    1980 Topps Baseball. I loved those as a kid. Rack packs as far as the eye could see at my local K-Mart
    1985 Topps Football. Black bordered beauts.
    1984-85 OPC Hockey. Improves on the 83 and 84 Topps baseball design IMO.
    I never bought basketball packs in the 80's, so, I'll just comment on what I think is the best looking design. Which is like most, 86-87 Fleer. image
  • StingrayStingray Posts: 8,843 ✭✭✭


    << <i>

    << <i>Really like 87 Fleer baseball and 1983 Topps.

    I see a few votes for 1981 Topps. Really? Really? It's one of the most hideous designs ever, following only 1981 Donruss for worst of the 80's, and probably one of the 5 worst designed mainstream sets off all time(competing with 1976 topps, 1977 topps, and anything from donruss and fleer issued in 1990-1992) >>



    This is funny because I not only 1981 Topps, but I like 1976 and 1977 as well.

    My favorites from the 80s are: 85 Fleer, 86 Fleer, 80 Topps, 88 Topps FB, 85-86 OPC HK,

    I'm surprised 1985 Topps FB is getting love. That design is horrible IMO. To each their own. >>



    I like the design of 85 Topps FB, but hate the photos!! Most are just head shots, just terrible.
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