What do you think is the hardest Topps set to find nicely centered cards?

ClockworkAngel

After going through my cards from the group rip and doing some upgrades for my 1970's sets, it really started to hit me how difficult 1979 is. I don't know if its's the really thin borders or just quality control gone terribly bad. If I were to try to build a PSA 9 or PSA 10 set that would be a big challenge, it would be that one.

Any other sets that stand out with this issue more than others?

grote15

1979 Topps is very tough~much tougher than 1978. For the years for which I've opened packs, from 1972 through 1980, I'd say 1979 is arguably the toughest. 1977 is pretty tough, too.

TheMick6

Don't know about what year specifically and I know the late seventies can be tough but the ONE card I can't find centered in decent grade for nothing is a 1956 Dale Mitchell. I know they exist and I'll one day fork over big bucks for guy whose claim to fame is the last out to the most famous perfect game in history but i sure can't find one.

DM23HOF

Here's a thread with some responses to that effect...

OC Set Thread Link

I think 69 and 79 are way up there. 75 Minis as well with the tilts and OC.

Gemyanks10

1979 is very tough, but for me so far, it would have to be 1981. I opened 9 cello packs recently and didn't even receive one "10 candidate". If I ever decide to work on a graded set for that year, I think I'm just going to buy them already graded, and skip trying to make homemade 10's lol.
The same can be said for 1979, especially with the prices of 1979 being so much more than 1981. For me, the act of ripping product on 1980 and earlier looking for 10's isn't really feasible anymore with the prices being what they are.

Baez578

<< <i>1979 Topps is very tough~much tougher than 1978. For the years for which I've opened packs, from 1972 through 1980, I'd say 1979 is arguably the toughest. 1977 is pretty tough, too. >>



+1

jmaciu

1979 is my choice for Topps. 1979 OPC is 10 times more difficult than the Topps version.

gregmo32

1957 Basketball, hands down.

aldridgemj

1955 Topps. The few Clemente and Koufax cards that are centered are either beaters elsewhere or are extremely expensive.

Stingray

<< <i>1979 Topps is very tough~much tougher than 1978. For the years for which I've opened packs, from 1972 through 1980, I'd say 1979 is arguably the toughest. 1977 is pretty tough, too. >>



Beat me to the punch, 79 was first thing that came to mind, 86 seems pretty tough too.

FavreFan1971

For Football 1972 and 1978

ClockworkAngel

<< <i>For Football 1972 and 1978 >>



Speaking of 1978 Football, I was looking through that set recently and is it me or did Topps completely blow off putting any effort into their football set that year? Not only is it one of the blandest designs ever, but almost all the pictures and poses are just portrait shots with no imagination whatsoever. Not that 1979-1981 were that much better, but this year, in particular, Topps really mailed it in

ClockworkAngel

<< <i>Here's a thread with some responses to that effect...

OC Set Thread Link

I think 69 and 79 are way up there. 75 Minis as well with the tilts and OC. >>



75 Minis would definitely take 2nd place in my experience. Topps did not know anything about that size card and quite obviously made a lot of mistakes in the cutting and production process. But that's part of the mystique of finding that perfectly centered Mini right?


In order, I'd rank these with sets as having the worst centering
1979 Topps BB
1975 Topps Mini
1981 Topps Football
1969 Topps Baseball
1962 Topps Baseball

Mapleleaf

1980 Topps Hockey - The cards were generally horribly centered plus if opened, the pucks were scratched.

CON40

1967 Topps Baseball is tough. Between the thin borders and poor trimming (many cards are not square cut) finding any perfectly centered, square card is difficult.

handyman

I think one that doesn't get mentioned much for football is the 1965 Topps set.
Very tough to find a nuts centered card in that issue.

mikeschmidt

1952 Topps High numbers are quite tough to find nicely centered