Toughest Topps sets from the 70s
bishop
Posts: 2,917 ✭✭✭
Based on my experience, here is my list from assembling them
1-Topps 1971 Rookie Artist Proofs ( have none)
2-Topps 1970 Cloth ( have only one)
3-Topps 1972 Candy Lids (my set is only proof cards)
4-Topps 1973 Comics
5-Topps 1973 Pin Ups
6--Topps 1971 Greatest Moments
7 Topps 1974 Deckle ( harder in white back)
8-Topps 1974 Puzzles
9- Topps 1970 Candy Lids
10-Topps 1972 Cloth Stickers
11-Topps 1973 Candy Lids
12-Topps 1974 Emblems ( harder in cardboard than cloth ?)
13-Topps 1973 Reprints ( 1953)
14 Topps 1978 Zest Soap ( not really tough but included because it is Bob's favorite)
Alternative suggestions or rankings welcome
Topps Baseball-1948, 1951 to 2017
Bowman Baseball -1948-1955
Fleer Baseball-1923, 1959-2007
Al
Bowman Baseball -1948-1955
Fleer Baseball-1923, 1959-2007
Al
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Comments
You have to include the major topps sports sets for this decade potentially this go around.. regular 71 topps Baseball is by far the toughest, but football is pretty tricky too with 71s.
If you are only counting series that are impossible to finish then nevermind, but finish in PSA 10, 71 topps would lead the pack.
I was focussing on baseball since it is what I collect. I have finished all but the top 2 on my list and agree they may be impossible as a set, but have finished the others ( admittedly only in early proof form for #3 ) and they are doable, but some are very tough. Agree that if you are finishing sets in 9s and 10s then base sets certainly come into play. Since I collected all my sets upgraded that did not come into play for me in my list.
Bowman Baseball -1948-1955
Fleer Baseball-1923, 1959-2007
Al
I'm not sure it qualifies under the intent of the OP, but my vote for the toughest Topps-related '70's set is 1971 Topps Bazooka Hockey.
Happy New Year Al!
For me, the 79T set due to centering is a chore.
edit: when I saw Shane's remarks I wanted to be more clear. I got what Al was talking about - those sets are not in my world since I'm not a big card collector.
I'm in awe of what Al has been collecting all these years.
I think Al's intent is to list cards that are hard to find in ANY condition....not just condition sensitive sets such as 1971 Topps.
I will second the notion that the 1973 Topps Comics are hard to find. I have been looking for a Joe Torre for flippin' ever! It's the only Cardinals card that I need from that list.
Shane
That.
Here's the complete Topps supplementary sets list (with inserts and proofs stuck in there) to choose from. I think Al's list is spot on (not sure that the Zest set doesn't belong number one
) and the entries in bold are already on his list:
1970 Topps Candy Lids
1970 Topps Cloth Stickers
1970 Topps Posters
1970 Topps Scratch-Offs
1970 Topps Story Booklets
1970 Topps Super
1971 Topps All-Star Rookie Artist Proofs
1971 Topps Coins
1971 Topps Scratch-Offs
1971 Topps Greatest Moments
1971 Topps Super
1971 Topps Tattoos
1972 Topps Candy Lids
1972 Topps Cloth Stickers
1972 Topps Posters
1973 Topps Candy Lids
1973 Topps Comics
1973 Topps Pin-Ups
1973 Topps Team Checklists
1973 Topps 1953 Reprints
1974 Topps Traded
1974 Topps Action Emblem Cloth/Cardboard Stickers
1974 Topps Deckle Edge
1974 Topps Puzzles
1974 Topps Stamps
1974 Topps Stamp Albums
1974 Topps Team Checklists
1975 Topps Team Checklist Sheet
1976 Topps Traded
1976 Topps Cloth Sticker Prototypes (Dyer/Apodaca)
1976 Topps Team Checklist Sheet
1976 Topps Joe Garagiola
1977 Topps Proofs
1977 Topps Cloth Stickers
1977 Topps Team Checklist Sheet
1977 Topps/Dynamite Magazine Panels
1978 Topps Team Checklist Sheet
1978 Topps/Dynamite Magazine Panels
1978 Topps/Zest Soap
1979 Topps Comics
1979 Topps Team Checklist Sheet
1979 Topps/Dynamite Magazine Panels
bobsbbcards SGC Registry Sets
I know it doesn't fit the list but I figure this is a good opportunity to ask. Wasn't there a year when Topps made a factory set? I want to say 1974? How difficult is that? And does anyone have a picture of what one looks like?
Arthur
In 1974 a Topps Factory baseball set was sold through JC Penny. It doesn't seem to be terribly rare, at least the box I have seen repeatedly over the years. Not sure about the actual original factory set still in the box.
Hiya Arthur - Happy New Year buddy
Of interest?
They didn't produce another factory set till 1982:
I'd be interested to know how the set was sealed. I'm sure those for sale have been picked over?
I was mistaken when I said I had all Cardinals on Al's list except the Comics Torre. I also do not have any 1970 Topps Cloth.
Shane
Thanks Mike, happy New Year to you as well. Is that a picture of the '82 in your post?
Arthur
Two Cardinals are in the 1970 Topps Cloth "set" (Rich Nye and Vic Davalillo). Here's the complete checklist of possible cards created from examining an uncut partial sheet that was most likely used to create the cards. Cards with an asterisk are cards that are listed in the SCD Standard Catalog.
Bottom Row:
Steve Hargan (half card) - Indians
*Jose Laboy - Expos
*Ivan Murrell - Padres
*Chuck Hartenstein - Pirates
*Curt Motton - Orioles
*Denny Lemaster - Astros
*AL Playoff Game 2 (Boog Powell) - Orioles
Willie McCovey - Giants
*Lowell Palmer (half card) - Phillies
2nd to Bottom Row:
Yankees Rookie Stars (Thurman Munson rookie) - Yankees
*Phil Niekro - Braves
*Ron Perranoski - Twins
*Rich Nye - Cardinals
Syd O'Brien - Red Sox
*Juan Marichal - Giants
*NL Playoff Game 3 (Nolan Ryan) - Mets
*Tom Hall - Twins
Ted Williams (half card) - Senators
2nd to Top Row:
Dick Hall (half card) - Orioles
*Jerry McNertney - Pilots
*NL Playoff Game 1 (Tom Seaver) - Mets
*Dennis Higgins - Indians
*Gary Gentry - Mets
*Jim Northrup - Tigers
*Bill Burbach - Yankees
*Al Santorini - Padres
Clete Boyer (half card) - Braves
Top Row:
*Ray Culp (half card) - Red Sox
Tommie Reynolds - A's
Fred Gladding - Astros
Duane Josephson - White Sox
Padres Rookies - Padres
Danny Murphy - White Sox
Mike Wegener - Expos
Vic Davalillo - Cardinals
*Walter Alston (half card) - Dodgers
For team set collectors, here's the breakdown:
3 cards - Mets, Orioles, Padres
2 cards - Astros, Braves, Cardinals, Expos, Giants, Indians, Red Sox, Twins, White Sox, Yankees
1 card - A's, Dodgers, Phillies, Pilots, Pirates, Senators, Tigers
The Angels, Cubs, Reds, and Royals were not represented at all.
Edited because I misspelled "Rich Nye" as "Chuck Hartenstein". Just a typo. Nothing to see here.
bobsbbcards SGC Registry Sets
@bobsbbcards said:
I would imagine that 1972 Topps Venezuelan Stamps should be on this list as both a Topps release in the 1970's as well as one of the toughest Topps releases to complete as a set in any condition. The same could be said for the Topps Venezuelan Stickers issued in various years from 1970 to 1976.
Bob,
You said Chuck Hartenstein.... I don't think he played for the Cardinals. As you stated in your actual list, I think the Cardinals are Rich Nye and Victor Davalillo.
Thanks for the team breakdown. Of course..... it would have been nice if there were no Cardinals like those other few teams that were not represented.
Shane
I bet the Seaver, Ryan, Munson, and McCovey would break the bank if they became available.
Shane
Oops. I corrected it just now. Sorry about that.
bobsbbcards SGC Registry Sets
Shane--As a Reds fan Bob tries to avoid Cardinals as much as he can
Bowman Baseball -1948-1955
Fleer Baseball-1923, 1959-2007
Al
Haha! That made me laugh!
Shane
For Bob
CDsNuts, 1/9/15
What do the backs of the Zest cards look like? Normal except for numbering?
All the Spanish I know comes from the backs
CDsNuts, 1/9/15
Cool, I didn't realize it was a Latin release, though the players should probably have been a hint
Ooooooo......those should probably be in the "Holy Grail" thread.
bobsbbcards SGC Registry Sets
David---thanks for the scans.
Bob-- does a master set include a bar of the soap ? Will PSA grade the soap ? What would make a bar of the soap mint ? How important are corners and centering ?
Bowman Baseball -1948-1955
Fleer Baseball-1923, 1959-2007
Al
is there a Carew ?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Major_League_Baseball_players_from_Panama
No, those 5 cards make up the entire set.
The sets that I've opened have had some really nice cards. Centering is usually in the 7 or better range with similar corners. The edges often seem to have small dings that hold back the grades. 3 of my 9's came from the same pack if I remember correctly. Some of mine came a little long, thus the baggie holders.
CDsNuts, 1/9/15
Since you guys covered baseball, I'll give you the NBA/ABA sets. I primarily collect NBA and have most of the 70s sets.
Hardest to locate to easiest:
1972-73. For some reason these just never showed up as much.
1973-74. Somewhat easier than the year before.
1974-75. About equal to the year before, although condition wise slightly tougher due to dark borders on the back.
1976-77. The postcard size means they generally are not found with other sets.
1979-80. For some reason these were slightly scarcer than the other late 70s sets.
1970-71. Not overly hard to locate but the most condition sensitive. Being"tall boy" cards they are usually found in less than perfect shape.
1978-79. Pretty easy to find.
1975-76. The largest Topps set of the 70s, they are pretty common to come across.
1971-72. The first standard sized Topps NBA set since 1957-58, they are actually pretty common.
1977-78. The most common 70s set. Available in brown or white back, neither is particularly hard to find.
For the inserts, there aren't many to choose from.
1970-71 Rulers are the rarist.
1978-79 game piece is rare to find at all and rarer still unscratched. Many of these probably didn't survive, and last I knew Beckett does not recognize it's existence.
1971-72 trio stickers are the first standard size NBA insert. They are the most common insert of the 70s but are rarer than any of the base sets.
If there are any other inserts of the 70s I am unaware of them. As far as I know the next insert was in 1980-81. I can provide scans of any of the above as I've completed 7 of the 10 base sets, except the rulers which I have not hunted down an example of yet.
By the way, that comes from years of hunting them at shows and in the wild. Now with sites like eBay and COMC it might be different, but, since I completed 70% of the sets before I had an account on either site, I have not checked.
Billy-- if you put most of your sets Together pre eBay and COMC you must be old....like me
Bowman Baseball -1948-1955
Fleer Baseball-1923, 1959-2007
Al
I'm 34
Well, at least Al is a multiple of that number. That's almost the same.
bobsbbcards SGC Registry Sets
This is stretching the decade of the 70s to include 1980 (but still pre-Donruss and Fleer), but how about the 1980 Topps Pepsi All Stars.
buying O-Pee-Chee (OPC) baseball
Never heard of a 78/79 insert. The rulers are from 69/70 then there were these insert sets
70/71 posters
73/74 team stickers
74/75 scratch offs (red borders around black boxes)
Current obsession, all things Topps 1969 - 1972
Thanks Jmoran. I reversed the posters and rulers in my head. Totally forgot the team stickers even though I have more than half of them. DUH, lol. The trouble of going on the forum right before bed. That sounds like the scratchoff I have. I can't seem to find my scan of it, looks like it might be one that I lost when my remote hard drive died in 2016. Do you have a scan? I'll keep looking for mine, It had a mostly orange themed back.
1971 Topps Bazooka Hockey
Cool to see someone voted to agree with me on that one!
So Zest soap doesn't quite yield the power of a Pepsi or Coke brand?
Don't see the name Zest soap anywhere on those cards.
here you go Billy, 1975 football had the same type of insert but in neon green. John
Current obsession, all things Topps 1969 - 1972
Yup, that's it! Man, where was my head that day? I mean, I know I posted literally right before going to bed, but I should be better than that! I know I got mine from an unopened pack that I opened, but I have no memory of opening a pack from 74-75. I remember opening the late 70s packs. Guess my memory is playing tricks on me.
I didn't realize the Zest set was so hard. I guess because I picked up a set (probably for Mota) a long time ago, I have never looked for one again.
I guess they are not that hard. Fritsch has sets for under $15 on eBay in quantity.
in honor of #4 on the list--my recent Christmas present to myself for my registry set that someday I hope to finish-- 4 HOFers from this very tough set acquired from the recent Heritage auction. 1/2 way there!!
Nice pickup!!!! Good luck on completing your set.
bobsbbcards SGC Registry Sets
Those are great Flatfoot
Does anyone have a Zest card with soap stains ? Are they hard to remove ?
Bowman Baseball -1948-1955
Fleer Baseball-1923, 1959-2007
Al
You can just rinse them away.
Arthur
I see these on Ebay from time to time and would have to think they have been picked over as well. But I have always wanted one!!
I’ve had a couple over the years, both were cellophaned for what it’s worth. I do not know if they were aftermarket cellophane or not and stated such in my eBay listings when I sold mine. I wish I had kept 1 of them, but at the time, a down payment on a home was more important lol. I’d like to pick one up again just to have one, as they do pop up on eBay fairly frequently. I was told they sold these only around Christmas time at JC Penny departmart stores. In my experience, 1983-1985 factory sealed sets are way more rare. In 1983 and 1984, they were just brown boxes sealed with masking tape. In 1985, they had a couple different versions my favorite being the red white and blue box that was also sealed with masking tape. I have that one stashed away forever.
I recall buying a 1986 Topps factory set from the J. C. Penney Christmas catalog that also arrived in a nondescript dark brown cardboard box sealed with a piece of masking tape. It was the only set that I ever purchased from their catalog, and I've long since parted with it.
Al, you are missing the 1971 Topps Winners...or do you not count them?
Topps Heritage - Trade Page
I did not include them because they have never been listed in the SCD Standard Catalog for Topps. They were issued by Topps and have a baseball theme, but picture a bunch of kids who were contest winners whereby each received a certain number of cards with their image on it in baseball outfits ( two were sister, The Boyle gals)
The set is very hard to assemble, and, in fact, it is not clear a complete checklist yet exists,.. A checklist of I think 15 was recently expanded by several. I think the currently known list can be found on Dave Hornish's blog...Toppsarchives.blogspot.com
It would be fair to include it and I would put it just above # 4 in my list.
Bob thought he had it nailed with April Boyle
but then someone pointed out there were more than 15
I only have a couple of them
Bowman Baseball -1948-1955
Fleer Baseball-1923, 1959-2007
Al