Looking at all 4 sports, which year had the best card designs?

dtkk49a · February 20, 2010 9:57AM

My vote goes to 1972. I love all 4 designs this year. Your thoughts?

cwazzy · February 20, 2010 10:31AM

I don't know that there were any basketball for 1954 but I love all the other cards that were issued. Topps hockey from that year may be one of the best looking sets ever. Throw in the Topps and Wilson Franks baseball sets and it was an amazing year for card design.

gecko109 · February 20, 2010 10:39AM

Baseball- 1965
Football- 1985
Basketball- 1988 Fleer hands down (no competition)
Hockey- Ummmmm, whats a "hockey"?

Pigs · February 20, 2010 10:43AM

I agree with the '54 sets. The hockey and Baseball alone make it to the top of the list. I would love to own some of those hockey cards, amazing set.

VitoCo1972 · February 20, 2010 10:50AM

1971 is the best, and I would argue that it's not even close (at least in years where there sets for every major sport).

1971 Topps baseball is one of the best Topps sets ever
1971 Football is a really fun set
1971 Basketball is a really underrated set. Fun design. Nice colors etc.
1971 Hockey is a truly classic set. Excellent in all facets.

Indy78 · February 20, 2010 11:05AM

1971 is the best, and I would argue that it's not even close (at least in years where there sets for every major sport).

I agree. The baseball and hockey designs that year are especially fabulous.

lsutigers1973 · February 20, 2010 11:11AM

<< Baseball- 1965
Football- 1985
Basketball- 1988 Fleer hands down (no competition)
Hockey- Ummmmm, whats a "hockey"? >>

Obviously couldn't comprehend the question.

CarsonPalmer · February 20, 2010 11:18AM

I like the 1975s!

PSASAP · February 20, 2010 11:20AM

I would agree with 1971, but 1957 is pretty good also.

waxpack · February 20, 2010 11:32AM

54 Topps Hockey

SDavid · February 20, 2010 12:07PM

'57 for me.

TNP777 · February 20, 2010 12:12PM

I'll throw in a vote for 1957 as well.

waxpack · February 20, 2010 12:13PM

<< 
Hockey- Ummmmm, whats a "hockey"? >>

It's the one with the oldest trophy in the four sports.

What it's not -

1. the sport that has a fat Prince Fielder and you can chew tobacco and eat during the game (baseball)

2. a sport that both teams score and comes down to the last two mins that takes two hours to end (basketball)

3. a 16 game season with about 10min of play per game (football)

Stop the Hockey bashing, we are collectors also.

TheHun · February 20, 2010 12:55PM

<< 
Hockey- Ummmmm, whats a "hockey"? >>

a sport comprehended by higher minds ... so if you have to ask ...

SDSportsFan · February 20, 2010 1:02PM

I'd go with 1953.

Topps and Bowman baseball, Bowman football and Parkhurst hockey were all great!

1952 and 1954 would get Honorable Mention

Steve

perkdog · February 20, 2010 1:07PM

My Vote goes for 1954 as well.

Reading this thread I see that Im no the only one who thinks the 54 Topps Hockey is a gorgeous set! ( I dont like Hockey either )

Wison Franks- great looking design and very tough
Topps Baseball of that year is one of the best looking as well.

The Football cards are "OK" but not even close to the Baseball sets..

Nathaniel1960 · February 20, 2010 1:07PM

57-58, classic designs for each of 57 Topps BB, 57-58 Hockey and BKB and 57 Topps FB.

sportscardtheory · February 20, 2010 1:24PM

1997 was a really nice year for all the Topps sports.

MeteoriteGuy · February 20, 2010 1:34PM

I guess I will go 1978. Would like to consider an early 80s issue, but want to include bskbl.

GDM67 · February 20, 2010 2:54PM

I'm not sure I can really say any one year fits the bill. I like all of the '72 sets, but the Hockey and Basketball ones, while cool and charming, have that color background behind the photo effect that is kind of distracting.

If you wantto fudge it, you could say 1967 and count the '66-'67 Hockey set. Topps' classic psychadelic AFL Football set and it's fabulous Baseball set make up a nice trio with the woodpanel look, but that's a reach on the year and leaves hoops out of the equation.

Not sure I want to claim it as my final answer, but let me throw some love 1976's way. That's a universally well regarded Baseball set, I think most Football guys love that set as much as I do and the vivid, oversize Basketball set has always been very popular. The Hockey set is kind of the weak link, but there isn't anything really wrong with it, as such.

dtkk49a · February 20, 2010 4:28PM

I really love the 1972 hockey and basketball designs. Classic !

nightcrawler · February 20, 2010 4:38PM

1990

K · February 20, 2010 5:13PM

I have always loved 54 Baseball because it had not only 1 but 2 Ted Williams cards bookending it, great rookies, a portrait, an action pose, and both full color and black and white! What more could you ask for on a single card?!

waxpack · February 20, 2010 10:12PM

Those are some great looking cards.

YogiBerraFan · February 20, 2010 10:17PM

1971

cozmokramer · February 20, 2010 10:21PM

1971 is the vote from me!

dtkk49a · February 21, 2010 3:04AM

Wow, I am the only one for 1972 so far.

PowderedH2O · February 21, 2010 7:51AM

Nightcrawler... 1990.... CLASSIC!!!! I about spit!!! That was so funny!!! LOL!!! The Topps Football set is arguably the worst set they put out ever. The baseball set is not a whole lot better (maybe NOT better). The 'gorgeous' 1990-91 NBA Hoops and their godawful silver borders. The Fleer basketball set... just horrible. The Donruss baseball and that splattered red design. Ugh!!! I'd have to give 1990 the prize for worst year for sure. Best of the year was probably the Upper Deck baseball (a rehash of its 1989 design), Score baseball (not too bad), Pro Set football (if they weren't so darned common they'd look a lot better), and 1990 OPC hockey (easy to come by, but an attractive set actually). But these are not enough to make up for the Topps double play of baseball and football. I wonder if the same person designed both of those gems.

bking · February 21, 2010 7:56AM

I just can't agree with those voting 1971. I think most of the appeal of the baseball set is in the difficulty of collecting it. When it comes right down to it, the fronts are nice enough, but the backs are just "blah" IMO.

EDIT: My vote is for 1969. I'll have to go look at the hoops issue, but as best I recall this was a bright, colorful design year for baseball, football and hockey.

Blackborder · February 21, 2010 8:10AM

Hmmmm, tough question. 1957 for modern. The BB, FB and B-Ball are classics. I'm probably just saying that because I collect 57 FB.

1910 for vintage. Check out those T3's, T206's and T218's wow.

RipublicaninMass · February 21, 2010 9:56AM

OMG nobody has said 1955?

55 topps Baseball-awesome
54-55 hockey sa-weet
55 bowman baseball- love it or hate it
55 bomwna football- really cool!

Blackborder · February 21, 2010 10:53AM

<< OMG nobody has said 1955?

55 topps Baseball-awesome
54-55 hockey sa-weet
55 bowman baseball- love it or hate it
55 bomwna football- really cool! >>

I did consider it, you forgot Topps 55AA also.

Statman · February 21, 2010 11:43PM

I'd have to go with 1972 also. The hockey set is a little weak, but the other three sports more than make up for it. That is my favorite baseball set ever and the football is great also.

I'd put 1971 as a close second. All 4 sports are strong that year. The 1972 baseball set just outweighs them all, however.

54topps · February 22, 2010 12:54AM

Ummmm.... I'll go with 1954

PowderedH2O · February 22, 2010 2:26AM

I love 54, except for the Bowman baseball. Just not digging it. How about 1956? A CLASSIC Topps baseball set and a really solid first effort in football. I don't know about other stuff...

nightcrawler · February 22, 2010 6:48AM

<< I love 54, except for the Bowman baseball. Just not digging it. >>

Same here exactly, but for Baseball I'm actually more of a 51 Bowman guy.

I couldn't resist the 1990 comment.

Morgoth · February 22, 2010 6:56AM

I am thinking of starting my own charity, you send me your 1990 topps cards from any manufacturer or sport and I put them on my burn pile and light them puppies up. The world will be a safer place without all of those atrocities out there. For every 1000 cards burned I donate 1$ to a charity of your choice.

Wait at the production level of Topps alone I might have already donated 1 million dollars just on whats in Larry Frischs wharehouse

cwazzy · February 22, 2010 7:00AM

<< I love 54, except for the Bowman baseball. Just not digging it. >>

I actually REALLY like the '54 Bowman baseball set. It's really not a far cry from the '53 Bowman Color set, other than the name on the front. I think it's one of, if not THE, most underrated sets of the decade.

minnesotahusker · February 22, 2010 8:25AM

<< I like the 1975s! >>

count me in for 1975 baseball.

jradke4 · February 23, 2010 4:04AM

54 thru 58 were all good for nearly all sports.

stown · February 23, 2010 4:07AM

Tough call between '55 and '56.

Looking at all 4 sports, which year had the best card designs?

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