Ranking the Topps baseball sets from 1952 to
2020. Part 2. The rankings:
1. 1972
2. 1959
3. 1983
4. 1971
5. 1953
6. 1965
7. 1967
8. 1975
9. 1952
10. 1991
Maybe the most surprising pick is 1983, but it
was an improvement over the 1963 set that is was based on. The 1983 set is sort
like ‘The Empire Strikes Back” in the first Star Wars Trilogy. The 1971s were not called Black Beauties for
nothing. The 1991 was most colorful and
had the best anniversary logo ever. The 1972 set is Topps at its pinnacle. Its Large in size and Beautiful Looking. The 1959 set has the kaleidoscope look of paintings.
11. 1956
12. 1963
13. 1987
14. 1969
15. 1962
16. 1968
17. 1957
18. 1976
19. 1954
20. 1955
The golden age really dominates the next ten. The
1987 set was an improvement over the brownish borders of 1962 and 1968. The 1956 set is great looking but it reminds
me just a tad of the late 1980s Topps Big set. The 1969 set was the 1967 just
reworked a little.
21. 2008
22. 1966
23. 1958
24. 2003
25. 1964
26. 1977
27. 2005
28. 1961
29. 1988
30. 1985
The 21st century breaks through, 2008
was one of the most unique designs ever though the photos may have been too
small. If you look closely 1964, 1977,
1986, 2004 sets are an evolving evolution of the same design. 2003 was a good rendition of 1963 and 1983 and
the same goes with 1985 copying 1965. This
is truly the top half of the sets, we now move to the lower rung.
31. 1970
32. 1978
33. 2010
34. 1981
35. 1984
36. 2006
37. 1986
38. 1973
39. 1974
40. 2007
The 2006 had a well thought out design. The 2010
set was based on a 2001 Topps cereal issue. The 2007 was no 1971 set but black
borders returned. Surprisingly the 1973 and 1974 are kind of dull and boring
though nostalgic.
41. 1990
42. 1979
43. 1980
44. 2013
45. 2012
46. 2014
47. 1992
48. 1960
49. 2011
50. 2018
2018 was the best of the borderless era, its design
looked like the Rolling Stones logo. 2012-2014, were decent sets which varied
little in design. The 1990 is the craziest looking set and could be called the
Purple Passion set
51. 1989
52. 1982
53. 1993
54. 2009
55. 2004
56. 1995
57. 2020
58. 2017
59. 2001
60. 2019
61. 2015
62. 2016
63. 1994
64. 2002
65. 1998
66. 1996
67. 1997
68. 1999
69. 2000
The last 30 years have not been the golden age
but it is better than the late 20th century. 1982 set is the worst set in brown card board
back era. Sorry Night Owl but 2015 is
nutty and drab looking. The sets from 1997-2000 had so much gloss on them they stick together.
