| All-Time Great Cards |
1973 Topps #50 Roberto Clemente
1973 Topps #240 Julius Erving
Here are my picks for the best all-time cards for each of the 4 major sports (Baseball, Basketball, Football, & Hockey) & also my pick for best non-sports card. These may not necessarily be the
most expensive cards, but one's that I feel are the tops in each sport. Also I am going to list some of the classic sports cards that are still extremely popular today. Enjoy!
most expensive cards, but one's that I feel are the tops in each sport. Also I am going to list some of the classic sports cards that are still extremely popular today. Enjoy!
Nowbatting19's Pick: All-Time Best BASEBALL Card
1952 Topps #311 Mickey Mantle. It was a close call between this card or one of the Goudey Babe Ruth cards, but being that this featured a young Mickey Mantle on Topps first
major issue, plus the fact that it is a scarce High number, I have to go with this card. Ruth was THE MAN in his time, but so was Mantle, and I would guess that most collectors have
at least one Mantle card in their collection, while many do not have a vintage Babe Ruth card. Mantle is adored, not only by kid's in the '50's and '60's, but even by generations of
fans who never got to see him play (myself included; I was born in 1963). A lot of collectors would say the best all-time card is the famous T206 Honus Wagner (considered the "Holy
Grail" of baseball cards), but most can only dream of owning one. This one, while still expensive can be found somewhat affordable in low grades. This is my pick for best all-time
baseball card because of the significance of Mantle, in the all-time classic Topps set, and it's scarcity as a high number. Note: This is not Mickey Mantle's Rookie Card, as he
appeared in the 1951 Bowman set, but this is by far the most difficult and beautiful mainsteam Mantle card ever produced.
major issue, plus the fact that it is a scarce High number, I have to go with this card. Ruth was THE MAN in his time, but so was Mantle, and I would guess that most collectors have
at least one Mantle card in their collection, while many do not have a vintage Babe Ruth card. Mantle is adored, not only by kid's in the '50's and '60's, but even by generations of
fans who never got to see him play (myself included; I was born in 1963). A lot of collectors would say the best all-time card is the famous T206 Honus Wagner (considered the "Holy
Grail" of baseball cards), but most can only dream of owning one. This one, while still expensive can be found somewhat affordable in low grades. This is my pick for best all-time
baseball card because of the significance of Mantle, in the all-time classic Topps set, and it's scarcity as a high number. Note: This is not Mickey Mantle's Rookie Card, as he
appeared in the 1951 Bowman set, but this is by far the most difficult and beautiful mainsteam Mantle card ever produced.
1952 Topps #311 Mickey Mantle
Nowbatting19's Pick: All-Time Best BASKETBALL Card
1980-81 Topps Larry Bird RC/ Julius Erving/ Magic Johnson RC
1980-81 Topps Larry Bird/ Magic Johnson RC. This to me is the best basketball card ever! It features the Rookie cards of two of the game's best players, both of whom resurrected the
NBA to it's highest level. And sandwiched in-between the fabulous rookies is the original "Air," Julius Erving, "Dr. J." For some reason these cards are not popular; Michael Jordan's
1986-87 Fleer Rookie Card is at least twice the price of this classic. Was Jordan twice as good as any of these guys? I don't think so. Very undervalued card!
NBA to it's highest level. And sandwiched in-between the fabulous rookies is the original "Air," Julius Erving, "Dr. J." For some reason these cards are not popular; Michael Jordan's
1986-87 Fleer Rookie Card is at least twice the price of this classic. Was Jordan twice as good as any of these guys? I don't think so. Very undervalued card!
Tim's Pick: All-Time Best FOOTBALL Card
1955 Topps All-American #37 Jim Thorpe. Well there can be much debate about the greatest football card of all-time. My pick would be this card of Jim Thorpe. Jim Thorpe was
an American, also he happened to be Indian which was pretty much the same thing as being black or even Chinese back then. In other words it was tough to succeed at pretty much
anything if you were not white. Jim Thorpe, was multi-talented, and excelled in several sports (like Jackie Robinson was to do later). Jim Thorpe had his Gold Medals taken away
from him in the Olympics after it was learned he had played professional baseball. The medals were eventually returned to Thorpe's family long after he had passed away. This is
just a great looking card from a classic set and my pick for best all-time football card.
an American, also he happened to be Indian which was pretty much the same thing as being black or even Chinese back then. In other words it was tough to succeed at pretty much
anything if you were not white. Jim Thorpe, was multi-talented, and excelled in several sports (like Jackie Robinson was to do later). Jim Thorpe had his Gold Medals taken away
from him in the Olympics after it was learned he had played professional baseball. The medals were eventually returned to Thorpe's family long after he had passed away. This is
just a great looking card from a classic set and my pick for best all-time football card.
1955 Topps All-American #37 Jim Thorpe
Nowbatting19's Pick, All-Time Best HOCKEY Card
1979-80 O-Pee-Chee/ Topps #18 Wayne Gretzky RC. I think this one may be a no-brainer considering Gretzky is considered by most to be the greatest hockey player of
all-time. There are two Gretzky rookie cards; the O-Pee-Chee version (see picture to the left) which was issued in Canada, and the Topps version issued here in the U.S. Both
are identical on the front, while the OPC has a different card stock (white) and the O-Pee-Chee trademark on back. The Topps has a grey back with the Topps Chewing Gum,
Inc. copyright. Both are difficult to find in higher grades due to centering problems and the fact that the blue borders chip easily and show the tiniest bit of wear. The O-Pee-Chee
cards are notorious for "rough cuts" that occurred at the factory. The O-Pee-Chee is also the more expensive of the two; about $500 for a NM copy, while the Topps is around
$250. Beware of counterfeit O-Pee-Chee cards, there are several excellent fakes out there. To be on the safe side, it might be wise to purchase one that has been authenticated
by a REPUTABLE grading service. For that amount of money it is better to be safe than sorry.
all-time. There are two Gretzky rookie cards; the O-Pee-Chee version (see picture to the left) which was issued in Canada, and the Topps version issued here in the U.S. Both
are identical on the front, while the OPC has a different card stock (white) and the O-Pee-Chee trademark on back. The Topps has a grey back with the Topps Chewing Gum,
Inc. copyright. Both are difficult to find in higher grades due to centering problems and the fact that the blue borders chip easily and show the tiniest bit of wear. The O-Pee-Chee
cards are notorious for "rough cuts" that occurred at the factory. The O-Pee-Chee is also the more expensive of the two; about $500 for a NM copy, while the Topps is around
$250. Beware of counterfeit O-Pee-Chee cards, there are several excellent fakes out there. To be on the safe side, it might be wise to purchase one that has been authenticated
by a REPUTABLE grading service. For that amount of money it is better to be safe than sorry.
1979-80 Topps #18 Wayne Gretzky Rookie Card
Nowbatting19's Pick, All-Time Best BOXING Card
Tough call. I would have picked the 1948 Leaf Boxing Rocky Graziano, but that card is so rare (only a couple are known to exist) that most collectors can just forgeddabowdit. Another
boxing card that would rate very high is the 1951 Topps Ringside #32 Rocky Marciano card; one of just a couple Marciano cards every produced. But for my pick of the best all-time
boxing card I am going to go with this 1948 Leaf Boxing (makers of "Knock-Out Bubble Gum") #1 Jack Dempsey. There are several Dempsey issues and most are key cards. The
reason I chose this one is that is depicts a determined Dempsey, who was a national hero on the scale of Babe Ruth, ready to slug it out to achieve the American Dream. Guys like
Dempsey, who came out of the Depression Era, knew what hard work was all about. Sadly, most Americans today do not really know what hard work really is. Sitting in an office in
front of a computer or spending all day on a damn cell phone is NOT, I repeat, NOT hard work! Dempsey symbolizes that tough American work ethic that America used to have. Now
we exploit cheap labor and wonder why there are so many unemployed or why there are so many illegal immigrants here. The real reason is that we are just damn LAZY or else we feel
our time is so valuable we need to pay for someone to watch our kids, wash our cars, walk our dogs, and hack our front yards. I should get off the soap box here but this country IS
going down the toilet. When I look at this card I see what this country used to about; hard working, blue collar Americans slugging it out to make America great. This is my pick for best
all-time boxing card.
boxing card that would rate very high is the 1951 Topps Ringside #32 Rocky Marciano card; one of just a couple Marciano cards every produced. But for my pick of the best all-time
boxing card I am going to go with this 1948 Leaf Boxing (makers of "Knock-Out Bubble Gum") #1 Jack Dempsey. There are several Dempsey issues and most are key cards. The
reason I chose this one is that is depicts a determined Dempsey, who was a national hero on the scale of Babe Ruth, ready to slug it out to achieve the American Dream. Guys like
Dempsey, who came out of the Depression Era, knew what hard work was all about. Sadly, most Americans today do not really know what hard work really is. Sitting in an office in
front of a computer or spending all day on a damn cell phone is NOT, I repeat, NOT hard work! Dempsey symbolizes that tough American work ethic that America used to have. Now
we exploit cheap labor and wonder why there are so many unemployed or why there are so many illegal immigrants here. The real reason is that we are just damn LAZY or else we feel
our time is so valuable we need to pay for someone to watch our kids, wash our cars, walk our dogs, and hack our front yards. I should get off the soap box here but this country IS
going down the toilet. When I look at this card I see what this country used to about; hard working, blue collar Americans slugging it out to make America great. This is my pick for best
all-time boxing card.
1948 Leaf Boxing #1 Jack Dempsey
Nowbatting19's Pick, All-Time Best NON-SPORT Card
1962 Topps Mars Attacks! #19 Burning Flesh 1962 Topps Mars Attacks! #20 Crushed To Death
There have been many great non-sports cards over the years. Among some of the most popular are the 1938 Gum Inc. Horrors Of War cards which depict graphic images of the carnage
of war. Kids must have loved them. Topps, one of the major producers of gum cards, not only made it big with sports cards but also non-sports cards. Among the most popular are these
1962 Mars Attacks! cards. A small set of 55 cards was issued in 1962 with a "Bubbles, Inc." copyright on the card backs, but these are Topps cards nonetheless. The set was extremely
popular with the kids, just not with the parents. Cards with such titles as "Burning Flesh," "Crushed To Death," along with colorful and graphic (at the time) depictions of humans and their
pets getting zapped by the Martians was horrific to the parents of 1962. So Topps pulled the plug on the issue early and these cards are scarce today. Among the tougher cards are cards
#1 THE INVASION BEGINS, #36 DESTROYING A DOG (take THAT you animal lovers!), and the unnumbered Checklist. A movie was produced several years ago (also called "MARS
ATTACKS!") starring Jack Nicholson, Sarah Jessica Parker, Natalie Portman, Michael J. Fox (just to name a few) and directed by Tim Burton. It was based on the 1962 Topps Mars Attacks!
cards but the story was very different. If the movie would have stuck to the cards it might have turned out to be a good movie, but instead it was a bomb (in a bad way). The 1962 Mars
Attacks! cards are my pick for best all-time non-sports cards. A close second would be the 1933 Goudey Indian Gum cards which celebrate Indians and early Pioneers.
of war. Kids must have loved them. Topps, one of the major producers of gum cards, not only made it big with sports cards but also non-sports cards. Among the most popular are these
1962 Mars Attacks! cards. A small set of 55 cards was issued in 1962 with a "Bubbles, Inc." copyright on the card backs, but these are Topps cards nonetheless. The set was extremely
popular with the kids, just not with the parents. Cards with such titles as "Burning Flesh," "Crushed To Death," along with colorful and graphic (at the time) depictions of humans and their
pets getting zapped by the Martians was horrific to the parents of 1962. So Topps pulled the plug on the issue early and these cards are scarce today. Among the tougher cards are cards
#1 THE INVASION BEGINS, #36 DESTROYING A DOG (take THAT you animal lovers!), and the unnumbered Checklist. A movie was produced several years ago (also called "MARS
ATTACKS!") starring Jack Nicholson, Sarah Jessica Parker, Natalie Portman, Michael J. Fox (just to name a few) and directed by Tim Burton. It was based on the 1962 Topps Mars Attacks!
cards but the story was very different. If the movie would have stuck to the cards it might have turned out to be a good movie, but instead it was a bomb (in a bad way). The 1962 Mars
Attacks! cards are my pick for best all-time non-sports cards. A close second would be the 1933 Goudey Indian Gum cards which celebrate Indians and early Pioneers.
1914 Cracker Jack #88 Christy Mathewson
1909-11 T206 White Border
1909-11 T206 White Border Tris Speaker
The 1909-11 T206 White Border set is considered to be a the great granddaddy (or great, great, GREAT Granddaddy) of baseball cards. It was not the first set of baseball cards
produced; however it was and still is extremely popular today. Containing nearly 525 cards, these small 1-7/16" x 2-5/8" cards featured major league players, Federal League players,
and minor league players. The cards were issued in various brands of cigarettes, the most common brand was Sweet Caporal (the backs of these cards feature advertising for the
individual tobacco companies) there there are several other brands including Old Mill, Piedmont, American Beauty, Tolstoi, and more. The set includes a ton of Hall Of Famers of the day
including Ty Cobb, Christy Mathewson, Tris Speaker (above), Walter Johnson, Cy Young, Tinkers-to-Evers-to-Chance, Nap Lajoie, and more. Of course the most expensive baseball
card on the planet, the T206 Honus Wagner is the top dog of this set. For set builders, this would be an almost impossible undertaking unless you have unlimited income. Not only is the
Honus Wagner priced out of the range of most collectors, the T206 features several variations and error cards that fetch thousands of dollars each. Low grades are the norm for these
beautiful cards, which are now 100 years old! The 1909-11 T206 White Border cards are among the most widely collected cards of the era.
produced; however it was and still is extremely popular today. Containing nearly 525 cards, these small 1-7/16" x 2-5/8" cards featured major league players, Federal League players,
and minor league players. The cards were issued in various brands of cigarettes, the most common brand was Sweet Caporal (the backs of these cards feature advertising for the
individual tobacco companies) there there are several other brands including Old Mill, Piedmont, American Beauty, Tolstoi, and more. The set includes a ton of Hall Of Famers of the day
including Ty Cobb, Christy Mathewson, Tris Speaker (above), Walter Johnson, Cy Young, Tinkers-to-Evers-to-Chance, Nap Lajoie, and more. Of course the most expensive baseball
card on the planet, the T206 Honus Wagner is the top dog of this set. For set builders, this would be an almost impossible undertaking unless you have unlimited income. Not only is the
Honus Wagner priced out of the range of most collectors, the T206 features several variations and error cards that fetch thousands of dollars each. Low grades are the norm for these
beautiful cards, which are now 100 years old! The 1909-11 T206 White Border cards are among the most widely collected cards of the era.
Cracker Jacks popcorn confection has been around for a long time. I remember opening boxes for the free surprise inside and getting little toys or booklets in each box. I really like the
peanuts for some reason. But in 1914 and 1915 Cracker Jacks issued these classic baseball cards and you talk about a free surprise.... Today these cards fetch big bucks, especially
the Hall of Famers. A complete set (again, good luck) in VG condition lists for $45,000 in the 2009 Sports Collector's Digest Standard Catalog of Baseball Cards (Krause Publications).
Complete sets rarely come up for sale so I would imagine $45,000 is not so accurate. This 1914 Cracker Jack #88 Christy Mathewson baseball card is quite rare and lists for
$18,000 (which is almost half the cost of the set!). Other heavy hitters include Joe Jackson, Honus Wagner, Ty Cobb, Grover Cleveland Alexander and more.
peanuts for some reason. But in 1914 and 1915 Cracker Jacks issued these classic baseball cards and you talk about a free surprise.... Today these cards fetch big bucks, especially
the Hall of Famers. A complete set (again, good luck) in VG condition lists for $45,000 in the 2009 Sports Collector's Digest Standard Catalog of Baseball Cards (Krause Publications).
Complete sets rarely come up for sale so I would imagine $45,000 is not so accurate. This 1914 Cracker Jack #88 Christy Mathewson baseball card is quite rare and lists for
$18,000 (which is almost half the cost of the set!). Other heavy hitters include Joe Jackson, Honus Wagner, Ty Cobb, Grover Cleveland Alexander and more.
1914-15 Cracker jack Ball Players
1933-34 Goudey gum
1933 Goudey Gum #53 Babe Ruth (back view)
While baseball cards originally started off as tobacco premium, Gum makers realized that inserting baseball cards with bubble gum was a good idea. And yes it was. Considered to
be the "Grand Poo-bah" of gum cards, the 1933-34 Goudey cards are true classics today. Featuring the games big stars like Ruth, Gehrig, Foxx, and lots more, the Goudey sets
featured beautiful color pictures with brief write ups on the back. Cards were issued with numbers so that sets could be completed, which meant that you had to buy a lot of packs to
complete a set. Cards were traded as needed, statistics were studied; consider that television wasn't around then so these pictures and pictures in a newspaper were about the
only exposure to players that most kids would get (if they couldn't make a game). Baseball cards have since come a long way, but I don't think for the better. Sure they may be shiny
or glitzy, and the pictures are real action photos. But you really can't consider them classics like these old cards. No way.
be the "Grand Poo-bah" of gum cards, the 1933-34 Goudey cards are true classics today. Featuring the games big stars like Ruth, Gehrig, Foxx, and lots more, the Goudey sets
featured beautiful color pictures with brief write ups on the back. Cards were issued with numbers so that sets could be completed, which meant that you had to buy a lot of packs to
complete a set. Cards were traded as needed, statistics were studied; consider that television wasn't around then so these pictures and pictures in a newspaper were about the
only exposure to players that most kids would get (if they couldn't make a game). Baseball cards have since come a long way, but I don't think for the better. Sure they may be shiny
or glitzy, and the pictures are real action photos. But you really can't consider them classics like these old cards. No way.
| 1953 Bowman Color #40 Larry Doby 1953 Bowman Black & White #39 Casey Stengel |
1953 Bowman Gum
With all due apologies to Topps Chewing Gum, my favorite card set(s) from the 1950's is the 1953 Bowman Color set (above left). While Topps chose to due artist's interpretation of
a player's photograph, Bowman used sharp Kodachrome photography on their '53 effort. The cards were sheer pleasure; clear crisp photographs with various vintage Stadiums in the
background (including Ebbett's Field, The Polo Grounds, and Yankee Stadium). No clutter, no fuss, just the ballplayer, blue sky and white clouds. Key cards include Mickey Mantle,
Stan Musial, Pee Wee Reese, Yogi Berra, Duke Snider, Bob Feller and many more stars of the era. The only bummer was no Ted Williams (Korea) and no Willie Mays (signed with
rival Topps). Still, the 1953 Bowman cards are (in my opinion) the best looking cards ever produced. Bowman also issued a smaller Black & White set which did not feature as many
stars as the color set; however it did include cards of fan favorites like Ralph Branca, Billy Cox, Jimmy Piersall, Preacher Roe and a few Hall of Famers like Johnny Mize and Casey
Stengel (above right). Even with a simple black and white shot, the 1953 Bowman baseball card is a classic. Today's modern cards are fancier, shinier, and well, boring. I'll take one of
these Bowman cards any day over any new card.
a player's photograph, Bowman used sharp Kodachrome photography on their '53 effort. The cards were sheer pleasure; clear crisp photographs with various vintage Stadiums in the
background (including Ebbett's Field, The Polo Grounds, and Yankee Stadium). No clutter, no fuss, just the ballplayer, blue sky and white clouds. Key cards include Mickey Mantle,
Stan Musial, Pee Wee Reese, Yogi Berra, Duke Snider, Bob Feller and many more stars of the era. The only bummer was no Ted Williams (Korea) and no Willie Mays (signed with
rival Topps). Still, the 1953 Bowman cards are (in my opinion) the best looking cards ever produced. Bowman also issued a smaller Black & White set which did not feature as many
stars as the color set; however it did include cards of fan favorites like Ralph Branca, Billy Cox, Jimmy Piersall, Preacher Roe and a few Hall of Famers like Johnny Mize and Casey
Stengel (above right). Even with a simple black and white shot, the 1953 Bowman baseball card is a classic. Today's modern cards are fancier, shinier, and well, boring. I'll take one of
these Bowman cards any day over any new card.