| 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
| 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.
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.
1963 Topps
1963 Topps # 380 Ernie Banks 1963 Topps #200 Mickey Mantle
One of the most popular (and my personal favorite) baseball card sets from the 1960's is the 1963 Topps set. The 1963 Topps set was a drastic improvement over the drab 1962
Topps photos with the "woodgrain" borders (though that is a tough condition sensitive set in it's own right). The 1963 Topps cards featured super sharp photography, a smaller black &
white "in action" picture and colorful "full bleed" borders at the bottom of the cards. As such it is difficult to acquire true "Mint" conditioned cards as the colored borders show the tiniest
hints of wear. Add to this the fact that there are typical Topps centering issues and you have another tough condition sensitive set. But even in lower grades these cards are beauties. The
1963 Topps set features all the big names of the era: Aaron, Banks, Berra, Clemente, Koufax, Mantle, Mays, Musial plus a crop of new "up and comers" like Lou Brock, Carl
Yastrzemski and rookie cards like Tony Oliva and Willie Stargell. The key card of the set though, is the rookie card of a certain Peter Edward Rose. It is not only his rookie card but it
was also included in the scarce high numbered series. It is easily the most expensive card in the '63 set. Awesome and colorful classic 1960's Topps baseball set!
Topps photos with the "woodgrain" borders (though that is a tough condition sensitive set in it's own right). The 1963 Topps cards featured super sharp photography, a smaller black &
white "in action" picture and colorful "full bleed" borders at the bottom of the cards. As such it is difficult to acquire true "Mint" conditioned cards as the colored borders show the tiniest
hints of wear. Add to this the fact that there are typical Topps centering issues and you have another tough condition sensitive set. But even in lower grades these cards are beauties. The
1963 Topps set features all the big names of the era: Aaron, Banks, Berra, Clemente, Koufax, Mantle, Mays, Musial plus a crop of new "up and comers" like Lou Brock, Carl
Yastrzemski and rookie cards like Tony Oliva and Willie Stargell. The key card of the set though, is the rookie card of a certain Peter Edward Rose. It is not only his rookie card but it
was also included in the scarce high numbered series. It is easily the most expensive card in the '63 set. Awesome and colorful classic 1960's Topps baseball set!
1971 Topps
1971 Topps #160 Tom Seaver 1971 Topps #250 Johnny Bench 1971 Topps #400 Hank Aaron
My favorite baseball set from the 1970's is the 1971 Topps set. The 1971 Topps cards featured jet black borders, which really make the color photographs stand out. 1971 was also the first
year that Topps included game shots of some of the players, instead of the basic "posed" photo. Team names are large and color coordinated for easy sorting. The photography was terrific for
the time. The backs also featured a small black & white photo of the player. Key cards are of course Hank Aaron, Roberto Clemente, Willie Mays, Pete Rose, etc., plus early cards of Johnny
Bench, Thurman Munson, Nolan Ryan and Tom Seaver. The 1971 Topps set features the rookie cards of Bert Blyleven, Steve Garvey, Ted Simmons and a combination rookie card of Don
Baylor and Dusty Baker. Centering is typically all over the place so try to find nicely centered examples. Another thing to look out for is "colored" cards on ungraded examples, especially for what
appears to be "high grade" cards. The borders show the tiniest bits of wear, so what some idiots decided to do when the hobby exploded was to "touch up" these touches of wear with a black
Magic Marker. You usually find them on the higher dollar cards like Ryan, Rose, etc. and you can tell by holding the card at an angle. You can see where the card was touched up because you
will see black "marks" that don't match the black borders. Sometimes you can also see the black ink from the marker from viewing the edges of the card by the side. The sides are dark cardboard
and the black marker "bleeds" through the cardboard if they tried to touch up the cards' edges or corners.
The '71 Topps set features all of the era's great players and most of the cards are very affordable. The most expensive cards in NM condition (ungraded) are less than $100 each (Thurman
Munson, Roberto Clemente and Nolan Ryan, with most Hall of Famers listing for less than $50. Graded examples by reputable grading services (at present Becketts (not BCCG), PSA and SGC)
usually bring more. With the economy at it's present state, 1970's Topps cards are a good bargain. At one time the most expensive card in the '71 set was the 3rd year Nolan Ryan card (card
#513) and it would sell easy for $225-$250 in graded NM condition. Now you can pick up a PSA 7 NM graded example for a $125 or less even, on sites like eBay. For more on Topps
baseball cards check out our TOPPS BASEBALL CARD PAGE , which has pictures and descriptions for all regular Topps cards from 1952 to 1980.
year that Topps included game shots of some of the players, instead of the basic "posed" photo. Team names are large and color coordinated for easy sorting. The photography was terrific for
the time. The backs also featured a small black & white photo of the player. Key cards are of course Hank Aaron, Roberto Clemente, Willie Mays, Pete Rose, etc., plus early cards of Johnny
Bench, Thurman Munson, Nolan Ryan and Tom Seaver. The 1971 Topps set features the rookie cards of Bert Blyleven, Steve Garvey, Ted Simmons and a combination rookie card of Don
Baylor and Dusty Baker. Centering is typically all over the place so try to find nicely centered examples. Another thing to look out for is "colored" cards on ungraded examples, especially for what
appears to be "high grade" cards. The borders show the tiniest bits of wear, so what some idiots decided to do when the hobby exploded was to "touch up" these touches of wear with a black
Magic Marker. You usually find them on the higher dollar cards like Ryan, Rose, etc. and you can tell by holding the card at an angle. You can see where the card was touched up because you
will see black "marks" that don't match the black borders. Sometimes you can also see the black ink from the marker from viewing the edges of the card by the side. The sides are dark cardboard
and the black marker "bleeds" through the cardboard if they tried to touch up the cards' edges or corners.
The '71 Topps set features all of the era's great players and most of the cards are very affordable. The most expensive cards in NM condition (ungraded) are less than $100 each (Thurman
Munson, Roberto Clemente and Nolan Ryan, with most Hall of Famers listing for less than $50. Graded examples by reputable grading services (at present Becketts (not BCCG), PSA and SGC)
usually bring more. With the economy at it's present state, 1970's Topps cards are a good bargain. At one time the most expensive card in the '71 set was the 3rd year Nolan Ryan card (card
#513) and it would sell easy for $225-$250 in graded NM condition. Now you can pick up a PSA 7 NM graded example for a $125 or less even, on sites like eBay. For more on Topps
baseball cards check out our TOPPS BASEBALL CARD PAGE , which has pictures and descriptions for all regular Topps cards from 1952 to 1980.
1948-49 Leaf #79 Jackie Robinson (Rookie card) (Back view)
If this 1948-49 Leaf #79 Jackie Robinson rookie card was one of the short printed cards in the Leaf All-Star Baseball Gum series, I would definitely say that this was the All-Time
Greatest baseball card. The significance of this card is undeniable. It is the recognized rookie card of one of the All-Time Great players, not mention the fact that he was an even greater human
being. Here is a ball player who should have been playing major league baseball way before 1947, along with other great Negro League players who were banned from the Major Leagues.
Did I mention that even prior to this, Robinson served as an Officer in the U.S. Army? So here was this terrific human being, a soldier and super athlete who was going to become the first
African American to play Major League Baseball. And what did he get for his efforts? Death threats, teammates saying they wouldn't play with him, being spat upon, spiked on the field, called
every derogatory name in the book, unspeakable racial prejudice, and more. It was an ugly time in America, but promising if Robinson could stick it out. And he did. Not only did he "turn his
cheek" but he played fantastic, winning the 1947 NL Rookie of the Year Award. The rest is history. But enough cannot be said about what a special person Jackie Robinson was. His wife
Rachel as well. This to me is the best baseball and sports card on the planet! You can argue the T206 Wagner, 1952 Topps Mantle, 1957 Bill Russell, 1961-62 Fleer Wilt Chamberlain,
1958 Topps Jim Brown, 1986 Fleer Michael Jordan rookie cards, but it all started here folks. With Jackie Robinson. You could also make a good case for cards of boxing greats Jack
Johnson, Joe Louis, or Muhammad Ali but at least those guys were able to take it out in ring.
While this is Robinson's key rookie card, he appeared earlier in the 1948 Swell "Sport Thrills" Gum series that featured baseball highlights throughout history. Robinson has his own
card, called "Dramatic Debut," which is card number 3 of the 20-card set. It is a very undervalued card ($175 in NM condition, ungraded). Compare to the above Leaf Robinson card which
lists for $1800 in ungraded NM condition.
Greatest baseball card. The significance of this card is undeniable. It is the recognized rookie card of one of the All-Time Great players, not mention the fact that he was an even greater human
being. Here is a ball player who should have been playing major league baseball way before 1947, along with other great Negro League players who were banned from the Major Leagues.
Did I mention that even prior to this, Robinson served as an Officer in the U.S. Army? So here was this terrific human being, a soldier and super athlete who was going to become the first
African American to play Major League Baseball. And what did he get for his efforts? Death threats, teammates saying they wouldn't play with him, being spat upon, spiked on the field, called
every derogatory name in the book, unspeakable racial prejudice, and more. It was an ugly time in America, but promising if Robinson could stick it out. And he did. Not only did he "turn his
cheek" but he played fantastic, winning the 1947 NL Rookie of the Year Award. The rest is history. But enough cannot be said about what a special person Jackie Robinson was. His wife
Rachel as well. This to me is the best baseball and sports card on the planet! You can argue the T206 Wagner, 1952 Topps Mantle, 1957 Bill Russell, 1961-62 Fleer Wilt Chamberlain,
1958 Topps Jim Brown, 1986 Fleer Michael Jordan rookie cards, but it all started here folks. With Jackie Robinson. You could also make a good case for cards of boxing greats Jack
Johnson, Joe Louis, or Muhammad Ali but at least those guys were able to take it out in ring.
While this is Robinson's key rookie card, he appeared earlier in the 1948 Swell "Sport Thrills" Gum series that featured baseball highlights throughout history. Robinson has his own
card, called "Dramatic Debut," which is card number 3 of the 20-card set. It is a very undervalued card ($175 in NM condition, ungraded). Compare to the above Leaf Robinson card which
lists for $1800 in ungraded NM condition.
Nowbatting19's Pick: All-Time Card (Period)
Questions? Comments? Please send an email to me care of nowbatting19@yahoo.com. Thanks! Tim