It's been a little while since I revisited the countdown. With the postseason games and the various card goings-on, I just couldn't squeeze it into the schedule.
But this particular countdown spot gives me another chance to show off one of my favorite cards in my collection, so I'll make time for it (while I'm watching the Rangers surrender their series lead).
What an interesting year it must have been for card collectors in 1955. For the first time, not one but two companies came out with an all-horizontal set. Both Bowman and Topps featured all horizontal cards. I wonder what collectors thought of this development?
Both sets happen to be on this countdown. I have the Topps set rated a little higher because it's more colorful than the Bowman set.
Of course, bonus points are given for featuring a cartoon on the back. In 1955, Topps offered a variety of cartoon series: True or False, Daffy-nitions, Puzzlers, etc. This particular cartoon perpetuates the falsehood that the first baseball game was played in Cooperstown, which we now know wasn't true.
The write-up on the back is detailed, which I like. This card has some obvious damage, so part of it is unreadable, but that is completely forgivable in a card like this.
The red-and-green colors, which Topps used frequently (see 1975 and 1985 Topps) have a very '50s feel. I'm not crazy about the combination. But I do like the brightness, and it's readable. One of the most readable card backs from the 1950s.
This is a pretty standard card back, but a template that I prefer.
If you'd like to see all of these cards, front and back, foul bunt is featuring the entire set, one card at a time. It's very cool.
Best of the set:
Koufax's rookie card is the best of the set, I don't care what anyone says.
(previous card back countdown selections):
50. 1978 SSPC Yankee Yearbook
49. 1993 Score
48. 1999 Skybox Thunder
47. 2000 Upper Deck
46. 1999 Skybox Premium
45. 1953 Johnston Cookies Braves
44. 1995 Topps
43. 1997 Fleer
42. 1992 Pinnacle
41. 1989 Bowman
40. 1977 Kellogg's
39. 2004 Topps
38. 2004 Topps Total
37. 1992 Topps
36. 1992 Donruss
35. 2008 Upper Deck Documentary
34. 1963 Fleer
33. 1955 Bowman
32. 2006 Topps
31. 1961 Topps
Comments
Agreed on the Koufax.