Don't you love it when you find out that for at least some card collectors, it's not about super-sick hits and cut signatures and jersey pieces carved into the shape of an antelope?
The previous post showed that y'all still like a good picture and a pleasing design. Bless your cardboard hearts for your comments. Thanks to your rabid insight (yes, I'm talking to you Scott Crawford), I can now officially ...
PUT UP A POLL!!!
IN FACT, I CAN PUT UP TWO OF THEM. WOOOOOO-HOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!
Thanks to dayf for suggesting that polls can still be achieved by narrowing down the options based on the comments. He's a sharp one there.
So, after going through what must be a word-count record for comments on one post (ahem, Mr. Crawford again), I have selected the candidates for the biggest year-to-year improvements in Topps card history and the biggest year-to-year busts in Toppity Topps history.
I have set up two separate polls with six choices each underneath the OTHER poll I already have going on the sidebar. Sheesh, I am the Gallup of the card blog world.
But you all need pictures, so I am displaying each of the finalists in living color.
The nominees, please:
BIGGEST IMPROVEMENT:
Summation of comments: The '53 drawings were pure works of art and beloved by many. The '52 set wasn't as good as Topps wants you to believe EACH AND EVERY DAMN YEAR THEY TROT IT OUT YET AGAIN!
Summation of comments: The 1958 set was created by purchasing colored construction paper and letting a group of school children glue magazine cut-outs of ballplayers to it. The 1959 set is iconic and beautifully sums up the era in which it appeared. And that set knew how to spell Mr. Neal's name, too.
Summation of comments: Look, even Lou Brock is saddened by the uninspiring gray border of the 1970 set. Meanwhile, the 1971 set is cool, quirky, classy and jazzy.
Summation of comments: Nothing against 1982, it was just meh-ish. But the '83 set was definitely not. The most loved Topps set of the last three decades.
Summation of comments: What the hell was THAT in 1990, followed by some amazing photos in 1991.
Summation of comments: Some people like the '02 set, some people don't. But generally, the '03 blue border is believed to be an improvement from the previous year. As a Dodger fan, I can't possibly argue.
BIGGEST BUST:
Summation of comments: The 1956 set, according to the Official Bureau of Historical Cards and Gum Parts, is the best damn set in all creation. The 1957 set is smaller, inconsistent, and, lordy, you can't read the lettering on the front of some of the cards.
Summation of comments: Hey, we didn't say the '57 set was ALL bad! At least it's better than the scrapbook set (I think I've just stumbled upon a Define the Design name).
Summation of comments: Probably not the greatest side-by-side comparison as I'm convinced that both of these cards came from the same photo shoot. But what we have with the '65 set is that terrific pennant. What we have with the '66 set is the most unimaginative design since '61 and the only people wearing hats in this entire set are on the Alston card.
Summation of comments: Some consider the '67 set boring, but I was thrilled by the comments that others consider it one of the finest sets ever, too. The '68 set is possibly the strangest idea put to cardboard until 1990 came along (no, I don't know why the Drysdale card is cut off on the right side).
Summation of comments: Some folks don't like the 1995 font. That doesn't bother me. I'm with the group that thinks it's the best Topps set of the 1990s. The 1996 set, I think we call all agree is just wrong. Shrunken heads, anyone?
Summation of comments: Wow, it's been a whole year and Melky hasn't even moved an inch! ... I'm removing myself from this entry (I don't like '07 Topps). But some think the 2007 black borders are rad and the stupid 2008 photos and logo bump are sad.
There you are -- the best and worst one-year turnarounds. Vote away!
After the voting is done, I'll expound/elaborate/regurgitate on ... something. I don't what it will be yet. But it will be ... uh, something.
The previous post showed that y'all still like a good picture and a pleasing design. Bless your cardboard hearts for your comments. Thanks to your rabid insight (yes, I'm talking to you Scott Crawford), I can now officially ...
PUT UP A POLL!!!
IN FACT, I CAN PUT UP TWO OF THEM. WOOOOOO-HOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!
Thanks to dayf for suggesting that polls can still be achieved by narrowing down the options based on the comments. He's a sharp one there.
So, after going through what must be a word-count record for comments on one post (ahem, Mr. Crawford again), I have selected the candidates for the biggest year-to-year improvements in Topps card history and the biggest year-to-year busts in Toppity Topps history.
I have set up two separate polls with six choices each underneath the OTHER poll I already have going on the sidebar. Sheesh, I am the Gallup of the card blog world.
But you all need pictures, so I am displaying each of the finalists in living color.
The nominees, please:
BIGGEST IMPROVEMENT:
1952 to 1953
Summation of comments: The '53 drawings were pure works of art and beloved by many. The '52 set wasn't as good as Topps wants you to believe EACH AND EVERY DAMN YEAR THEY TROT IT OUT YET AGAIN!
1958 to 1959
Summation of comments: The 1958 set was created by purchasing colored construction paper and letting a group of school children glue magazine cut-outs of ballplayers to it. The 1959 set is iconic and beautifully sums up the era in which it appeared. And that set knew how to spell Mr. Neal's name, too.
1970 to 1971
Summation of comments: Look, even Lou Brock is saddened by the uninspiring gray border of the 1970 set. Meanwhile, the 1971 set is cool, quirky, classy and jazzy.
1982 to 1983
Summation of comments: Nothing against 1982, it was just meh-ish. But the '83 set was definitely not. The most loved Topps set of the last three decades.
1990 to 1991
Summation of comments: What the hell was THAT in 1990, followed by some amazing photos in 1991.
2002 to 2003
Summation of comments: Some people like the '02 set, some people don't. But generally, the '03 blue border is believed to be an improvement from the previous year. As a Dodger fan, I can't possibly argue.
BIGGEST BUST:
1956 to 1957
Summation of comments: The 1956 set, according to the Official Bureau of Historical Cards and Gum Parts, is the best damn set in all creation. The 1957 set is smaller, inconsistent, and, lordy, you can't read the lettering on the front of some of the cards.
1957 to 1958
Summation of comments: Hey, we didn't say the '57 set was ALL bad! At least it's better than the scrapbook set (I think I've just stumbled upon a Define the Design name).
1965 to 1966
Summation of comments: Probably not the greatest side-by-side comparison as I'm convinced that both of these cards came from the same photo shoot. But what we have with the '65 set is that terrific pennant. What we have with the '66 set is the most unimaginative design since '61 and the only people wearing hats in this entire set are on the Alston card.
1967 to 1968
Summation of comments: Some consider the '67 set boring, but I was thrilled by the comments that others consider it one of the finest sets ever, too. The '68 set is possibly the strangest idea put to cardboard until 1990 came along (no, I don't know why the Drysdale card is cut off on the right side).
1995 to 1996
Summation of comments: Some folks don't like the 1995 font. That doesn't bother me. I'm with the group that thinks it's the best Topps set of the 1990s. The 1996 set, I think we call all agree is just wrong. Shrunken heads, anyone?
2007 to 2008
Summation of comments: Wow, it's been a whole year and Melky hasn't even moved an inch! ... I'm removing myself from this entry (I don't like '07 Topps). But some think the 2007 black borders are rad and the stupid 2008 photos and logo bump are sad.
There you are -- the best and worst one-year turnarounds. Vote away!
After the voting is done, I'll expound/elaborate/regurgitate on ... something. I don't what it will be yet. But it will be ... uh, something.
Comments
By the way, this will be quite interesting for Upper Deck. Tough to put any busts early on, then all the designs from the last 7 or 8 years seem exactly the same.
OK, you got me to narrow down biggest improvement to two sets, '59 and '71. Both had a similar feel, even if the aesthetics are very different; Owl, you called '71 a "jazz" set like I did '59, and you're right. I went, just barely, with '70-'71.
I'm stickin' to my story with '67-'68 being the biggest dropoff.
As an aside before I end this sub-8000 characters (this time...), my CAPTCHA word for this post is...
"nutchaz"
Say it to yourself, it feels good. No other significance, just...nutchaz!
Bust goes to burlap 68s. 67's are rather elegant and simple. 68 burlap is just bizarre. They're like the 69 design that wasn't unwrapped yet.
I would have gone with 70-71, but I've got a strange fascination with 1970 since I'm trying to finish it now. (I finally finished 1971 when I acquired the Don Baylor/Dusty Baker rookie...that one had eluded me for years.) And as much as I like 1971 I just can't get past the fact that the names are in all lower case letters. (I LOVE the black 2007 by the way, except that "Topps" is so much bigger than the team name). I don't hate 2008 as much as some people do, but I'll vote for 07-08 as the biggest bust.
Not saying which ones though. Don't want to get laughed at.
And as far as the 1990 set, I just like it. No particular reason why, I just like the flashy design of it. The Griffey in the set, in my opinion, is one of the best portraits on a card ever.