Define the design: 25T, 94F, 93F, 90F, 86F

 

It's time for my annual Define the Design post, in which I look to name the newest Topps flagship set and take a go at some past sets, too.

 

Last year I named the 2024 Topps set quickly then tried to attach labels to some past Donruss sets. Some worked, some didn't and some I'm still trying to name.

 

The two that escaped naming the last time was 1981 Donruss and 1992 Donruss. Still don't have a name that fits for '81 Donruss, it may be just get "the Donruss debut set" to be done with it. But for 1992 Donruss I think I'm going with a suggestion by Bo on the last post.

 

Not my favorite set at all, as you know, but the blue streaks come in handy because, as Bo said, they are a reminder of the toothpaste that was popular in the late '70s/early '80s. Specifically for me, that means Aquafresh, which we were all about as youngsters.

 

 

Aquafresh was unique at the time because it contained streaks of green-blue, and for us kids it tasted better than the Crest/Colgate we were used to, too (and especially that horrific "Aim" that showed up in the house at one point).

 

Aquafresh today apparently is red, white and blue, but the old-school toothpaste look goes better with '92 Donruss, so '92 Donruss is now known as the "Aquafresh Toothpaste set," which is a much better name than '92 Donruss deserves but I can finally stop writing about it.

 

Now onto 2025 Topps:

 

Again, this year it's easy, thanks to publicity about the design when it came out. The Topps designers said it came from an original idea that was inspired by the subway maps in New York City.

 

 

Works for me! The 2025 Topps set is now the "Subway Map Set." Done!

 

Let's move on to Fleer. That will be tougher.

 

I'm trying to finish some earlier sets that have escaped names while most of the other Fleer sets have been labeled (some quite good ones, too). Here are some that are left:

 

1994 Fleer is a favorite, one of Fleer's best-looking. I often think about collecting it, though 1994 isn't a great year and I'm not crazy about reliving it (probably explains why I'm not collecting '94 Topps either).

 

It's a tough set to name because it's a super-clean design without much to focus on. The team logo is a possibility.

 

It could be the "Traveling Logo" set or the "All Four Corners" set as these four cards demonstrate.

 

So that's where I'm leaning with '94 Fleer, but as always I could be missing something much better, which is why I'm always looking for suggestions.

 

 

1993 Fleer also seems to defy an easy name. "Gray border set" has been taken. The sideways writing has been used on many other sets. The colored strip on the side is a possibility but what? 

 

 

1990 Fleer is all about the ribbons, though 1979 Topps is already the "Ribbon Set". But "Double Ribbon Set" hasn't been taken! So that's what I'm naming 1990 Fleer.

 

 

1986 Fleer is also pesky to name. 1994 Score is already the "Midnight Blue Border" set. The border screams out to be named though. Maybe something with name bubble at the bottom, that seems like the way to go. 

 

OK, so that's it. We've got some more names and others floating out there. If you know something good, add it in the comments and maybe it will stick, like the toothpaste label. Per usual, you can find all the names on the Define the Design tab. I'll add the names for 1992 Donruss, 1994 Fleer, 1990 Fleer and 2025 Topps when I get a chance.