I've been trying to decide which 1970s set to start building for my next vintage set build, but I can't seem to make up my mind. So, I'm going to take a little closer look at what I already have in my collection and try to narrow it down.
Every decade has themes and design elements that come to define it. Looking back in hindsight, the designs, color schemes, fonts, etc., really came into focus with the 1972 Topps Set. The 1970 and to a lesser extent the 1971 set still look like they could have been made in the 1960s, but this set isn't fooling anyone.
The 1972 set has a few key rookies like Dave Kingman, Hall of Famer Carlton Fisk (card shared with Cecil Cooper), J.R. Richard, Charlie Hough, Mickey Rivers, Ron Cey (with Ben Ogilvie), and Rick Dempsey.
I have a 1972 Wantlist, but it's not to complete the full set, it's just a list of cards I thought I'd like to add to my collection at some point.
1972: 15, 32, 38, 42, 44, 48, 49, 54, 60, 100, 101, 137, 154, 169, 170, 171, 174, 176, 179, 184, 186, 199, 200, 221, 256, 267, 272, 294, 296, 300, 309, 312, 314, 330, 342, 433, 434, 435, 441, 493, 508, 550, 554, 558, 575, 588, 590, 600, 632, 671, 686, 695, 696, 700, 709, 710, 712, 714, 729, 737, 746, 749, 754, 760
The set is bolstered by a large subset called "In Action" showing off the kind of photography advances on cardboard in the early 70s.
I especially like the way the In Action cards have radically different backs - you might get an advertisement, or a list of league leaders, or a puzzle, or short essays on players or specific games.
I have about 50 or so cards from this set, well short of the 787 complete set. The set was released in six series, the last of which has those hard to find cards that are just as tough to collect as those heritage short prints.
I think this is my favorite set of the 70s so far, though it is probably one of the harder ones to build from scratch, just given the sheer number of cards and those pesky high numbers.
What do you think are the Pros and Cons of the 1972 Set? I'd love to hear your opinion!
Pros: Colorful as all get-out, lots of weirdness (trophy subset).
ReplyDeleteCons: Set is huge and made huger by the super tough high numbers.
Pros (again): Once you complete it, you really feel like you have accomplished something.
Night owl is right on all accounts. Plus tony Oliva is one of the card back puzzle subjects!
ReplyDeleteThe in-actions are still one of the best subsets in Topps history for my money. High numbers seem a little scary, though.
ReplyDeleteAs for someone who has built the 1972 set you might want to start at it before next year cause soon the 72s will be in demand due to the Heritage perspective I speaking from experience due to the fact that when Heritage was on its 67 design I had a harder time trying to find any of the high numbers that I still need cause they were in demand & I also know that a bunch of bloggers who might have extras to help you out in getting started as well. Best of luck with your set making progress.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Night Owl as well. The build can be frustrating, I took a break of over a year because the high numbers were driving me nuts. Last year I decided to give it a go again and I am down to about 24 cards needed. Unless you want to pour a ton of money into the high numbers, expect a long but fun build.
ReplyDeleteIt's a great set, but for the sake of your bank account, I'd suggest choosing something else.
ReplyDeleteThis is one of my favorite sets of the 70's. The colorful design and the fact that this is my birth year set are the keys for me. I thought about building it, but the high numbers quickly turned me off. I ended up buying a complete set on eBay to save a few bucks.
ReplyDelete