Which 70s Set Should I Build? None of the Above Edition

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.

So maybe instead of a Topps set, maybe I should work on something off the beaten path? Kellogg's had some trippy sets in the 70s, I think this 1971 edition is my favorite design, though I don't think you can really go wrong with any of them.

If I am feeling really patriotic, maybe Hostess is the way to go? Classic red white and blue, and of course pounds of sugar and fat in every box! 

(Before you send those angry letters, I know that the top two cards are actually from 1980 and 1981, these are just illustrative!)

Maybe I can go for a minor league set? These seem to be pretty tough, they are often an all or nothing proposition, if it's not a whole team set, it could a tough task to track down the 6th outfielder...

TCMA and Renata Galasso released a bunch of sets in the 70s and 80s that take a look at some of the best and some of the forgotten players of decades past. These could be a lot of fun to build!

Can you say cognitive dissonance? The great thing about SSPC is that it can surprise you. You'll find classic players in not so classic uniforms, and just a clean design to showcase the players.

I mean these are like 70s Stadium Club! The only thing missing would be action shots, but frankly the action photography that generally made it to cards in the 70s left some things to be desired. 

The backs are pretty good too - a 70s Score-style design. No big wall of stats, but a lot of fun stuff to be found reading these backs. Surprised to see anyone go 3 for 2, especially a pitcher!  I kid, but I do think the occasional typo is endearing. 

Not bad for a checklist, right? Maybe SSPC is the set I should build?

What do you think are the Pros and Cons of these oddball sets? I'd love to hear your opinion!

Which 70s Set Should I Build? 1979 Edition

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.

I don't have the Topps version, so O-Pee-Chee will have to do. Ozzie Smith is the big name rookie from this set, but you'll also find the first Topps cards of  Carney Lansford, Bob Welch, Willie Wilson, long time Rockies and Pirates manager Clint Hurdle, Bob Horner, Alfredo Griffin, Pedro Guerrero, and Lonnie Smith. 

Not a whole lot going on here, sort of a Flattened out 1965 design, stretching the pennant out into a ribbon. Maybe more like 1976 with a little less personality?

The backs are a lot like 1976 as well, though I think a little easier to read. slightly better contrasts. 

Here's a page of my favorites - I think I am more likely to just buy a complete set outright than try to ever build this one - most of the time the card shows and card shops overlook this set in favor of "real vintage" or "modern" / "junk wax." A complete set would probably be easily found around $125 or less, I'd probably end up spending a lot more than that if I tried to build it from scratch. The 70s Topps sets had their peak in the middle years, I think. 74 75 76 are top 3 for me in some order. I would rank this set ahead of 78 and 73 right now, but that's about it. 

What do you think are the Pros and Cons of the 1979 Set? I'd love to hear your opinion!

Which 70s Set Should I Build? 1978 Edition

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.

The big rookie card of 1978 was Eddie Murray, complete with Topps' All-Star Rookie honors and 500ft stare to dead center.

But Murray was joined by a trio of Tigers. One of those Tigers shared his rookie card with another Hall of Fame talent, Paul Molitor. Other notable rookies included long time MLB manager Art Howe, 1984 AL MVP Willie Hernandez, Moustache MVP Tim Blackwell, Expos fan favorite Warren Cromartie, Blue Jays mainstay Jim Clancy, Dodger favorite Glenn Burke, and Tiger/Angels great Lance Parrish.

Of course Reggie was going to make an appearance in this set after the 1977 World Series.

The backs are fine I guess - nothing to write home about. Here's a page of some of my favorites from this set that are already in my collection.

I find this set to be very blah. I don't think I would really have much interest in trying to build this set. But maybe I am not giving it a fair shot? 

What do you think are the Pros and Cons of the 1978 Set? I'd love to hear your opinion!

Which 70s Set Should I Build? 1975 Topps edition

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.

The 1975 Topps Set has a couple iconic rookies - George Brett and Robin Yount. Hall of Famer Jim Rice and Gary Carter both feature on one of those 4-plex cards. You'll also find rookie cards for other notable major leaguers like Andre Thornton, Bruce Bochte, Mario Mendoza, Keith Hernandez, Fred Lynn, and Craig Kusick.

My 1975 Wantlist, but it's not to complete the whole set, it's just a list of cards I thought I'd like to add to my collection at some point.

1975: 1, 3, 22, 33, 39, 70, 80, 108, 111, 122, 130, 140, 152, 170, 179, 180, 185, 203, 207, 213, 225, 243, 244, 245, 248, 255, 259, 260, 272, 290, 291, 300, 306, 320, 330, 351, 356, 370, 376, 385, 392, 402, 414, 451, 456, 459, 460, 462, 463, 464, 465, 481, 485, 486, 492, 502, 515, 526, 532, 536, 539, 569, 570, 580, 585, 586, 620, 622, 623, 632, 660

The Rookie Cup is back for 1975 after going missing from several cards in 1973, and then going completely missing 1974. Other items unique to this set are the series of MVPs (with a retrospective of cards on cards), and the parallel set of miniature cards.

Here's a page of my favorites from my collection. I know this is one of the more popular sets of the 1970s, but my unpopular opinion is that it doesn't quite do it for me. I think there's a little too much border compared to the photo size, and the scale on a lot of the cards is off. Too close or too far away.

What do you think are the Pros and Cons of the 1975 Set? I'd love to hear your opinion!

Which 70s Set Should I Build? 1974 Topps edition

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.

Big Dave is the big rookie in the 1974 set, but you'll also find Jerry Hairston, Texas phenom David Clyde, Expos great Steve Rogers, Randy Jones, Dave Parker, Gorman Thomas, Dan Driessen, Bucky Dent,  Ken Griffey, Bill Madlock, Royals great Frank White, just to name a few!

I have a 1974 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.

1974: 1 - 6, 7, 10,  20, 26, 29, 30, 40, 42, 43, 45, 48, 50, 55, 60, 65, 66,  85, 86, 96, 100, 108, 109, 115, 116, 118, 120, 133, 135, 136, 142, 144, 145, 147, 148, 150, 152, 153, 155, 158, 165, 169, 178,  179, 190, 195, 200, 229, 230, 237, 238, 241, 250,251, 252. 255, 257, 260, 261, 265, 269,  280, 283, 288, 290, 300, 304,326, 328, 340, 347, 350, 351, 355, 360, 369, 373, 378, 400, 408, 409, 445, 446, 461, 462, 470, 471,472, 473,474, 475, 476, 477, 478,  492, 506, 519, 529, 540, 558, 561, 563, 570, 575, 598, 601, 604, 605,620, 629, 649, 653

Horizontal cards are still all the rage, I like the landscape look every once in a while to break things up! The banner, which very vaugely recalls the '65 set, is not split up on the horizontal cards like their vertical bretheren.

The oddball feature of this set of course is the Padres' flirtation with the nation's capital  - Topps was ready to move the Padres to D.C. before they could change their name, instead they changed their mind and stayed in San Diego after all.

Here's a full page of my favorites from the set already in my collection. You know - this one might be the one. I have been re-building my want lists each time I've done one of these posts, and I really went to town adding cards to the list for this set. I like banners, I am simple man... I haven't even mentioned the Hank Aaron tribute, (or how most of the Pirates are wearing Roberto Clemente's 21 on their sleeves), or the "TRADED" set within the set. There's a lot to like here. 

My decision is being delayed again though, as the card show is cancelled for April (and probably May as well, let's be real here). I have been trying to exchange some money for some lots of 70s commons for several months now but either I forget to ask or the dealer forgets to bring them. Well, no one's getting those cards this month! 

What do you think are the Pros and Cons of the 1973 Set? I'd love to hear your opinion!

Which 70s Set Should I Build? 1973 Topps edition

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.

I don't know about you, but I rarely see cards from this set in good condition. Which is to say, most cards I've encountered from the set are in G-VG condition, or worse. I feel like my opinion of this set has been tainted by all the faded colors and rounded corners and creases. Is this a thing? Are the cards of this set notorious for bad condition, or is it just me?

The big name rookies in this set of course share a card at the end of the set, Ron Cey and Mike Schmidt. There are quite a few more less famous rookie cards in this set, such as Buddy Bell above. Also included were Dave Goltz, Goose Gossage, Gary Maddox, Rick Reuschel, and Gary Matthews.

I have a 1973 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.

1973: 10, 13, 35, 45, 50, 52, 72, 73, 86, 90, 92, 97, 111, 130, 150, 151, 152, 155, 160, 171, 174, 180, 190,  210, 220, 231, 236, 253, 263, 265, 273, 280, 300, 307, 320, 322, 330, 333, 360, 376, 378, 380, 384, 420, 431, 440, 447, 452, 468, 495, 498, 518, 545, 568, 574, 575, 597, 599, 615, 627

The card backs look good to me. Players with longer careers, like Frank Robinson, still get their full MLB career on the back with room for a cartoon and a little blurb. 

Here's a full page of my favorites from the set already in my collection. I have never been a very big fan of this set. I do like the positional pose logos on the fronts, but there's just something about the cards themselves that look amateurish to me - like they were printed poorly, on less than the best card stock. 

What do you think are the Pros and Cons of the 1973 Set? I'd love to hear your opinion!

Which 70s Set Should I Build? 1972 Topps edition

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!

Which 70s Set Should I Build? 1970 Topps edition

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.

I have a 1970 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.

1970: 140, 160, 380, 470, 537, 599, 654, 668, 670, 683, 706, 713

I picked up a small lot of 1970 Topps recently, about 60 cards.

Here were the rookies I picked up. The other key rookies in the set include: Vida Blue/Gene Tenace, Thurman Munson, Bill Lee, Larry Bowa, Darrell Evans, and Oscar Gamble

The All-Star subset has a cartoon on the back of each card, which I generally like more than dislike.

The Insert Set to chase from 1970 is this group of "The ____ Story" booklets

Here's a page of my favorite 1970 Topps cards, the set is heavy with bat rack cards! Over the years, I've gone back and forth on the simple gray borders and vibrantly yellow and blue backs. This makes the good photos stand out, and the photos that are just basic headshots or 3/4 shots can seem boring or uninspired. With that lot I purchased, I have about 125 of the 720 cards in the set. I'd have a pretty long way to go, but you have to start somewhere!

What do you think are the Pros and Cons of the 1970 Set? I'd love to hear your opinion!