I’ve got a two-parter for you, starting today.
I thought it’s finally time to update that series, with 10 years gone by and 11 more flagship sets being produced.
Per usual, I ain’t got time for this, so I’m breaking it up into two parts and hoping I’ll have time for even that (looking at the clock as I write this). Today’s post will re-rank the sets according to my updated opinions. The next post — tomorrow or this weekend — will include the sets from 2016 to 2026.
So, before I get to the re-ranking, here is how I ranked the sets back in 2015:
1. 1956, 2. 1975, 3. 1971, 4. 1983, 5. 1967, 6. 1972, 7. 1959, 8. 1953, 9. 1976, 10. 1965, 11. 1973, 12. 1962, 13, 1991, 14. 1988, 15. 1957, 16. 1978, 17. 1974, 18. 1952, 19. 1984, 20. 1980
21. 1977, 22. 2015, 23. 1986, 24. 1992, 25. 2011, 26. 1963, 27. 2009, 28. 1979, 29. 1960, 30. 2003, 31. 1995, 32. 1954, 33. 1987, 34. 1955, 35. 2013, 36. 2005, 37. 1982, 38. 1994, 39. 1985, 40. 1993
41. 1981, 42. 2004, 43. 1964, 44. 1970, 45. 1969, 46. 1958, 47. 1966, 48. 2010, 49. 1989, 50. 1961, 51. 2006, 52. 1990, 53. 1968, 54. 2007, 55. 1997, 56. 2002, 57. 2012, 58. 2001, 59. 1999, 60. 2008
61. 1998, 62. 2000, 63. 2014, 64. 1996
I went into detail over why I ranked the sets where I did back then, which is mostly according to my tastes but I think they mostly line up with other collectors, at least the ones from my era.
Now, for the re-ranked list, it’s not drastically different. Most of the changes are only up or down a few positions. This is a result of the passage of time, of course, but also recent developments in my collecting, some of which is connected to card shows I’ve attended over the last couple of years and individual purchases. There are other reasons, too, which I may get into at some point later.
Let’s get on with it. I’m showing cards for sets that soared or plummeted, although not all of them. And it’s in reverse order this time.
Night owl’s re-ranked all-time Topps set countdown (1952-2015)
64. 1996
63. 2014
62. 1999 (down 3)
We’re getting right to one of the other reasons that’s developed in the last 10 years: readability is much more important to me now. 1999 might be one of the most unreadable major sets ever. The gold foil is tough and team name is insanely small.
61. 2000 (up 1)
60. 1998 (up 1)
59. 2001 (down 1)
58. 2012 (down 1)
57. 2002 (down 1)
56. 2007 (down 2)
55. 1997
54. 2008 (up 6)
I still think the dumb logo bump ruins half the photos in this set. But the colorful carnival team letters makes it more fun than most of the sets in this area of the countdown so it doesn’t belong with the likes of 1998 and 1999.
53. 2006 (down 2)
52. 2010 (down 4)
The more years pass, the more obnoxious this set seems, especially the close-up shots (not this card, it’s fine). There’s a reason why I moved this set from a binder into a box during my recent downsizing (which is continuing by the way, more free cards on the way).
51. 1968 (up 2)
50. 1990 (up 2)
49. 1989
48. 1966 (down 1)
47. 1958 (down 1)
46. 1995 (down 15)
Another victim of its unreadable fronts. I once liked this set a lot and thought about completing it. I don’t anymore, although with the amount I’ve accumulated, I really should.
45. 1969
44. 1961 (up 6)
The biggest beneficiary of recent card show trips. With no major vintage sets to complete, I’ve just let my mind gravitate toward what I think is most interesting. 1961 is one of those sets. That is wild considering for most of my years as a collector — even through the first half of my blogging career — I’ve thought this set was as dull as cards could possibly get.
I’ve changed my opinion — though a row of nothing but crew cuts from this set prevents it from going any higher.
43. 1970 (up 1)
42. 2004
41. 1993 (down 1)
40. 1981 (up 1)
39. 1964 (up 4)
It works both ways, make those team names so you can read them from a hot air balloon and I’ll really love ya. The orange backs are just a plus.
38. 1985 (up 1)
37. 1994 (up 1)
36. 1982 (up 1)
35. 2005 (up 1)
34. 2013 (up 1)
33. 1955 (up 1)
32. 2003 (down 2)
31. 1954 (up 1)
I learned to appreciate this pioneering design when I wrote a magazine article about it. This particular design has been repeated by Topps and others for dozens and dozens of sets and it’s very pleasing. Still, too bad about the set size and the checklist.
30. 1960 (down 1)
29. 1987 (up 4)
I still think 1987 is terribly overrated and the subject of way too many odes. I don’t need to see or hear about the set ever again. Still, it is a classic in ways that other sets that I had ranked around it are not (1995, 2003, 2013).
28. 1979
27. 2009 (this also has a readability problem but the photos are super fun, maybe one day it’ll decline)
26. 1963
25. 2011
24. 1992
23. 1986
22. 2015
21. 1980 (down 1)
20. 1977 (up 1)
19. 1984
18. 1974 (down 1)
17. 1952 (up 1)
16. 1978
15. 1988 (down 1)
14. 1991 (down 1)
13. 1962 (down 1)
12. 1957 (up 3)
The other set that I gravitate toward at card shows now. One of the most powerful images of mid-1950s baseball that we have.
11. 1973
10. 1976 (down 1)
9. 1965 (up 1)
If I was going to really try to complete a vintage set again, this would be it — because 1967 is impossible.
8. 1953
7. 1959
6. 1972
5. 1967
4. 1983
3. 1971
2. 1975
1. 1956
Since I last did this countdown, I completed the 1956 Topps set. You’re damn right it’s still No. 1. In fact, the top eight are unchanged.
All right, I bet I screwed up the rankings somewhere in there, but I’ll go back and fix them when I have more time. Next up: where the last 11 sets rank in this list. Hint: Some of them are waaaaaaay near the bottom.