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Top Five Baseball Card Sets of the '80s
My crush on The Baseball Card Blog intensifies as they set out on the most ambitious of endeavors -- counting down the best baseball card sets of the 1980s. Since collecting cards was my second-favorite pasttime (next to actually playing baseball) from about '86 to '92, this has the potential to be my favorite list ever.
The mission is simple. The amazin' Baseball Card Blog identifies the 53 major-issue sets from the '80s and is counting them down from worst to best. Here's the criteria: "design, short and long-term impact of key cards (including rookies) and how I feel about the set."
So far he's just begun, making it through 53-50 on the list and naming '89 Bowman the worst of the decade. While that particular set was godawful (overproduced, abnormal height, and a faux signature on the front of each card), they did have a simple enough design and a boatload of rookies. That set wasn't nearly as bad as '88 Donruss (#52 on the list!).
Anyway, without further adieu, here's my off-the-top list of the top five sets of the '80s*...
5. '85 Topps -- Including the '84 Olympians (McGwire!) was a masterstroke. Former top draft picks were nice too, although that was probably just an excuse to work in an extra Strawberry. Bonus points for the Clemens, Puckett and Gooden rookies. Plus, I just love Topps.
4. '83 Topps -- Probably my favorite design of the '80s. The picture-in-picture headshot was a nice touch. I think there were Boggs, Gwynn and Sandberg rookies in here too.
3. '87 Fleer -- Whoever designed these must have been an eccentric genius. The electric blue borders were borderline horrendous but somehow work and this was just a bumpercrop year for rookies (although they neglected to include Maddux and McGwire, I believe).
2. '84 Donruss -- The long-time gold standard of the '80s. With a sharp look, limited run and stud rookies (Mattingly and Strawberry) it was tough to beat. That is, until Mattingly's back gave out, Strawberry's white lady kept dancing and along came...
1. '89 Upper Deck -- Revolutionized card collecting as I knew it. Awesome design. Great photos (front and back). Tons of rookies. Premium run. Getting the first card in the series (Griffey Jr.) was literally like winning the lottery. Although buying a pack wasn't cheap either. Come to think of it, this set probably killed card collecting as we knew it as all of the companies began trying to top one another (see: '90 Leaf, see also: '91 Topps Stadium Club) and packs just became too expensive. Great while it lasted, though.
Thoughts? I mean other than, "You're a freaking loser."
* I didn't include any Topps Traded or Fleer Update-type sets here because, frankly, I'd have to go to my parents house and rifle through all my old sets to recall who was in which set, and that's just too much of a pain in the ass. For them and I. Bless 'em for continuing to store my 50,000+ cards though. Love you guys!
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Sorry about that I went over the limit. I wanted to say that in 1995-96 Finest hockey debuted and with that we were introduced to rare or gold refractors with a stated print run of 400 sets. Soon they made there way out of the company. The next case was when Pinnacle went bankrupt and all their stuff wound up in a big NY dealers warehouse to sell. This was the beginning of the back-door policy where there were more cards then people thought there were which killed prices of these cards.
I sure hope the hobby changes for the better. In a 17 year span the most expensive pack price went from Upper Deck at $1.00 (1989) to today's Topps Triple Threads $150 -
Everyone has a point in this debate. I have been in the hobby since 1989. I remember in 1991 when a card was worth $3 and you could sell it to a dealer for $5. Today cards that are worth $100 you will get $20 if you are lucky from a wholesaler who will take everything. He will sell it for $30 then the next guy will sell if for $50. I lose $30 by not being a dealer. Adding on after 1991 Stadium don't forget 1992 Bowman then 1993 Finest and the refractors. Then 1994 Bowmans Best. The takeoff of the Autograph craze was in full swing. Then in 1996 Select certified with the Mirror Red, Blue, and Gold cards. The Game Jerseys came out that year as well. It seems as though as one of the previous posts said 1989 Upper Deck ruined everything. Each year the other companies were looking to out do each other or there own selves with another product. Why do you think Fleer and Pinnacle went bankrupt. They could not afford the technology and Fleer could not afford to have Jeter for a time as there spokesperson. The only reason why Upper Deck is in business is because Richard McWilliam is a very sneaky guy. If any of you read card sharks printed in 1994. It states that when Griffey's Rookie got real hot they made 65,000 more cases to meet up with the demand. Topps is obviously still in business because they have been doing a great job for 55 years. Donruss's license was revoked because according to a Licensing director for MLB either Topps or Upper Deck would have gone out. Before I end my rant.
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89 upper deck was the worst thing to ever happen to card collecting. The simple pleasure of collecting a complete set of your favorite cards has now been reduced to "how much is it worth". That mentality started with the premium brand that 89 upper deck kicked off. todays children can no longer look at there cards without a price guide in one hand and the card in the other. Collecting cards for there value has turned opening packs into legal slot machines with the winnings posted on ebay. 84 donruss was and is the last of the last great sets and will be fondly remembered as such. A great big phooey to all the card companies and there pursuit of the almighty buck.
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89 Upper Deck took cards from pieces of cardboard to the feel of having an actual gloss picture of the players. There was no fade or fogginess, and Griffey was the luckiest damn move that could've been made that year. The Shef and Rojo rookies are not bad either.
7/4/06 6:24 PM
I specifically remember Brad Komminsk being one of those 'any year now' kind of guys. Actually carved out a decent journeyman career once the hype faded.
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