Top 10 Vintage Topps Players
 

Looking to start a small vintage Topps collection of the 10 greatest players to have a playing days card during this era (1952-1980).

Parameters:

- 10 players, no more no less
- No RC
- No pitchers (already have a separate project for that)
- PSA (for continuity)
- No repeating years
- Aesthetically pleasing design/pose

It does not matter if the player was in his final years or was just starting out on what would be a legendary career. I am more interested in who best represents the golden age of Topps.

The first 7 are locks:

Ted Williams
Jackie Robinson
Stan Musial
Mickey Mantle
Willie Mays
Hank Aaron
Roberto Clemente

Just stuck on who the last 3 should be. Leaning toward Frank Robinson, Johnny Bench, and Mike Schmidt.

Suggestions?

Here are the WAR leaders during this period as a starting point.

[url]https://www.fangraphs.com/leaders/major-league?pos=all&stats=bat&lg=all&qual=y&type=8&month=0&ind=0&team=0&rost=0&players=0&startdate=&enddate=&season1=1952&season=1980&sortcol=21&sortdir=default&pagenum=1[/url]

Will share my progress as it unfolds.

Frank Robinson, Yogi Berra, and Pete Rose would be my three.

Reggie Jackson
Yogi Berra
Johnny Bench

Al Kaline? Pee Wee Reese?

Ernie Banks
Carl Yastrzemski
Reggie Jackson

My three, keep in mind I am a huge Killebrew fan, would be:

Pete Rose
Sandy Koufax
Harmon Killebrew

but if you make it a bakers dozen:

Frank Robinson
Al Kaline
Carl Yastrzemski

Great choices. An argument could be made for all.

Frank Robinson is locked in as my 8th. Choosing between Rose and Bench is tough. Can't have all 3 be Reds, can I?

Banks is also gaining support in my mind...but so is Reggie. My self imposed 10 is just a nice number. Otherwise, I'd go down the every HOFer rabbit hole.

[QUOTE=cjraleigh;19839083]Great choices. An argument could be made for all.

Frank Robinson is locked in as my 8th. Choosing between Rose and Bench is tough. Can't have all 3 be Reds, can I?

Banks is also gaining support in my mind...but so is Reggie. My self imposed 10 is just a nice number. Otherwise, I'd go down the every HOFer rabbit hole.[/QUOTE]

Pete Rose has some absolutely amazing cards. His 1965 Topps card is probably my favorite card from the entire 60's.

Banks is super affordable besides his rookie. Can't go wrong with any of your choices!

I've pondered questions like this a lot. For me it's just like you said:

Mike Schmidt
Johnny Bench
Frank Robinson

koufax and banks,

and... satchell paige

I think maybe the lesson here is limits suck. Pick 20.

Eddie Mathews (17 seasons) 512 HRs, .271 BA
Ernie Banks (19 seasons) 512 HRs, .274 BA
Frank Robinson (21 seasons) 586 HRs, .294 BA

10 was the most I'd want to go with this mini project. Maybe even just the Magnificent 7 will do....nah. A Dandy Dozen has a nice ring to it.

Mathews certainly had a legendary career, but is unfairly an afterthought when all time postwar greats are mentioned...especially being Robin to Hank's Batman.

However...

Banks revolutionized the role of a power hitting shortstop. That can't be overstated. Synonymous with Chicago baseball.

Rose was the most intense competitor since Cobb, who he coincidentally passed to become The Hit King. His flaws add to his legend, and he quipped the greatest baseball quote ever in my opinion. "I'd walk through hell in a gasoline suit to play baseball".

Bench is widely regarded as the best backstop in over 150 years of the sport. The near consensus #1 at any position has to be included.

Ditto for Schmidt at 3rd.

No argument needed for Frank Robinson. Spectacular career, Jackie's equivalent on the managerial front, first MVP in both leagues, on and on.

For these reasons, these 5 would fit in beautifully with what I'm trying to accomplish.

Yaz. Ernie Banks. Brooks Robinson.

i would go

Brett
Schmidt
Bench

maybe this was a "good luck charm"

i posted THIS MORNING, koufax, banks , and paige

go to a really good show in Valparaiso, IN today, and[B] BAM !!![/B]


1953 topps satchell paige, psa 3, is now mine. :flex:

Bench and Schmidt are the greatest players at their position. They both should be on any top 10 list.

[QUOTE=vintg;19840588]maybe this was a "good luck charm"

i posted THIS MORNING, koufax, banks , and paige

go to a really good show in Valparaiso, IN today, and[B] BAM !!![/B]


1953 topps satchell paige, psa 3, is now mine. :flex:[/QUOTE]

Congrats! Took me a long time to get my PSA 2. The perfect card to wrap up my Topps era HOF pitcher run (before CC and Wagner got in).

Since you said until 1980, I'd add Rickey Henderson to the list.

EDIT: Your list doesn't show Rickey, and he had a career WAR of 111.1

That ranks him 3rd on your list...yes, above Mantle. Just sayin. :D

[QUOTE=inaka;19841756]Since you said until 1980, I'd add Rickey Henderson to the list.

EDIT: Your list doesn't show Rickey, and he had a career WAR of 111.1

That ranks him 3rd on your list...yes, above Mantle. Just sayin. :D[/QUOTE]

Rickey would be a slam dunk, but no RC for this project.

Parameters:

- 10 players, no more no less
[COLOR="DarkRed"][B]- No RC[/B][/COLOR]
- No pitchers (already have a separate project for that)
- PSA (for continuity)
- No repeating years
- Aesthetically pleasing design/pose

[QUOTE=cjraleigh;19841770]Rickey would be a slam dunk, but no RC for this project.

Parameters:

- 10 players, no more no less
[COLOR="DarkRed"][B]- No RC[/B][/COLOR]
- No pitchers (already have a separate project for that)
- PSA (for continuity)
- No repeating years
- Aesthetically pleasing design/pose[/QUOTE]

Ah! My apologies, I missed that part. :)!

Wouldn’t you just do top 10 WAR players?

last 3 for me.......

71 munson
79 yaz
74 reggie

Great project!
I would go with Joe Morgan, Mike Schmidt and Frank Robinson. As for years, I think a 1971 Morgan, a 1975 or 1977 Schmidt and for Robinson maybe a 1965.