What is the one iconic baseball card to get?

CP3toOKC · 06-01-2014, 07:46 PM

I started one in the football thread, and I thought it would be the '52 Topps Mantle but then other cards came into mind afterwards.

As I wrote in the football thread, I think the general agreement for basketball would be the Fleer 86-87 MJ RC as the most iconic. For baseball: '52 Topps Mantle? 1909 Honus Wagner? '33 Goudey Ruth?

Also doesn't have to be the most rare/expensive. Thanks

Thommy · 06-01-2014, 07:47 PM

1948 Leaf Jackie

iluvfish2 · 06-01-2014, 07:49 PM

For me its a generation/Decades type thing. 85 Topps Mcgwire. 89 Griffey (to me counts for more for the 90's). I think in the 2000's your likely looking at some type of auto or game used card since thats when those really exploxed and became easier to get.

Scoat · 06-01-2014, 07:49 PM

1989 UD Ken Griffey Jr.

Manmadeofsteel · 06-01-2014, 07:50 PM

I feel like it should be Wagner for sure.....
The Roberto Clemnte Topps RC would be mine.....
But, my guess is people will say the Ken Griffey Jr. Upper Deck RC

death2redemptions · 06-01-2014, 07:51 PM

Value wise it would be the 1909 Honus Wagner. That card sells for seven figures.

Most iconic recent era card is the 2001 Bowman Chrome Pujols autograph

The 1952 Topps Mantle would get my vote for most iconic in vintage.

Then again the 2011 Bowman Chrome Dee Gordon autograph card will probably be worth all of those combined by the time he makes the Hall Of Fame.

trixstar · 06-01-2014, 07:53 PM

52 topps Mickey Mantle. How anyone could answer otherwise is beyond me

lambeauleap87 · 06-01-2014, 07:55 PM

I'd echo the sentiments of the '52 Topps Mantle...impossible to beat that, in my opinion.

gamboooler · 06-01-2014, 08:49 PM

52 Topps Mantle, 89 UD Griffey, 93 SP Jeter

awz50 · 06-01-2014, 08:51 PM

1948 Jackie hands down

sportsfanz · 06-01-2014, 09:02 PM

While I agree the Mantle,Wagner,Robinson,and a few others are iconic;they're iconic now. When they were released,they didn't change the landscape of card collecting.Are they rare? Yes,very rare.Keep in mind that if Topps hadn't dumped the better portion of the Mantles into a river,then it wouldn't be as rare and as highly valued as it is today.Same deal with the Wagner.If almost all the copies weren't burned,it wouldn't be what it is today.I believe without that 1989 UD Griffey,cards wouldn't be where they are today.That card and almost,I'm saying almost,that card alone;changed the entire landscape of baseball cards.Follow that up with the concept of adding player's signatures to cards and pieces of the player's jerseys or bats to cards and that solidified what cards currently are.While some other suggestions are embedded in card history and have become some of the most sought after cards of all-time;I truly believe the whole card world changed with card #1 in the 1989 Upper Deck set.

dlew3498 · 06-01-2014, 09:19 PM

.......

Raysfan16 · 06-01-2014, 09:20 PM

For the current era I'd say the 2001 Bowman Chrome Pujols rookie auto. First year of bowman chrome rookie autos and it features a slam dunk HOFer in Pujols. It set the precedent for all the prospecting hullabaloo that goes on now.

briscogun · 06-01-2014, 09:21 PM

I think the '52 Mantle and the '89 Griffey popped in my head right away, so I'll go with those. I mean, you know what they are as soon as you see them.

natbornkiller · 06-01-2014, 09:27 PM

1952 mantle , no if and or buts

Ty Hope · 06-01-2014, 09:33 PM

For novelty, everyone should own a Billy Ripken ff.

JohnRyno · 06-01-2014, 10:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iluvfish2

For me its a generation/Decades type thing. 85 Topps Mcgwire. 89 Griffey (to me counts for more for the 90's). I think in the 2000's your likely looking at some type of auto or game used card since thats when those really exploxed and became easier to get.

Add geography and you have the answer. Collecting was pretty simple before the 90's: go high-end and search shops/shows for vintage, build sets, chase rookie cards or track down IP autos.

Plenty of vintage rcs are "iconic" to different cities. The Ripken rc was a must have here. Banks in Chicago, Clemente in pitt, Feller in cle, Ted Williams in Boston, Mantle in nyc, Musial/Gibson in Stl. Seaver, Yount, Robinson(s), etc. Jeter, Griffey, Rivera Bowman during the junk wax craze.

A chrome Harper auto is probably "iconic" for young collectors.

Brekbc9 · 06-01-2014, 10:37 PM

Iconic for my 11 year old days back in '88 starting off with Topps..was the 1964 Topps Mickey Mantle since I was able to borrow it from a friend. I just liked the look of it...and I still don't own one to this day lol.

WCTYSON · 06-01-2014, 11:04 PM

THE(NEXT)LEVEL · 06-01-2014, 11:37 PM

T206 Wagner/52 Mantle

tingyangs6 · 06-02-2014, 01:47 AM

50 years from now, people will be saying Bryce Harper BC RC Auto

free2131 · 06-02-2014, 02:55 AM

5)

This cards started modern day "prospecting" and single handedly coined the phrase "Chrome is King". I don't think Bowman as a brand would be as popular as it is today without this card.

4)

A single color jersey piece is in my top 5 most iconic cards? Yep. While this wasn't the first set that featured "player worn" items, it was the first for baseball, and kickstarted a major change in the hobby. Soon collectors would be more focused on "hits" over base and insert cards. While serial numbered cards dominated the late 90's, soon game used cards would become the norm. This is the card set that started it all, with HOFers Ken Griffey, Jr., Tony Gwynn, and... REY ORDONEZ??!! Well, can't get everything perfect!

3)

Probably the most sought after card of my generation. I bought many $4 packs of 1989 Upper Deck trying for this card as a kid (I'm only 30 so I missed out on the $1 per pack days). This card was revolutionary for two reason. Firstly, it's great photography and innovative technology forced the other card companies to step up their game, and secondly it laid the foundation that would usher in a new era of card collecting less than a decade later.

2)

It's too bad that the Gretzky Wagner turned out to be trimmed, because that card was such a beauty. Honestly you could probably flip my number 1 and this card and I couldn't argue much. I only know that growing up as a young collector, I always dreamed of owning my first pick as the most iconic card ever made. Even though it is more rare than my first pick (either because of Wagner's dislike of smoking or dislike of not getting royalties), if I had the option of only owning one, this card, while iconic, wouldn't be it.

1)

This has pretty much been the Holy Grail of several generations of collectors. I remember my LCS having one in a huge screw down glass case with a $50K price tag on it. I would just stare at it when I went to visit. Iconic team, iconic player, and iconic inaugural set from the company that would dominate the baseball card industry.

BrewCrewBall27 · 06-02-2014, 05:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WCTYSON

That's got to be one of the funniest movies ever!

jdneel88 · 06-02-2014, 07:24 AM

The T206 Wagner and Robinson are important in the history of the sport, and in card collecting. But when you say baseball cards, it's that '52 Mantle and for my generation a close 2nd is that '89 Griffey.

EJohnson · 06-02-2014, 08:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ty Hope

For novelty, everyone should own a Billy Ripken ff.

yessssss!!

06-01-2014, 07:47 PM	#2
Thommy Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 12,326 qbkauctions	1948 Leaf Jackie __________________ Dee Gordon's the GOAT Vin Scully is a poet This is a Haiku On groundsupport's 3 person Mount Rushmore

06-01-2014, 07:49 PM	#3
iluvfish2 Moderator Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Lansing, Michigan Posts: 26,684 iluvfish2 iluvfish2	For me its a generation/Decades type thing. 85 Topps Mcgwire. 89 Griffey (to me counts for more for the 90's). I think in the 2000's your likely looking at some type of auto or game used card since thats when those really exploxed and became easier to get. __________________ Blowouts Resident Wade Boggs Super Collector

06-01-2014, 07:49 PM	#4
Scoat Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: The Land of Corn Posts: 1,057	1989 UD Ken Griffey Jr. __________________ I Collect HOF Rookie Cards Follow my Instagram @scoatssportscards

06-01-2014, 07:50 PM	#5
Manmadeofsteel Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: The Twilight Zone Posts: 3,075 Eric_cards EricsCards	I feel like it should be Wagner for sure..... The Roberto Clemnte Topps RC would be mine..... But, my guess is people will say the Ken Griffey Jr. Upper Deck RC __________________ You unlock this door with the key of imagination. Beyond it is another dimension - a dimension of sound, a dimension of sight, a dimension of mind. You're moving into a land of both shadow and substance, of things and ideas. You've just crossed over into the Twilight Zone.

06-01-2014, 07:55 PM	#8
lambeauleap87 Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 24,744 LL87	I'd echo the sentiments of the '52 Topps Mantle...impossible to beat that, in my opinion. __________________ I collect Packers, former Ohio State Buckeyes, Blue Jackets, and Cleveland Indians/Guardians.

06-01-2014, 07:46 PM	#1
CP3toOKC Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: OK Posts: 5,051 soonerfan187	What is the one iconic baseball card to get? I started one in the football thread, and I thought it would be the '52 Topps Mantle but then other cards came into mind afterwards. As I wrote in the football thread, I think the general agreement for basketball would be the Fleer 86-87 MJ RC as the most iconic. For baseball: '52 Topps Mantle? 1909 Honus Wagner? '33 Goudey Ruth? Also doesn't have to be the most rare/expensive. Thanks __________________ PM me if you have CP3 autos in Thunder uniform for sale Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/191230765@N06/albums

06-01-2014, 07:51 PM	#6
death2redemptions Banned Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Creeping in mama's cellar Posts: 59,303 ddavisaz	Value wise it would be the 1909 Honus Wagner. That card sells for seven figures. Most iconic recent era card is the 2001 Bowman Chrome Pujols autograph The 1952 Topps Mantle would get my vote for most iconic in vintage. Then again the 2011 Bowman Chrome Dee Gordon autograph card will probably be worth all of those combined by the time he makes the Hall Of Fame.

06-01-2014, 07:53 PM	#7
trixstar Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Seattle Posts: 24,169 stunner316	52 topps Mickey Mantle. How anyone could answer otherwise is beyond me

06-01-2014, 08:49 PM	#9
gamboooler Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 8,062 gamboooler gamboooler	52 Topps Mantle, 89 UD Griffey, 93 SP Jeter

06-01-2014, 08:51 PM	#10
awz50 Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: New Hampshire>>>Arizona>>>>Florida Posts: 33,121 awz50	1948 Jackie hands down __________________ Collecting Baseball Hof Autographs 248/351 Blowouts Official Red Sox face of the franchise Eduardo Rodriguez Super Collector

06-01-2014, 09:02 PM	#11
sportsfanz Member Join Date: May 2014 Location: United States Posts: 56	While I agree the Mantle,Wagner,Robinson,and a few others are iconic;they're iconic now. When they were released,they didn't change the landscape of card collecting.Are they rare? Yes,very rare.Keep in mind that if Topps hadn't dumped the better portion of the Mantles into a river,then it wouldn't be as rare and as highly valued as it is today.Same deal with the Wagner.If almost all the copies weren't burned,it wouldn't be what it is today.I believe without that 1989 UD Griffey,cards wouldn't be where they are today.That card and almost,I'm saying almost,that card alone;changed the entire landscape of baseball cards.Follow that up with the concept of adding player's signatures to cards and pieces of the player's jerseys or bats to cards and that solidified what cards currently are.While some other suggestions are embedded in card history and have become some of the most sought after cards of all-time;I truly believe the whole card world changed with card #1 in the 1989 Upper Deck set.

06-01-2014, 09:19 PM	#12
dlew3498 Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: South Jersey Posts: 158 dlew3498	....... __________________ Collecting Jimmer Fredette and other basketball autos and patches! :special: Last edited by dlew3498; 08-06-2021 at 08:23 PM.

06-01-2014, 09:20 PM	#13
Raysfan16 Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: People's Republic of Boulder, CO Posts: 494 shacksports	For the current era I'd say the 2001 Bowman Chrome Pujols rookie auto. First year of bowman chrome rookie autos and it features a slam dunk HOFer in Pujols. It set the precedent for all the prospecting hullabaloo that goes on now. __________________ Proud supporter of the Rays, Lightning, and Fighting Illini! "If it smells like [poop] everywhere you go, check under your own shoe."

06-01-2014, 09:21 PM	#14
briscogun Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 4,668 Briscogun	I think the '52 Mantle and the '89 Griffey popped in my head right away, so I'll go with those. I mean, you know what they are as soon as you see them.

06-01-2014, 09:27 PM	#15
natbornkiller Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: bkNY Posts: 22,801	1952 mantle , no if and or buts __________________ HAH HAH I STILL HAS THE RIGHT TO EDIT THIS !:eatit:

06-01-2014, 09:33 PM	#16
Ty Hope Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 6,864	For novelty, everyone should own a Billy Ripken ff.

06-01-2014, 10:37 PM	#18
Brekbc9 Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Houston Posts: 550	Iconic for my 11 year old days back in '88 starting off with Topps..was the 1964 Topps Mickey Mantle since I was able to borrow it from a friend. I just liked the look of it...and I still don't own one to this day lol. __________________ PC guys : James Harden, John Henson, and Jean Segura

06-01-2014, 11:04 PM	#19
WCTYSON Banned Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 16,597

06-01-2014, 11:37 PM	#20
THE(NEXT)LEVEL Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: South Jersey Posts: 4,673	T206 Wagner/52 Mantle

06-02-2014, 01:47 AM	#21
tingyangs6 Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: The Golden State Posts: 838	50 years from now, people will be saying Bryce Harper BC RC Auto

06-02-2014, 02:55 AM	#22
free2131 Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Posts: 5,367	5) This cards started modern day "prospecting" and single handedly coined the phrase "Chrome is King". I don't think Bowman as a brand would be as popular as it is today without this card. 4) A single color jersey piece is in my top 5 most iconic cards? Yep. While this wasn't the first set that featured "player worn" items, it was the first for baseball, and kickstarted a major change in the hobby. Soon collectors would be more focused on "hits" over base and insert cards. While serial numbered cards dominated the late 90's, soon game used cards would become the norm. This is the card set that started it all, with HOFers Ken Griffey, Jr., Tony Gwynn, and... REY ORDONEZ??!! Well, can't get everything perfect! 3) Probably the most sought after card of my generation. I bought many $4 packs of 1989 Upper Deck trying for this card as a kid (I'm only 30 so I missed out on the $1 per pack days). This card was revolutionary for two reason. Firstly, it's great photography and innovative technology forced the other card companies to step up their game, and secondly it laid the foundation that would usher in a new era of card collecting less than a decade later. 2) It's too bad that the Gretzky Wagner turned out to be trimmed, because that card was such a beauty. Honestly you could probably flip my number 1 and this card and I couldn't argue much. I only know that growing up as a young collector, I always dreamed of owning my first pick as the most iconic card ever made. Even though it is more rare than my first pick (either because of Wagner's dislike of smoking or dislike of not getting royalties), if I had the option of only owning one, this card, while iconic, wouldn't be it. 1) This has pretty much been the Holy Grail of several generations of collectors. I remember my LCS having one in a huge screw down glass case with a $50K price tag on it. I would just stare at it when I went to visit. Iconic team, iconic player, and iconic inaugural set from the company that would dominate the baseball card industry. __________________ “I exploit you, still you love me. I tell you one and one makes three.” - Living Colour

06-02-2014, 07:24 AM	#24
jdneel88 Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 101	The T206 Wagner and Robinson are important in the history of the sport, and in card collecting. But when you say baseball cards, it's that '52 Mantle and for my generation a close 2nd is that '89 Griffey. __________________ Collecting Atlanta Braves - Simmons, Gattis, Freeman, Smoltz, Glavine, Maddux, Chipper, Murphy, Aaron, Matthews