Baseball cards are works of art. No different than “Whistler’s Mother,” “American Gothic” and “Washington Crossing the Delaware.” Except for one sweet fact that can make a dentist smile. They once came with a slab of chalky gum that smelled a lot better than it tasted.
Yet who would have thunk that some of these cardboard masterpieces would be priced like actual masterpieces decades later? If you put a Pete Rose rookie card in your bike spokes way back when, we’ll give you time to skip the next sentence. … It’s worth roughly five grand in graded Near Mint/Mint condition today.
Here are the all-time best baseball designs of the post-war era. OK, kids, let’s flip ’em.
Note: Because of the glut of products in recent decades, we’ll keep it simple. Only the regular sets of major brands (pre-merger Bowman, Donruss, Fleer, Topps and Upper Deck) are eligible.
25. 2008 Upper Deck
Total number of cards in set: 799 cards
Distribution: 16 packs per box, 20 cards per pack
Manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) per pack: $4.99
Most valuable card: Joey Votto (rookie, Cincinnati Reds)
Bottom line: Upper Deck made its name on brilliant photography. It was never better than in these vertical and horizontal action shots.
The simple, clean design shows what many of us learned a long time ago — simple often is better.
Fun fact: This is the year that the company retired its trademark green diamond logo and replaced it with a silver design for its entire product line.
24. 1989 Fleer
Total number of cards in set: 660 cards
Distribution: 36 packs per box, 15 cards per pack
MSRP per pack: N/A
Most valuable cards: Ken Griffey Jr. (rookie, Seattle Mariners) Bill Ripken (error, Baltimore Orioles)
Bottom line: Approximately one-third of the front is devoted to a gray background with white stripes, but that’s more than offset by a photo overlay that makes for a 3-D effect.
The Bill Ripken card reveals a naughty phrase on his bat knob that makes this issue even more (in)famous. The two words were blacked out in the updated version.
23. 1991 Topps
Total number of cards in set: 792 cards
Distribution: 36 packs per box, 15 cards per pack
MSRP per pack: $0.50
Most valuable cards: Chipper Jones (rookie, Atlanta Braves), Ken Griffey Jr. (Seattle Mariners)
Bottom line: The company picked its 40th anniversary to give Upper Deck a run for its money.
Despite a slew of gaffes from inaccurate stats to misidentified teams, this clean, well-designed look is easily one of its best Topps products of the modern era.
The thin photo borders that are color-coded by team are especially appealing.
22. 1970 Topps
Total number of cards in set: 720 cards
Distribution: 24 packs per box, 10 cards per pack
MSRP per pack: $0.10
Most valuable cards: Nolan Ryan (New York Mets), Hank Aaron All-Star (Atlanta Braves), Johnny Bench All-Star (Cincinnati Reds)
Both line Some might consider the gray borders to be a bit drab, but the photography, black cursive player name and red player position identifiers are standouts.
There’s also something to be said for the backs — hey, remember them? — whose vibrant yellow make for an easy read.
Not-so-fun fact: The price of a pack reached double figures (from five to 10 cents) for the first time.
21. 1987 Topps
Total number of cards in set: 792 cards
Distribution: 36 packs per box, 17 cards per pack
MSRP per pack: $0.40
Most valuable cards: Barry Bonds (rookie, Pittsburgh Pirates), Barry Larkin (rookie, Cincinnati Reds), Bo Jackson (rookie, Kansas City Royals)
Bottom line: Wood grain designs are popular among collectors, and 25 years after the first such Topps venture, this one is no different.
Added bonus: This set has an abundance of rookie cards that are worth the hype, including Barry Bonds, Will Clark, Chuck Finley, Bo Jackson, Barry Larkin, Jamie Moyer, Wally Joyner, Ruben Sierra and Devon White.
20. 2006 Upper Deck
Total number of cards in set: 1,250 cards
Distribution: 24 packs per box, 8 cards per pack
MSRP per pack: $2.99
Most valuable cards: Justin Verlander (rookie, Detroit Tigers)
Bottom line: Hey, how ’bout some love for the new millennium?
The oversized last name and team logo at the bottom left offer instant identification, yet they don’t challenge the photo itself.
The impressive mix of posed, action and impromptu images also make these easy on the eyes.
19. 1992 Upper Deck
Total number of cards in set: 800 cards
Distribution: 36 packs per box, 15 cards per pack
MSRP per pack: N/A
Most valuable card: Manny Ramirez (rookie, Cleveland Indians), Pedro Martinez (rookie, Los Angeles Dodgers)
Bottom line: The trademark Upper Deck photography outdoes itself in these posed and action shots. Our favorite is the prickly Kirk Gibson shattering his bat on a swing.
In addition, effective use of white space coupled with a 3-D shadow box effect allows the images to stand out even more.
Also to like: Availability and affordability.
18. 1975 Topps
Total number of cards in set: 660 cards
Distribution: 36 packs per box, 10 cards per pack
MSRP per pack: $0.15
Most valuable cards: George Brett (rookie, Kansas City Royals), Nolan Ryan (California Angels), Hank Aaron Highlights (first card in set, Atlanta Braves)
Bottom line: This issue has such a 1970s psychedelia about it. All it lacks is a Jerry Garcia rookie card. Buh-bye, white borders. Hello, rainbow colors.
This set is high on far-out rookie cards — Brett, Robin Yount, Gary Carter, Jim Rice, Keith Hernandez and Fred Lynn, to name a few.
Not-so-fun fact: The price of a pack increased 50 percent to 15 cents. Bummer.
17. 1993 Upper Deck
Total number of cards in set: 840 cards
Distribution: 36 packs per box, 15 cards per pack
MSRP per pack: N/A
Most valuable cards: Derek Jeter (rookie, New York Yankees), Mike Piazza (rookie, Los Angeles Dodgers)
Bottom line: This 840-card set features impressive action photos on the fronts and backs.
The colored bar with cursive player name appeared on some of the cards and is a nice touch. Random factory sets come with uncommon gold security holograms on the reverse sides.
Fun fact: No. 204 shows Mike Piazza about to sign the very card on which he appears. Very cool.
16. 1955 Bowman
Total number of cards in set: 320 cards
Distribution: 1 card per pack, 9 cards per pack
MSRP per pack: $0.01 (1 card/pack), $0.05 (9 cards/pack)
Most valuable cards: Mickey Mantle (New York Yankees), Willie Mays (New York Giants), Hank Aaron (Milwaukee Braves)
Bottom line: These golden oldies marked a creative, if not quirky, step for the gum card world.
Each subject appears horizontally inside a “Color TV,” another sign that the times, they were a-changin’, indeed. If not for limited stats on the back side, this edition would rank higher.
Fun fact: Only seven Hall of Famers (seven) are included because of contractual issues. Nearly 10 percent of the set (31 of 320 cards) is devoted to … umpires?!
15. 1963 Topps
Total number of cards in set: 576 cards
Distribution: 1 card per pack, 5 cards per pack
MSRP per pack: $0.01 (1 card/pack), $0.05 (5 cards/pack)
Most valuable cards: Pete Rose (rookie, Cincinnati Reds), Mickey Mantle (New York Yankees), Yogi Berra (New York Yankees)
Bottom line: Nine years after the company wonks removed the top white border, they replaced the bottom one with an expanded bar of various colors.
Add an inset photo of each player in a bottom corner, and the result is one of the better looks of the decade.
Fun fact: Pete Rose and Al Weis shared a rookie card this year. Decades later, a Sports Collectors Digest advertiser offered to pay generously for Weis rookies with no mention of his sidekick. Sneaky devil.
14. 1983 Topps
Total number of cards in set: 792 cards
Distribution: 36 packs per box, 15 cards per pack
MSRP per pack: $0.30
Most valuable cards: Tony Gwynn (rookie, San Diego Padres), Wade Boggs (rookie, Boston Red Sox), Ryne Sandberg (rookie, Chicago Cubs)
Bottom line: Fleer and Donruss entered the market two years earlier, which left The Real One with no choice but to raise its game.
The company decision-makers harkened back to their design of 20 years earlier — and knocked it out of the park again.
The dominant rectangular action photo complemented by a circular portrait at the bottom represents the best of both worlds.
Throw in the All-Star-caliber checklist as a bonus, and this is one of the worthwhile gets of the so-called junk wax era.
13. 1989 Upper Deck
Total number of cards in set: 800 cards
Distribution: 36 packs per box, 15 cards per pack
MSRP per pack: N/A
Most valuable cards: Ken Griffey Jr. (rookie, first card in set, Seattle Mariners), Randy Johnson (rookie, Montreal Expos)
Bottom line: In it debut season, Upper Deck opened eyes with a simple design and extraordinary photography.
Fun fact: Not only was this the only brand to include Ken Griffey Jr. in its regular edition, but the rook was selected to lead off the set against all tradition.
Whoosh! It became one of the most popular cards of its era in no time.
12. 1971 Topps
Total number of cards in set: 752 cards
Distribution: 10 cards per pack
MSRP per pack: $0.10
Most valuable cards: Thurman Munson (New York Yankees), Claude Raymond (Montreal Expos), Roberto Clemente (Pittsburgh Pirates)
Bottom line: There’s no middle ground here.
Collectors either love ’em for their bold-if-fragile black borders, jumbo team identifiers, lower-case player/position names, facsimile autographs and consistent photography or hate ’em for their scarcity in primo condition.
This is the rare design that breaks new ground on the front and backs, which feature black-and-white headshots, short bios and statistics.
11. 1984 Donruss
Total number of cards in set: 660 cards
Distribution: 36 packs per box, 15 cards per pack
MSRP per pack: $0.30
Most valuable cards: Don Mattingly (rookie, New York Yankees), Greg Gagne (rookie, Minnesota Twins), Joe Carter (rookie, Chicago Cubs)
Bottom line: Its simple-but-effective design (check out that bold gold swoosh at the bottom, people) and sharp photography are a purist’s delight, not to mention a stark contrast to the company’s two lame attempts previously.
If the 1980s are your thing, this 660-card issue is the one to own.
Even if the ’80s aren’t your thing, it still is one to own.
10. 1960 Topps
Total number of cards in set: 572 cards
Distribution: 36 packs per box, 12 cards per pack
MSRP per pack: $0.10
Most valuable cards: Mickey Mantle(New York Yankees), Hank Aaron (Milwaukee Braves), Willie McCovey (rookie, San Francisco Giants)
Bottom line: For the third time in six years, the company designers decided on a horizontal design and hit .400 again.
Third-quarters of the card are devoted to a posed player photograph, which is complemented extraordinarily well by an action cutout over a solid background.
Wait, kids, there’s more. The back sides feature individual day-by-day highlights from the previous season for the first time, a creative idea that helps put this iconic set in the top 10 of all time.
9. 1967 Topps
Total number of cards in set: 609 cards
Distribution: 5 cards per pack, 12 cards per pack
MSRP per pack: $0.05 (5 cards/pack), $0.10 (12 cards/pack)
Most valuable cards: Tom Seaver (rookie, New York Mets), Mickey Mantle (New York), Rod Carew (rookie, Minnesota Twins)
Bottom line: The industry leader busted out of its 1-for-6 slump with a grand slam edition.
The vivid photography and full-length poses are beyond exceptional, assisted nicely by oversized team names and facsimile autographs. For sheer balance, color and creativity, it’s difficult to top this Topps creation.
Fun fact: Vertical backs returned for the first time since the 1953 edition.
8. 1952 Topps
Total number of cards in set: 407 cards
Distribution: 1 card per pack, 6 cards per pack
MSRP per pack: $0.01 (1 card/pack), $0.05 (6 cards/pack)
Most valuable cards: Mickey Mantle (New York Yankees), Andy Pafko (first card in set, Chicago Cubs), Eddie Mathews (rookie, Milwaukee Braves)
Bottom line: If historical significance was part of the criteria, then this granddaddy of them all would be numero uno. Even without it, it’s still on the short list of best ever.
The colorized black-and-white photography, full team logos and facsimile signatures (taken from the players’ contracts with the company, no less) paved the way for the modern card design.
So did the expanded size of the set (407 cards), the largest ever at the time.
7. 1955 Topps
Total number of cards in set: 206 cards
Distribution: 2 cards per pack, 5 cards per pack
MSRP per pack: $0.01 (2 cards/pack), $0.05 (5 cards/pack)
Most valuable cards: Roberto Clemente (rookie), Pittsburgh Pirates; Sandy Koufax (rookie), Brooklyn Dodgers; Willie Mays, New York Giants
Bottom line: The company heads switched to a left-to-right look and scored a knockout — figuratively and literally.
The timeless design features posed and action player images, large team logos and facsimile autographs.
The set was short on stars because of contractual battles (hey, where’s The Mick?!), but that would be a challenge no longer.
Not long after the season, rival Bowman was bought out, and Topps became king.
6. 1956 Topps
Total number of cards in set: 340 cards
Distribution: 2 cards per pack, 5 cards per pack
MSRP per pack: $0.01 (2 cards/pack), $0.05 (5 cards/pack)
Most valuable cards: Mickey Mantle (New York Yankees), Roberto Clemente (Pittsburgh Pirates), Ted Williams (Boston Red Sox)
Bottom line: I got hooked on this wondrous design hooked because of the Roberto Clemente card alone.
The horizontal look features an oversized portrait of my boyhood idol laid over one of his ridiculous catches in the background. On the hallowed grounds of Ebbets Field in Brooklyn, no less.
Fun fact: This was the first set to include team cards and league presidents and the last of 3 3/4- by 2 5/8-inch dimensions.
5. 1951 Bowman
Total number of cards in set: 324 cards
Distribution: 24 packs per box, 6 cards per pack
MSRP per pack: $0.05
Most valuable cards: Mickey Mantle (rookie, New York Yankees), Willie Mays (rookie, New York Giants), Whitey Ford (rookie, New York Yankees)
Bottom line: This somewhat underrated set took the gum card industry to another level, what with its expansion from 252 to 324 cards, the largest set of its time.
It’s also unique for its striking hand-painted color reproductions of black-and-white photos. Yet it may be known best for the official rookie cards of Mickey Mantle and Willie Mays, the greatest megastars of their generation.
And if you’ve got a spare 40 thousand, you can own both in graded Near Mint condition.
4. 1954 Topps
Total number of cards in set: 250 cards
Distribution: 36 packs per box, 4 cards per pack
MSRP per pack: $0.05
Most valuable cards: Hank Aaron (rookie, Milwaukee Braves), Ernie Banks (rookie, Chicago Cubs), Ted Williams (first card in set, Boston Red Sox)
Bottom line: The design shows one dominant headshot paired with a smaller action pose of each player. Hey, wait a sec — where’s the top white border? There is no top white border!
While that subtle change deserves a wow, it’s the graphic colors that scream even louder.
Doesn’t hurt that the first cards of Aaron, Banks and Al Kaline appear in this 250-card issue that packs a lot of clout.
3. 1957 Topps
Total number of cards in set: 407 cards
Distribution: 4 cards per pack
MSRP per pack: $0.05
Most valuable cards: Mickey Mantle (New York Yankees), Brooks Robinson (rookie, Baltimore Orioles), Frank Robinson (rookie, Cincinnati Redlegs)
Bottom line: In a break from the past, the fronts are devoted entirely to the subject in full-color photography. The many epic poses and crisp images are off the charts.
Fun fact: This marked the debut of the 2-1/2 by 3-1/2-inch card size that would become the norm. Also, year-by-year stats appeared on the backs for the first time.
2. 1953 Bowman Color
Total number of cards in set: 160 cards
Distribution: 24 packs per box, 5 cards per pack
MSRP per pack: $0.05
Most valuable cards: Mickey Mantle (New York Yankees), Whitey Ford (New York Yankees), Bob Feller (Cleveland Indians)
Bottom line: This is the purest baseball card ever produced. The fronts show the players in beautiful, living color inside four white borders. That’s it.
No words. No facsimile autographs. No doohickeys. No banners, boxes or rectangles. No gimmicks of any kind. Reminder: This was back in the days of two eight-team leagues when virtually every player was known by face.
Anyway, we’re pretty sure this is the set they collect in heaven.
1. 1959 Topps
Total number of cards in set: 572 cards
Distribution: 1 card per pack, 5 cards per pack
MSRP per pack: $0.01 (1 card/pack), $0.05 (5 cards/pack)
Most valuable cards: Mickey Mantle (New York Yankees), Bob Gibson (rookie, St. Louis Cardinals), Billy Pierce All-Star (last card in set, Chicago White Sox)
Bottom line: Remarkably, 60 years after the fact, this groundbreaker probably wins more popularity contests than any other.
Start front and center, where those gorgeous, large circle-shaped images (with facsimile autographs) are the first of their kind.
The stark solid colors that surround them take eye appeal to another level. Then there’s the player names emblazoned in lower case and a slight slant across the top. Way cool.
Add the well-positioned, aptly sized team logo at the lower left and team/position identifiers in caps at the lower right plus cool red-and-green backs complete with player-centric cartoons, and we’re left with 572 pieces of amazin’ after all these years.
Related: Most Expensive Baseball Cards of All Time
