Top ten iconic baseball cards

[uniquebaseballcards]

Could be one of the more important cards but that'll never be an iconic card

This makes me think that there are iconic cards to those who are seriously into the hobby, and then there are iconic cards to those who aren't really in the hobby/are only casual collectors. Cards that are iconic to the casual collectors will still be iconic to serious hobbyists, but not vice-versa.

 

[ccouch (Chad)]

A few of you guys clearly don't know what the word iconic means.

 

[MOFNY]

In art (of statues, portraits, etc.) executed according to a convention or tradition.

Iconic has a specific meaning, yes, but that meaning can be niche. What's iconic to player collectors? Modern collectors? Vintage?
I think at the base we are trying to find a card that's iconic to the hobby brand.
Such as the Model T is to cars. Or Abraham Lincoln is to the presidency. Or Huckleberry Finn to American literature.
What card is iconic to the laymen?
Can we really say there is one?
Maybe the biggest would be Mantle cards in general. His name has become synonymise with expensive cards.
We hear it all the time: "my father had all his cards thrown out. He had a bunch of Mantles."
Another thing we hear from laymen is: "How much is it worth and how many cards do you have?"
People nowadays expect your collection to have some value. Not collectibility or even artistic qualities.
One hundred years ago, people were addicted to collecting and to completion. Some might of thought about value but that wasn't important.

So the most iconic cards are probably vintage. Modern cards are rarely conventional.
An iconic card is collectible and possibly easily obtainable.
It is of traditional size and design.
Also, if you have read "Mint Condition" cards are associated with addiction.
Whether it be tobacco or sugar, which led to a collecting addiction.
Nowadays the addiction is associated with Ebay and high-dollar cards.
So, traditionally speaking, the most iconic card(s) has some addiction attributes attached.

Ok so with all that in mind, I think the most iconic card would be the 1989 UD Griffey.
It has always been easily obtainable, and it has innovation but has traditional qualities.
It has been a high-dollar card, and in some ways still is pricey when you think about its non-scarcity.
It doesn't have the hundred-year-old traditions associated with it though.
No one has ever pasted a 89 Griffey into an album.

 

[chromerookies]

I'd say these:
T206 Wagner
33' Goudey Ruth
52' Topps Mantle
54' Topps Aaron
89' UD Griffey
01' B.Chrome Pujols
33' Goudey Lajoie
55' Clemente
49' Jackie Robinson
49' Paige

 

[MansGame]

IMO, here are 3 LOCKS, not in any order...

T206 Wagner
'89 UD Griffey Jr. RC
'52 Topps Mantle

I'd also vote for these previously mentioned...

USA McGwire RC
No name Frank Thomas
55' Clemente
Jeter RC
ARod RC

Also, this, which I don't think has been mentioned....

Too soon for this one??

 

[jbhofmann]

I'll bite....

Top 10 Pre-War

 

[MojoDan]

I am liking your list jbhoffman!

...and I can't even see two of the scans...

 

[Eamon]

recapping other peoples answers plus whatever I think...

89 ud griffey
52 mantle
honus wagner
jeter sp foil rc
a-rod foil rc
pujols 2001 auto
pete rose/nolan ryan RCs (tie on those 2)
billy ripken ff
52 mays / 51 mantle (tie on those 2)
strasburg 2010 superfractor (national news)

What do you guys think on that?

 

[ChasHawk]

?? Huh ?

I jokingly posted my Dawson card, and you disliked my post...nbd brother.

 

[Lancemountain]

Ah. Didn't realize you were trying to be funny. Here's your lol.

 

[elmalo]

1. T206 Wagner
2. 33 Goudey Babe Ruth
3. 1951 Bowman Willie MAys
4. 1952 Topps Mantle
5. 1954 Topps Ernie Banks
6. 1955 Roberto Clemente
7. 1968 Topps Nolan Ryan/Jerry Koosman
8. 1984 Topps Don MAttingly
9. 1985 Topps Mark McGwire
10. 1991 UD Ken Griffey Jr.

 

[Slette]

1. T206 Wagner
2. 33 Goudey Babe Ruth
3. 1951 Bowman Willie MAys
4. 1952 Topps Mantle
5. 1954 Topps Ernie Banks
6. 1955 Roberto Clemente
7. 1968 Topps Nolan Ryan/Jerry Koosman
8. 1984 Topps Don MAttingly
9. 1985 Topps Mark McGwire
10. 1991 UD Ken Griffey Jr.

I would replace the 1984 Topps Mattingly with the 1984 Donruss. I remember as a kid that was THE card to have.

 

[elmalo]

I would replace the 1984 Topps Mattingly with the 1984 Donruss. I remember as a kid that was THE card to have.

Really? I dont remember the Donruss at all. Maybe was just where I grew up, but I remember everyone wanting the Topps.

 

[gt2590]

I'm with Slette, the 1984 DONRUSS Don Mattingly was THE card to have, period.

And as cool as the '91 UD set was, I think elmalo meant to list the '89 UD Griffey RC as #10...

 

[srstetler]

I like this topic/thread. I feel like the 1984 Donruss Mattingly and the 1985 Donruss Puckett sort of cancel each other out leaving a slot available for the iconic 1975 Topps George Brett rookie card.

 

[BBCgalaxee]

The 84 donruss mattingly started the modern day rc craze.

It was the first modern rc to top $100 out of a pack

 

[Brewer Andy]

I like this topic/thread. I feel like the 1984 Donruss Mattingly and the 1985 Donruss Puckett sort of cancel each other out leaving a slot available for the iconic 1975 Topps George Brett rookie card.

Which would lead to another thread about under appreciated rookie cards featuring the '75 Topps Yount!

 

[BunchOBull]

While the '97 UD Griffey GU isn't really an iconic card, you can't forget the '97 Leaf Thomas Collection set that came out at the same time...it was the more superior of sets in design and patch selection.

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I'm a huge '90 Topps and Frank Thomas fan, but I'd say the NNOF is on the cusp of this list, if it's in, it's number 9 or 10.

 

[elmalo]

I'm with Slette, the 1984 DONRUSS Don Mattingly was THE card to have, period.

And as cool as the '91 UD set was, I think elmalo meant to list the '89 UD Griffey RC as #10...

Oops. Yes, the 89.